Discover the captivating wonders of Uganda with this itinerary
This wildlife adventure takes you to two of Uganda’s biggest and best national parks: Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley – two very different locations. Explore vast savanna wildernesses in search of big game like elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe and buffalo but also some of the fascinating smaller creatures like mongoose and rock hyrax. Both parks also offer outstanding bird watching including target species like Shoebill, Secretary Bird and Karamoja Apalis. Explore on game drives, safari walks and boat cruises for different wildlife experiences. And this would not be a Ugandan safari without at least one primate experience – this time the chimpanzees of Budongo forest.
In addition to the wildlife, this safari offers a deep dive into the daily life and culture of Uganda’s most remote tribe, the Ik, as you take a full-day hike to their mountain home and receive a warm welcome. Discover more about Uganda’s tribal cultures as you watch a traditional music and dance show back in Kampala.
While this safari takes you to Uganda’s vast wild places, you can still travel in comfort, staying in superb locations with great views and with attentive staff, ready to ensure you enjoy your stay.
Note: some level of fitness is needed for the mountain hike but, like all our sample itineraries, it can be adjusted to suit you. In this case, we can swap the Ik visit with a less strenuous visit to the Karamojong tribe – also in Kidepo.
Tour Highlights
Rhino tracking
Take a guided nature walk around the sanctuary and see the rhino up close, along with other animals. Learn about the sanctuaries conservation efforts.
Chimpanzee tracking
You will go tracking chimpanzees in Budongo forest. Once you find them, you will spend an hour watching their daily activities and behavior.
Nature walk in Kidepo
Take a 2-3 hour guided nature walk in this park to get closer to the animals like Giraffe,Zebra and other things that would be difficult to see through the vehicle.
Encounter the Ik people
Hike to Mt Morungole and visit one of the most endangered tribes in Uganda the Ik tribe and learn about their culture as your enjoying the breath-taking views over the park.
Shoebill search
Take a canoe ride through the swamp in a local dugout canoe towards the main body of L. Victoria, in search of the globally threatened Shoebill and other water birds.Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Evening arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Day 2: Shoebill search in Mabamba wetlands. Relax at your hotel
Day 3: Behind the scenes at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Fly to Kidepo. Game drive
Day 4: Enjoy a nature walk in Uganda’s wilderness. Game drive.
Day 5: Full-day Mountain hike to visit the Ik tribe
Day 6: Full day relaxation at your lodge
Day 7: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park via Gulu. Top of the falls.
Day 8: Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Boat cruise and sundowner
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest. Relax at your lodge
Day 10: Travel to Ziwa. Rhino tracking. Travel to Kampala. Ndere cultural performance
Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe. Craft shopping. Flight Home
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 -Evening arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel, a short drive from the airport. S/he will stay with you throughout your holiday.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel – Entebbe.
Meal plan: Depending on your time of arrival, meals will be available for purchase at the hotel.
Day 2 - Shoebill search in Mabamba wetlands. Relax at your hotel
06:00 drive to Mabamba Wetlands and take a canoe ride through the swamp channels in a small local fishing boat, in search of water birds like Papyrus Gonolek and the globally threatened Shoebill (3-4 hours). Return to your lodge for lunch and have a relaxed afternoon perhaps by the swimming pool or birding in the hotel gardens.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel – Entebbe.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3 - Behind the scenes at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Fly to Kidepo. Game drive
09:00 enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre responsible for conservation education in Uganda. Learn about the resident animals and participate in feeding some of them for example lion, giraffe, elephant or chimps (2 hours). Later at 13:00 enjoy a domestic flight to Kidepo Valley national park, arriving at 14:30. Enjoy a late lunch at your lodge on arrival. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses with the savannah being home to a host of wildlife including lions, large herds of elephants, buffalos and antelopes. It’s also home to over 475 bird species and offers outstanding landscapes where savannah meets mountains. Check-in to your lodge and, in the late afternoon, explore this amazing park in search of these resident species!
Accommodation: Adere safari lodge – Kidepo Valley national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Enjoy a nature walk in Uganda’s wilderness. Game drive.
08:00 take a 2-hour guided safari walk in this park to get closer to the animals and see things that would be difficult to see from the vehicle like dens, tracks and carcasses. Later, take an evening game drive, in this stunningly beautiful park, and look out for zebra, eland, and impala.
Accommodation: Adere safari lodge – Kidepo Valley national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5 - Full-day Mountain hike to visit the Ik tribe
Take a guided hike up Mt Morungole and visit one of the most remote tribes in Uganda, the Ik. The landscape is breath-taking, and you will be rewarded with beautiful views over the park. The Ik are former hunter-gatherers who live on the extreme north-eastern corner of the country. Learn about their culture, lifestyle, traditions as they welcome you and show you around their villages. After this encounter, prepare to come down the mountain (2 hours) and return to your lodge.
Accommodation: Adere safari lodge – Kidepo Valley national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6 - Full day relaxion at your lodge
After an adventurous day with the IK tribe, take a well-earned rest at your lodge. Relax on your private balcony overlooking the park or spend time by the pool near the watering hole where the animals come to drink. There are some activities on pay as you go basis. Spa treatments and massage are also available.
Accommodation: Adere safari lodge – Kidepo Valley national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Travel to Murchison Falls national park via Gulu. Top of the falls.
08:00 drive for approx. 5 hours to Gulu, an ancient slave trading town full of history. Have lunch and continue to Murchison Falls National park – Uganda’s largest conservation area approx. 2 hours away. On arrival, check into your lodge on the banks of the River Nile and later, visit the top of the falls for magnificent views over the falls and the park.
Accommodation: Twiga safari lodge – Murchison Falls national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8 - Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park. Boat cruise and sundowner
06:00 your day starts in this amazing park while animals are most active. Search for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, antelope, and tropical birds. After lunch at your lodge, you will enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on the Nile (3 hours). Look out for hippo, crocodile and water birds on the riverbanks. On your return, continue for a sundowner as you relax and watch the sun set.
Accommodation: Twiga safari lodge – Murchison Falls national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9 - Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest. Relax at your lodge
Transfer to Kaniyo Pabidi (1 hour) for your 07:30 briefing before your ranger takes you tracking chimpanzees in Budongo forest. Once you find your chimp family, you will spend an hour watching them go about their daily activities in their natural habitat. After a late lunch, relax at your lodge and see what’s happening down on the Nile.
Accommodation: Twiga safari lodge – Murchison Falls national park
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Travel to Ziwa. Rhino tracking. Travel to Kampala. Ndere cultural performance
08:00 transfer to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary (approx. 2 hours away). On arrival, take a mid-morning guided nature walk around the sanctuary and see the rhino up-close, along with other animals and birds. Have lunch at Amuka Lodge and continue your journey to Kampala (approx. 3 hours). Later, at 18:00, visit Ndere Cultural Centre for an evening traditional music and dance performance (only on Wed, Fri and Sun)
Accommodation: Latitude 0o – Kampala
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe. Craft shopping. Flight Home
After a lazy start, you will transfer back to Entebbe and visit a craft shop to look for souvenirs for friends and family. A day room will be available at the hotel for your use up to 21:00. You could perhaps go swimming or simply relax in the hotel gardens. Your guide will later transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Extend or customise this itinerary
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary. Simply get in touch.
Relax in comfort
This itinerary features a selection of mid-range properties. We are looking for a good location; somewhere clean, safe and comfortable. We want good service, good food and, where possible, strong responsible travel practices. We are happy to suggest alternative properties and properties in different price brackets.
Responsible travel highlights
We offer fabulous holidays that have a positive impact. We consider people and planet as much as profit and try to ensure, that overall, your visit to Uganda is a force for good. We don’t claim to be perfect but we actively try.
Responsible Accommodation
Many lodges also support their communities by sourcing their food locally and providing jobs. Some also use renewable energy, harvest rainwater and have responsible waste management policies.
Authentic cultural visits
An itinerary can guide travelers through a journey that not only showcases the highlights of a destination but also immerse them in the local culture,traditions, and way of life of people.
Expert local knowledge
Together, our team has extensive local knowledge which we use to design your holiday. And our guides enrich your experience by sharing their local knowledge – from wildlife to culture.
Inclusive economic growth
Fees paid to community projects and site guides play a crucial role in distributing tourism benefits more broadly within the community and stimulating local development.Our guests regularly spot…
Rhino
Chimpanzee
Giraffe
Zebra
Elephant
Lion
Oribi
Jackal
Hippo
Eland
Buffalo
Crocodile
Wart hog
Mongoose
Various primates
Insects and butterflies
Various reptiles
Numerous bird species
Where the tour goes
Tour Gallery
Tour information
Duration: 10 nights/ 11 days
Tour Type: Private
Price: Please contact our travel consultants who will be happy to provide detailed price information and options
Included in this price
1 Chimpanzee tracking permit each
1 domestic flight each
Double room accommodation with a full-board meal plan as indicated on the in the itinerary
Private 4x4 safari-modified Land Cruiser with English-speaking driver/guide and fuel for this itinerary
All entrance and other fees for the activities included in the itinerary
Mineral water in transit
All government taxes
Not included in this price
International flights
Visas
Travel insurance
Personal expenses: alcohol, laundry services and souvenirs
Drinks during meals
Tips (normally 5–10% and around $10 per person, per day for your guide)
Read our Important Booking Information page for booking terms and conditions, payment information and insurance advice.
What Rodrigue says about this safari…
This safari is perfect for those seeking a blend of culture, wildlife, and relaxation. Don’t forget to pack your hiking shoes for an enriching adventure on Mt Morungole to the Ik tribe.
Rodrigue, Venture Uganda Senior Guide
Extend & Customise
If you have specific interests or target species we will be happy to suggest alternative and additional activities that fit this itinerary.
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Got any questions?
If there’s anything you’re not sure about or you would just like to chat about this itinerary, email: philo@ventureuganda.org. Tell me when you’re free, leave a contact email/whatsapp No. and I’ll be in touch.
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