March - NOVEMBER

The Pearl in 20 Days

Our Guide

TOUR FEE

$5700

About This Trip

This 20-day grand safari across Uganda offers an extraordinary journey through the nation often called the Pearl of Africa. Designed for travelers seeking a complete exploration of Uganda’s natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, this adventure takes you from vibrant cities and mighty rivers to remote savannahs, misty forests, and tranquil lakes. Along the way you will experience some of Africa’s most diverse ecosystems and encounter remarkable wildlife including lions, elephants, giraffes, primates, and rare mountain gorillas.

The journey begins with a cultural exploration of Kampala, followed by a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you track Uganda’s only wild rhinos on foot. The safari continues north to the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Africa’s most untouched safari destinations, famous for its sweeping savannahs and exceptional wildlife sightings including lions, cheetahs, zebras, and buffalo.

From the rugged north, the adventure leads to Murchison Falls National Park, where the powerful Victoria Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge to form the spectacular Murchison Falls. Continuing south, the safari explores primate-rich forests such as Kibale National Park and wildlife-filled savannahs in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where guests enjoy game drives and a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel.

The adventure reaches its peak with unforgettable primate encounters including chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park near the Rushaga sector. The journey continues through the scenic highlands around Lake Bunyonyi, often called the Switzerland of Africa, before concluding with wildlife experiences in Lake Mburo National Park and a scenic return to Kampala.

What's Included?

Accommodation

Twin-sharing rooms in comfortable teahouses during the trek (single supplement available upon request).

Meals

Full board during the trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Transportation

Private safari vehicle with driver-guide

Tour Guide

Experienced, English-speaking, government-licensed tour guide.

BOAT CRUISE

A boat cruise on the Kazinga English Channel

Game Drives

Look out for game like Leopards, Lions, giant forest Hogs

Gorilla TrEKking

At The Impenetrable Bwindi Forest

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Engage in Rich Cultural Events

Scenic Drives

Travel Through Beautiful Countryside

What's NOT Included?

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

VISA

PERSONAL EXPENSES

Round-trip domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla.

TOUR ITINERARY

The Pearl in 20 Days

TOUR DETAILS

This 20-day safari provides a comprehensive exploration of Uganda’s most iconic destinations, combining wildlife safaris, primate tracking, cultural encounters, and scenic landscapes. The route covers major national parks including Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.

Travelers experience a wide range of activities including rhino tracking, classic African game drives, boat safaris along rivers and lakes, chimpanzee tracking, and the once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking adventure. The journey also incorporates community visits, cultural encounters, and relaxing stays near scenic lakes such as Lake Bunyonyi.

Carefully designed for both adventure and comfort, this itinerary blends wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and breathtaking scenery, creating one of the most complete safari experiences available in East Africa.

Day 1 Arrival At The Airport

Upon your late arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will receive a warm welcome from your driver guide and will be transferred to Kampala for a rest and sleep over at your accommodation

After breakfast you will go for an adventurous Kampala city tour. Places to visit include Kasubi Royal Tombs, the burial ground of the Buganda Kingdom Royals, the Buganda Kingdom Parliament (Bulange House), The Buganda King’s Palace,

Ghaddafi Mosque Old Kampala, Nakasero fruit market where you can interact with Kampala’s friendly people. You will have lunch and later proceed to your accommodation for dinner and overnight

On this day our driver guide will pick you up after breakfast and head to Northern side of Uganda. On arrival, you will check in at your accommodation and have lunch before heading out for rhino tracking. The sanctuary was set up to reintroduce rhinoceros in Uganda following their extinction in 1982. 1982. This 70 square kilometer sanctuary in an immaculate bush country is currently home to the only wild rhinos in After rhino tracking, you will head to the lodge for an evening relaxation and you may opt to spend it at the swimming pool. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Wake up to breakfast and be ready for a 6-7 hours’ journey to Kidepo Valley national park. This journey will reward you with Acholi and Karamojong culture and homesteads.

You will have an enroute lunch stop in Gulu and arrival at the lodge will be later in the afternoon. You will check in at your lodge and have a relaxed evening as you prepare for the next day’s activities

After breakfast, you will go for a morning game drive expecting to see game such as lions, leopards, rare cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants and many more. After the game drive, you return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon have a cultural Falls National Park. Kidepo is about 6 hour’s drive to Murchison. You will have breakfast and depart Kidepo for Murchison experience that will bring you into contact with Karamojong people and learn more about their cultural practices and their ways of living. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

You will start your day with a delightful breakfast and then after head out for a guided nature walk that will bring you closer to the Kidepo’s wilderness. Lunch will be at the lodge, have a relaxed afternoon and later in the evening you will take on a night game drive in search of some of the elusive predators. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

This day will be for transfer from Kidepo Valley National Park to Murchison Falls National Park with an en-route lunch stop in Gulu.

On arrival, you will check in at the lodge and you may opt to engage in some activities at the lodge or spend the evening at the swimming pool. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Optional activities at the lodge

Canopy Walk, Zip Lining

In the morning after breakfast, you will go for a game drive through the park searching for predators and other game. The drive will reward you with game like Hyena, Leopard, Elephant, Lion, Jackson’s hartebeest, Oribi, Uganda kob, Giraffe.

After the game drive you will have a picnic lunch in the park. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the Victoria Nile dock for a boat ride that takes you to the bottom of the falls. The ride will reward you with game like Crocodile, Monitor lizard, Hippos, Buffalo, and plenty of birds like the Kingfisher. Later that evening you will have a cocktail sundowner at the top of the falls. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast you will depart for a 6 hours’ drive to Kibale National Park, passing though verdant countryside, traditional homesteads, tea plantations, matoke (banana) plantations and much more.

You will have a stopover in Hoima town for lunch, and later continue to Kibale National Park. Dinner and overnight at the booked accommodation. The lodge you will be staying at was designed on the theme of safari and built on agricultural land, next to the Kibale Forest National Park and its primates, separated from the forest by the roaring river with its rapids. If you’re lucky, don’t be surprised to see the chimpanzees in front of you! This local family lodge was built for people who love travel, nature and conservation.

Every effort has been made to ensure a memorable stay for all their guests. In honour of the tropical environment, each cottage (6 in total) has a variety of organic tropical fruit trees available at your fingertips. For example, you can see, touch, harvest and eat a papaya!

Today you will have a jungle breakfast and later you will engage in different activities available at the lodge. Later in the evening, you will have a campfire with a traditional dance performance to wrap up the day.

Activities at the lodge

Making Ugandan waragi gin, banana juice and brewing experience, Vanilla growth chain experience, Vegetable garden experience, Botanical experience (African medicinal plants), Tree planting experience in Africa, Coffee experience, Tea experience, Lawyer growth experience, Community walk, Nature walk/Crater Lakes (Great Views), Local culinary experience, Massage in nature. Today after breakfast, you will take on a nature walk to have a magnificent view of the crater lakes.

On return from the walk, you will have lunch at the lodge. After lunch, you will check out and start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to the tree- climbing lions. As you approach the park, you will have an route game drive arriving at the lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Wake up before sunrise for breakfast and set off to the park tracks for a game drive. It is important to set off early to be able to see predators as they return from their hideouts. During the drive, look out for game like leopards, lions, giant forest hogs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, warthogs and others.

After the game drive you will head back to the lodge to refresh and later have lunch before a boat ride. The boat ride takes you along the Kazinga channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. You will spot game like hippos, elephants and buffaloes at the shores, not forgetting plenty of birds. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to Kalinzu forest for chimpanzee tracking.

The activity involves moving in the forest in search of the chimpanzees and once they are located, you spend an hour watching and learning about their different behaviors. After you will proceed with the journey have an early breakfast, and get transferred to the park headquarters for briefing before setting off in search of gorillas at the impenetrable Bwindi Forest.

The time you will take searching for these humble apes is unpredictable, however, it ranges between 2-9 hours depending on their to Kabale where you will have lunch and then later continue to Lake Mutanda. Arrival will be in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

The thrill of encountering these giant primates is one of a lifetime. You will stay with them for 1 hour for observation and photographs, and later return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxed afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

On this day, breakfast will be followed by transfer to Lake Bunyonyi with wonderful sceneries en- route. Kabale area is known as the Switzerland of Africa, characterized by terraced cultivated hills. You will have lunch on arrival the lodge.

In the afternoon, you may relax at the swimming pool or you may opt to visit Arcadia lodge for amazing views and drinks. Later return to the lodge for Dinner and overnight.

Islands on Lake Bunyonyi. Bunyonyi means “A place with many little birds”. After the boat ride, you will return to the lodge for lunch and unwind the day at the swimming pool. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and start your journey to Lake Mburo National Park.

Lunch will be at Igongo Cultural Centre before proceeding to check in at your lodge for a relaxed afternoon at the swimming pool or opt for a game drive. It is also possible to have a night game drive. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, you will go for game viewing in the park. You may opt to do this by taking a nature walk, by cycling or by horse riding in search of animals,

After an early breakfast, you will have a game drive as you drive out of the park to take the road to Kampala. Expect scenic views enroute including long-horned Ankole cattle. You will have a lunch break at the Equator line where you will have an opportunity to take photos too.

Later proceed to the common ones being the zebra, impala, buffalo, topi, and eland as herbivores plus predators like the rare leopard, hyenas and jackals. Return to the lodge for lunch, later go for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. After you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight at the booked accommodation.

On this day, you will wake up at leisure and have breakfast. Relax by the pool and depending on your flight itinerary and check-in time, the driver will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport later that evening

The Trip at a glance

Start Location

Entebbe International Airport

Finish Location

Entebbe International Airport

Total Elevation

2,600m

Total Distance

2066km

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