An infant gorilla climbing on a silverback

Home · Safaris · The Ultimate Uganda

21 Days The Ultimate Uganda

Three weeks, the whole country: Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, the gorillas, Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo — then the Nile at Jinja and the waterfalls of Sipi.

For people with time. Three weeks lets the trip breathe: two nights almost everywhere, a full rest day on Lake Bunyonyi in the middle, and the east of the country — Jinja and Mount Elgon — which most itineraries never reach.

At a glance

Length21 days, 20 nights
Gorilla treksOne
Parks and placesZiwa · Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Ishasha · Bwindi · Lake Bunyonyi · Lake Mburo · Jinja · Sipi Falls
Starts and endsEntebbe International Airport
AccommodationFull board throughout, in the lodges named below
PriceQuote on request, for your dates and group — ask Titus

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive at Entebbe

    We meet you at the airport. If you land early, the botanical gardens are a gentle first walk.

    Overnight: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

  2. Day 2

    Ziwa rhinos, then Murchison Falls

    North to Ziwa to track white rhino on foot, lunch, then on to Murchison.

    Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge

  3. Day 3

    Murchison — game drive and the Nile

    A morning drive on the north bank; in the afternoon, the boat upstream to the foot of the falls, and the climb to the top if you want it.

    Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge

  4. Day 4

    To Kibale Forest

    South through tea plantations and rolling hills to the forest.

    Overnight: Kibale Forest Lodge

  5. Day 5

    Chimpanzees and Bigodi

    Chimpanzee tracking in the morning; in the afternoon, the Bigodi wetland walk, a project the community runs itself — monkeys, birds, butterflies.

    Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp

  6. Day 6

    To Queen Elizabeth

    Past crater lakes and tea estates to Queen Elizabeth, in time for an evening drive on the Kasenyi plains.

    Overnight: Enshama Game Lodge

  7. Day 7

    Game drive and the Kazinga Channel

    A morning game drive, and the afternoon boat on the Kazinga Channel.

    Overnight: Enshama Game Lodge

  8. Day 8

    Ishasha and the tree-climbing lions

    South to the remote Ishasha sector, and an afternoon looking for lions in the fig trees.

    Overnight: Ishasha Pride Lodge

  9. Day 9

    To Bwindi

    Into the hills and the forest, through villages and mountain scenery.

    Overnight: Silverback Lodge

  10. Day 10

    Gorilla trekking

    The day the whole trip turns on: one to six hours in the forest, and one hour with a gorilla family.

    Overnight: Silverback Lodge

  11. Day 11

    A forest walk, then Lake Bunyonyi

    A guided walk on the forest edge in the morning, then down to Lake Bunyonyi.

    Overnight: Birdnest Resort

  12. Day 12

    A day on Lake Bunyonyi

    Nothing scheduled. A boat among the islands if you want one, and otherwise the lake.

    Overnight: Birdnest Resort

  13. Day 13

    To Lake Mburo

    East to the smallest of the savannah parks, in time for an evening drive.

    Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Lodge

  14. Day 14

    On foot at Mburo, and on the water

    A walking safari with a ranger among zebra and giraffe, then a boat on the lake for hippos and waterbirds.

    Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Lodge

  15. Day 15

    To Jinja

    East through Kampala and the Busoga countryside to Jinja.

    Overnight: Kingfisher Safaris Resort

  16. Day 16

    The source of the Nile

    The point where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, a boat on the river, and the town’s markets and old colonial streets.

    Overnight: Kingfisher Safaris Resort

  17. Day 17

    The Nile, wet or dry

    White-water rafting with professional guides — or, if that is not for you, a quieter river cruise or a ride along the banks.

    Overnight: Kingfisher Safaris Resort

  18. Day 18

    To Sipi Falls

    East to the foothills of Mount Elgon, and a free afternoon in the cool air.

    Overnight: Sipi River Lodge

  19. Day 19

    The three falls, and the coffee

    A day’s walk to Sipi’s three waterfalls through villages and Arabica coffee farms, finishing with a cup of it overlooking the falls.

    Overnight: Sipi River Lodge

  20. Day 20

    Back to Entebbe

    Most of a day on the road back to Entebbe, with stops on the way.

    Overnight: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

  21. Day 21

    Departure

    We take you to the airport.

What is included

  • Vehicle, fuel and a driver-guide throughout
  • All accommodation as listed, full board
  • Park entrance fees, boat trips, the Mburo walk and the Sipi hike
  • One gorilla permit and one chimpanzee permit, booked in your name
  • Rhino tracking at Ziwa
  • Bottled water in the vehicle
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off

What is not

  • International flights and visas
  • White-water rafting (optional, priced on request)
  • Travel insurance — required, see booking terms
  • Drinks, tips and personal spending

About the gorilla permit

The permit is included in the price and bought in your name from the Uganda Wildlife Authority — currently USD 800 each for foreign non-residents, less in April, May and November. We pass it through at cost and send you the reference number so you can see it is real.

UWA takes full payment when the permit is booked and does not hold them, so a trek is only confirmed once the permit is paid. How permits work →

Get a quote for this trip

WhatsApp us