15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari, Chimps Tracking, & Gorilla Trekking Safari Experience by Renai Venture Safaris
Uganda, often referred to as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a land of immense natural beauty and unparalleled wildlife diversity. From its dense rainforests and mist-covered mountains to its expansive savannas and shimmering lakes, Uganda offers a unique safari experience that combines adventure, wildlife encounters, and cultural exploration. Renai Venture Safaris presents an extraordinary 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari, allowing you to immerse yourself in the best the country has to offer, including exciting game drives, chimpanzee tracking, and the ultimate experience—gorilla trekking.
This 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari is crafted to take you through some of Uganda’s most iconic national parks, such as Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will witness Uganda’s “Big Five,” explore the lives of its fascinating primates, and engage with the local communities that have lived in harmony with these majestic landscapes for generations. Let’s take a closer look at this unforgettable 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari journey, day by day.
Welcome to Uganda – Your Safari Begins
Your 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari adventure starts the moment you land at Entebbe International Airport. As you step off the plane and breathe in the fresh air of Uganda, you’ll be greeted by a professional guide from Renai Venture Safaris. This guide will assist you with your luggage, provide you with a brief introduction to Uganda’s culture, and transfer you to your comfortable hotel in Entebbe, located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
The drive from the airport to the hotel takes only about 15 minutes, giving you a glimpse of the lush green landscapes of Uganda. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have the opportunity to explore the charming town of Entebbe, known for its laid-back atmosphere and proximity to the lake. Relax and unwind at the hotel, preparing for the exciting journey ahead.
- Airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel
- Accommodation in a comfortable hotel
- Meals (Dinner if applicable)
- Evening at leisure
Journey to Kidepo: Uganda’s Hidden Gem
After a delicious breakfast, it’s time to begin your journey to Kidepo Valley National Park, located in the northeastern corner of Uganda. This road transfer takes approximately 9-10 hours, but along the way, you will be treated to scenic views of Uganda’s countryside, with rolling hills, vast plains, and rural villages.
Upon arrival in Kidepo, you’ll check into your lodge or camp, which offers incredible views of the park and its wildlife. Kidepo Valley is one of Uganda’s most remote and untamed parks, offering a truly authentic 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari experience. After settling in, you can take some time to relax and adjust to the surroundings.
- Scenic road transfer to Kidepo Valley
- Accommodation at the lodge/camp
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Relaxation upon arrival
Exploring Kidepo Valley: Game Drives, Nature Walks, and Wildlife Viewing
Your first full day in Kidepo Valley promises exciting wildlife experiences. After an early breakfast, you’ll embark on a morning game drive, where you can spot a variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, and giraffes. Kidepo is one of Uganda’s most isolated parks, which helps preserve its unique biodiversity.
In the afternoon, you will take a guided nature walk, allowing you to explore the park on foot and learn about the flora, insects, and smaller animals that inhabit this area. This walk will be led by a knowledgeable 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari guide who will share fascinating insights into the ecosystem.
The day ends with relaxation at your lodge, where you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and stunning views of the valley.
- Morning game drive
- Guided nature walk
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Cultural Encounters and More Game Drives
On Day 4, you will enjoy another full day in Kidepo Valley National Park. Start with a morning game drive, seeking out the park’s diverse wildlife, including the endangered cheetah and the rare ostrich. The park’s remote location ensures that it remains less crowded, providing a more intimate and rewarding safari experience.
In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Karamojong people, a semi-nomadic community that has lived in this region for centuries. You’ll learn about their customs, traditional dances, and cattle-herding practices, gaining a deeper understanding of the people who call this area home.
The day concludes with an evening game drive or relaxation at your lodge.
- Morning game drive
- Karamojong cultural experience
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Exploring Murchison Falls: Uganda’s Wild Heart
On Day 5, you’ll leave Kidepo Valley and make your way to Murchison Falls National Park. This journey takes approximately 6-7 hours by road, offering scenic views of Uganda’s countryside along the way.
Murchison Falls is one of Uganda’s largest and most iconic national parks, renowned for the stunning Murchison Falls where the mighty Nile River forces its way through a narrow gorge. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your lodge and then embark on an evening game drive. The park is home to Uganda’s “Big Five,” and you’ll have the chance to spot elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos.
- Scenic road transfer to Murchison Falls
- Evening game drive
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Game Drives, Boat Cruise, and Hiking to the Falls
Day 6 is packed with thrilling adventures in Murchison Falls National Park. Start with an early morning game drive through the park, where you can spot a variety of wildlife, including large herds of buffalo and elephants. The park is known for its impressive biodiversity, making it an excellent place for game viewing.
In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a boat cruise along the Nile River. The boat ride will take you to the base of Murchison Falls, offering incredible views of the waterfall as the Nile plunges into the gorge. The boat cruise is also an excellent opportunity for birdwatching, with the chance to spot species like the shoebill stork, pelicans, and kingfishers.
In the evening, enjoy some downtime and reflect on the day’s adventures.
- Morning game drive
- Afternoon boat cruise safari
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Exploring Murchison Falls and Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary
Day 7 begins with a morning game drive in search of wildlife that you may have missed in the previous days. Afterward, you will embark on a hike to the top of Murchison Falls, where you will witness the full power of the Nile River as it cascades down a narrow gorge.
In the afternoon, you’ll head to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, located south of Murchison Falls. The sanctuary is home to Uganda’s only rhinos, and you’ll have the opportunity to track these magnificent creatures on foot with a guide.
In the evening, you’ll transfer to Hoima for an overnight stay.
- Morning game drive
- Hike to the top of Murchison Falls
- Rhino tracking at Ziwa Sanctuary
- Transfer to Hoima
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Journey to Kibale: Uganda’s Primate Paradise
On Day 8, you’ll enjoy a scenic road transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, renowned for its diverse primates, including the famous chimpanzees. The drive takes around 5-6 hours, offering beautiful landscapes as you pass through rural villages and tropical forests.
Upon arrival at Kibale, you’ll check into your lodge and prepare for the next day’s chimpanzee tracking. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to embark on the Bigodi Swamp Walk. This guided walk is an excellent opportunity to spot various bird species and smaller primates like the red colobus monkeys.
- Scenic transfer to Kibale Forest
- Bigodi Swamp walk
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Tracking Chimps in Kibale Forest
Day 9 begins with one of the most thrilling activities of your 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari: chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest. Kibale is home to one of the highest concentrations of chimpanzees in Africa, and you will have the opportunity to observe these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. The experience of tracking chimpanzees through the forest is exhilarating, and the reward is well worth the effort.
In the afternoon, you will take a forest walk through Kibale’s lush rainforests, where you can spot a variety of other primates and bird species.
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Afternoon forest walk
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Exploring the Wonders of Queen Elizabeth National Park
On Day 10, you will travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most famous parks for wildlife safaris. The park is known for its rich biodiversity, including large populations of elephants, buffaloes, and lions, as well as its unique tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
After checking in to your accommodation, you’ll enjoy an afternoon game drive, exploring the park’s open savannahs and dense woodlands. Queen Elizabeth is also home to a variety of bird species, so keep your eyes peeled for the many avian inhabitants.
- Scenic transfer to Queen Elizabeth
- Afternoon game drive
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Discovering the Tree-Climbing Lions
On Day 11, you’ll enjoy another game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, this time heading toward the Ishasha sector, where you can witness the famous tree-climbing lions. These lions are known for their unique behavior of climbing trees to rest, which is a rare sight in Africa.
In the evening, you’ll have another opportunity to explore the Ishasha sector before returning to your lodge for relaxation.
- Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth
- Evening game drive in Ishasha
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Onward to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Home of the Gorillas
Day 12 takes you from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas. The journey takes around 4-5 hours by road, offering scenic views of Uganda’s lush landscapes.
Upon arrival at Bwindi, you’ll check into your lodge and enjoy an afternoon Batwa cultural experience. The Batwa people, once the forest dwellers of Bwindi, will provide you with insight into their unique way of life.
- Game drive in Ishasha sector
- Transfer to Bwindi
- Batwa cultural experience
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
The Ultimate Experience: Gorilla Trekking
On Day 13, you will embark on the most anticipated part of your 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari —gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After a briefing by the park rangers, you will hike through the dense forest in search of a family of mountain gorillas. Spending time with these magnificent creatures is an awe-inspiring experience that few will ever forget.
After the trek, you will return to your lodge for a relaxing afternoon.
- Gorilla trekking
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Rest and Enjoy the Beauty of Bwindi
After several days of exciting adventures, Day 14 is set aside for relaxation. You can spend the day enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, taking nature walks, or simply relaxing at your lodge and reflecting on your journey.
- Free day to relax
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Saying Goodbye to Uganda
On the final day of your 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari, you’ll take a scenic drive back to Entebbe for your departure. Along the way, enjoy the last glimpses of Uganda’s stunning landscapes, wildlife, and people. Upon reaching the airport, your guide will assist you with your check-in procedures, bringing your 15-Day Uganda Game Drives Safari adventure to a close.
- Scenic road transfer back to Entebbe
- Meals (Breakfast)
- Departure assistance at the airport
Safari Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions:
- All accommodations during the safari
- Meals as specified in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- All game drives and park activities
- Entry fees to all national parks
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Chimps tracking permits
- Cultural experiences
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, drinks)
- Tips for guides and staff
- Travel insurance