16 Days Uganda Safari Tour, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Wildlife, Scenery, & Community Uganda Tour

16 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Overview

16 Days Uganda Safari tour is a wonderful 16 days Uganda trip, offering you a chance to climb the Rwenzori Mountains for 3 (three) days, enjoy gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, game viewing, source of the Nile, Community, and beautiful scenery seeing.

This 16 days Uganda tour will allow you to enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park, home to 50% of the Mountain gorillas on earth.

You’ll also undertake island hopping on Lake Bunyonyi– the most beautiful lake in Uganda holding over 29 scenic islands.

Our 16 days Uganda vacation further offers you an opportunity to explore the rich cultural communities around Lake Mburo NP. You’ll have a chance to encounter the beautiful long-horned Ankole cattle!

While on this 16 days Uganda safari holiday, you’ll encounter a range of game animals.

Among these include Elephants, Zebras, tree-climbing Lions, Hippos, Crocs, Leopards, Buffaloes, and numerous antelopes in Queen Elizabeth and Mburo National Parks.

This 16 Days Uganda safari tour boasts also chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and a scenic hike to Fort Portal Crater Lake Field Area.

In addition, you’ll enjoy the Amabere caves hike and further undertake amazing cycling tours in the spectacular tea estates of Mpanga.

Please note that this 16 Days tour in Uganda features a combination of tourism places intended to offer you a memorable African safari experience!

16 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Highlights

• Day 1: Arrive in Uganda and transfer to your lodge
• Day 2: Do half day white water rafting in Jinja and undertake an afternoon boat cruise to the Source of the Nile
• Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP. Have an en-route stop at Uganda Equator Kayabwe. Do an evening game walking safari in Mburo national park
• Day 4: Undertake an experiential cultural tour to the Banyankole community and after transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
• Day 5: Undertake a whole day of Island hopping and transfer to Mgahinga national park
• Day 6: Do volcano climbing to any of the 3 (three) volcanic Mountains: Muhabura Sabinyo, and Gahinga.
• Day 7: Undertake Batwa Trail Experience and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP
• Day 8: Enjoy a mountain gorilla trekking adventure and attend to memorable the Bakiga/ Batwa traditional performance from your lodge.
• Day 9: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth park. Undertake a game drive in the Ishasha sector en route to spot tree-climbing Lions
• Day 10: Enjoy a morning game drive, an afternoon Kazinga channel boat trip, and then transfer to Kasese
• Day 11, 12 & 13: Enjoy 3 days adventure hike to the Rwenzori Mountains- explore the Mahoma trail
• Day 14: Undertake morning Chimpanzee trekking & afternoon Bigodi wetland walk
• Day 15: Enjoy a hike to Fort Portal Crater lake field, tour Amabere Ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves, Mpanga tea estate cycling, and drive back to Kampala
• Day 16: Departure

16 Days Uganda Safari Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive In Uganda And Transfer To Your Lodge

You will meet our safari guide at the Entebbe airport when you arrive in Uganda, who will be pleased to welcome you to the Pearl of Africa.

You will then be driven to your lodge where you can unwind, have dinner, and spend the night.

Additionally, you’ll receive a brief about your 16 days Uganda trip.

Accommodation Includes: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 2: Do Half Day White Water Rafting In Jinja And Undertake An Afternoon Boat Cruise To The Source Of The Nile

After breakfast, you’ll start your 2-hours picturesque drive to Jinja town, which is 80km from Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

This breathtaking drive will take you via the stunning city outskirts before sugarcane plantations at Lugazi and Mabira Forest. You’ll eventually reach Jinja, the capital for white water rafting in Africa.

The fabled Nile River begins its 6650km long journey from Lake Victoria in Jinja town to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt.

The world-class rapids on the Nile emerge as a result of the series of impermeable rocks it encounters along the way.

For adventure lovers on African safaris, the Nile River in Jinja town offers world-class white water games.

You will always paddle with a group of experts who will be there to rescue you in case water hits you off the raft.

After your rafting adventure, you’ll link to the cruise to the source in the afternoon. The boat trip to the source of the Nile is a wonderful experience as it gives you the chance to see lovely birds, such as Kingfishers.

The boat cruise to the source of the Nile will allow you to step at the spot where John Speke stood as the first European to find the Nile’s source.

This will take you back in time when the source of the legendary Nile River enticed great men into uncharted territories. The area is ideal for photo shoots!

After, the thrilling source of the Nile cruise, you’ll transfer to Kampala to unwind, have supper, and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 3: Transfer To Lake Mburo NP. Have An En-Route Stop At Uganda Equator Kayabwe. Do An Evening Game Walking Safari In Mburo Park

After breakfast, depart for a 3-4 hour drive to Lake Mburo National Park at around 6:30 am.

You’ll stop at the Uganda Equator Monument in Kayabwe (77km drive from Kampala) for memorable photo shoots while standing in either hemisphere of the world.

Geographers can have fascinating experiments, such as the equator water experiment, to show how the northern and southern hemispheres are geographically separated.

After this break, you leave and travel to Mburo national park. After checking in, you’ll rest up for lunch and some leisure time.

During the evening, you’ll undertake a game walking safari! This will take you through the lovely acacia plains and also offer you fantastic views of the park.

On this guided hike, you’ll encounter numerous game animals such as:

• Impalas
• Giraffes
• Zebras
• Topis
• Warthogs
• Water-bucks
• Bush-bucks and,

Also, you’ll encounter several acacia-dwelling birds such as Bare-faced-go away birds, Ruppell’s Starling, and even Double-toothed Barbets among others.

You’ll retire from the activity move back to your lodge, have dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Includes: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 4: Undertake An Experiential Cultural Tour To The Banyankole Community And After Transfer To Lake Bunyonyi

By 6 am, you’ll be up and moving to the Enyemebwa Center to meet the herd’s men as they wake to milk and do other daily tasks. You’ll also have a chance to take part in:

• Hand milking of Ankole long-horned cattle
• Caring for sick animals
• Brushing the cows as well as,
• Participating in cattle grazing in the wild.

Following this experience, you’ll retire and head to a traditional cottage where women still use churning gourds to churn milk.

You can also further visit banana plantations here and you can participate in weeding and pruning using local methods.

After, you’ll participate in the preparation of a traditional meal

Retreat from the activity and travel to Lake Bunyonyi– the most beautiful lake in Uganda. You can choose to have a delicious traditional lunch at Igongo Cultural Center before heading to Lake Bunyonyi for relaxation, dining, and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 5: Undertake A Whole Day Of Island Hopping And Transfer To Mgahinga National Park

After breakfast, you’ll spend the entire day exploring the main islands of Lake Bunyonyi by going island hopping.

You’ll visit the Bucurunuka (Upside down) Island, which is thought to have buried people alive! A legend has it that, an elderly woman cursed it upside down after people refused to offer her a local brew.

Also, you’ll explore the Akampene (Punishment) Island: Akampene is an amazing historical island where unmarried pregnant girls were taken in ancient days to die of hunger or drown while trying to escape.

This was done to create fear among other girls at home from getting pregnant before marriage!

Other islands in Bunyonyi include Njuyera Island, which served as a traditional Leprosy treatment facility, Bushara, and Kahugye Island.

This memorable adventure will also expose you to different local activities including how locals process the local beer.

You’ll retreat from the adventure and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park along the picturesque Kabale Kisoro road.

You’ll arrive, check in at your lodge have dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Alternatives: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 6: Do Volcano Climbing To Any Of The 3 (Three) Volcanic Mountains: Muhabura Sabinyo, And Gahinga

After a leisurely breakfast at your lodge, you’ll drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters for a briefing at 8 am.

After a briefing from a senior park ranger, you’ll set off on a hike to a volcano of your choice.

Among Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura volcanoes, you choose one to hike.

Sabinyo Mountain (3,669 m) hike: A round-trip of the Sabinyo Mountain hike takes about 8 hours and covers approximately 14km.

This mountain offers the best hiking experience and no previous experience is required.

You can be in 3 (three) countries at once if you climb to the third peak. These comprise the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Hiking Gahinga Mountain (3,474m): A hike of mount Gahinga takes about 6 hours to and fro. Along the Gahinga hiking trail, you’ll encounter Golden Monkeys, especially in the bamboo zone.

A hike to Muhabura Mountain (4,127m): This is the tallest volcano in Mgahinga national park. Muhabura volcano round trip hike takes about 8 hours and covers over 12km.

Hiking to the top of Mt. Muhabura offers you great views of the Bwindi forest and Mount Rwenzori, especially on clear days. You’ll further have great views of all the 3 countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo plus all volcanoes in the Virunga chain.

Retreat from the day’s adventure and connect to your lodge for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Comprises: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 7: Undertake Batwa Trail Experience And Transfer To Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Visitors undertaking safaris in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla NP have a golden opportunity of exploring the unique and rich culture of the Batwa (Pygmy) people.

Pygmies are endangered people who initially lived in this forest of Mgahinga national park before it was gazetted park.

This marginalized group of people was evicted from the forest (in the early 1990s) and currently, they’re only allowed in the park only when they’re to undertake the Batwa trail experience for visitors.

The Batwa Trail Tour begins at the Ntebeko Visitors’ Center at around 8 am and lasts for 5-6 hours.

On this Uganda cultural experience, you’ll be led by professional Batwa guides who will demonstrate their amazing traditional customs and how they used to survive in the forest. For example, they’ll show you:

• All medicinal plants they could use
• Demos on how they could harvest wild honey
• Show you how they could make bamboo cups and tree houses and,
• Hunting skills.

This memorable and unique cultural encounter ends with amazing traditional dance and songs of the Pygmies at the Ngarama cave– a historical home for the King of Batwa. You’ll truly have a remarkable time with the pygmy people!

After the experience, you’ll retreat and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable NP reaching in the evening. Check-in at your lodge, and have dinner as well as overnight.

Accommodation Options Include: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 8: Enjoy A Mountain Gorilla Trekking Adventure And Attend To Memorable The Bakiga/ Batwa Traditional Performance From Your Lodge

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is an unforgettable experience that gives you a chance to encounter the gentle giants in their natural habitat.

You’ll have an early breakfast and then transfer to park headquarters for a briefing at 8 am before.

After the briefing, you’ll be joined by a group of trackers, park guides, rangers, and porters into the musty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The trekking can take about 2-8 hours depending on the movement of Mountain Gorillas.

On spotting the shy forest giants, you’ll enjoy them feeding, playing, and grooming. You’re only allowed to spend one full hour with them and you are free to take as many photos as you can. Flash-less cameras are recommended.

During gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park, you can get a chance of spotting other wildlife in Bwindi forest such as colorful birds, and animals such as Forest Elephants, Buffaloes and arrange of plant species.

After, you’ll trek back to park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate. Then, move to your lodge for lunch and relaxation since most gorilla treks in Bwindi end before lunch.

During the evening time, you’ll enjoy traditional and breathtaking cultural performances of Bakiga or Batwa people who live adjacent to the park headquarters. These people have enchanting tunes and vibrant dance moves that will brighten your evening.

Accommodation Options Comprises: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 9: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth Park. Undertake A Game Drive In The Ishasha Sector En Route To Spot Tree-Climbing Lions

After your breakfast, you’ll drive to Queen Elizabeth NP, passing through Ishasha, a region of the park famous for its magnificent tree-climbing lions.

You’ll spot these mysterious tree-climbing lions amazingly resting up in Fig tree branches watching their prey the Uganda kobs that are grazing in the Savannah plains.

Continue your journey north, arriving at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening. You’ll check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 10: Enjoy A Morning Game Drive, An Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Trip, And Then Transfer To Kasese

After an early breakfast at your lodge, you’ll meet our knowledgeable driver guided by around 7 am to undertake a morning game drive in the picturesque plains of the Kasenyi area.

On lucky days, travelers can spot predators like lions or Hyenas hunting!

On this 3-4 hours game drive, you’ll encounter numerous birds and animals of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Among the animals to look out for include:

• Lions
• Leopards
• Elephants,
• Buffaloes
• Warthogs
• Striped Jackals
• Spotted Hyenas and,
• Numerous antelope species such as Uganda kobs, Oribis, Water-bucks, and Bush-bucks, etc.

After this great experience, you’ll drive back to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation as you get ready for a thrilling boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.

Kazinga channel boat cruise offers you a memorable close encounter with over 100s of Hippos submerged in water, resident crocodiles basking in sun on channel banks, plus numerous bird species around.

Also, animals such as Elephants, Buffaloes, and numerous antelope species are rarely missed along the channel banks.

In brief, this 2 hours cruise offers a fantastic photo session, game viewing, and bird-watching in Queen Elizabeth park.

You’ll retract from the cruise and connect to Kasese, arriving in the evening for some relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Includes: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 11, 12 & 13: Enjoy 3 Days Adventure Hike To The Rwenzori Mountains- Explore The Mahoma Trail

Day 11: Trek from Ibanda to Omu’ka Kizza Rest Camp (2.977m)

After your early breakfast, you’ll undertake a hike to the legendary Mountains of the Moon that rise over 5109m above sea level.

This mountain holds snow-capped peaks all year round and holds the highest amount of glaciers in Africa.

On the 1^st day, you’ll hike through the Kyambogho forest ridge.

Along the hike, you’ll have amazing panoramic views of the beautiful Mubuku valley and you’ll encounter a range of primates counting the rare L’hoest Monkeys and Blue Monkey.

During, the hike usually around 2,160m elevation, you can encounter the beautiful Rwenzori Turaco and further hear the amazing pant-hooting calls of Chimpanzees in the forest.

This hike will take you up to Omu’ka Kiiza Rest Camp which is at 2,977m above sea level. From this point, you’ll have great stunning views of Kasese town, and Rwenzori Mountain foothills.

You’ll camp in the mountain for an overnight.

Day 12: Hike From Omu’Ka Kizza Rest Camp To Lake Mahoma

You’ll wake up early have your breakfast and start the hike to Lake Mahoma along the Mahoma hiking trail.

This amazing forest walk will lead you across a narrow, picturesque hill that rises to a height of 3,515m and is covered in moss.

You’ll also travel through a rich forest of massive heather trees coated in layers of bright green moss.

While on this hike, you’ll amazingly follow the stunning footprints of Elephants through the bamboo and heather forest.

On a lucky day, you might spot some as they take water in the hot spring.

This hike will lead you to Rukenga Valley, home to giant Lobelias and everlasting flowers.

After this, you travel to Mahoma Lake Camp where you spend the night and have dinner.

You can see Mount Stanley, Mount Baker, and the Portal Peaks from the Camp if the skies are clear.

Day 13: Mahoma Lake to Ibanda

After an early breakfast, you’ll have a hike around this spectacular lake before making your way back to the beginning through the Nyabitaba ranger station and the Mpanga ridge.

The memorable trek will take you back to Ibanda via Mubuku valley, where you’re more likely to spot the rare three-horned Chameleon.

From Ibanda, you’ll meet your guide and drive to Kibale National Park, arriving in the evening for some downtime, dinner, and overnight.

Accommodation Options: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 14: Undertake Morning Chimpanzee Trekking & Afternoon Bigodi Wetland Walk

You’ll enjoy an early breakfast and then move to Kibale park headquarters where an expert park ranger will brief you at 8:00 am.

He’ll share the don’ts and dos while undertaking chimpanzee trekking.

After, the briefing you’ll move into the jungle in search of the man’s closest cousins.

Chimps share 98-99% of DNA similar to that of man! The trek can take about 2-5 hours depending on the location of the Chimpanzees.

On encountering them you are limited to one magical hour and you’ll watch them:

• Feeding
• Kissing
• Swinging in trees
• Grooming
• As well as get to hear about their strange pant-hooting calls.

You are free to take as many photos as you can however, use a flash-less camera.

Normally, while tracking Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, visitors encounter various beautiful birds and amazing primates such as:

• Olive Baboons
• Red-tailed Monkeys
• Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys
• Vervet Monkeys
• Blue Monkeys and,
• L’hoest’s Monkeys, etc.

After this memorable adventure, you’ll trek back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation as you get ready for an afternoon scenic walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Bigodi wetland Sanctuary ranks top among the spectacular and bio-diverse protected wetlands in Uganda. Among others, this wetland holds over 200 bird species and 8 primate species.

During your guided walks in Bigodi wetlands, you’ll spot birds like the beautiful Great-blue- Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek.

Primates such as Red-tailed Monkeys, Black-and-white Colobus, and Vervets Monkeys as well as Baboons and Uganda Mangabeys are residents here!

You’ll retire from this lovely adventure and return to your lodge for some relaxation, supper, and sleep.

Accommodation Options: Budget, Mid-range, and Luxury

Day 15: Enjoy A Hike To Fort Portal Crater Lake Field, Tour Amabere Ga’ Nnyinamwiru Caves, Mpanga Tea Estate Cycling, And Drive Back To Kampala

You’ll have a leisurely breakfast and then transfer to a visit to Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru cave and the Fort Portal Crater Lake tour.

On your arrival, you’ll be gladly welcomed by a resident who has a rich cultural history of this great cultural site of Uganda.

You’ll undertake a hike to Amabere Ga Nnyinamwiru cave– the breast-like features that drip a white substance believed to be the breasts of Nyinamwiru by locals.

A legend has it that, Nyinamwiru was a beautiful daughter of the great King Bukuku of the Batembuzi Dynast during the 14^th century.

Her breasts were cut off and thrown in this cave due to her refusal to get married to a man that her father had selected for her.

Amazingly, up to date, locals greatly believe that the white dripping substance is probably milk from Nyinamwiru’s breasts!

Remember, Batembuzi are believed to have been demi-gods, they have supernatural powers!

You’ll retreat from this unique cultural encounter and undertake a hike to Fort Portal Crater Lake Field.

On reaching the hilltop of this scenic hilltop, you’ll have great views of the spectacular crater lakes such as Lake Kigere, Wabikele, and Saaka.

Furthermore, on a clear day, visitors can have gorgeous distant views of the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains.

After the selected activity, you’ll drive to Fort Portal town. From here, you’ll connect to Mpanga Tea Estate for cycling tours in the rolling green tea plantation, which holds a stunning environment that’s perfectly explored on a mountain bike.

While cycling in this beautiful tea estate, you’ll encounter staff plucking tea leaves and you are free to participate also for a great experience.

You’ll retire from the activity and embark on a 300km drive to Kampala which takes about 5-6 hours.

Accommodation: Budget: Banda Inns, Basic: Buziga Country Resort

Day 16: Departure

This day is set out for your departure back home through Entebbe Airport

End Of The 16 Days Uganda Safari Tour

Safari Inclusions

• Full-time English expert safari driver-guide
• 4×4 safari van (4×4 safari land cruiser)- all with pop-up roof for game viewing with a functioning A/C
• Full board accommodation
• Fees for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits
• Fees for a boat cruise
• Entrance fees in all tourist places mentioned
• Free Wi-Fi Internet within a safari vehicle
• Bottled water on a trip

Safari Exclusions

• Visa fees
• Laundry services
• Items of personal nature
• International and domestic flight fees
• Tips for a safari guide among others
• Other personal beverages (drinks) like alcohol
• Other safari activities not mentioned in the itinerary above