The Ultimate 18 Days Uganda Safari (The Pearl of Africa)

Itinerary Overview: 18 Days Uganda Safari

Do you dream of a safari to Uganda or a special encounter with a mountain gorilla? 18 Days Uganda Safari – The Pearl of Africa is the dream trip of a lifetime. Enjoy the beautiful African nature to the fullest during this unforgettable trip to Uganda!

Traveling with your own group? Our group tours are already guaranteed for 2 people!

Why is Uganda called the “Pearl of Africa”?

In his 1906 book “My African Journey”, Winston Churchill was the first to use the term “Pearl of Africa”. He was inspired by what he saw in Uganda of “magnificence, variety of shapes and colors, an abundance of wonderful life – birds, insects, reptiles and animals”. He therefore described the East African country as a fairy tale. It is therefore Winston Churchill that Uganda owes the nickname “Pearl of Africa”.

 Tour Summary

  • Safari is by flight & 4×4 Luxury land cruisers 
  • Gorilla trekking will be in Bwindi Forest National Park
  • A maximum 1 hour will be spent with the Mountain Gorillas
  • Accommodation before and after trip can be arranged on request at an extra cost

What you need to know

  • Accommodation is provided in Luxury/MidRange/Budget Lodges. 
  • Pack the right Gorilla trekking clothes
  • Tour can start any time of the year
  • The minimum age for the tour is 15 years 
  • A gorilla permit is included in the cost

Itinerary Gallery: Explore Pearl of Africa

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kisoro
impalas in Lake Mburo National Park
Kibale Forest National Park

Safari Highlights: 18 Days Uganda Safari

  • Day 1: Flight Amsterdam/Brussels to Entebbe
  • Day 2: Entebbe – Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Day 3 – 4: Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Day 5: Kidepo Valley National Park – Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 6: Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 7: Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 8: Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest
  • Day 9: Kibale Forest National Park
  • Day 10: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha)
  • Day 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kisoro/Bwindi
  • Day 14 – 15: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kisoro
  • Day 16: Kisoro/Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park
  • Day 17: Lake Mburo National Park
  • Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe – Flight Entebbe to Amsterdam/Brussels
What’s the real story?:

Itinerary Details: 18 Days Uganda Safari

Day 1: Flight Amsterdam/Brussels to Entebbe

Your journey begins! In the evening you will arrive at Entebbe International Airport. A short drive of approximately 15 minutes will take you to the Airport Guesthouse where you will spend the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 2: Entebbe – Kidepo Valley National Park

Today we leave for a long but beautiful trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is located in the far northeast of Uganda. In the afternoon we reach our accommodation Kidepo Savannah Lodge. This is where you will stay for the next few nights.

Drive Time: About 10 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 3 – 4: Kidepo Valley National Park

The next few days will be devoted to game drives, a walking safari, and a trip to the Kanangorok Hot Springs. You will also visit a Karamojong village (manyatta).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 5: Kidepo Valley National Park – Murchison Falls National Park

Today we travel further through the beautiful and still authentic northern Uganda. The next destination is Murchison Falls National Park. Here you will also stay in one of our own accommodations, namely Fort Murchison. You have a beautiful view of the Albert Nile and there is also a swimming pool.

Drive Time: About 7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 6: Murchison Falls National Park

The day begins with a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, followed by a boat trip on the Victoria Nile. You sail to the 45-meter-high Murchison Falls. After the boat trip, you drive game driven back to Fort Murchison.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 7: Murchison Falls National Park

Early this morning you will take a boat trip to the Nile Delta, where the Victoria Nile flows into Lake Albert. Then we make a game drive in the afternoon.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 8: Murchison Falls National Park – Kibale Forest

Today you leave for the primate center of Uganda, namely Kibale Forest. After lunch in Fort Portal, we drive on to Kibale Forest Camp. This property is located on the edge of the national park.

Drive Time: 10 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts.

Day 9: Kibale Forest National Park

Depending on the availability of the permits, you will have Chimpanzee Tracking in the morning or in the afternoon. You will be accompanied by rangers in search of one of our closest relatives, namely the chimpanzee. You also make the Bigodi Swamp Walk before or after the Chimpanzee Tracking. This is a beautiful walk through a papyrus swamp and agricultural area. There is a good chance that you will also see many small monkey species here.

In deviation from the normal day program, it is also possible to follow chimpanzees for a whole day. You do this Chimpanzee Habituation Experience together with a group of researchers and a ‘habituation team’ if permits are available. However, participating in this activity will void the Chimpanzee Tracking and the Bigodi Swamp Walk.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 10: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth National Park

We depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing the equator on the way. While the game is driven we then reach our accommodation The Bush Lodge. This is your accommodation for the coming nights.

It is possible to make an extra chimp walk here on day 10 (afternoon) or day 11 (morning) if permits are available. This is a 3-hour hike through the Kyambura Gorge gorge. However, if you decide to join this excursion, a game drive will be forfeited.

Drive Time: About 5 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park

This morning we start with a game drive and in the afternoon you take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha)

Today Ishasha is on the program. After all, Ishasha is known for its lions that climb huge fig trees to relax. They also use the trees as a lookout to look for prey.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kisoro/Bwindi

On this day we leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and depart for Kisoro. During the trip, we pass Lake Bunyonyi and you also have a beautiful view of the Virunga massif. This is a chain of volcanoes located in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You will spend the night at Gorilla Valley Lodge.

After lunch, you can also take a 14 km walk. This walk is not strenuous and takes you along a local road along the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. Then you continue walking through the hills above the lake. This is subject to change because it must fit within the time schedule. You must also pre-register for this activity.

Drive Time:  About 7 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 14 – 15: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kisoro

The day you’ve probably been looking forward to for a long time. Today you are going to meet the mountain gorillas! In groups of a maximum of eight people, you will go in search of the ‘ gentle giants ‘ accompanied by rangers. Once you have found them, you may stay with them for an hour. You can then spend the rest of the day as you wish.

Depending on the availability of the gorilla permits, the Gorilla Tracking is on the 14th or 15th day.

In deviation from the day program, it is also possible to do the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For four hours you will follow a not yet fully habituated mountain gorilla family with a group of researchers and a ‘habituation team’. This is subject to the availability of permits. However, participating in this activity will void the default Gorilla Tracking.

On the other day, you have a ‘free’ day that you can fill in as you wish. For example, you can enjoy the beautiful view from Gorilla Valley Lodge. However, you can also book one or more activities.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 16: Kisoro/Bwindi – Lake Mburo National Park

Today we leave for Lake Mburo National Park. After lunch at the Igongo Cultural Center, we arrive at your place to sleep, Mburo Eagles Nest. This accommodation is beautifully situated on a hill on the edge of the park.

Drive Time: About 8 hours

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 17: Lake Mburo National Park

We spend the whole day in Lake Mburo National Park. In addition to a game drive, you will also take a boat trip on Lake Mburo and a walking safari accompanied by a ranger.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation Options: Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts

Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe – Flight Entebbe to Amsterdam/Brussels

After breakfast, we drive for about 5 hours to Entebbe, where the Airport Guesthouse awaits you. Along the way, we also stop at the equator for lunch. There is also an opportunity to view the souvenir shops here.

After dinner at the Airport Guesthouse, you will be transferred to the Entebbe International Airport for the return flight.

Drive Time: About 5 hours

End of the 18 Days Uganda Safari

Cost Inclusions

  • Uganda gorilla trekking permit
  • Accommodation & meals as indicated
  • 4×4 safari vehicle
  • A professional English speaking knowledgeable driver guide.
  • Bottled drinking water on board
  • Flight fees
  • Activity fees

Cost Exclusions

  • International flights & Visas 
  • Tips
  • Drinks
  • Any changes to the itinerary 
  • Laundry

Transport 

  • 4×4 safari land cruiser for luxury travelers
  • 4×4 safari van for budget travelers

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