20 Day Uganda Safari- Best Of Rwenzori, Gorillas & Water Rafting Itinerary
20 Day Uganda Safari is a complete 3 weeks Uganda itinerary Mountain Gorilla Trekking, 7 days Rwenzori Trekking via Central trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, Rhino Tracking, game viewing drives, & White Water Rafting on the Nile River. This 20 days Uganda Safari Itinerary Package includes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, & the source of Nile.
Highlights of 20 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day #1: Welcome to Uganda
Day #2: Rhino Tracking (Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary) – Drive to Murchison Falls National Park
Day #3: Morning Game Drive and afternoon Boat Ride
Day #4: Journey to Kibale Forest National Park
Day #5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Afternoon Bigodi Walk
Day #6: Transfer to Kasese/Nyakalengijja
Day #7: Nyakalengijja to Nyabitaba hut
Day #8 : Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)– Mubuku River (2600m) – John Matte Hut
Day #9: John Matte(3380m) to Bujuku(3962m)
Day #10: Bujuku(3977m) to Elena Hut(4541m).
Day #11 Elena hut to Magherita peak to Kitandara
Day #12 Kitandara to Freshfield pass to Guy Yeoman
Day #13: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengijja
Day #14: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park
Day #15: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Experience
Day #16: Return to Kampala for a city tour
Day #17: Transfer to Jinja via Sezibwa Falls, and the source of the Nile
Day #18: Full day White Water Rafting.
Day #19: Depart for Kampala – enroute Zip Lining
Day #20: Shoebill at Mabamba & Depart For Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary For 20 Days Rwenzori Trekking, Primates, Wildlife & Rafting safari
Day #1: Welcome to Uganda
You will be met by Aloyo Safaris company driver guide who will brief you about your 20 day Uganda safari Itinerary with Rwenzori trekking, wildlife and Primate tour, thereafter he will transfer you to your reserved lodge in Entebbe or Kampala for dinner & an Overnight.
Upon early arrival, you will be taken for a walking safari around Kampala town for a city tour, where you will reach out spectacular sites like, Kabaka’s palace, Gadaffi’s mosque, the Bahai temple, the central market of Owino, Nakasero market, among others.
Day 2: Enroute Rhino Tracking (Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary) to Murchison Falls National Park
Following your morning breakfast, the safari driver guide will pick you up for a journey to your Rhino tracking experience at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, after when you will proceed for lunch. Embark on your journey to Murchison falls National Park, arriving in the evening at your booked accommodation for dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and afternoon Boat Ride
Head out for your game drive, early in the morning after breakfast to spot the 4 out of 5 of the big five; Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, and the Leopards. You also have the opportunity to see other animals such as zebras, antelopes, kobs , giraffes, etcetera.
Lunch will be at the Lodge when you return, thereafter set off for boat launch to the bottom of Murchison falls along river Nile, where you will sight hippos, crocodiles, water birds species including kingfishers, bee-eaters among others
Day 4: Journey to Kibale Forest National Park
Start your beautiful morning with a nice breakfast treat, check out and transfer to Kibale Forest national Park with an enroute game drive, so that you can catch up with the morning risers like lions, leopards, hyenas and numerous bird species. You will reach in the evening at your reserved accommodation at Kibale forest National Park for dinner & overnight.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Afternoon Bigodi Walk
On having breakfast, leave for Kanyanchu Visitor center, where you will reach before 8:00am for chimpanzee tracking regulations. By the help of a ranger guide, You will head to the forest to look for the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking takes between ½ an hour to about 6 hours. You will be allowed to spend at most 1 hour in the presence of the chimpanzees , as you watch them do their daily chores such as feeding their young ones, climbing from one tree branch to another, among others.
Return to your lodge for lunch, and later on , you will be driven to Bigodi village, for a nature walk in the swamp, where you will have great opportunities to watch many bird species like the great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, green breasted gonolek, butterflies, other primates like the black & white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, mammals like sitatungas, bush bucks.
You can also head for a village walk onwards to the coffee plantations, banana bear making, basket making and the traditional healer
Return for dinner and overnight rest at your lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Kasese/Nyakalengijja
After a beautiful night, depart for Kasese/ Nyakalengijja after breakfast where you will reach in time for lunch at your reserved hotel. Check in and after head to Rwenzori Mountaineering Services head offices for registration.
Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 7: Nyakalengijja to Nyabitaba hut
On this day 7 out of 19 days of Wildlife, Rwenzori hike & primates safari, you will have breakfast and proceed to Rwenzori Mountaineering services headquarters at ibanda for registration, meet your Rwenzori guides, connect with porters, then proceed with a warm up trek to the Mount Rwenzori national park’s main gate for park registration before entering. Your central circuit trail hike starts from the main gate, right after registration to Nyabitabba hut at 2652m, which may take approximately 6-7 hours.
Day 8: : Nyabitaba Hut (2651m)– Mubuku River (2600m) – John Matte Hut
(3380m)
Duration: 6-7 hours
After a goodnight sleep, wake up early to a delicious breakfast, after descend down through the forest to Kurt Scuffer bridge, just beneath the confluence of the Mubuku & Bujuku river.
You will trek through the bamboo forest, passing through the challenging stretch of slippery moss-covered rock, reaching the Nyamileju rock shelter where you will take a shot lunch break and relax. You will be amazed by the breathtaking scenic views of the magnificent Mount Stanley, Mount Speke.
From here, you will continue with your trek through the giant heather zone, Lobelia and groundsel. Proceed through the tiring bog, and ;later on arrive at John Matte for dinner & and an overnight.
Day 9: John Matte(3380m) to Bujuku(3962m)
Duration : 5-6 hours
Wake up early for breakfast, and leave John Matte behind descending along the trail to cross the Bujuku River. From here, you will enter the Lower bigo bog (known as the home of Giant Lobelias), as jump from tussock to tussock, until you finally cross to the Upper bigo Bog.
The upper Bigo Bog leads to Bujuku Lake, coupled with spectacular views of Mount Baker to the South and Stanley to the West. Arrive at Bujuku Hut, located under the shadows of Mount Baker and Speke. The hut settles in a narrow valley below the Stuhlmann Pass.
Dinner & overnight at Bujuku hut
Day 10: Bujuku(3977m) to Elena Hut(4541m).
Duration: 4-5 hours
Depart Bujuku instantly after an early breakfast, following the trail through more bog, west of lake Bujuku, though the magnificent Groundsel gully as it ascends up the Scott Elliot Pass at 4372m. You will proceed with your climb through a steep metal up the gully head, which takes you over a steep section, where the trails divide into right and left.
The right trail ascends up to Elena Hut and Mount Stanley trekking over large boulders, whereas the trail on the left descends down to Scott Elliot Pass, through Kitandara Lakes, up to Kitandara hut. This trail leads those who are not climbing Margherita Peak.
Yet for those who will climb Margherita, will rest at Elena hut after having a delicious and tasty dinner.
Day 11 Elena hut to Magherita peak to Kitandara
Wake up early at 2:00am, enjoy your breakfast, and embark on your hike to the top of Margherita peak starting from 3:00am. Hike through the Stanley plateau to the top of Mount Stanley. While using ropes, crampons and the ice ax, climb through the steep rocky regions, – as directed by the guide. This may last for a couple of hours, after which you will arrive at the bottom of margherita glacier-the most challenging part of the 7 days Rwenzori central circuit trekking experience. Proceed to the top of the peak of Mount Stanley (Magheritah Peak) at 5107m.
You will enjoy the magnificent views of Lake Ireen, Mount Speke and the surrounding environment, thereafter you will depart Elena for lunch and later continue with your trek to Kitandara, through the Scott Elliot pass (also considered as the most beautiful spot of Rwenzori).
Dinner and an overnight at Kitandara hut.
However, depending on your group’s strength, you may opt to spend another night at Elena Hut, and continue the next day to Kitandara then to Guy Yeoman.
Day 12 Kitandara to Freshfield pass to Guy Yeoman
Have your breakfast in the morning, trek for 6-8 hours’ along the base of mount baker which is quite slippery. Ascend steeply up the headwall, that spreads from the base of Mount baker, as you proceed towards the southern side of Mountain Rwenzori to the Fresh field pass. Continue with the long stretch of the muddy trail, trekking through the Kabamba, Akhendahi and rock shelters of Bujongolo-the base camp for the historic expeditions by Duke of Abruzzi in 1906. Proceed with your trek along the Kabamba trail and later arrive at Guy Yeoman, which is established at the banks of river Mubuku.
Dinner and overnight at the hut.
Day 13: Guy Yeoman to Nyabitaba to Nyakalengijja
On this last day of your 19 days Rwenzori hike, wildlife and primate experience you will descend to Nyabitaba hut, after your early morning breakfast passing through the Bamboo forest. You enjoy great sightings of beautiful flowers and plants, bamboo forests and Kinchuchu and Mubuku Rivers, not forgetting the Kabamba falls. Arrive at Nyabitabba hut after a 4 hours’ trek, after which you will briefly spend 40 minutes visiting Lake mahoma. Return to the hut after Lake Mahoma exploration and embark on your trek to Nyakalengijja where you will meet your guide to transfer you back to your hotel
Day 14: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park
Check out of your lodge ,after breakfast & transfer to either Nkuringo or Ruhijah (Southern sector) sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking. Arrive early at your lodge for a hearty lunch and an afternoon visit to the Batwa for an exclusive cultural experience. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 15: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Experience
Head to the gorilla tracking headquarters, after your breakfast briefing about the rules and regulations of Gorilla trekking. By the help of a ranger guide, you will depart to look for gorillas in the forest. Gorilla trekking lasts for about 30 minutes to 8 hours, with an inclusive 1 hour of interracting with gorillas, when you find them. Return to the headquarters, thereafter, proceed for lunch at the lodge and along afternoon rest.
Day 16: Return to Kampala for a city tour
You will return after breakfast to Kampala on this 16th day of the 19 days Wildlife, primates with enroute stop overs for lunch and at the equator for photography. You can also purchase some souvenirs from the crafts shop.
Arrive in Kampala in the afternoon, and later on check in in your hotel.
Day 17: Transfer to Jinja via Sezibwa Falls, and the source of the Nile
Transfer to Jinja after your early morning breakfast, with enroute visit to Sezibwa falls and source of the Nile to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of River Nile. Proceed to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Day 18: Full day White Water Rafting
Head on to enjoy all the exciting rapids on the full day white water rafting along the Nile River, where you will enjoy an all-inclusive and memorable experience. Wind up your day with a babeque get together party, and later travel back to Kampala hotel for dinner and overnight stay:
Day 19: Depart for Kampala – enroute Zip Lining
You will have a relaxed breakfast and later on transfer to Kampala, with an enroute Zip lining at griffin Falls.
Proceed for lunch, in any preferd restaurant, after then you will proceed to your reserved hotel Kampala form dinner & overnight rest.
Head on to enjoy all the exciting rapids on the full day white water rafting along the Nile River, where you will enjoy an all-inclusive and memorable experience. Wind up your day with a babeque get together party, and later travel back to Kampala hotel for dinner and overnight stay:
Day 20: Shoebill at Mabamba & Depart For Entebbe
You will wake up early for breakfast, and set off to Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, near Entebbe town. You will be briefed, after then be led to the local boat, for the excursion which may take upto three hours although the option of a full day is also possible. The birding guides use local motorized boats. At the landing site you will see majority of fisherman preparing for their daily fishing activities.
Along with the professional & experienced guide, you will look for shoebill, which usually hide within the papyrus. Apart from Shoebill, you will also encounter other birds such as; Angola Swallow, Blue breasted Bea-eater, Grwy-rumped Swallow, Long tailed cormorant, Hamerkop, Black winged Stilt, Little Stint, Madagascar, Grosbeak weaver, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Grey headed Gull among others.
After your experience, trace your way back for lunch, and proceed to the airport to catch up with your flight.
