19 Days Safari in Uganda

Detailed itinerary of a 19-day safari and tour in Uganda 

Below we can get a glimpse of a 19-day trip in Uganda.

Day 1: Arrival to Entebbe

On this day, you will be picked up by one of our experienced and knowledgeable tour guides from Entebbe International Airport. The guide will brief you about the whole 19-day tour in Uganda and transfer you to the hotel for overnight.

Don’t hesitate to ask for any assistance with money changing and also ask to be dropped at the mall if you need to get anything before the next day. 

Accommodation in Entebbe 

Day 2: Entebbe-Jinja 

On day 2, after early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Jinja, which is 2 hours drive from Kampala. Jinja has been dubbed the adventure capital of East Africa as it boasts various adrenaline activities such as Bungee jumping, zip lining, whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, and so much more.

While in Jinja, the activity done in the morning is optional and not included in the price (pay on your own). In the afternoon hours after lunch, you will visit a local market in Jinja and then proceed for a boat cruise to the source of the Nile, which is the longest river in the world.

Accommodation in Jinja 

Day 3: Jinja – Mount Elgon National Park

On the third day, you will be leaving Jinja town for Mount Elgon National Park. The park is home to the mighty Mount Elgon, which boasts East Africa’s oldest physical feature and the world’s largest solitary volcano.

There are a lot of activities to do at Mount Elgon National Park, such as hiking the splendid Sipi Falls, cave exploration, coffee tours, abseiling, mountain climbing, hiking, cultural encounters with the Bagisu and Sabiny tribes, nature walks, birding, and so much more.

After arriving at Mount Elgon, you will have lunch and then go for a 3-hour hike to Kapkwai Cave. The hike is tough but worth it as you get to see the highest peak on a clear day. You will pass through diverse vegetation and spot various birds and primates.

Accommodation in Mount Elgon National Park 

Day 4: Mount Elgon National Park

On day 4, you will have an exciting day! The day will start by hiking the most spectacular waterfalls in Uganda, a series of three waterfalls cascading Mount Elgon. The hike takes you through the village, and you will encounter and learn a lot about the local people.

After hiking Sipi Falls, you will have lunch and then go for a coffee tour in the village. Most locals in Mount Elgon earn income through coffee farming; this experience will take you through the whole process of coffee growing, harvesting, roasting, and grounding.

After the coffee-growing experience, you will be able to enjoy coffee with local farmers in a traditional homestead.

Accommodation in Sipi town 

 Day 5: Mount Elgon National Park—Moroto

On the 5^th day, you will continue your journey to the Karamoja region in the northeastern part of Uganda, which is home to the vibrant Karamojong people with exceptional culture and a unique way of dressing. As soon as you arrive in Moroto, you will check in to a hotel and then relax.

In the evening, you will go for a nature-guided walk in Moroto to the foot of Mount Moroto, where you will also visit the Karamojong museum at the foot of the mountain and get to learn more about the Karamojong people.

Accommodation in Moroto

Day 6: Kraal Encounter 

On the 6^th day, you will have a close-up encounter with the Karamojong people by visiting their traditional homesteads. Enjoy African traditional dances, music, and drama as you learn more about the Karamojong people.

You can get involved in their day-to-day activities and perhaps get to taste some of their traditional meals or learn how to prepare traditional foods.

Accommodation in Moroto or camping at the Kraal

Day 7: Moroto – Kotido – Kaabong

On day 7, we shall drive further north to Kaabong via Kotido. You will have a stopover in Kotido and visit the largest village in East and Central Africa. These vibrant villages are dotted with traditional homesteads of the Karamojong.

You will have a tour of the village, then hike a small hill for a better view and great photography. After the hike, we shall pass by the sliding rock and then continue our journey to Kaabong.

Accommodation in Kaabong 

Day 8: Kaabong

After breakfast in Kaabong early in the morning, you will drive to the mountain slopes of Mount Morungole, which is home to the smallest ethnic tribe in Uganda. The Ik tribe lives at the top of Mount Morungole, bordering Kidepo Valley National Park.

You will hike to the Ik homesteads and learn more about their unique way of life, quite different from the Karamojong people. On a lucky day, you will also be able to meet the Turkana pastoralists from Kenya or visit a local cattle market.

Accommodation at Kaabong 

Day 9: Kaabong – Kidepo Valley National Park 

On day 9, we shall move to Kidepo Valley National Park, a natural wonder and one of the most spectacular national parks in Africa. Kidepo is a true pristine wilderness, boasting some wildlife species not found in other Ugandan national parks.

Upon arriving at the park, you will take an evening game drive and then check in to the lodge and rest.

Accommodation in Kidepo

Day 10: Kidepo – Murchison Falls National Park

We shall have an early morning game drive in Kidepo and then return to the lodge to freshen up and drive to Murchison Falls National Park. You will have enroute lunch in Gulu town and then continue the journey. You will arrive at Murchison Falls late in the in the evening and check-in to the lodge.

Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park 

Day 11: Murchison Falls National Park 

Wake up at the breathtaking Murchison Falls National Park and go for an early morning game drive. After breakfast at the lodge, you will get back to the lodge midmorning, freshen up, have lunch, and go for a memorable boat cruise to the world’s strongest waterfalls.

The boat cruise to the falls is done in the world’s longest river, teeming with lots of wildlife at the banks and various water birds. You will also be able to see hippos and crocodiles during the cruise. When you reach the bottom of the falls, you will disembark and hike to the top of the falls.

The views at the top are breathtaking as the Nile River forces through a narrow gorge flowing in a placid stream to Lake Albert. You will find your guide waiting at the top of the falls, and you will go for a short game drive and proceed to the lodge for dinner and rest.

Accommodation in Murchison Falls 

Day 12: Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest National Park 

You will continue your adventure to Kibale Forest National Park from Murchison Falls and get amazed by the transformation of savannah grasslands to moist rainforests.

Upon arrival at Kibale National Park, you will do a nature-guided walk at Bigodi Community Wetland Sanctuary, a community-based organization at the edge of Kibale Forest National Park. You can support the locals by buying handcrafted materials made from the swamp raw materials.

At Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, you will be able to spot various species of primates, birds, butterflies, and so much more.

Accommodation in Kibale Forest National Park 

Day 13: Kibale Forest Park 

Kibale Forest National Park is a primate paradise renowned to be the best place for chimpanzee trekking in the world. Kibale Forest harbors up to 13 species of primates. Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale starts with a briefing from the park headquarters before embarking on a tremendous journey to the jungle forests.

Time taken during the chimpanzee trekking activity will depend on the speed of the trekkers and the location of the chimpanzees.

Accommodation in Kibale National Park 

Day 14: Kibale National Park—Queen Elizabeth National Park 

On day 14 of your 18-day tour in Uganda, you will move to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Kasenda Crater Lake area, where you will have a picnic lunch at one of the 65 explosion craters in the area before proceeding to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will do a game drive and check in to the lodge for dinner and rest.

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Day 15: Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Wake up early morning for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park and get to see some nocturnal animals early morning. Return to the lodge, freshen up, have lunch, and prepare for an afternoon boat cruise at the splendid Kazinga channel.

The Kazinga channel connects Lake George and Lake Albert and boasts as the world’s longest natural channel, teeming with high concentrations of hippos and several crocodiles. You will also get to see various water birds and numerous animals at the shores in the afternoon hours.

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth Park 

Day 16: Queen Elizabeth National Park —Ishasha—Bwindi Forest National Park 

We shall move to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, popularly known for the tree-climbing lions and large herds of elephants, and proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Accommodation in Bwindi Forest Park

Day 17: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park 

Day 17 is one of the most exciting days of the trip as you get to encounter human close relatives in one of the most sought tourist activities in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are endemic to Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi National Park in Uganda.

The trekking starts early in the morning with guidelines from the park rangers and the allocation of gorilla families. You will be accompanied to the misty forests by a ranger guide in search of mountain gorillas. Once you find the family, you will be given an hour to strictly watch from a distance and take photographs.

Accommodation in Bwindi National Park 

Day 18: Bwindi National Park—Entebbe

Day 18 brings us to the end of our 18-day tour in Uganda. You will drive back to Entebbe with a stopover lunch at the equator. You will reach Entebbe late evening and check-in to the lodge for dinner and prepare for your flight the next day. 

Day 19: International flight 

Depending on your flight, the driver will drop you off at the airport for an international flight back home.