17 Day Complete Uganda Wildlife, Primates and Cultural Safari
Arrival in Entebbe And Transfer to Kampala
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your Kenzi Safaris driver-guide who will welcome you to Uganda and provide a short introduction to your safari.
Transfer to your hotel in Kampala and check in.
Depending on your arrival time, you may have an opportunity to explore part of Kampala before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
- Meet and greet with the Kenzi Safaris driver-guide
- Brief safari introduction and orientation
- Transfer to the hotel in Kampala
- Hotel check-in
- Optional Kampala city exploration, depending on arrival time
- Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay
Meals
Dinner
Ziwa Rhino Tracking And Transfer to Gulu
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey north towards Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
On arrival, meet your ranger guide for a briefing before beginning your rhino tracking experience on foot.
Walk through the sanctuary with an experienced ranger as you search for rhinos and learn more about their behaviour and conservation.
After the experience, enjoy lunch before continuing north towards Gulu.
Arrive later in the afternoon or evening and check in at your hotel.
Safari Activities
- Travel north from the hotel to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Rhino tracking on foot with an experienced ranger guide
- Wildlife & conservation learning — observe rhinos and learn about their behaviour and conservation
- Lunch at the sanctuary
- Continue journey to Gulu
- Hotel check-in in Gulu later in the afternoon/evening
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park
After breakfast, leave Gulu and continue your journey towards the remote Kidepo Valley National Park.
Travel through northern Uganda with lunch along the way before arriving at the park.
Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an evening game drive through the Narus Valley, one of the park's important wildlife areas.
Look out for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and other savannah wildlife. Predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs may also be encountered, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Continue to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Depart Gulu after breakfast.
- Travel to Kidepo Valley National Park through northern Uganda.
- Lunch en route.
- Evening game drive in Narus Valley, depending on arrival time.
- Wildlife viewing, with opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and potentially lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
- Transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Full-Day Wildlife Safari in Kidepo Valley
Spend the day exploring Kidepo Valley National Park.
After breakfast, head out for a game drive through the park's open savannah landscapes.
Look for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and predators while enjoying some of Uganda's most remote wilderness scenery.
After lunch, continue towards the Kidepo Valley area for another wildlife and birding experience.
Depending on your itinerary and conditions, you may also visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs before returning to your lodge.
Safari Activities
- Morning game drive through Kidepo Valley National Park.
- Wildlife viewing — elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and predators.
- Birding in the park’s savannah landscapes.
- Afternoon game drive/wildlife and birding around the Kidepo Valley area.
- Visit to Kanangorok Hot Springs (depending on conditions and itinerary).
- Return to the lodge after the day’s activities.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Mount Morungole Cultural Experience
After breakfast, travel towards Mount Morungole for a cultural and hiking experience.
Accompanied by a local guide, begin your walk into the mountain landscape towards communities living around Mount Morungole.
The experience provides an opportunity to learn about the Ik community, their traditions and life in this remote part of northeastern Uganda.
The hike also offers beautiful views across the surrounding valleys and landscapes.
After completing the experience, continue to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Travel to Mount Morungole
- Guided mountain hike
- Visit and interact with the Ik community
- Learn about Ik culture, traditions and way of life
- Enjoy scenic views of valleys and surrounding landscapes
- Transfer to accommodation
- Relaxation, dinner and overnight stay
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, begin the long journey from northeastern Uganda towards Murchison Falls National Park.
The drive takes you through changing landscapes and local communities, with stops for lunch, refreshments and stretching along the way.
Arrive at Murchison Falls later in the day and proceed to your lodge.
Spend the evening relaxing as you prepare for the following day's wildlife activities.
Safari Activities
- Breakfast
- Long drive from northeastern Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park
- Scenic drive through changing landscapes and local communities
- Lunch and refreshment stops
- Stretch/rest breaks during the journey
- Arrival at Murchison Falls National Park
- Transfer to the lodge
- Evening relaxation and preparation for the next day’s wildlife activities
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Murchison Falls Game Drive, Nile Boat Safari And Falls Experience
After breakfast, head out for a morning game drive through Murchison Falls National Park.
Explore the savannah while searching for giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions and other wildlife.
Return for lunch before heading to the Nile for an afternoon boat safari towards Murchison Falls.
Cruise along the river while looking for hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and water birds along the riverbanks.
Your itinerary will also include an opportunity to experience Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow rocky gorge before continuing downstream.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Morning game drive in Murchison Falls National Park
- Wildlife viewing – giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions and other wildlife
- Lunch at the lodge
- Afternoon boat safari on the Nile River towards Murchison Falls
- River wildlife viewing – hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and water birds
- Visit/experience Murchison Falls and view the Nile squeezing through the narrow rocky gorge
- Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin your journey towards Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda.
This is a long but scenic transfer through Uganda's countryside.
Enjoy lunch along the way and take in views of farms, villages, hills and the beautiful landscapes surrounding the Fort Portal region.
Arrive at your lodge near Kibale, check in and relax in preparation for your chimpanzee trekking experience.
Safari Activities
- Check out after breakfast
- Scenic transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
- Lunch en route
- Countryside sightseeing – farms, villages, hills, and Fort Portal landscapes
- Arrive and check in at the lodge
- Relax and prepare for chimpanzee trekking
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Chimpanzee Trekking And Bigodi Wetland Walk
After breakfast, transfer to the chimpanzee trekking starting point in Kibale Forest National Park.
Meet your ranger guide for a briefing before entering the rainforest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.
Walk beneath the forest canopy while looking and listening for chimpanzees and other primates.
Once the chimpanzees are located, spend the permitted viewing time observing them as they feed, communicate, groom and interact.
After trekking, return for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided nature walk.
Explore the wetland and surrounding community while looking for monkeys, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Guided rainforest walk to observe chimpanzees and other primates
- Chimpanzee viewing and observation
- Lunch break
- Guided nature walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
- Wildlife and bird watching — monkeys, birds, butterflies and other wildlife
- Community and wetland exploration
- Return to lodge for dinner and overnight
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Semuliki National Park, Sempaya Hot Springs And Fort Portal
After breakfast, travel towards Semuliki National Park.
Visit the famous Sempaya Hot Springs, one of the park's best-known natural attractions.
Walk through the forest with a guide and learn about the geothermal features, surrounding ecosystem and cultural stories associated with the springs.
After the experience, return towards Fort Portal for lunch.
Depending on the confirmed itinerary, you may also visit the Amabere caves and waterfalls before continuing to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Travel to Semuliki National Park
- Visit the Sempaya Hot Springs
- Guided forest walk around the hot springs
- Explore the geothermal features and learn about the local ecosystem and cultural stories
- Lunch in Fort Portal
- Optional visit to Amabere Caves and Waterfalls
- Continue to the hotel for dinner and overnight
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park And Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
After breakfast, leave Fort Portal and travel towards Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Arrive around lunchtime, check in at your lodge and have some time to relax.
In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat safari.
Cruise along the channel while looking for hippos and Nile crocodiles in the water, as well as elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife along the shoreline.
The channel is also an excellent place for birding.
After the boat safari, you may enjoy some wildlife viewing around the Kasenyi area before returning to your lodge.
Safari Activities
- Depart Fort Portal and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Arrive and check in at the lodge around lunchtime.
- Relax and have lunch at the lodge.
- Kazinga Channel boat safari in the afternoon.
- Wildlife viewing along the Kazinga Channel, including hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes.
- Birdwatching along the channel.
- Wildlife viewing around Kasenyi area.
- Return to the lodge for the evening.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin your journey towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Your route will depend on the confirmed gorilla trekking sector.
If travelling towards the northern sectors of Bwindi, the journey may pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, providing another opportunity to search for wildlife, including the area's famous tree-climbing lions.
Continue through southwestern Uganda's beautiful countryside towards Bwindi.
Arrive at your lodge, check in and relax as you prepare for the following day's gorilla trekking experience.
Safari Activities
- Breakfast and check-out from the lodge.
- Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through southwestern Uganda.
- Wildlife viewing in Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, if the route passes through the area.
- Search for tree-climbing lions and other wildlife in Ishasha.
- Scenic drive through the Ugandan countryside towards Bwindi.
- Arrive and check in at the lodge.
- Relax and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is one of the major highlights of your Uganda safari — mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After an early breakfast, transfer to your designated park headquarters with your packed lunch.
Meet your ranger guides for a briefing before entering the rainforest in search of your assigned habituated gorilla family.
The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the conditions of the forest trails.
Once the gorillas are located, spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat.
Watch them feed, rest, groom, play and interact while your ranger guide helps you understand their behaviour and family structure.
After your gorilla encounter, trek back to the starting point and return to your lodge for relaxation.
Gorilla Trekking Note
Gorilla trekking involves walking through natural forest and mountain terrain.
The length and difficulty of the trek varies depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
Local porters are available to carry backpacks and provide assistance along more challenging sections of the trail.
Safari Activities
- Early breakfast at the lodge.
- Transfer to the Bwindi park headquarters with packed lunch.
- Gorilla trekking briefing with ranger guides.
- Mountain gorilla trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Gorilla viewing and observation in their natural habitat.
- Learn about gorilla behaviour and family structure from the ranger guide.
- Trek back to the starting point after the gorilla encounter.
- Return to the lodge and relax.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Community Experience And Transfer to Kisoro
After breakfast, take part in a cultural experience with a community living around the Bwindi region.
Learn about local traditions, history and everyday life through guided interactions and cultural activities.
After the experience, continue towards Kisoro and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park region.
Enjoy beautiful views of southwestern Uganda's rolling hills and the Virunga Mountains as you approach Kisoro.
Check in at your lodge and relax as you prepare for the following day's golden monkey trekking experience.
Safari Activities
- Community Cultural Experience in Bwindi
- Learn About Local Traditions, History and Daily Life
- Participate in Cultural Activities
- Drive to Kisoro / Mgahinga Region
- Scenic Drive Through Southwestern Uganda
- Enjoy Views of the Virunga Mountains
- Check in at the Lodge
- Relax and Prepare for Golden Monkey Trekking
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with your packed lunch and drinking water.
Meet your ranger guides for a briefing before entering the forest in search of a habituated golden monkey troop.
The trek takes you through the beautiful forest and bamboo vegetation on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains.
Once the golden monkeys are located, spend the permitted viewing time observing these active primates as they feed and move through the bamboo.
After the experience, trek back to the starting point and return to your lodge for relaxation.
Safari Activities
- Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park after breakfast.
- Travel with packed lunch and drinking water.
- Meet ranger guides and receive a pre-trek briefing.
- Golden monkey trekking through the forest and bamboo vegetation.
- Golden monkey viewing and observation once the troop is located.
- Trek back to the starting point.
- Return to the lodge for relaxation.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Lake Bunyonyi – Boat Experience And Relaxation
After breakfast, leave Kisoro and travel towards Lake Bunyonyi.
Surrounded by green terraced hills and numerous islands, Lake Bunyonyi provides a peaceful setting to relax after your trekking experiences.
After checking in at your lodge, spend some time enjoying the lake and surrounding scenery.
Later, take a boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi to explore some of its islands and learn about the communities and stories associated with the lake.
The original itinerary also includes zip-lining as an optional experience for travellers looking for something more active.
Return to your lodge and enjoy your final evening overlooking the lake.
Safari Activities
- Travel from Kisoro to Lake Bunyonyi
- Check in at the lodge
- Relax and enjoy the lake and surrounding scenery
- Boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi – explore islands and learn about local communities and stories
- Optional zip-lining for travellers seeking an adventurous activity
- Enjoy the final evening overlooking Lake Bunyonyi
Transfer to Kampala or Entebbe
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the journey back towards Kampala or Entebbe.
Travel through southwestern and central Uganda with lunch and refreshment stops along the way.
Stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photographs and an opportunity to browse locally made crafts and souvenirs.
Continue towards Kampala or Entebbe.
Your Kenzi Safaris driver-guide will drop you at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport, marking the end of your 17-Day Complete Uganda Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Safari.
Safari Activities
- Check out and depart from the lodge after breakfast.
- Travel towards Kampala or Entebbe through southwestern and central Uganda.
- Lunch and refreshment stops along the way.
- Visit the Equator at Kayabwe for photographs and souvenir/craft shopping.
- Continue to Kampala or Entebbe.
- Airport/hotel drop-off by the Kenzi Safaris driver-guide, marking the end of the safari.
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch
Included
- Airport pick-up and drop off
- All activities indicated in the itinerary
- Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits
- Park entry fees and boat trip fees
- All accommodation and meals as per itinerary (en-route meals)
- 4X4 safari vehicle with popup roof and fuel
- Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
- Bottled mineral water while on safari
Not Included
- Tips to drivers, hotels, and rangers
- Visa fees and air tickets
- Optional activities of your choice
- All items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beer, extra meals, e.t.c.
- Anything else not included in the itinerary
