Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the greatest safari experiences and a true “once in a lifetime trip.” Have the most thrilling adventure on Uganda Safaris by exploring its raging waters. Under this tour, you will experience the beauty of the wilderness and the Nile. A nerve-racking trip awaits you as you fight the violent watercourse once you join the rafting activity with experts, clients, and adventure-seekers. After an exciting white-water rafting trip in the Nile River, you will explore the magical safaris in the country, like Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha, and Bwindi. You’ll visit the species-rich jungles and savannas in Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, or Murchison National Park and spend plenty of time admiring and observing them while on your 20 Days Classic Uganda Primates & Rafting Wild Adventure.
This tailored journey is your ultimate dynamic Ugandan tour. Your remarkable memories are just a step away from coming to life.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
You arrive at Entebbe International Airport, your gateway to the diverse beauty of Uganda. Our Nyumbu Beyond Journeys team will greet you! This is the country of adventurous mountain gorilla and chimp trekking, stunning Uganda wildlife safaris, amazing road trips, and wilderness adventures by boat, bike, horse, or foot. Experience the warm hospitality of the Ugandan people and be amazed by the cultural encounters with the different indigenous tribes. With us, you’ll experience it all! Our Uganda safari guide awaits you in the airport, carrying a sign with your name on it. Karibu, Uganda!
Day 2: Transfer from Entebbe to Jinja
Start of the life-changing Uganda safari experience: after an early breakfast, you leave the city for Jinja, the source of the mighty Nile. On your way there, you’ll stop for a leisurely walk through the villages along the Nile to get a closer look at everyday life in Uganda. You can also choose from various optional activities today: whitewater rafting, kayaking along the river rapids, quad bike tours, or horseback riding. However, the rafting tour should be booked in advance, as demand is particularly high during peak season.
Day 3: Jinja Full Day White Water Rafting
Have your breakfast at the briefing point, after which you will be briefed by the rafting experts who will be with you on the boat. You will then board your boats for white-water rafting on the Nile. It is an amazing and adventurous time rafting on these falls. Later, have your lunch, and we drive back to the hotel and relax.
Day 4: Hike to the Sipi Falls
Grab your hiking boots, towel, and swimsuit: it’s time to hike to the Sipi Falls. Nestled in the stunning Mount Elgon region, it offers a magical experience for anyone who loves a good hike! The falls comprise three captivating waterfalls of more than 70 meters, with the main waterfall and its thundering cascade plunging down a 100-meter cliff being the most impressive one. The hike takes you through lush greenery, coffee plantations, and picturesque landscapes, offering panoramic views—with a little luck, you’ll even spot a chameleon on your way. Reward yourself by swimming in one of the streams or taking a refreshing shower under a waterfall.
Day 5: Transfer from Sipi falls to Murchison Falls NP
Today you will travel to Murchison Falls National Park, the first safari destination on this trip. During the journey, you will stop along the Nile to visit the Karuma Falls. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy your first game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Uganda. One of the biggest attractions is the Murchison Falls. The Nile plunges 42 meters into a gorge just 7 meters wide. The wildlife population is also not to be forgotten. The large population of Rothschild’s giraffes, but also buffalo, Uganda kob, oribis and antelope, lions, and leopards, offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities.
Day 6: Murchison Falls National Park
Take an early game drive in this stunning national park. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, followed by a hike to the top of the falls.
The boat is the perfect platform to observe and photograph many different bird species.
Day 7: Game drive and Nile Delta Boat Cruise
Enjoy an early morning game drive in the savanna plains of the park in search of the Big 5, from large herds of elephants and buffaloes to spotting the big cats, lions and leopards.
Later in the afternoon we set off for the Nile Delta Cruise, an area that has the highest concentration of wildlife at Murchison Falls, and the boat provides a perfect platform to view them. This is also the area where the elusive shoebill stork can be seen alongside the mighty Murchison Falls from the bottom.
Day 8: Transfer game drive to Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we drive to Kibale Forest (approx. 8 hours). Upon arrival, a walk through the lodge area is worthwhile. An optional guided nighttime forest walk can be booked on-site.
Kibale Forest is a spectacular jungle home to 13 primate species! These include chimpanzees, baboons, black and white colobus, red colobus, grey-cheeked mangos, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking & Bigodi Community walk
Grab your hiking boots, because today you’ll embark on a bush walk chimpanzee trekking through the fascinating jungle. Experience our closest relatives swinging from tree to tree or frolicking in front of you. This park is home to 12 species of primates, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and baboons, and rare birds like the giant turaco. A guided hike in the Bigodi Swamp is available for interested guests.
Day 10: Explore the Fort portal Crater Lakes and Sempaya Hot springs
Visit one of the crater lakes, then continue to Semuliki National Park. In the afternoon, we head to the Sempaya hot springs. Semuliki National Park is unique as it is home to the only lowland jungle in East Africa.
Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes.
In the morning, a short hike in the national park for bird and monkey watching. Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most fascinating and beautiful national parks and one of the best places to see lions. En route, you’ll cross the equator. Of course, another game drive in the afternoon is a must.
Day 12: Guided game drives & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
An early morning game drive is the best time of year; with a bit of luck, you’ll experience lions, hippos, buffalo, leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, antelopes, and giant wild boars up close.
In the afternoon, a magnificent boat cruise awaits you on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George. A high concentration of hippos can be observed here. This is an ideal vantage point for photography; more than 550 species of birds are native here.
Day 13: Transfer game drive to Ishasha Sector (Optional Chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge)
Early morning game drive, with an optional chimpanzee trek in the Kyambura Gorge. In the afternoon, continue your drive through the national park and head to the southernmost and most famous region of Ishasha. This area is known for its three tree-climbing lion prides. Afternoon game drive.
Day 14: Morning Game drive in Ishasha Sector and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Another game drive in search of tree-climbing lions will take place after breakfast. You will then leave the park heading southwest, along winding roads through the Kigezi Highlands to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the mountain gorillas. Your overnight stay will depend on the gorilla group you plan to visit.
Day 15: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Cultural Experience.
Ascend with the sun to the green and misty mountain to see the world’s rarest primate species. Mountain Gorilla Trekking— An estimated 300 individuals live in Bwindi. The chance of seeing a mountain gorilla in full bloom is almost 100%. After spending an hour with the gorillas, you will return to the lodge.
Later in the evening, embark on a cultural visit to the Batwa Communities for a Uganda cultural tour experience to learn about their way of life in the forest before 1991, when they left their homeland in the name of gorilla conservation. Your overnight stay depends on the gorilla group you are visiting.
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mutanda and Canoeing
Drive to Lake Mutanda, from where, on a clear day, you can see three volcanoes. Relax in this tranquil setting at the lodge or take advantage of one of the following options (optional): a boat ride on the lake or a walk along the lake or to the nearest village.
Day 17: Golden Monkey trekking & Lake Bunyonyi
Early morning after breakfast, get into your Uganda safari and your guide will drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters, where you will be allocated to your ranger guide, who will then brief you about what you must do when with the golden monkeys and later you embark on a trek into the misty Virunga mountains and once the golden monkeys are spotted, you spend 1 hour with them and take plenty of photos. After the experience, return to the starting point for a refreshment and lunch. Afterwards, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
Day 18: Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi & transfer to Lake Mburo NP
You’ll travel to the scenic Lake Mburo National Park. The area is the best place to observe eland, as well as zebras, topi, impala, and various bird species. There are no lions or elephants in this park, making it an ideal place for ranger-led walks (optional). The national park’s five lakes are home to hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of waterfowl. In the afternoon, there’s a game drive or boat tour (bookable locally) on the lake. There’s also an early evening game drive, where there’s a decent chance of spotting leopards.
Day 19: Horseback Riding & Walking Safari
Early in the morning we explore the park’s savanna plains on horseback, and as we get up close, there is nothing magical like getting up close to wildlife on a horse and later in the evening we immerse ourselves in a walking Uganda safari as we sight the tallest towers of the wild—giraffes—and the largest antelopes, known as the elands and the whispers of the wild-zebras.
Day 20: Transfer game drive to Entebbe
Transfer to Entebbe (approx. 5 hours) before crossing the equator for a photo stop. Relax the last afternoon and evening in Entebbe, directly on Lake Victoria.
Shoebill stork tracking in Mabamba Swamp and airport drop-off.
As the sun rises over the horizon, we get into a wooden canoe motorboat and embark on a lifetime cruise on the Mabamba swamp to hunt for the elusive shoebill stork and others. After enjoying a hot lunch at the lodge, your Ugandan safari driver will take you to the airport for your flight back home. This segment concludes your comprehensive 20-day Classic Uganda Primates and Rafting Wild Adventure on a Ugandan tour. Bid farewell.