15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday – The Ultimate Explore Tour in Uganda

15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday to Wildlife Adventure, Birding, Chimpanzee Tracking, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, and Cultural Experience. 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday offers wonderful adventure opportunities in the favorite visitor destinations in Uganda – the pearl of Africa. Designed to allow for immense and gratifying experiences on your visit to Uganda, it is suitable for different types of travelers such as small groups’ trips, family safari holidays and anyone who seeks a classic wildlife and gorilla experience.

This 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday offers wonderful adventure opportunities in the favorite visitor destinations in Uganda – the pearl of Africa. Designed to allow for immense and gratifying experiences on your visit to Uganda, it is suitable for different types of travelers such as small groups’ trips, family safari holidays and anyone who seeks a classic wildlife and gorilla experience.

On this 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday, you will get to visit the magnificent Kidepo Valley National Park in Northern Uganda, and then Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. You will then continue to the southwestern part of Uganda into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – where you will track mountain gorillas for your once in a lifetime experience. Finally, after Bwindi, you will go to Lake Mburo for some more game and unbelievable herds of Zebra and birds to lead you off to Kampala and Entebbe.

On this 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday, you will see animals like Giraffes, Zebras, Lions, elephants, Uganda kob, chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, birds, and crocodiles, among so many others. The beauty and diversity of nature, wildlife and people’s cultures and ways will only astound you – and make your safari even the more memorable.

15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday Highlights

Destinations: Entebbe, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Fort Portal, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha sector of QENP, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Mburo National park, Entebbe.

Activities: Game Drives in various National parks, Boat rides, Bike rides to Craters in Kibale, Cultural visits, Chimpanzee tracking, Nature walks, Gorilla trekking, Tea plantation visits.

Summarized 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday

• DAY 1: Arrival in Uganda
• DAY 2: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park
• DAY 3: All day Game drive to the hot springs
• DAY 4: Morning Nature Walk, and afternoon Community visit
• DAY 5: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
• DAY 6: Morning game drive, and afternoon Boat cruise to the falls
• DAY 7: All day drive to Fort Portal
• DAY 8: Chimpanzee trekking and biking around the crater regions in Kibale
• DAY 9: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Evening Game drive
• DAY 10: Morning game drive, and an Afternoon Boat Ride on Kazinga Channel
• DAY 11: Drive to Ishasha sector, and Game drive for tree climbing lions
• DAY 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• DAY 13: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• DAY 14: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park and an evening Game drive
• DAY 15: Morning Nature Walk, and return to Entebbe for departure

 

Detailed 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday

DAY 1: Arrival in Uganda

Today you will arrive at Entebbe airport and you will be welcomed by your designated Ultimate Uganda Safari guide. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have an optional city tour of Entebbe town. Entebbe was the colonialists’ administrative center and has many buildings that date over half a century ago. The name Entebbe means “the chair” in Luganda, which is the local language of the area. You may also choose to visit Entebbe botanical gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education center (Entebbe Zoo).

• Journey time – 1 hour
• Destination: Entebbe Airport
• Accommodation: Check-in at Haylo Hotel in Lubowa
• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

 

DAY 2: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park

Today you will start the long drive from Entebbe heading north to Kidepo Valley National Park. Gazetted as a National Park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent. Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses with a picturesque savannah landscape extending far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. You will arrive at your accommodation late in the evening.

• Journey time – 12 hours
• Destination: Kidepo Valley National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Kidepo Savannah Safari Lodge
• Activities: Scenic Ultimate Uganda Safari Long Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park from Kampala.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch En-route, and Dinner

DAY 3: All day Game drive to the hot springs

After breakfast, you will embark on an extensive all day Game drive in Kidepo valley national park. You will carry a packed lunch and with the company of a ranger guide, start your search for the animals and birds of Kidepo. The park ranger will help you spot the lions that may be sitting on the valley’s various rocks. Other wildlife includes elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, bush pig, ostrich, buffalo and much more, in the wild Narus Valley.
The game drive will traverse open plains that extend past Kanangorok Hot Springs towards mountains across the Sudanese border. This is the part of the park where ostriches are most commonly seen. At the hot springs, you will take a brief walk to observe and photograph.

• Destination: Kidepo Valley National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Kidepo Savannah Safari Lodge
• Activities: Scenic Ultimate Uganda Safari Game Drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, Wildlife, and Culture.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 4: Morning Nature Walk, and afternoon Community visit

Kidepo Valley National Park offers a range of nature walks depending on your strength or preference. Shorter guided walks of around two hours can be taken through the Narus Valley extending over a 5km radius from Apoka Tourism Centre. The walk to Lomej Mountains can be last four hours, the hike starts at 7 am. Guests can also wander along the splendid Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive Borassus palm forest. Namamkweny Valley can be reached in one hour from Apoka.

In the afternoon you will take a visit to a willing community of Karimojong. Discover the unique culture of this remote people with the Lorukul Cultural Group, located just outside Kidepo Valley National Park. Their main livelihood is herding livestock, and the social and cultural importance will be explained as you walk with the guides to the traditional Karamojong manyattas (homesteads), granaries and cattle enclosures. Learn how the villagers make their distinctive beads, sample the local cuisine, and even learn the people’s folklore and beliefs.

• Destination: Kidepo Valley National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Kidepo Savannah Safari Lodge
• Activities: Scenic Ultimate Uganda Safari Game Drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, Wildlife, and Culture.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 5: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

This morning you will leave Kidepo and head south for Murchison Falls National Park. The park is the largest wildlife reserve in Uganda and is divided by the famous River Nile into two almost equal halves – where it has to squeeze itself through the legendary Murchison Falls, an impossibly narrow 7-meter gap in a cleft rock that creates the powerful explosion of white water. You will have a game drive in the evening as you drive to your accommodation.

• Journey time – 5 hours
• Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Safari Scenic 5 hour drive to Murchison Falls National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 6: Morning game drive, and afternoon Boat cruise to the falls

After an early breakfast, you will proceed for a Game drive in the park where Elephant, Cape buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbuck are commonly seen. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, bush duiker, warthog, and bush pig. Large carnivores in Murchison falls National Park include lion, leopard and spotted hyena. After lunch, go for a boat cruise upstream the calm Victoria Nile.

On the boat ride, marvel at the toothsome hippos, crocodiles and over this 17 km stretch you may see elephant, waterbuck, and Uganda Kob. This is also a zone of many bird species like Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. The boat will stop just tens of meters from the sinister, frothing and bubbling base of the falls.

• Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Pakuba Safari Lodge
• Activities: Scenic Ultimate Uganda Safari Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park, Boat Cruise, and Hike to the Murchison Falls.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 7: All day drive to Fort Portal

Today’s Ultimate Uganda Safari, you will have an all-day drive south via Hoima to Fort Portal through verdant countryside and past traditional homesteads and farms. Fort-Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled Mountains of the Moon. Enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and tea fields along the way. You can make brief stops to visit with some tea fields if you want to.

• Journey time – 7 hours
• Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Safari Scenic Drive to Kibale Forest National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 8: Chimpanzee trekking and biking around the crater regions in Kibale

After breakfast, you will embark on the search for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. The park is also home for 10 other primates including L’hoestes, red colobus, blues, red-tailed monkeys, and gray-cheeked mangabey. The tour guide will provide detailed explanations, not only on primates but on all the forest fauna and flora and will ensure that your walk is both informative and enjoyable.

In the afternoon you will enjoy a biking adventure through the crater region. This area has over 30 crater lakes. You will visit some of them and enjoy wonderful photography opportunities.

• Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Chimpanzee Tracking Safari in Kibale Forest National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 9: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Evening Game drive

In the morning, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain range for much of the journey. Along the way, you will pass via the crater region. Enjoy scenic views and picture stops along the way. You will arrive in time to take an evening game drive before heading to your accommodation inside the park.

• Journey time – 3 hours
• Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Safari Scenic Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 10: Morning game drive, and an Afternoon Boat Ride on Kazinga Channel

Early in the morning, you will set out for a game drive in the park. Queen Elizabeth National Park’s diverse eco-system of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes and volcanic craters makes it home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. Game drives in this park, with the massive Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop, provides excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephants, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Topi and bushbuck.

In the afternoon you will enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing.

• Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Safari Game Drives, Boat Cruise and Kazinga Channel Tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 11: Drive to Ishasha sector, and Game drive for tree climbing lions

Early in the morning, you will set out for Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is most famous as the place where tree climbing lions can be spotted. Here you will have an extended game drive led by a ranger guide as you search for the tree climbing lions.

• Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Enjojo Lodge
• Activities: Enjoy Tree Climbing Lion Ultimate Uganda Tracking Safari of Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 12: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will drive to the “Switzerland of Africa” area known as the Kigezi Highlands with its terraced hillside and winding roads. Along the way, you will enjoy spectacular views of the mountainous countryside and this comes with many incredible photography opportunities. You will proceed to your accommodation located on the boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

• Journey Time: 3 Hours
• Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Gorilla Mist Camp
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Safari Scenic Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 13: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today, you will enjoy Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi has the biggest concentration of gorillas, given its small size. The search for Gorillas goes through the thick untamed rainforest, where you’ll be scrambling over mossy rocks and through deep undergrowth. It isn’t the easiest of activities and will be arduous, but the encounter is well worth the effort. Watching gorillas in their natural habitat is an experience that will last a lifetime.

The experienced ranger guides will willingly share with you a lot of information about the history and lifestyle of the Gorillas. After spending an hour with the gorillas you shall head back to the lodge to rest from the breathtaking activities of the day.

• Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Gorilla Mist Camp
• Activities: Enjoy Ultimate Uganda Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 

DAY 14: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park and an evening Game drive

After an early breakfast, you will leave Bwindi and drive to Lake Mburo National Park via Kabale Town. You will be welcomed into the park by various herds of zebra, buffalo, Eland, and antelope as they graze in the savannah grass.
On your evening game drive, you will see more wild animals, and birds as you drive along the lake. Birdwatchers will enjoy some of the 250 species of birds found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonolek, Brown faced Lapwing, Carruther’s Cisticola and White-winged Warbler.

• Journey time – 4 hours
• Destination: Lake Mburo National Park
• Accommodation: Check-in at Mpogo Safari Lodge
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 15: Morning Nature Walk, and return to Entebbe for departure

Early in the morning, you will proceed for a morning nature walk under the escort of an armed ranger. This 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday will allow you to enjoy the sights of animals including close encounters with herds of Zebra and antelopes. You will return to the lodge for breakfast after which, you will depart for Entebbe where you will take your next flight back home. Along the way to Kampala, you will have enough time to stop over at the equator for fun equator photos.

• Journey time – 4 hours
• Destination: Entebbe Airport
• Activities: Scenic Drive to Entebbe Airport, Stopover at Equator Crossing in Kayabwe.
• Accommodation: No Accommodation
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

End of 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday

 

15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday Inclusions and Exclusions

Trip Includes

• All tour highlights
• Ground transportation in exclusive 4×4 safari land cruiser
• Services of an experienced English speaking driver/guide
• Bottled water through the safari
• 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person
• 1 Chimpanzee tracking permit per person
• Park entrance fees
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Activities and accommodations as mentioned in the itinerary.

Trip Excludes

• Airfare to and from Uganda
• Visa to Uganda – US$ 50
• Airport tax
• Travel / Medical / Baggage insurance
• All beverages [both alcoholic and non-alcoholic]
• Any activity, meal or accommodation NOT mentioned in the itinerary
• Tips
• Telephone bills
• Souvenirs, other items of a personal nature

15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday Recommendations

To properly prepare yourself and plan for a tour such as this 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday, we have shared here some links to other content on our website which we believe will be helpful in informing you’re planning.

As this 15 Days Uganda Classic Holiday contains gorilla trekking, make sure to know the recommended items to include in your packing list. We have created an extensive article that lists the various items and why you should include them in your bag. Check out the article and know what you should pack for your gorilla trekking adventure.

• As far as gorilla and chimpanzee tracking is concerned, the following should be taken into consideration.
• Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity and one should be physically fit to enjoy this tour.
• Minimum gorilla tracking age is 15 years.
• Minimum chimpanzee tracking age is 12 years.
• Anyone with signs of communicable diseases will NOT be allowed to track.

While possession of a gorilla permit is a guarantee of trekking and sighting the gorillas, the quality of the gorilla trekking cannot be guaranteed.

Maximum time allowed with the gorillas will NOT exceed ONE hour.

On confirmation of your trip, you will be asked to offer the following details:

• Full names as they appear in your passports
• Dates of Birth
• Nationality
• Passport number

Please understand that gorilla permits are booked on a “first come first served” CASH basis from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Therefore, they can be snapped up pretty fast by anybody. This may necessitate buying them a long way ahead of time to ensure certainty of having them.