14 Days Uganda Safari Tour | Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Wildlife
The 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour is an extraordinary journey through Uganda’s most celebrated national parks, including Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Across two weeks, you will see elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffe, zebra, eland, waterbuck, Uganda kob, oribi and rhino during game drives and boat cruises, spend meaningful time with endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzees in Kibale, and experience one of Uganda’s most remote and rewarding parks, Kidepo Valley, along the way.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 14 days / 13 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala/Entebbe |
| Main destinations | Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest NP, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Lake Mburo NP |
| Key activities | Rhino tracking, game drives, cultural visits, boat cruises, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, walking safari |
| Physical level | Moderate to challenging |
| Best for | Travelers wanting the most complete Uganda safari circuit available |
Safari Highlights
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Wildlife and Karamojong cultural tour in Kidepo Valley National Park
- Game drive and boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
- Game drive and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Transfer to a hotel in Entebbe/Kampala |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Gulu via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park |
| Day 4 | Morning game drive and Karamojong cultural tour |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park |
| Day 6 | Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Kibale National Park |
| Day 8 | Chimpanzee trekking, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Day 9 | Morning game drive/lion tracking, afternoon boat cruise |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 11 | Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 12 | Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park |
| Day 13 | Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise |
| Day 14 | Walking safari and departure to Kampala |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to a Hotel in Entebbe/Kampala
Depending on your arrival time at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver-guide, briefed on the trip ahead, and transferred to your lodge in Entebbe or Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Gulu via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, your driver-guide will collect you for the start of the journey toward Kidepo Valley National Park. Since it is a long journey, you will break it up with an overnight stop in Gulu town. Along the way, you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a rhino tracking walk, followed by lunch and scenic views of the countryside and local communities as you continue north. On arrival in Gulu, check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park, Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, continue the journey to Kidepo Valley National Park, a drive of roughly 3 to 4 hours through landscapes of rolling hills, Karamojong manyattas and seasonal riverbeds. On arrival, check in at your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, head out for an evening game drive, taking in beautiful sunset views alongside giraffe, buffalo, elephant, zebra, lion, waterbuck, bushbuck and Jackson’s hartebeest. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Karamojong Cultural Tour
After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive in Narus Valley, a permanent water source in Kidepo Valley National Park that draws large concentrations of wildlife. You may spot lion, cheetah, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, buffalo, elephant, bushbuck, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and Uganda kob, along with bird species including ostrich, kori bustard, yellow-barbet, dark chanting goshawk, purple heron, yellow-billed shrike and Karamoja apalis. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a cultural tour to visit the Karamojong community living near the park. This is a chance to learn firsthand about their traditional way of life, including their cattle-centered economy and social customs, visit a homestead known as a manyatta, and enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off for Murchison Falls National Park, enjoying scenic views of the countryside along the way. On arrival, drive directly to the top of the falls for sweeping views of the waterfall and its surrounding spray. Continue to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive, watching for buffalo, Uganda kob, warthog, elephant, Jackson’s hartebeest, giraffe, waterbuck, lion, leopard and hyena, along with a variety of birds. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, drive to the Paraa jetty for a boat cruise to the base of the falls. Over roughly two hours, you will see hippo and Nile crocodile in the water, elephant, buffalo, warthog and antelope along the shore, and water birds including kingfisher, bee-eater, cormorant and fish eagle. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off on the full day’s drive to Kibale National Park in western Uganda, passing traditional homesteads, scenic countryside, the Rwenzori Mountains, crater lakes and tea plantations along the way, with a lunch stop en route. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early breakfast, check out and transfer to the park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. You will be placed in a small group and allocated a chimpanzee family and a park guide to lead you into the forest. Trekking typically starts around 8:00 a.m. and takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours, since chimpanzees move often in search of food, especially during the dry season. Along the way, you may spot red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and vervet monkeys, along with a variety of birds and plants.
Once found, you will spend one hour with the chimpanzees, observing their behavior, feeding and play. Afterward, trek back to the park headquarters, meet your driver-guide and transfer to the lodge for lunch, before continuing to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing crater lakes and tea plantations along the way. Check in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Morning Game Drive/Lion Tracking and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in the Kasenyi plains, watching for buffalo, Uganda kob, waterbuck, giant forest hog, elephant, bushbuck, lion, leopard and hyena, along with a variety of birds. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, the roughly 40-kilometer waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Starting around 2:00 p.m., the cruise rewards you with large concentrations of hippo and crocodile in the water, elephant, buffalo, warthog and antelope along the shore, and water birds including kingfisher, fish eagle, hornbill, cormorant and bee-eater. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector, with a chance to spot the tree-climbing lions lounging in tree branches during a short game drive. After lunch, continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, checking in at your lodge on arrival for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch and meet your driver-guide for the transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules, regulations and expectations. You will then set off into the forest with an experienced ranger-guide familiar with the trails.
Gorilla trekking typically takes between 30 minutes and 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are located. Along the way, you may spot other primates including chimpanzees and L’Hoest’s monkeys, along with a wide range of birds and plant life. Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend one hour observing their daily activities and behavior. Afterward, trek back to the park headquarters and return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, check out and set off for Lake Mburo National Park, enjoying scenic views of the countryside and Kigezi hills along the way. On arrival, head out for a short evening game drive, spotting buffalo, giraffe, oribi, impala, waterbuck and zebra. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive, spotting buffalo, waterbuck, eland, impala, oribi, giraffe, zebra, topi and warthog. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat cruise, spotting hippo and Nile crocodile in the water, alongside buffalo, waterbuck, impala, giraffe and warthog along the shore. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Walking Safari and Departure to Kampala
On your final morning, enjoy an early breakfast, check out and head out for a guided walking safari, getting up close with wildlife and birdlife on foot in the cool morning air. Afterward, begin the journey back to Kampala, with a lunch stop en route and a stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photos and souvenirs. On arrival, your driver-guide will drop you at Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight, or at a location of your choice.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Safari Price Includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Rhino tracking fee
- Park entrance fees and game drives
- Boat cruise fees
- Lion tracking experience
- Walking safari
- Karamojong cultural tour
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation
- Ground transfers in a 4×4 vehicle
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry, porter fees and tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kidepo Valley National Park worth the extra travel time?
Yes. Kidepo Valley is one of Africa’s most remote and least-visited parks, offering wildlife including cheetah and large lion populations rarely found elsewhere in Uganda, plus a genuine Karamojong cultural experience, making the extra distance well worth it for travelers with time to spare.
How many national parks does this 14-day tour cover?
This itinerary covers six parks and reserves: Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable and Lake Mburo National Parks, plus Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included in the price?
Yes, both the gorilla trekking permit and the chimpanzee trekking permit are included in the safari price.
Is this itinerary physically demanding?
Overall, it is moderate to challenging, mainly due to the length of some travel days and the physical demands of gorilla trekking. Game drives, boat cruises and the walking safari are accessible to most fitness levels.
Book Your 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour
For travelers who want to see the very best of Uganda in a single trip, from the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley to a quiet hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi, this 14-day itinerary is Uganda’s most complete safari circuit.
Get in touch to check availability and start planning your 14 Days Uganda Safari Tour.