Uganda is a fantastic country to travel to, but how do I manage to see all the highlights in two weeks in this place? I will give you a perfect itinerary to explore the west and south sides of Uganda. I did not visit the north and east, but I did discover the most popular locations. The best itinerary to discover the most important highlights is just below, so do not hesitate to check out this page and discover a great route! Note that this route can also be done in reverse, but I recommend going against the clock.

The itinerary

Day 1: Arival

Almost everyone will arrive at the Entebbe Airport close to the capital, Kampala. I will recommend going to a close accommodation in Entebbe so you can relax for a bit. Feel excited about visiting Uganda and have an early sleep-in, as tomorrow it will all start!

Day 2: Entebbe - Ziwa - Murchison Falls

Today you will drive to Murchison Falls National Park, which will take about 7 hours. On the way there (after a four-hour drive), you will stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where rhinos are kept in a semi-wild environment. You will visit some rhinos for about two hours, including lunch, and afterwards you will drive towards Murchison Falls National Park, where you will visit the Top of the Falls to see the mighty falls. On the way you can already find some nice wildlife.

Day 3: Murchison Falls

On this day you can explore the great Murchison Falls National Park. Start your day with a lovely game drive through the national park with a packed breakfast so you can go further in the park, looking for leopards, antelopes, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, and way more. After lunch in the accommodation, you can go to the Nile River to have a boat cruise towards the falls, but on the way there you can find many hippos, crocodiles, birds, monitor lizards and more! After the boat cruise you can do a small game drive and head back to your accommodation. 

Day 4: Murchison Falls - Kibale Forest

Today is not the most interesting day of the trip, as you are mostly driving (for about 7 hours), although that can also be fun. Have lunch in Fort Portal, and afterwards have some relaxed time in your accommodation in Kibale Forest.

Day 5: Chimp tracking, Bigodi Swamp

Wake up early to get to the chimp tracking, which is one of the best experiences in Uganda. After the briefing you will be hiking through the forest to enjoy the tracking. After the tracking head back to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch, try to find monkeys and birds in the Bigodi Swamp, where you will walk for about 2 hours. Afterwards, have some community experiences to see the making of coffee, the making of gin from bananas and a female craft-making community. Head to the accommodation for dinner and overnight. 

Day 6: Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth (Kasenyi)

Today drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in three hours. On the way there you can make a stop at the crossing of the Equator. Have a small game drive in the park to find elephants, buffaloes, and more and head for lunch. After lunch, head into the park to find even more wildlife. We found lions, a leopard, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, and way more.

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth (Kasenyi and Mweya)

Wake up early to find some nocturnal animals like hyenas and afterwards the diurnal wildlife. After exploring the Kasenyi sector, drive to Mweya, where you can find a lake with flamingoes (October to January) and salt pans. Afterwards, have a game drive in the Mweya sector to find warthogs, elephants, and waterbucks before having lunch. After lunch, experience a fantastic boat tour on the Kazinga Channel, where you can find the highest population of hippos in the world. Besides, you can find many birds, crocodiles, buffaloes, Nile monitors, and more, which is a fantastic experience. Drive back with a game drive en route through the Kasenyi Sector before dinner and overnight in the accommodation.

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth (Kyambura and Ishasha)

Start your day early by heading towards the Kyambura Gorge, a great gorge with a great view. The highlight is the chimpanzee tracking, which is way less famous but still gives you fantastic chances of finding these apes. After the tracking, drive to Ishasha in 3 hours. Have lunch at your accommodation, and afterwards have a game drive in the Ishasha sector to find tree-climbing lions and the other great wildlife.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi

Enjoy a game drive in the morning in the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth. Maybe you can find a lovely leopard, lions, elephants or other fantastic wildlife. Afterwards, drive to the home of the gorillas, Bwindi, in three hours. Have some lunch and relax a bit, as tomorrow will be an intensive day.

Day 10: Gorilla tracking

Today is probably one of the highlights of your holiday through Uganda. Start your day early and get to the briefing for the gorilla tracking. After 40 minutes, start your hike towards the 'Gentle Giants'. When finding the gorillas, you will stay one hour with them. Afterwards, you will have lunch and head towards the visitor centre. Head to your accommodation and enjoy some relaxing moments after this tough day.

Day 11: Bwindi - Lake Mburo

Drive to the next highlight of your trip. The drive to Lake Mburo is around 5 hours. When arriving, enjoy your lunch and some time for yourself. In the late afternoon, go on a game drive to find the many cool herbivores. After the game drive, make a night game drive to find leopards, bushbabies and other nocturnal animals. Enjoy your dinner in the accommodation.

Day 12: Lake Mburo - Mbamba Swamp

The morning starts with a lovely game walk in Lake Mburo National Park, where you can get very close to the giraffes and other wildlife. After breakfast, drive towards Mbamba Swamp, but do not miss a stop for lunch at the Equator. When arriving at Mbamba Swamp (after 5 hours), enjoy a lovely boat ride to find birds, especially the shoebill stork.

Day 13: Mabamba Swamp - Entebbe

In the morning, enjoy another boat ride to find the shoebills, kingfishers, and many other birds. Afterwards head to Entebbe, where you can have a rest after this fantastic trip. You can always have a stroll to Lake Victoria or visit the botanical gardens to spot more birds.

Day 14: Departure

Unfortunately, this is the day of departure. Maybe you have some time to relax at a pool or have a stroll before leaving for the country.

Add to the itinerary 

I think the itinerary covers most of the important sights of the western and southern part of the country. However I did not visit the east and the north, so there are great locations to explore:

• Kidepo Valley (possibly the best safari destination in Uganda)
• Sipi Falls (good hiking)
• Jinja (lovely place to relax at the Nile River
• Lake Bunyonyi (gorgeous lake in the southwest)
• Magahinga National Park (perfect park for golden monkey tracking in the southwest)

If you want to know more about Uganda, check out: