35 Days Uganda Safari Trip

Best of 35 Days Uganda Safari Trip – Self Drive East Africa

35 Days Uganda Safari Trip is an amazing long vacation and involves exploring over 8 national parks and some of the country’s finest reserves. This package combines primate adventures, big game viewing safaris, bird watching, cultural experiences and nature walks.

Detailed 35 Days Uganda Safari Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: Pick up, drive to a hotel

Pick up at the Entebbe Airport by your driver guide in Uganda and you will be transferred to your pre-booked hotel in Entebbe or Kampala.

Accommodation

  • Forest Cottages/Buzinga Country Resort (Budget)
  • Protea Hotel Kampala/Cassia Lodge (Midrange)
  • Serena Hotel Kampala/Pearl of Africa Hotel (Luxury)

Day 2: Kampala-Mabira Forest for birding

Depart Kampala for Mabira Forest, a spectacular rainforest that is perched in the middle of two cities –Kampala and Jinja.

This rainforest contains over 315 bird species, 218 butterflies, 312 species of trees and unique primates like mangabeys. You will have a long day exploring interesting birds of Mabira Forest including Cassin’s honey guide, Narina trogons, Scaly francolins, Yellow-billed barbets, Grey-green bush shrikes, Red-capped robin chat, Red headed bluebill, Little greenbul and more.

Accommodation

  • The Rainforest Lodge

Day 3: Mabira-Jinja, half day white water rafting & drive to Sipi Falls

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast and today, you will be visiting Jinja. Arrive early and be part of the half-day white rafting along the Source of the Nile where you will be conquering the tough grades and rapids, especially grade 4 and 5.

Return from your exhilarating water sport and have lunch in one of the hotels/restaurants in Jinja city.

White-Water Rafting Jinja

Set off from Jinja for Sipi Falls by car and you will be viewing the stunning landscape and extensive farms en-route. The Sipi Falls is composed of 3 waterfalls located in varying elevations of 85, 65 and 100m.

Accommodation

  • Sipi Falls Lodge
  • Sipi Valley Resort
  • Sipi Coffee Lodge

Day 4: Hike Sipi & depart for Pian Upe

After breakfast, you will embark on a hike to the Sipi Falls with a local guide. Your 3-4-round hike comes with mesmerizing views of the triple waterfalls and scenic surrounding. Head off to the Northeastern Uganda to Pian Upe Reserve, an extensive nature reserve measuring up to 2043sq.km.

Accommodation

  • UWA Bandas
  • Karamoja Overland Camp

Day 5: Game viewing in Pian Upe

Enjoy a hefty breakfast and you will embark on a full-day game/wildlife viewing and bird watching. Your long day sightings include faunal species such as buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, antelope families and birds such as secretary birds, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Karamoja apalis, superb starling, African eagles, cormorants, darters and others.

Accommodation

  • UWA Bandas
  • Karamoja Overland Camp

Day 6: To Amudat (Birding tour)

Set off from Pian-Upe to Amudat situated at the border with Moroto. This is one of the best places to locate the Somali-Masai biomes plus the Sudan guinea savanna species.

Day 7 to 8: Birding in Amudat

Have a hot cup of tea/coffee and after, you will have two-day long birding excursion in Amudat. Different birds to identify include the red-billed hornbills, Karamoja apalis, Eastern paradise whydahs, Dark chanting goshawk, grey headed silver bill, and more.

Day 9: To Kidepo

Leave Amudat for Kidepo NP -1442sq.km protected area, home to more than 77 mammals, 475 species of birds. Gazetted in 1962, Kidepo harbors diversity of animals including aardwolf, dik-dik, mountain reedbuck, cheetahs, caracals, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, hartebeest, cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas, zebras, and others.

Accommodation

  • Apoka Safari Lodge-Luxury
  • Kidepo Savanna Lodge-Midrange
  • Apoka Rest Camp-Budget

Day 10: Birding in Kidepo

Enjoy a tasty breakfast and after, begin your birding expedition in Kidepo Valley National Park.

A check-list of over 475 species of birds all reside within Kidepo and today, expect to identify birds such as Abyssinian rollers, black-breasted barbet, Abyssinian scimitar bill, rufous chatterer, Northern carmine bee-eaters, D’arnaud’s barbets, Red-throated bee-eaters, Jackson’s hornbills, Fox kestrel, Rose-ringed parakeet, Purple grenadier, Karamoja apalis, Golden pipit, Pygmy falcons, White bellied go-away bird, Kori bustards and others.

Accommodation

  • Apoka Safari Lodge-Luxury
  • Kidepo Savanna Lodge-Midrange
  • Apoka Rest Camp-Budget

Day 11: Game drive –full day

Begin your day with a tasty breakfast and you will embark on a long-day game drive to explore Kidepo Valley National Park’s diverse wildlife.

The main area of interest will be the Narus Valley and variety of mammal species will be encountered including leopards, lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and many antelope families. Lots of birds will be sighted while at Namamukweny Valley including the purple herons, Abyssinian ground hornbills and more.

Accommodation

  • Apoka Safari Lodge
  • Kidepo Savanna Lodge
  • Apoka Rest Camp

Day 12: Morning game drive and Kanangorok hot springs

Your day will start with early morning breakfast and you set off for a morning game drive to search for wildlife you missed the previous day.

Day sightings will include among others elands, zebras, roan antelopes, caracals and others. You will also be visiting the Kanangorok hot springs then return to the lodge for overnight stay.

Accommodation

  • Apoka Safari Lodge
  • Kidepo Savanna Lodge
  • Apoka Rest Camp

Day 13:  To Murchison Falls NP

Early morning breakfast and after, you will be traveling to Murchison Falls National Park (KVNP). The park is situated in Northwestern Uganda and holds about 451 species of birds, 76 mammal species and more.

Accommodation

  • Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
  • Fort Murchison/Pakuba Lodge
  • Red Chili Camp

Day 14: Game drive and Launch cruise (day activities)

Have breakfast and you will set off for the 6:00am game drive via the Northern track in a 4×4 tourist car.

The long-day game drive includes spotting wildlife species such as leopards, lions, oribis, Uganda Kobs, elephants, Jackson hartebeest, cape buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, and birds. Return to the lodge where lunch will be served and enjoy some refreshment.

Murchison Falls

You will be part of the boat/launch cruise for 2-3 hours on the Victoria Nile. The aquatic species to expect to encounter today include Nile crocodiles, hippos and birds.

Accommodation

  • Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
  • Fort Murchison/Pakuba Lodge
  • Red Chili Camp

Day 15: Delta boat cruise and evening game drive

It is the day to explore and experience the delta and you will be taking a boat in the morning. This is an area to spot lots of birds like shoebill storks, grey crowned cranes, wildlife and more.

Accommodation

  • Paraa Safari Lodge/Bakers Lodge
  • Fort Murchison/Pakuba Lodge
  • Red Chili Camp

Day 16: To Budongo Forest

It is a remarkable day to visit the top of the falls and Budongo Forest for birding safaris. Set off in the morning and at the top of the falls; observe the Nile River while it forces itself into a narrow rock measuring 7-8m then plunges 43m. After photography at the top of the falls, connect to Budongo Forest.

This is a natural rainforest, home to diversity of primates and birdlife such as Jameson’s wattle eye, white-spotted fluff tail, crowned eagle, yellow-browed carmoroptera, Cassin’s spine tails, Cameroon sombre greenbul, blue throated rollers, little green sunbirds and others.

Accommodation

  • Budongo Eco-Lodge

Day 17: Bird watching in Budongo

A long day bird search starts in the morning and variety of forest and endemic species of birds will be spotted.

Your sightings for day include yellow-throated greenbul, Nubian woodpeckers, white-fronted black chat; Arrow marked Puvel’s illadopsis, black lured and brown babblers, sooty chat, African crowned eagle, Western black headed oriole, Ituri batis and more.

Day 18: To Kibale

Have early morning breakfast and you will be picked up ready for your road trip to Kibale National Park. This is a 795sq.km park, home to more than 200 butterfly species, 13 species of primates, and 375 species of birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
  • Midrange: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 19: Chimpanzee trekking & guided nature walk at Bigodi

After briefing, you will be transferred to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for briefing about regulations for chimpanzee trekking. The actual trek through Kibale Forest to see chimpanzees starts in the morning at 8:00am and it will run for 2-3 hours including one of up close and personal with chimpanzees.

Other primates to encounter include Uganda mangabeys, galagos, l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and also several birds.

Lunch will be enjoyed at your accommodation, relax till in the afternoon when you will be led through Bigodi wetland. The 2 hour walk with local guide in Bigodi wetland comes with great sights of primates plus other mammals, and birds like the Great blue turacos.

Chimpanzee trekking Kibale

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali Lodge
  • Midrange: Primate Lodge
  • Budget: Isunga Lodge

Day 20: Kibale to Semuliki

Enjoy breakfast in the morning and after, your driver guide will you up from your respective lodges. Drive from Kibale to Semuliki National Park where 441 species of birds including the Congo-biome species, and 53 species of mammals. Have a relaxed stay at the lodge in or around the park.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Ntoroko Game Lodge
  • Budget: Kirimia Guesthouse

Day 21: Birding

It is the day to immerse yourself into Semuliki wilderness for a long day birding excursion. Today, you will be spotting birds such as African piculet, Chestnut-flanked goshawk, Black-wattled hornbill, Grey-ground thrushes, Red-rumped tinker bird, Eastern bearded greenbul, Brown-crowned eremomela, Black-winged starling, Shoebill stork, Black-collared lovebird and others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Ntoroko Game Lodge
  • Budget: Kirimia Guesthouse

Day 22: Nature/forest walk & night game drive

Take your breakfast in the morning and you will embark on a guided walk along the 8km Sempaya trail. This is a 3-hour walk to the Sempaya hot spring while also spotting some interesting primates.

To enjoy a close view of the hot spring, you will walk through the boardwalk. Late in the afternoon, set off for a guided night game drive through the park while spotting amazing nocturnal species like leopards, nightjar birds and others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Semuliki Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Ntoroko Game Lodge
  • Budget: Kirimia Guesthouse

Day 23: To Queen Elizabeth Park

Enjoy an early morning breakfast and set off for morning birding sighting through Semuliki NP. You will return to check out and then head off to Queen Elizabeth NP by car. Arrive early to enjoy lunch and also spend the better part of the day relaxing at the lodge.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Elephant Plains
  • Budget: Kazinga channel resort

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Day 24: Kasenyi game drive and boat cruise

Embark on a guided game a drive through Kasenyi Plains where you will be spotting dozens of small and large mammal species.

This particular sector gets you exposed to myriad of wildlife species including large herds of cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, warthogs, spotted hyenas, birds and several antelope families. Your Kasenyi game drive will last for 2-3 hours and you get back to the lodge to have lunch, and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will again be picked up ready for an exciting boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The 2 hour remarkable launch cruise offers a great chance for you to spot Nile crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic species of birds.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Elephant Plains
  • Budget: Kazinga channel resort

Day 25: To Maramagambo Forest –birding expedition

Have a delicious breakfast in the morning and today, you will head off to Maramagambo forest, a lush natural rainforest most endowed with primates and bird species.

At Maramagambo Forest, you will be sighting diversity of bird species including the papyrus canary, Chapin’s flycatchers, pygmy kingfishers, Verreaux’s eagles, corncrakes, black-rumped buttonquail, Rwenzori turacos and others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Jacana Safari Lodge
  • Budget: Maramagambo Campsite

Day 26: To Kyambura Gorge & Bwindi

Leave Maramagambo Forest for a scenic drive to Kyambura Gorge, home to diverse primate species and birdlife. You will embark on a short birding excursion and expect to spot bird species such as Northern brown throated weaver birds, red-chested sunbird, black bee-eaters and more.

From Kyambura gorge, set off for Bwindi, driving via Ishasha area where you will likely to spot the tree climbing lions and other mammals, birds and more. Have a delicious lunch break en-route and proceed to the spectacular Bwindi NP in the far Southwestern Uganda.

This park spans over 331sq.km and holds over 200 colorful butterfly species, 11 primate species, 1000 flowering plant species, 360 species of birds and more.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Silverback Lodge
  • Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 27: Gorilla trekking plus visit to the Batwa pygmies community

After breakfast, you will depart your lodge for briefing at Buhoma sector where you will get to learn about gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Today, you will be assigned to a family of mountain gorillas in the Northern sector of Bwindi NP and spend about 2-6 hours in the jungle.

gorilla Uganda

An hour will be enjoyed face-to-face with a group of mountain gorillas and then get back to the lodge for relaxation. Late in the afternoon, be led to the Batwa community for authentic cultural experience involving exploring different traditions and cultures of the Batwa pygmies.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Silverback Lodge
  • Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 28: To Ruhija sector for birding tour

Enjoy a hefty breakfast and you will be transferred to Ruhija area in the Eastern edge of Bwindi. This is one of the best regions for birding for you to identify birds such as yellow-eyed black flycatchers, Doherty’s bush-shrikes, brown-capped warblers, Rwenzori nightjars, and so many others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Ruhija Safari Lodge
  • Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
  • Budget: Gift of Nature Lodge

Day 29: To Mgahinga National Park

Depart from Ruhija for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Kisoro district. A brief stopover will be made at Echuya Forest for you to enjoy a short bird watching excursion and over 150 species of birds all live here including the purple breasted sunbird, grauer’s swamp warblers, Dusky crimson wings, white-napped raven and others.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Midrange: Traveler’s Rest Hotel
  • Budget: Golden monkey Guesthouse

Day 30: Golden monkey trekking

Report to Ntebeko reception for briefing about golden monkey tracking regulations and for the park official to allocate the park guide to lead you through your entire search for golden monkeys.

About 2-4 hours will be spent in the wild looking for golden monkeys and once you locate them, maximum of one hour will be spent face-to-face with these strikingly stunning creatures. Utilize the one hour to also take as many pictures as you can and later, start walking back to the lodge for a relaxed afternoon.

You may also consider embarking on a boat ride along Lake Mutanda with local guide taking you through your excursion.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Midrange: Traveler’s Rest Hotel
  • Budget: Golden monkey Guesthouse

Day 31: To Lake Mburo NP

Begin your long day road trip to Lake Mburo National Park located in Western Uganda, home to 350 species of birds, several mammal species including cape buffaloes, waterbucks, hyenas, leopards, hippos, zebras, impalas, elands and topis.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge/Mihingo Lodge
  • Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Rwakobo Lodge
  • Budget: Rwonyo Camp

Day 32: Explore Lake Mburo full day

Set off for your morning game drive in a 4×4 tourist car, expecting to encounter lots of mammals and birds. Your day sightings may include leopards, waterbucks, buffaloes, elands, reedbucks, impalas, hyenas, and more.

In the afternoon after the leisurely lunch, you will embark on a guided launch cruise on Lake Mburo where you will be spotting crocodiles, hippos and water birds.

Lake Mburo

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge/Mihingo Lodge
  • Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Rwakobo Lodge
  • Budget: Rwonyo Camp

Day 33: Cycling/Nature walking & return to Entebbe

Have a delicious breakfast, followed by a guided cycling tour or nature walking around the park. After, you will be heading back to Entebbe for relaxation at the hotel.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Hotel No.5
  • Midrange: The Boma Hotel Entebbe
  • Budget: Papyrus Guesthouse

Day 34: Mabamba wetland birding

Set off for your long day bird watching in Mabamba swamp. On Mabamba wetland, you will be searching for the shoebill stork and plenty of other avifaunal species including the papyrus gonoleks, blue swallow, common squacco herons, swamp flycatchers, African jacanas and more.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Hotel No.5
  • Midrange: The Boma Hotel Entebbe
  • Budget: Papyrus Guesthouse

Day 35: Depart back home

Have a delicious breakfast at leisure and you will check out of the hotel. Connect to Entebbe airport to clear with authorities and today, you will be departing back home marking the end of 35-day trip.

End of 35 Days Uganda Safari Trip


35 Days Uganda Safari Trip Inclusions

  • Park entry fees
  • Golden monkey permit
  • Gorilla trekking permit
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Game drives
  • Boat cruises
  • All trip activities but not optional ones
  • Bottled water
  • Accommodation & meals
  • Travel by road
  • Safari driver/park guide services

Exclusions – 35 Days Uganda Safari Trip

  • Tips
  • Laundry
  • Telephone
  • Extra hotel fees
  • Travel Insurance, etc

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