Meet Uganda eye to eye. This 20-day journey was built for travelers who want more than a checklist safari — it’s for people who want to actually get to know the “Pearl of Africa,” from the churning white water of the Nile at Jinja to the misty, gorilla-filled forests of the southwest, with the wide-open plains of Kidepo Valley and the thundering Murchison Falls in between.

Starting and ending at Entebbe International Airport, the trip opens with a burst of adventure at the source of the Nile, where the world’s longest river spills out of Lake Victoria and heads north toward Sudan and Egypt. From there you’ll climb into the highlands around Mount Elgon for the layered cascades of Sipi Falls, then head deep into Karamoja — Uganda’s most culturally distinct and least-visited region — to spend time with the Karamojong, cattle-herding people whose way of life has changed little over generations. The remote savannahs of Kidepo Valley National Park follow, offering some of the best and least crowded big-game viewing anywhere in East Africa.

The safari then turns toward Uganda’s classic wildlife circuit: the Nile cruises and game drives of Murchison Falls National Park, chimpanzee trekking in the primate-rich Kibale Forest, game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and — the undisputed highlight for most travelers — a morning spent face to face with a wild mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The final days slow the pace right down, with canoeing on the terraced, island-studded Lake Bunyonyi, a hands-on visit to a working Ankole cattle farm, and wildlife-watching by boat and on foot at Lake Mburo National Park before the drive back to Kampala or Entebbe.

It’s a itinerary shaped by nearly two decades of running trips across this exact route, and — like all our safaris — it can be adjusted for pace, accommodation level, or special interests such as birding. If 20 days is more than you have available, have a look at our 7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees Safari or 18-Day Ultimate Uganda Safari; if you have even more time to spare, our 25-Day Wildlife, Gorilla, Chimps & Uganda Adventure adds Semuliki National Park and the crater lakes of Fort Portal to a very similar route. Or get in touch and we’ll build something entirely your own.

Trip Highlights

• White-water rafting and a boat ride at the Source of the Nile in Jinja
• Nature walk and hike to the three-tiered Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mount Elgon
• An authentic cultural encounter with the Karamojong people of Moroto
• Two full days of game drives in remote, uncrowded Kidepo Valley National Park
• Sunrise game drive and a Nile boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, plus a hike to the top
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, the “primate capital of the world”
• Game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with the Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop
• A search for the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector
• A profoundly moving morning of mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Canoeing among the 29 islands of Lake Bunyonyi
• A hands-on Ankole long-horned cattle farm visit
• A sunset boat cruise on Lake Mburo, home to hippos, crocodiles, and Uganda’s newest resident giraffes

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Your Kenlink Tours representative will meet and greet you on arrival, help with all arrival formalities, and transfer you to your hotel, where you’ll be briefed on the safari ahead. Depending on what time your flight lands, there’s usually time to change money and, if you’d like, head out for a short city or sightseeing tour with your driver-guide. Overnight: Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Jinja — the Source of the Nile

Drive east to Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital, sitting where the Nile begins its 6,600-kilometre journey to the Mediterranean. Visit the dramatic Itanda Falls, where local kayakers take on the big rapids for the entertainment of onlookers, then take a boat ride out to the exact point where the river dramatically separates from Lake Victoria and starts flowing north — eventually joining the Albert Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, then the Blue and White Nile in Sudan, before reaching Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Optional half-day white-water rafting is available for those wanting an adrenaline boost. Overnight: Jinja

Day 3: Mbale & the Hike to Sipi Falls

After breakfast, drive to Mbale town for a lunch stop, then continue to Sipi, on the lower slopes of Mount Elgon. In the late afternoon, set off on a guided nature walk and hike to see the three waterfalls that make up Sipi Falls, following a trail that winds through coffee shambas, past caves, and up the occasional steep and slippery — but always rewarding — section of path. Overnight: Sipi Falls

Day 4: Transfer Toward Karamoja

Head north into Karamoja, Uganda’s remote north-eastern corner, with stops at local trading centres and markets along the way. This is a long but fascinating driving day through a part of Uganda that feels a world apart from the south, with lunch en route and dinner at your lodge. Overnight: Moroto

Day 5: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park

Continue north to Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Africa’s most remote and least-visited protected areas. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon in time to settle into your lodge before dinner. Overnight: Kidepo Valley

Day 6: Game Drive & Karamojong Manyatta Visit

A morning game drive through Kidepo’s dramatic savannah and dry riverbeds, keeping an eye out for lion, cheetah, zebra, waterbuck, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthog, patas monkey, and large herds of buffalo. After an early lunch at the bandas, spend the afternoon visiting a Karamojong manyatta (homestead) to learn about their traditional way of life, homestead construction, and deep cultural connection to their cattle. Overnight: Kidepo Valley

Day 7: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

A long but scenic drive south to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area, arriving in the evening to relax at your lodge overlooking the Nile. Overnight: Murchison Falls

Day 8: Game Drive & Boat Cruise, Murchison Falls National Park

Rise early for a game drive along the northern bank of the Nile in an open-roofed vehicle — excellent for photography — spotting elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, bohor reedbuck, hyena, and, with luck, leopard. After lunch, take a boat cruise upstream along the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls, coming within metres of the thundering “Devil’s Cauldron.” Along the way you’ll see large numbers of hippo and crocodile, plus birds such as goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pied and malachite kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant, and — if you’re lucky — the elusive shoebill stork. Overnight: Murchison Falls

Day 9: Nature Walk & Hike to the Top of Murchison Falls

Spend the morning hiking to the top of Murchison Falls itself, where the entire Nile is forced through a gorge only a few metres wide before plunging over the edge with tremendous force — one of the most powerful natural spectacles in Africa, and a very different perspective from yesterday’s view from the water below. Overnight: Murchison Falls

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Drive south via Hoima toward Fort Portal, through rolling countryside dotted with traditional homesteads, family farms, and tea estates, with a stop for lunch en route. Arrive at Kibale Forest in the late afternoon and check into your lodge for the night. Overnight: Kibale

Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, head to the trailhead for your chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale, reputed to have the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Of its 13 primate species, the chimpanzee — our closest living relative — is the star, and Kibale’s roughly 1,450 chimpanzees represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered ape. On your guided walk through the tropical rainforest you may also encounter the rare L’Hoest’s monkey, black-and-white colobus, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, and olive baboon. Sightings of chimpanzees aren’t guaranteed, but most visitors get to see — and almost everyone gets to hear — these close cousins of ours as they call, groom, and bond with one another. Overnight: Kibale

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, whose patchwork of grassy plains, tropical forest, rivers, swamps, lakes, and volcanic craters makes it one of Uganda’s most biodiverse protected areas. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an evening game drive or a Kazinga Channel boat cruise — home to one of Africa’s densest concentrations of hippo, alongside crocodile, elephant, and abundant birdlife. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 13: Morning Game Drive, Queen Elizabeth National Park

An early start for a game drive through the Kasenyi plains, with the Rwenzori Mountains — the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” — rising in the distance. Look out for lion, leopard, giant forest hog, Cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, topi, and bushbuck. Between this drive and yesterday’s boat cruise, you’ll come away with a real sense of just how much wildlife this park holds — keep your camera close. Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP

Day 14: Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions & Transfer to Bwindi

After breakfast, drive to the Ishasha sector for a final game drive in search of Queen Elizabeth’s famous tree-climbing lions — a behaviour seen in only a handful of places on Earth — before continuing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive winds through the Kigezi Highlands, an area of dramatically terraced hillsides sometimes called the “Switzerland of Africa,” arriving at Bwindi in the evening. Overnight: Bwindi

Day 15: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

The heart of this safari. After a briefing at the park headquarters, trek into the forest with experienced rangers in search of a habituated gorilla family. Trekking time varies — anywhere from one to several hours depending on where the gorillas are that day — but once located, you’ll spend a full, unforgettable hour in the presence of these gentle giants, with whom humans share around 98% of our DNA. Overnight: Bwindi

Day 16: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Drive to Lake Bunyonyi through some of western Uganda’s most beautiful scenery, arriving in time to relax and take in the view over Africa’s second-deepest lake. If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at paddling a traditional dugout canoe, or sample fresh lake crayfish at dinner. Overnight: Lake Bunyonyi

Day 17: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After an early breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park — Uganda’s smallest savannah park, but one with an outsized amount to offer. Centred on a series of swamp-fringed lakes, it’s rich in birdlife, and its green acacia woodland is home to zebra, warthog, eland, and impala, while the lake itself holds sizeable populations of hippo and crocodile — along with a new arrival: the Uganda Wildlife Authority recently relocated 15 giraffes here from Murchison Falls. Arrive in time for lunch, then head out in the late afternoon for a boat cruise on the lake, getting close to the hippos and crocodiles as the sun goes down. Overnight: Lake Mburo

Day 18: Ankole Cattle Farm Tour & Afternoon Safari Walk

After breakfast, visit a local farm to watch — or take part in — the milking of the long-horned Ankole cattle, an iconic and culturally significant breed across this part of Uganda. Return to your lodge for a full breakfast, enjoy lunch, and in the afternoon head back into the park for a guided walking safari — one of only a few parks in Uganda where this is permitted, offering a completely different perspective on the bush. Overnight: Lake Mburo

Day 19: Free Morning & Transfer Toward Kampala

Enjoy a relaxed final morning at Lake Mburo — an optional game drive is a great way to close out your wildlife sightings — before driving north toward Kampala. Along the way, stop at the Equator line to take photos with one foot in each hemisphere and pick up some last souvenirs from the craft shops. Overnight: Kampala/Entebbe

Day 20: Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast before your transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your onward or homeward flight. It’s the end of an extraordinary 20 days in Uganda — from the source of the Nile to the mountain gorillas of Bwindi — and, on behalf of everyone at Kenlink Tours, thank you for exploring the Pearl of Africa with us. Come again!

What’s Included

• All park entrance fees (for non-residents)
• Gorilla trekking permit (one per person, non-resident rate)
• All listed activities (unless marked optional)
• All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
• Professional English-speaking driver/guide
• All ground transportation in a safari 4×4
• All applicable taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfers
• Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Not Included

• International flights (to/from your home country)
• Additional accommodation before/after the tour
• Tips (guideline: US$10 per person per day)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government-imposed tax or park fee increases
• Optional activities such as white-water rafting in Jinja
• Meals not specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Good to Know

Gorilla permits: A Uganda gorilla trekking permit currently costs USD 800 per person and is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which manages all of Uganda’s national parks, including Bwindi, Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, and Queen Elizabeth. Permits are limited daily and should be secured well ahead of your travel dates — we handle this as part of your booking.

Best time to go: Uganda can be visited year-round, but the driest months (December–February and June–August) are best for gorilla trekking and game viewing generally, since trails are firmer and wildlife tends to congregate around water sources. The rainy season brings lush scenery and excellent birding.

Fitness level: This itinerary combines easy game drives and boat cruises with moderate-to-strenuous activity, including the Sipi Falls hike, gorilla trekking through dense, sometimes steep forest, and an optional walking safari at Lake Mburo. A reasonable level of fitness will make the most of the trip.

Uganda entry requirements: Most visitors need a visa, obtainable in advance through the Uganda e-Visa portal, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry.

Long-distance driving days: Because this route covers so much of Uganda, including the remote Karamoja region and Kidepo Valley, several days involve long drives. We build in comfort stops and scenic breaks throughout, and can discuss options for shortening the northern leg or flying into Kidepo if preferred.

Related Tours You May Also Like

• 25-Day Wildlife, Gorilla, Chimps & Uganda Adventure — a longer version of this route adding Semuliki and Fort Portal
• 18-Day Ultimate Uganda Safari
• 7-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees Safari — for travelers short on time
• 3 Days Tour to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Days Chimpanzee Tracking Safari
• 3 Days Tree-Climbing Lions Tour & Boat Cruise, Queen Elizabeth National Park
• 3-Day Uganda Gorillas Safari
• 2-Day Tour to Lake Mburo National Park
• Combine with Rwanda: 4-Day Rwanda-Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking

Useful External Resources

• Uganda Wildlife Authority — official body managing Uganda’s national parks and gorilla permits
• Uganda Tourism Board — official national tourism information site
• Uganda e-Visa & Immigration Portal — for visa applications and entry requirements

Ready to book, or want us to tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level? Request a quote and our team — Africa safari experts since 2010 — will build your 20-day Uganda adventure around you.