21-Day Ultimate Pearl of Africa Safari

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Kara-Tunga Safari Camp

Budget tented camp located in Moroto (Karamoja)

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7

Full-Day Game Drives in Kidepo

Enjoy a full day of game driving through Kidepo’s two main valleys – the Narus Valley (wildlife hub) and the Kidepo Valley (home to ostriches, cheetahs, and greater kudu). Visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs – a fascinating geothermal feature. In the evening, enjoy a Karamojong community visit for a cultural dance performance.

Main Destination:

Kidepo Valley National Park

Accommodation:

Kara-Tunga Safari Camp

Budget tented camp located in Moroto (Karamoja)

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8

Transfer from Kidepo to Murchison Falls

After breakfast, drive south to Murchison Falls National Park (approx. 6-7 hours). En route, stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking – a 1-2 hour walking safari to observe white rhinos. Remember this is the only place in Uganda with rhinos. Continue to Murchison Falls, arriving in the evening.

Main Destination:

Murchison Falls National Park

Best Time To Visit December to February (Easier to spot animals)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Ikorom Safari Lodge

Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Murchison Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9

Murchison Falls – Game Drive & Nile Cruise

Wake before dawn for a sunrise game drive on the northern plains. Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, and Uganda kobs. After breakfast, enjoy a 3-hour boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls – one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife experiences. Watch hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds from the boat. After the cruise, hike to the top of the falls for the thunderous finale.

Main Destination:

Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation:

Ikorom Safari Lodge

Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Murchison Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10

Murchison to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, drive south to Kibale National Park (approx. 5-6 hours). The journey takes you through the scenic Rwenzori foothills, past tea plantations and crater lakes. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge. Try and relax and prepare for the most thrilling activity ever which is chimpanzee trekking the next day.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Chimp trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather January to February and June to July (Least rain)

Wildlife in Kibale NP

ChimpanzeeCommon

ElephantOccasional

BuffaloOccasional

LionVery Rare

LeopardVery Rare

HippoRare

GiraffeNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Lodge

Mid-range lodge located just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11

Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Swamp Walk

After breakfast, head to the Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing and chimpanzee trekking (2-4 hours). Kibale is home to over 5,000 chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. Once located, spend one hour with the chimps. In the afternoon, explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community-run swamp reserve teeming with birds, primates, and the Great Blue Turaco.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Lodge

Mid-range lodge located just outside Kibale NP (Chimps)

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 12

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth – Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, a 2-3 hour drive through scenic countryside. Arrive at your lodge and enjoy lunch with views of the vast savannah and Rwenzori Mountains. In the late afternoon, head out for an exciting evening game drive in the Kasenyi Plains. This prime wildlife area teems with Uganda kobs, which attract lions, leopards, and hyenas. Watch elephants, buffaloes, and warthogs roam the grasslands as the golden sunset casts a magical glow over the plains. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional

ElephantCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloCommon

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Enshama Game Lodge

Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 13

Kazinga Channel Cruise & Ishasha Lions

After breakfast, enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a 36-kilometer waterway with the highest concentration of hippos in the world. Spot elephants, buffaloes, and countless waterbirds along the banks. After lunch, drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions lounging in ancient fig trees. Continue to Bwindi for overnight.

Main Destination:

Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP)

Accommodation:

Bweza Gorilla Lodge

Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 14

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After early breakfast, proceed to park headquarters for briefing and gorilla trekking (2-6 hours). Enter the Impenetrable Forest with ranger guides and trackers. Once you locate the gorilla family, spend one hour observing the silverback, mothers, and juveniles. Watch them feed, play, and interact. The experience is profound and life-changing. Return to your lodge for a well-earned rest.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

LionNone

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Bweza Gorilla Lodge

Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 15

Batwa Cultural Experience & Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, enjoy a Batwa cultural experience – the original forest dwellers of Bwindi. Learn about their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle, music, and medicinal plants through guided forest walks. After lunch, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (2-3 hours), Africa's second-deepest lake. Arrive in the afternoon for relaxation. The stunning scenery of terraced hills rising from crystal-clear waters awaits.

Main Destination:

Batwa Experience (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Paradise Eco-Hub

Budget lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 16

Lake Bunyonyi – Canoeing & Island Exploration

Spend the day at leisure on beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Optional activities include canoeing to explore the 29 islands, swimming (the lake is bilharzia-free), community visits to Bakiga and Batwa villages, or simply relaxing at your lodge. The lake's stunning scenery – terraced green hills rising from clear waters – is the perfect place to unwind.

Main Destination:

Lake Bunyonyi

Accommodation:

Paradise Eco-Hub

Budget lodge located at Lake Bunyonyi

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 17

Transfer to Lake Mburo – Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park (approx. 4-5 hours). Enjoy lunch at your lodge, then head out for an evening game drive. Lake Mburo is known for its zebras, impalas, elands, giraffes, and buffalo. Birders will enjoy the over 350 species recorded here, including the rare shoebill stork and African finfoot.

Main Destination:

Lake Mburo National Park

Best Time To Visit January to February and June to August (Dry seasons)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather June to August and January to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

HippoCommon

LeopardOccasional

HyenaOccasional

ElephantNone

LionNone

CheetahNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Eagle's Nest Camp

Budget tented bush camp located just outside Lake Mburo NP