14 Days Uganda Safari Tour Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Wildlife: This 14-day excursion showcases several high-profile protected areas in Uganda: Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. Over the course of the safari, travelers can spot species like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, elands, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, rhinos, and more, through vehicle-based viewing and boat outings. Time is also set aside for tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzees in Kibale.
Highlights of the 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour
- Day 1: Pick-up and transfer to lodging in Kampala
- Day 2: Travel to Gulu with a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Day 3: Depart for Kidepo Valley National Park
- Day 4: Early wildlife drive and Karamajong cultural visit
- Day 5: Head to Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 6: Morning wildlife drive, followed by an afternoon boat excursion
- Day 7: Transfer to Kibale National Park
- Day 8: Chimpanzee trek and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 9: Morning wildlife drive or lion tracking, then an afternoon boat ride
- Day 10: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 11: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 12: Leave for Lake Mburo National Park
- Day 13: Early wildlife drive and later a boat cruise
- Day 14: Walking excursion and transfer back to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport for Day 1 of this 14-day safari, a driver-guide greets you and gives a brief overview of the schedule. Proceed to your lodging in either Entebbe or Kampala, where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Move to Gulu via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Following breakfast on Day 2, the driver-guide collects you from your hotel to begin the trip toward Kidepo Valley National Park. Because it is a lengthy drive, there will be an overnight pause in Gulu. Along the way, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to observe rhinos. After the rhino walk, continue with a midday meal en route, enjoying scenic rural areas, traditional homes, and local communities. Upon arriving in Gulu, settle into your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 3: Drive Onward to Kidepo Valley National Park—Evening Wildlife Drive
On Day 3, have breakfast before the driver-guide escorts you on a three-to-four-hour ride to Kidepo Valley National Park. Take in views of hills, Karamojong manyatas, and seasonal waterways. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch.
Following lunch, an evening wildlife drive offers a chance to capture photos and watch giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, and Jackson’s hartebeests. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Karamajong Cultural Visit
Morning Wildlife Drive
Day 4 starts with an early meal, then a meeting with your driver-guide to explore Narus Valley. This zone supports many species, such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, and various birds—like ostriches, Kori bustards, and little green bee-eaters. Once you complete this drive, return for lunch at the lodge.
Cultural Excursion
After lunch, head to a local community of Karamojong residents located near Kidepo Valley National Park. You will learn about their day-to-day routines, family practices (including how marriage can involve multiple spouses depending on one’s herd size), and see their homesteads, known as manyattas. There may be performances featuring dances or songs, along with storytelling about past events. Later, reconnect with the driver-guide and return to the lodge for dinner and a night’s stay.
Day 5: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast on Day 5, check out and meet the driver-guide to continue toward Murchison Falls National Park. Along the route, enjoy open farmland and local terrain. On arrival, visit the top of the falls, where you can see the waterfall cascading through a narrow gap, creating visible sprays and powerful sounds. Afterward, continue to your lodging for dinner and overnight accommodations.
Day 6: Early Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Morning Wildlife Drive
Rise early on Day 6, then join the driver-guide for a drive across Murchison Falls’ open savannah. You can look for animals like buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, giraffes, and waterbucks. There’s also a chance to see predators such as lions, leopards, or hyenas before they retreat. Head back to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Trip
After lunch, travel to the Paraa landing area for a boat ride to the base of the falls. This two-hour boat excursion gives you views of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and various waterbirds—kingfishers, bee-eaters, cormorants, and fish eagles—as well as potential sightings of elephants or other wildlife along the shore. Wrap up by meeting the driver-guide for the return trip to your lodge, followed by dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Drive to Kibale National Park
Finish breakfast on Day 7 and depart Murchison Falls for Kibale National Park in western Uganda. Expect scenic variety during the drive, including glimpses of traditional settlements, farmland, dramatic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes, and tea estates. Upon entering Kibale, check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking and Later Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking
Begin Day 8 with an early meal, then check out of your lodge and go to the park offices for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. Groups of up to six visitors set out at around 8:00 a.m. with an assigned park guide. The chimpanzees may take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours to locate, as they move in search of food (especially during drier times). During the walk, you might spot other forest primates—red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabeys—and note the presence of select birds, small mammals, or various plants. On finding the chimps, you’ll spend around an hour observing them as they feed, interact, move around, or groom one another. After returning, the driver-guide takes you back to the lodge for lunch.
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Following lunch, pack up and link up with your driver-guide for the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along this route, you may see crater lakes or tea plantations. Once at the park, proceed to your lodging for dinner and rest.
Day 9: Early Wildlife Drive or Lion Tracking, Then Afternoon Boat Trip
Morning Game Drive / Lion Tracking
On Day 9, after an early breakfast, your driver-guide escorts you to Kasenyi plains for either a standard morning drive or, if arranged, a specialized lion tracking excursion led by researchers. You’ll watch for buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, elephants, bushbucks, lions, leopards, hyenas, plus birdlife. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Boat Ride
Later, set out for a boat excursion along the Kazinga Channel, which is about 40 kilometers and links Lake Edward with Lake George. The journey starts near 2:00 p.m., offering views of large hippo pods and crocodiles in the water, along with elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes on the shores. Watch for bird species such as kingfishers, fish eagles, hornbills, cormorants, or bee-eaters. After roughly two hours, head back for a relaxed evening, dinner, and overnight at the lodge.
Day 10: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
On Day 10, check out after breakfast and link up with your driver-guide to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, where tree-climbing lions are sometimes found perched on branches. After scanning for them, enjoy lunch before proceeding to Bwindi. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Trek
On Day 11, rise early, grab your packed lunch, and meet the driver-guide for a briefing at Bwindi’s headquarters on the guidelines for trekking. A ranger leads you into the forest, which can require anywhere from 30 minutes to seven hours of walking, depending on gorilla locations. Sightings can be supplemented by glimpses of other forest primates (like chimpanzees, l’Hoest monkeys, or baboons), a wide range of birds, or other species of flora and fauna. When you find the allocated gorilla family, spend up to an hour watching their interactions—feeding, moving through the forest, social dynamics, and so forth. Afterward, return to headquarters and travel back to the lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.
Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Following breakfast on Day 12, check out and meet your driver-guide for the trip to Lake Mburo National Park. En route, pause for lunch and take in views of rolling hillsides or farmland. Upon arrival, go on a short game drive where giraffes, oribi, impalas, buffaloes, zebras, and others may appear. Then head to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Morning Wildlife Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
On Day 13, start with an early breakfast and then join the driver-guide for a morning wildlife drive to observe various species like buffaloes, elands, impalas, zebras, giraffes, or warthogs. Afterward, go back to the lodge for lunch.
Later, take part in a boat excursion on Lake Mburo. Look for hippos or Nile crocodiles in the water, plus animals such as buffaloes, waterbucks, impalas, and warthogs at the edge. Afterward, return for dinner and a night’s rest at the lodge.
Day 14: Walking Safari and Departure to Kampala
Wake up early on the final day of this 14-day Uganda safari. Check out of the lodge and proceed with the driver-guide to embark on a foot safari, which allows a closer look at wildlife, plus an opportunity to hear bird calls and appreciate a calmer environment. Conclude by leaving the park and heading back to Kampala with lunch in transit. A brief stop at the Equator in Kayabwe can be included for photos and souvenir purchases. Continue to Kampala or Entebbe Airport, where you may catch your departure flight or be dropped off at any suitable location.
End of the 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour
Tour Inclusions
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fees
- Park gate fees and wildlife drives
- Boat cruise charges
- Lion tracking (where scheduled)
- Walking safari
- Karamajong community visit
- Qualified English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board lodging
- Ground transportation in a 4WD
- Vehicle and fuel costs
- Bottled water
Tour Exclusions
- International flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional extras not listed above
- Travel insurance
- Personal outlays (souvenirs, drinks, laundry, hiring porters, tips, etc.)
End of 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour