18-day Uganda wildlife and primate tracking safari traverses most of Uganda’s attractions and offers the ultimate experience of Uganda’s diverse natural beauty. A good chance to spot a variety of Uganda’s big game and get up close to mountain gorillas in the thick rainforest of Bwindi, observe plenty of primates, enjoy beautiful scenery, the warm weather and lots more for this landing 18-day Uganda wildlife safari.
Highlights for 18 day Uganda Wildlife and primate tracking safari
- Visiting sipi falls, Sezibwa Falls and Mabira forest.
- Hiking on the Mt Elgon.
- Game viewing in Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Boat cruise on the Nile in Murchison falls National Park.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge and Kibale forest National Park.
- Amazing gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park.
- Bird watching during launch cruise on Kazinga Channel.
- Relaxation and Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.
- Guided Community walks in Kidepo Valley National Park.
- Service of English-speaking guide or driver.
- 17 nights’ accommodation.
- Travel in a customized 4WD safari vehicle.
- Airport transfers.
Detailed Itinerary for 18-Day Uganda Wildlife and Primate Tracking Safaris
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked up by your driver/tour guide who will warmly welcome you, brief you and help you with your luggage into the car. You will then be transferred to your booked accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Sezibwa Falls then Mabira Forest and finally Jinja tour.
After early morning breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver at 6:00 am to begin your journey to Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda. The first stop will be at Sezibwa Falls, a Buganda cultural heritage site, with beautiful waterfalls and beautiful scenery. You will spend an adventurous hour hiking the rocks, identifying various bird species and learning more about these waterfalls, that is to say, history and the ancient traditional worship that is still practiced here.
We will continue our adventure by heading straight to Mabira Rainforest – the largest forest in Central Uganda. Upon your arrival, you will get briefed about the forest and what is expected of you. You will then set into the forest to search for different primates like the habituated Grey-cheeked Mangabeys and also different bird species. After your adventure in Mabira, you will continue with a drive to Jinja to check into your booked accommodation and have lunch. Later, you will set out for an hour boat ride on Lake Victoria to explore the Source of the Nile.
Day 3: Transfer from Jinja to Mbale then Sipi Falls and finally Mountain Elgon
After breakfast, you will check out of your safari lodge and drive out of Jinja, continuing eastwards through Mbale town to Sipi falls, a series of three stunning waterfalls situated in the foothills of Mountain Elgon in Kapchorwa District. We will have a lunch stop and continue with our journey to Kapchorwa. Upon your arrival, you will check into your lodge, have lunch and refresh.
Later head for a 3-4 hour trekking up and down the foothills of Mountain Elgon, visiting each of the three waterfalls and enjoying spectacular views from up Mountain Elgon to the flat plains of Karamoja in the distance as well as exploring the coffee and learning about growing. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer from Mt Elgon to Kidepo Valley National Park
After early breakfast, you will embark on a long drive to the northern part of Uganda to Kidepo Valley National Park. With a delicious lunch and dinner on the way. Upon your arrival, check into your booked safari lodge for dinner and overnight and get some rest.
Day 5: Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park
Wake up for an early cup of tea and head out for the early morning game drive. This will give a great opportunity for you to see the different wild games as they wake up from their slumber to feed and some to hunt for their prey. It’s an amazing adventure in Kidepo especially if you’re lucky to see the African Ostrich in its natural habitat or the Cheetahs.
This untouched beauty in Kidepo allows you to see the different wild games in their most authentic form with a lot of possible action and entertainment from these unpredictable creatures. Return to your lodge for a complete breakfast, get some time to relax and later after your lunch, you will head out for yet another adventure of a cultural encounter with the Karamajongs who have such an interesting culture. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Transfer from Kidepo Valley to Murchison Falls National Park
After early breakfast, checkout and depart for Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda’s national park. You will have a stop in Gulu town for lunch and then continue on your way to Murchison falls National Park, upon your arrival, check into your safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Early morning game drive and after launch cruise on the Nile
Wake up to a steamy fresh cup of tea/coffee and head out for an early morning game drive, a good time to see most of the wild game as they arise to the warmth of the African early morning sun. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast. Later after lunch, you will set out for a boat cruise on Albert Nile to the base of Murchison falls, the world’s strongest waterfalls. The cruise offers a lot of wildlife sightings along the Nile including hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and so many water birds. You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Murchison Falls then Albertine Rift Valley and Hoima
Check out of the lodge after breakfast, after making sure you have your entire luggage, we will exit the park, driving to Hoima with a stop in Masindi for lunch before proceeding to Hoima. Check into your safari lodge for dinner and overnight upon your arrival.
Day 9: Transfer from Hoima to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, driving along the scenic Albertine rift valley escarpment and verdant countryside. You shall have lunch in Fort Portal town before proceeding to Kibale Forest National Park. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Chimpanzee Tracking Kibale forest National
Wake up to an early breakfast at 6:30 am, thereafter you will transfer to the park offices for a briefing that will help you learn about the forest and the rules of tracking chimpanzees. After this short briefing, you will head into the forest with your packed lunch for a thrilling chimpanzee tracking. Be on the lookout for other primates in the forest as well as different bird species.
When you finally get to the Chimpanzee family you will be tracking, you will be allowed only an hour to view them and follow them around, observing them and taking pictures. Later, you will return to your lodge for refreshments and later head out for a nature walk at Bigodi Wetland, rich with primates and unique bird species among an array of wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Semiliki National Park
After breakfast, checkout and transfer to Semuliki National Park situated about two and half hours’ drive from Kibale Forest. Upon your arrival, venture out for a hike to the iconic Sempaya Hot Springs. Transfer to your accommodation (Semuliki Safari Lodge) for lunch and after you will set out for a game drive in the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve for some wildlife sightings which may include Uganda kob, reedbuck, savanna elephant, duiker, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog and birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast check out of the safari lodge and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have a stopover in Fort Portal town to have lunch and proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you drive through the park to get to your safari lodge, you will be treated to the most scenic landscape dotted with beautiful crater lakes, lush grasslands and maybe some wild game. Check into your safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Game drive and boat ride on Kazinga channel
Wake up to an early cup of tea or coffee and head out for an early morning game drive at 6:30 am to enjoy the amazing beauty of Queen Elizabeth national with a lot of expectation to see some interesting things in the wild at that time of the morning. Return to the lodge for breakfast and later after some time of relaxation and having had your lunch, you will set out for the afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga Channel – a natural stream of water joining Lakes Edward and George.
The channel is home to a variety of aquatic wildlife and attracts big game to drink water and cool off. Expect to see lots of hippos, buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, monitor lizards and so many birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, check out of your safari lodge and drive through the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a chance of sighting the Tree – Climbing Lions as well as several big games. Lunch en – route and proceed to southwestern Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – home of the Mountain Gorillas. Check into your booked safari lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 15: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park
Wake up to an early breakfast, pick a packed lunch and transfer to the park offices at 7:30 am for a briefing by the rangers. You are assigned the habituated gorilla group you shall track and by 8:00 am, you will set off into Bwindi Forest to find the gorillas. Spend an hour with the gorillas, enjoying their playful glee and taking pictures. Later, return to your safari lodge, get some refreshments and check out, you will travel to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale for a relaxed evening. Dinner and overnight at your booked safari lodge.
Day 16: Canoeing and Birding on Lake Bunyonyi
After a delicious breakfast, spend the day enjoying the relaxing air of Lake Bunyonyi and the magnificent highland scenery all around and later set out for a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi to explore its islands and look to identify the different bird species. Later after your adventure, you will return to the lodge for lunch set out for an evening hike of the highlands and visit local communities which are very welcoming and eager for visitors. Dinner and overnight at your booked safari lodge.
Day 17: Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, check out and travel to Lake Mburo National Park. Upon arrival at Lake Mburo, drive through the game trails and view different wildlife including zebras, impalas, buffaloes, elands, waterbucks and different bird species. Check into your accommodation (Mburo Safari Lodge), refresh and have lunch. Later you will set out for a relaxing evening boat ride on Lake Mburo and also view aquatic wildlife including hippos and aquatic birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 18: Nature Walk in Lake Mburo – Travel Back to Entebbe
Wake up for an early morning nature walk (with a game ranger) into the park for a chance to catch some nocturnal wildlife at close encounter. You could also opt for a horse ride for this experience. Return to the lodge for breakfast, check out and travel back to Entebbe to catch your evening flight back home. Lunch will be on the way. Make a stopover at the Equator point for some pictures for memory sakes; end of your Overlanding 18 days Uganda Wildlife Safari.
18-day Uganda wildlife and primate tracking safaris included
- Park fees (for non-residents).
- Gorilla permits (one per person, non-resident).
- Chimpanzee tracking permits (one per person, non-resident).
- All activities (unless labelled as optional).
- All accommodation (unless listed as upgrade).
- A professional driver or guide.
- All transportation (unless labelled as optional).
- All taxes / VAT.
- Roundtrip airport transfer.
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section).
- Drinking water (on all days).
However, 18-day Uganda wildlife and primate tracking excluded
- International flights (from to home).
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour.
- Tips (tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day).
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees).
- The government imposed an increase in taxes and or park fees.