19 Days Best of Uganda Long Safari Experience. If you want to see Uganda properly rather than skim the surface, this 19-day itinerary is about as complete as it gets. It strings together the eastern highlands around Sipi Falls, the wild plains of Kidepo Valley in the far north, the Nile at Murchison Falls, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, a gentle taste of the Rwenzori Mountains, the big-game corridors of Queen Elizabeth National Park, mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and a relaxed wind-down at Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo before flying home from Entebbe. It’s a genuine cross-country journey rather than a single-park sampler, and it’s one of the more comprehensive routes we run at Kenlink Tours.

Because it covers almost every major ecosystem Uganda has to offer, this itinerary works well for travelers asking themselves how many days they actually need to see Uganda properly. If nineteen days is more time than you have available, our 20-day ultimate Uganda safari follows a very similar route and is worth comparing against this one; either way, browse our full range of Uganda safaris if you’d like to see shorter or differently paced alternatives.

Day 1: Pick Up and Drive to Sipi Falls

Upon arrival, you will be warmly received by your professional safari guide and begin your scenic drive eastwards towards Sipi Falls. The journey takes you through rolling countryside, small trading centers, and lush farmland typical of the eastern Uganda region. On arrival, you check in at your lodge near the falls, enjoy panoramic views of Mount Elgon, and relax after the drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 2: Coffee Tour and Sipi Falls Hiking Experience

This day is dedicated to exploring the cultural and natural beauty of Sipi. You will take part in an immersive Arabica coffee tour with local farmers, learning every step from harvesting to roasting. Later, enjoy a guided hike to the waterfalls, passing caves, viewpoints, and farmland — our own notes on abseiling and hiking at Sipi Falls cover the various routes and difficulty levels if you’d like to know what to expect. The cool mountain air and dramatic scenery make this a rewarding and refreshing experience.

Day 3: Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park

After breakfast, embark on a long but incredibly scenic drive northwards to Kidepo Valley National Park, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas and one of the national parks in Uganda least visited despite its wildlife density. The journey reveals diverse landscapes, from green plains to semi-arid savannahs. Upon arrival, you check in at your lodge and enjoy views of vast open valleys surrounded by rugged mountain ranges.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Evening Nature Walk

Begin your day with an early morning game drive across the Narus Valley, where wildlife congregates around permanent water sources. Expect sightings of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and various predators — our guide to the animals found in Kidepo Valley National Park goes into more detail on what typically turns up here compared with Uganda’s other parks. In the evening, enjoy a guided nature walk near the lodge, learning about smaller mammals, plants, and traditional uses of the landscape from experienced local guides.

Day 5: Morning Game Safari and Community Cultural Tour

Another rewarding morning safari allows you to explore different sections of the park and observe wildlife behavior in changing light. Later in the afternoon, visit a nearby Karamojong community to gain insight into their traditional lifestyle, pastoral culture, and unique customs. This cultural interaction adds depth to your safari by connecting wildlife conservation with local heritage, and it’s one of the more memorable cultural stops on this itinerary precisely because so few visitors make it this far north.

Day 6: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

Today involves a full-day drive south-west towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park and one of its most famous. Pick and Transfer Safaris’ Murchison Falls National Park destination page is a useful companion read if you want more background on the park before you arrive. The journey is long but offers diverse scenery and local encounters along the way. Upon arrival, you proceed to your lodge within or near the park, where you can relax, enjoy sunset views over the Nile, and prepare for exciting wildlife activities ahead.

Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Nile Boat Cruise

Start the day with a morning game drive across the northern sector of the park, renowned for large herds of elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, and lions. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Nile River, drifting past hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. The cruise ends near the base of the iconic waterfalls, giving you an entirely different perspective on the falls than the one you’ll get on foot the following morning.

Day 8: Visit the Top of the Falls and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, visit the top of Murchison Falls, where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge in a dramatic display of power — a natural contrast worth reading up on in our piece comparing game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park, since you’ll be visiting both parks on this trip. Later, begin your drive south towards Kibale Forest. The journey passes through rural villages, tea plantations, and crater lake regions, offering a beautiful transition from savannah to tropical rainforest ecosystems.

Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Community Walk

Today is dedicated to primate encounters. In the morning, you participate in guided chimpanzee tracking, following forest trails to observe these intelligent primates in their natural habitat — our page on chimp trekking in Kibale National Park explains how the permit system and trek timing work here. Pick and Transfer Safaris’ Kibale Forest National Park destination page is a useful second reference if you’d like more background on the park before you go. In the afternoon, enjoy a Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary walk, known for rich birdlife, monkeys, and community-led conservation initiatives that benefit local livelihoods. If primates are a highlight for you, it’s worth browsing our broader Uganda primate tracking safaris for how this activity compares with gorilla trekking later in the trip.

Day 10–11: Drive to the Rwenzori Mountains for Two Days of Hiking

After breakfast, drive to the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Spend two days on guided, moderate hikes through montane forests, rivers, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints. These nature-focused walks offer rich birdlife, photography opportunities, and breathtaking landscapes — without undertaking any strenuous summit trekking. Our overview of mountain hiking and climbing in Uganda and our wider Uganda trekking safaris page both cover how this shorter Rwenzori introduction compares with a full multi-day summit attempt, in case you’d like to extend this section of the trip in future.

Day 12: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing scenic crater lakes and open plains. Upon arrival, enjoy an evening game drive, a perfect time to spot elephants, antelopes, and predators emerging as temperatures cool. The park’s diverse ecosystems make it one of Uganda’s most wildlife-rich protected areas, and Pick and Transfer Safaris’ Queen Elizabeth National Park destination page is a good companion read if you want more detail on the park’s different sectors before you arrive.

Day 13: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Begin with an early morning game drive in search of lions, leopards, buffaloes, and large elephant herds — this is one of the better opportunities on the whole trip to see Uganda’s Big Five in a single outing. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, crocodiles, and countless bird species gather along the banks. This cruise is one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in East Africa.

Day 14: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector

Today you drive south through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. Wildlife sightings are common as you proceed towards Bwindi’s mist-covered hills, home to Pick and Transfer Safaris’ own Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park destination page, worth a look for background on the park’s different trekking sectors. Arrival in the evening allows time to relax at your lodge and prepare mentally and physically for the unforgettable gorilla trekking experience ahead.

Day 15: Gorilla Trekking Encounter

This is the highlight of your safari. After a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers covering the standard gorilla trekking rules and regulations, you set off into the dense forest to track a habituated gorilla family. The trek can take several hours depending on gorilla movements — our full guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda covers what a typical trek day looks like from start to finish. Spending time observing these gentle giants in their natural environment is a deeply emotional and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Pick and Transfer Safaris’ gorilla safari packages are worth a look too if you want to see how this same activity is built into other itineraries.

Day 16: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi and Evening Nature Walk

After breakfast, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, a serene destination surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with islands, and one of the highlights covered in our roundup of tourist attractions in the Kigezi region. The afternoon is for relaxation, enjoying cool breezes and scenic views. In the evening, take a gentle nature walk around the lake, interacting with local communities and appreciating the peaceful atmosphere. If you’d like ideas for extending this stretch of the trip further, Pick and Transfer Safaris’ guide to what to do after your gorilla trek in Bwindi covers several options in this same area.

Day 17: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park and Evening Nature Walk

Today you travel to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s ten national parks and by far the smallest savannah park among them, though still rich in wildlife. After check-in, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo, offering close views of hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. Walking safaris here provide an intimate and thrilling wildlife experience, and are one of the few places in Uganda where you can safely walk among zebra and antelope on foot with an armed ranger guide.

Day 18: Morning Game Drive and Drive to Entebbe

Begin with a morning game drive to explore different habitats within the park, spotting animals active in the cool hours. In the afternoon, depart Lake Mburo and drive to Kampala. The journey passes through rural landscapes and towns, giving insight into everyday Ugandan life outside the national parks.

Day 19: Shopping, Relaxation and Departure

After breakfast, enjoy time for souvenir shopping and relaxation in Entebbe or Kampala, depending on your flight schedule. You may visit local craft markets or relax by Lake Victoria before your transfer to the airport for your outbound flight home.

Why This 19-Day Route Covers Every Region of Uganda

What sets this itinerary apart from a standard week-long safari is its geographic range: eastern Uganda’s highlands, the remote far north, the Nile basin, western rainforest, the Rwenzori foothills, the southwestern lakes, and the classic savannah parks in between. Rather than repeating similar habitats, each stop on this route is genuinely different from the last, which is why it suits travelers who want a complete picture of the country rather than a single park in depth. If you’re weighing this against a shorter option, our full range of Uganda safaris includes several shorter itineraries built around just one or two of these regions.

Trip Cost

Tour Price per person (2 pax): Contact us for current per-person pricing for two travelers on this itinerary — rates vary by season and lodge category, so we’ll confirm an exact figure once we know your preferred travel dates.

Price Inclusions

• Transport in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle
• Accommodation and meals of your choice
• Professional driver-guide throughout
• Wi-Fi on board
• Gorilla trekking permits (see Pick and Transfer Safaris’ guide to how to buy a gorilla permit in Uganda for how these are allocated and priced)
• Pick-up and transfer to and from the airport
• Rhino tracking fee
• Chimpanzee tracking permits
• Bottled drinking water throughout the tour
• Professional safari guide
• Charging ports in the vehicle
• Park entrance fees
• Boat cruises and game drives
• All activities mentioned in the itinerary

Price Exclusions

• International flights and visa fees
• Tips and gratuities for your driver-guide and lodge staff
• Personal travel insurance
• Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
• Any activities not specifically listed in the itinerary

Plan Your 19-Day Uganda Safari

From the coffee-scented hills of Sipi Falls to the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and a final gorilla trek in Bwindi, this itinerary is built for travelers who want to see the full breadth of what Uganda offers rather than a single corner of it. Learn more about our team on our About Us page, or get in touch through our contact page to confirm dates, pricing, and accommodation options for this trip. We also work closely alongside Pick and Transfer Safaris on cross-border itineraries, so their site is worth a look too if you’re also considering a Rwanda extension to this trip.