23 Days Uganda Grand Circuit Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport on your 23 Days Uganda Grand Circuit, you’ll be warmly received by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the hotel or explore the peaceful lakeside town of Entebbe. Optional activities include a visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre.

Day 2: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – Onward to Gulu

After an early breakfast, drive north to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for an unforgettable walking safari to track the endangered southern white rhinos. With a ranger guide, you’ll approach these gentle giants on foot and learn about ongoing conservation efforts. Continue your journey through rural northern Uganda to the town of Gulu where you’ll overnight and prepare for the remote wonders ahead.

Day 3: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park

Depart Gulu after breakfast and journey to Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda’s most remote and spectacular park. The scenic drive takes you through traditional Karamojong villages and semi-arid savannah landscapes. Arrive at your lodge nestled within the park and enjoy panoramic views of the expansive Narus Valley. Settle in and watch for wildlife right from your veranda.

Day 4: Game Drives in Kidepo Valley

Spend the day exploring the wilderness of Kidepo on morning and afternoon game drives. Look out for lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, ostriches, and possibly the elusive leopard. The Narus and Kidepo valleys teem with wildlife, and the open plains allow excellent photographic opportunities. Enjoy sundowners overlooking the savannah as the day ends.

Day 5: Cultural Visit & Scenic Drive to Moroto

After a relaxed breakfast, enjoy a cultural experience in a Karamojong homestead (manyatta), where you’ll learn about their pastoral way of life, traditional dance, and cattle culture. Later, drive south to Moroto at the foot of Mt. Moroto, one of the few inhabited volcanic mountains in Uganda. The scenic drive offers a glimpse into one of Uganda’s least-visited regions.

Day 6: Nature Walk & Transfer to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

In the morning, enjoy a guided nature walk along the slopes of Mount Moroto to explore the semi-arid ecosystem. Then drive to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, a rugged and beautiful savannah home to elands, roan antelopes, zebras, cheetahs, and more. Overnight in a tented camp or lodge close to the reserve.

Day 7: Game Drive in Pian Upe – Continue to Sipi Falls

Go on a game drive in Pian Upe, where you may spot some of the rarer species in Uganda’s eastern wilderness. Afterward, proceed to the Sipi Falls area on the foothills of Mt. Elgon. Arrive in time for a relaxed evening overlooking the dramatic waterfalls.

Day 8: Sipi Falls Hike & Coffee Tour

Enjoy a guided hike to all three tiers of Sipi Falls, one of Uganda’s most stunning natural wonders. Trek through local farms and villages, take in the spectacular views, and cool off near the falls. In the afternoon, take part in a coffee tour and experience the process from bean to cup, guided by local farmers.

Day 9: Transfer to Jinja – Source of the Nile

Leave Sipi and travel to Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital located at the source of the Nile River. After lunch, take a boat ride to the point where the Nile begins its journey northwards. Optional adrenaline activities include white-water rafting, tubing, or quad biking.

Day 10: Transfer to Ziwa – Relaxed Travel Day

After a leisurely morning in Jinja, journey northwest back toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This will be a restful travel day, giving you time to unwind, spot wildlife en route, and prepare for the next leg of your safari adventure.

Day 11: Murchison Falls – Top of the Falls Visit

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park and visit the top of the falls, where the Nile River dramatically explodes through a narrow gorge and plunges 45 meters. Stand at the edge and feel the thunderous power of the falls — a breathtaking sight. Continue to your lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Day 12: Game Drive & Boat Safari on the Nile

Start the day with a sunrise game drive on the northern bank in search of elephants, lions, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, and hyenas. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, passing pods of hippos, crocodiles, and abundant waterbirds along the way.

Day 13: Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest – Transfer to Kibale

After breakfast, venture into Budongo Forest for chimpanzee trekking. This tropical forest is part of the larger Murchison ecosystem and is home to one of Uganda’s largest chimpanzee populations. After the trek, travel southwest through scenic countryside to Kibale Forest National Park.

Day 14: Chimpanzee Trekking & Bigodi Wetland Walk

Set off early for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, a primate paradise. Follow the calls and signs of the chimp families through the dense forest, and spend an hour observing their behavior. In the afternoon, visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided walk offering great birding and chances to see colobus monkeys and other primates.

Day 15: Crater Lakes Exploration – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP

Explore the crater lakes region around Fort Portal, a landscape of rolling hills and volcanic lakes. Enjoy short hikes, birdwatching, and photography. Continue your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park and check in to your lodge for the night.

Day 16: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Rise early for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains where lions, elephants, buffalo, and antelope roam. In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, famous for its large hippo population, Nile crocodiles, and birdlife.

Day 17: Transfer to Ishasha – Tree-Climbing Lions

Drive south to the remote Ishasha Sector, known for its rare tree-climbing lions. Enjoy a game drive in search of these iconic cats, often seen lounging in fig trees. Overnight in a rustic lodge in the wilderness.

Day 18: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas. The drive takes you through the rolling highlands of Kigezi, with breathtaking views along the way. Arrive at your lodge in time to relax before the next day’s gorilla adventure.

Day 19: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Today is the highlight of your safari — gorilla trekking. Join a group led by experienced trackers into the dense jungle to locate a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take several hours, but the reward is an unforgettable hour in the presence of these gentle giants.

Day 20: Batwa Cultural Visit – Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

In the morning, visit a Batwa community to learn about their hunter-gatherer heritage and how they are adapting to life outside the forest. Later, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s most scenic lakes. Check into a lakeside lodge and enjoy the cool breeze.

Day 21: Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

Spend the day relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi. You can go canoeing, swimming, or birdwatching, or simply relax with a book and soak in the peaceful scenery. Optional village visits or hiking around the terraced hills are also available.

Day 22: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Evening Game Drive

Drive northeast to Lake Mburo National Park, a small but rich park home to zebras, impalas, elands, and hippos. Arrive in time for an evening game drive, with chances to spot nocturnal species as the sun sets.

Day 23: End Of  Your 23 Days Uganda Grand Circuit

Enjoy a guided walking safari in the park — a unique chance to experience wildlife on foot. Later, return to Entebbe with a stop at the Equator for photos and souvenirs. Depending on your flight time, transfer to the airport for your evening departure.