Track Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees; seek out the Big Five; explore Murchison Falls; discover remote Kidepo Valley; meet the Karamojong and cruise the Nile. This is our ultimate Uganda safari: The Grand Tour. A smorgasbord of African adventure offering a lot of everything.
This extended journey takes you right around Uganda’s “quilt of many colours” from the misty jungles of Bwindi to the arid wilderness of Kidepo, and everything in between. Trek mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, walk with rhinos and giraffe, search for tree-climbing lions, chill with elephants and cruise with hippos and all the while, the birdlife, the skies, the wonderful weather. Immerse yourself in tribal culture, marvel at vibrant birdlife, and soak in breathtaking scenery from the Rift Valley to the Virunga volcanoes. Stay in superb lodges with time to relax. Customize your perfect trip with our easy options.
Day 1. Arrive Entebbe. Meet and transfer to hotel.
Day 2. Shoebill Swamp, Equator and Bush Walk.
Day 3. Head for the Hills.
Day 4. Mountain Gorilla Trek in Bwindi Jungle.
Day 5. Ishasha and the Tree-Climbing Lions.
Day 6. Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Boat Safari.
Day 7. Kibale Forest Chimpanzee Trek.
Day 8. Swamp Walk and Ziwa Rhino Ranch.
Day 9. Rhino Walk and Murchison Falls.
Day 10. Nile Game Drive and Boat Safari.
Day 11. Kidepo Adventure.
Day 12. Meander Kidepo.
Day 13. The Karamoja: Cattle and Culture.
Day 14. Caves of the Pian Upe. Source of the Nile.
Day 15. Jinja Adventure and Journey’s End.
Add Hotel on Return · Mgahinga Golden Monkey Trek · Mgahinga Volcano Trek ·
Jungle Rafting · Lake Bunyonyi Chill-out · Ik Tribal Trek · Kidepo Extra Day · Kidepo Extra Day · Sipi Falls, Mount Elgon
Your Grand Tour begins with a warm welcome. Our driver will meet you at Entebbe Airport and transfer you to your selected hotel. If timings permit, we’ll help you get sorted with local currency and a SIM card for your phone. Perhaps relax around the pool before dinner.
Via Via or upgrade to Karibu Guesthouse
Your safari launches with a busy first day – a prehistoric bird and a bush walk. After an early breakfast and a comprehensive safari briefing from your guide, we head to the fishing village of Nakiwogo and take a boat with a specialist birding guide across Lake Victoria into the Mabamba Swamp. Glide through the swamp in a traditional canoe in search of the legendary, prehistoric-looking Shoebill Stork – a perfect introduction to Uganda’s world-beating birdlife.
Continue to the Equator for a lunch stop and the famous “water trick”.
Arrive at Lake Mburo National Park mid-afternoon and settle into the lodge for a rest and perhaps a quick dip in the pool.
As evening approaches, we head into the park among the zebra, buffalo, warthog and impala, and take an evening bush walk with a ranger. Walking slowly through the savannah you will be immersed in nature. Feel the breeze and the rustle of the long grass. You will most probably find giraffe, gentle giants seemingly gliding through the acacia woodland.
As the sun goes down, we will return slowly through the park on a night safari with nightlights to spot the nocturnals, scanning for leopard in the acacia near the track.
A welcome return to the lodge for dinner after an epic first day, which “sets the scene.”
Rwakobo Rock or upgrade to Kigarama Wilderness Lodge
Today we journey to the misty mountains. After a leisurely breakfast and departure from Lake Mburo we head for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Stopping for lunch in Kabale the changing landscape turns to mountains and forest. Eventually, we leave the road and head up into the hills on jungle trails, climbing to over 2,500m to arrive at your lodge mid-afternoon.
Enjoy a restful afternoon and a spectacular sunset over the Virunga Volcanoes. The air is thinner and cooler. Enjoy dinner by the fire.
Agandi Eco Lodge or upgrade to Kiho Gorilla Lodge
Today is the day! After an early breakfast, probably in the mist, we head to the trekking centre for a cultural dance and a formal briefing on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking.
Accompanied by a ranger – and porters if required – you will head into the ancient forest to track one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families. The trek typically takes 1 to 2 hours each way, but the moment you come face-to-face with a mountain gorilla in the wild is truly unforgettable. You will spend one precious hour in their presence – closer than you think as they come over to check you out.
After the trek we will return to the lodge for a late lunch. In the afternoon, you can opt for a shorter, guided forest walk around Ruhija to spot more forest wildlife and rare birds – or just relax at the lodge before dinner.
Agandi Eco Lodge or upgrade to Kiho Gorilla Lodge
After a leisurely breakfast we will continue along the jungle trail, emerging into the savannah of the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After lunch at the beautiful Enjojo Lodge we will head out for an afternoon game drive. Ishasha is famous for its unique tree-climbing lions, often found draped over the branches of large fig or acacia trees.
You’ll also see Ugandan kob, buffalo, and elephant before heading to the river to spend a little time watching the hippos. Departing Ishasha, we will continue to the Kazinga Channel at the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, checking into your lodge late afternoon to relax before dinner.
Bush Lodge or upgrade to Elephant Hab.
An early start and off to the Kasenyi hunting grounds for a dawn game drive – prime time for spotting lions and leopards against the perfect morning light. Visit the Katwe Salt Lake and the shores of Lake George to see hippos and crocodiles.
Mid-morning, enjoy a relaxing two-hour boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. This is one of the best places in Uganda to see buffalo and elephant bathing at the water’s edge, alongside enormous hippo pods and a dazzling array of birds – perhaps the African fish eagle. Return to the lodge for a late lunch.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon around the lodge, or an option to take a late afternoon trip to the twin crater lakes at Kichwamba – stunning scenery and a short community walk to work up an appetite for dinner.
Bush Lodge or upgrade to Elephant Hab.
A leisurely breakfast and scenic drive to Kibale Forest, the “Primate Capital”. En route, we will pass through the Kassenda crater fields and beneath the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled “Mountains of the Moon”, arriving at your lodge for lunch. After lunch, we head into the forest for a chimpanzee trek. With 13 different primate species, this experience is about agility and sound. The Kibale Forest chimpanzee trek is a symphony of hoots and howls as you track a community of chimps. But it’s not just about chimps; keep your eyes peeled for the rare L’Hoest’s monkey and the noisy Red Colobus.
After the trek, we return to the lodge for whatever is left of the afternoon, and relax before dinner.
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or upgrade to Turaco Treetops
An early breakfast and a visit to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a guided swamp walk on raised boardwalks. This is prime monkey territory. Look out for grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons. Perhaps also some rare birds, if you’re lucky, the Great Blue Turaco – massive and loud!
Departing the swamp we head to Fort Portal for lunch followed by a scenic afternoon transfer via Hoima and Masindi to Ziwa Wildlife and Rhino Sanctuary. Arriving late afternoon, watch out for shy bush buck on the drive into the park, as well as warthog, giraffe and Uganda kob. As we check into the lodge, you may be lucky enough to spot a parade of rhinos, following the leader in the late evening or perhaps early morning.
Ziwa Guestrooms or upgrade to Luxury Chalets
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out for a morning rhino trek. Learn about the inspirational program to reintroduce white rhinos into the wild, then head into the bush with a ranger. Get closer than you’d expect to these magnificent beasts hear them breathe, graze, and stomp through the brush. Afterwards, head to Murchison Falls National Park for lunch at Sambiya Lodge, followed by a trek to the top of Murchison Falls. Stand in the spray and feel the incredible force as the Nile is squeezed through a 7-meter gap, plunging 40 meters into the “Devil’s Cauldron” below.
After the falls, we will head to your lodge overlooking the Nile late afternoon.
Bamboo Village Deluxe or upgrade to Twiga Safari Lodge
A full day of classic safari experiences. After a very early breakfast, head out for a dawn game drive into the vast savannah plains down by the Nile Delta. Herds of Uganda kob, Jackson hartebeest, elephant, Cape buffalo and giraffe. As the sun rises, search for prides of lions, leopards, jackals, and hyenas.
Late morning, we transfer to the Nile for another highlight, a relaxing boat safari to the base of Murchison Falls. Cruise up the Nile with bloats of hippo in the water; herds of elephant and buffalo on the banks – impossibly large Nile crocodiles basking in the shallows. Feel the sheer power of the falls, as the world’s longest river is forced through a 7-meter gap.
Return to the lodge for a late lunch and a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Or if the mood takes you, we offer an optional evening game drive back to the Delta. Perhaps decide on the day.
Bamboo Village Deluxe or upgrade to Twiga Safari Lodge
Today is a scenic drive through remote northern Uganda to one of Africa’s wildest parks, but first, we take a different game drive departing Murchison Falls through the little-used Wankwar Gate. This remote route offers excellent wildlife viewing among rocky, woodland, and savannah landscapes and is a great place especially for elephant, buffalo and giraffe.
After lunch in Gulu, we head across the remote north of Uganda by road and trail into the wilds of Kidepo Valley National Park. The scenery transforms from open savannah to arid plains with wondrous rock formations. Skirting the park boundary, you’ll arrive at your lodge on a rocky escarpment in time for sundowners with spectacular views over the park below.
Kidepo Savannah Lodge. No upgrade available.
This is a full day exploring the wildlife-rich Narus and Kidepo Valleys. After breakfast, we head into the park with a packed lunch and a ranger. Kidepo consists of the Narus and Kidepo river valleys, each offering diverse terrains and wildlife. Your ranger will direct your route based on recent wildlife sightings.
We will visit the Kakine Lookout for panoramic views of vast buffalo and elephant herds in the Narus Valley. Explore the kopjes (rocky outcrops) to spot lion, leopard, cheetah, and rock hyrax. Traverse acacia woodland for giraffe and cross the dry Kidepo River bed to the Kanataruk hot springs. Look for ostriches, kori bustards, and the endemic Karamoja apalis among the park’s 480 bird species. A relaxing day to wander and take time to enjoy the various highlights as they occur, returning to the lodge mid to late afternoon to relax before dinner.
Kidepo Savannah Lodge. No upgrade available.
Immerse yourself in the landscape and culture of the Karamojong people. After an early breakfast, we depart Kidepo heading south through the tribal Karamoja region. This magical landscape of arid plains, volcanic mountains, and rocky kopjes is home to the Karamojong people and their ancient cattle culture, shared with the Maasai of Kenya. En route, we visit the village of Nakapelimoru, the largest traditional village in East Africa and home to the Jie people an ancient tribe of cattle herders known for their warrior culture. Take the time to learn a little of their history and traditions. Continue to Moroto, arriving late afternoon at your unique community camp.
Kara-Tunga Safari Camp. No upgrade available.
After a leisurely breakfast, we depart Moroto through dramatic scenery bound for Jinja, the Source of the Nile. The route takes us through the vast Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, the only place in Uganda to see the rare roan antelope and also home to large herds of Rothschild’s giraffe, eland, zebra and flocks – or wobbles – of ostrich.
We will stop for a packed lunch within the park and a trek to the ceremonial caves of the Upe tribe, an eerie place, home to ancient rock art. After lunch, we continue to Jinja, arriving late afternoon.
Afro Smiles Hotel or upgrade to Adrift Nile View
Let’s make it memorable and end with a bang. Jinja is not only the Source of the Nile, it is also known as the “Adventure Capital of East Africa.” Take a relaxing boat cruise to the Source of the Nile; or follow the adrenaline junkies kayaking or whitewater rafting on Class 3 to 5 rapids. Float gently down the Nile by raft or tube, or go bunjee jumping off the banks. Take a city tour or forest walk, or go horse-riding along the banks of the Nile. The choice is yours.
This brings the tour to an end and we will bid you farewell. We can drop you at your next destination in Jinja, Kampala or Entebbe. Check out our option for ‘Hotel on Return’ including hotel, board and airport transfer next day. An airport transfer is viable from either of these locations, though prices may vary.
Pricing is per person based on two people sharing.
| Item | Mid-range | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| The Grand Tour Days |
$6,495 | $7,595 |
| Customise Options (per person) | ||
| Hotel On Return | $95 | $195 |
| Mgahinga Golden Monkeys | $425 | $535 |
| Mgahinga Volcano Trek | $445 | $545 |
| Jungle Rafting | $445 | $445 |
| Lake Bunyonyi Chill-out | $325 | $395 |
| Ik Tribal Visit | $315 | N/A |
| Kidepo Extra Day | $295 | N/A |
| Sipi Falls | $295 | $365 |
| Single Room | +$40/night | +$70/night |
| Potential Savings | ||
| Delete Day 1 (Hotel/Transfer) | $95 | $195 |
| Travel by Tourist Van | -$40/day | -$40/day |
Though Uganda is relatively compact compared to other safari destinations, transportation is nonetheless a significant feature of any African safari – connecting the dots between activities and destinations.
We aim to minimize impact of time spent ‘on the road’ by carefully optimizing routes, creatively breaking up the journey and promoting activities to get you out of the vehicle every chance we get! Nonetheless, significant journey time is inevitable and of paramount importance to us is your comfort and, above all, safety.
Our risk assessment identifies four key factors.
Our preferred vehicle is the Toyota 70 Series Landcruiser with custom 6-seater safari package. This has 4 comfortable, customer captain’s seats in the elevated rear cabin and two lower front seats for driver and occasional ranger/guide. For larger groups, we use an extended 8-seater version with 6 customer Captain’s seats.
All captain’s seats are window seats for excellent game viewing. The vehicle has an open ‘safari’ roof for standing and game viewing in the parks and is equipped with wifi (subject to network coverage), charging points and a fridge for cold drinks and snacks.
These vehicles are super-strong, relatively slow and unstressed, providing inherent safety and protection. They have excellent ground clearance and 4-wheel drive to cope with all but the roughest terrain. Enhanced safety features include GPS tracker, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, warning triangles, tools and two spare tyres.
A robust maintenance regime is essential to ensure reliability and safety on the road. All our vehicles are rigorously maintained and inspected before each trip. You will see this for yourself. We intend to get you there – and back! If you like, you can count the wheelnuts on some of the other trucks – ours will have 6.
Our driver-guides are suitably qualified and experienced. They are instructed not to exceed speed limits (50kph in town; 80 on the open road) and are required to maintain an accurate safety record. As driver and guide, they will be more than happy to offer information and dialogue along the way, but we would ask that conversation is sensitive to road conditions and to be mindful of distracting the driver.
Routes are carefully planned and optimized to minimize overall travel time; limit drive time to 2.5h hours between breaks; a maximum 10 hours within a 24-hour period; and, to avoid driving after dark (19.00). This is as much for your comfort as it is driver safety.
This is Africa. Things do not always go according to plan. Punctures and breakdowns happen; traffic conditions can create huge delays; adverse weather can wash out tracks.
Your guide will keep you fully informed of such events and their likely impact. He is also required to advise our duty officer so that we can assist in improving outcomes: sourcing and sending a mechanic; checking and agreeing alternative routes; or calling the lodge to hold dinner.
We welcome your constructive feedback on our transportation – or any other aspects – before, during or after your tour. Please contact +256 704 042234 by phone or whatsapp, or email: [email protected] with suggestions or to report concerns.
Joeboentoe Safaris deliver a vital and sustainable funding stream to our non-profit operations, with resources especially directed towards supporting and empowering local communities. Through these initiatives, tourism becomes a practical vehicle for social impact, helping to fund community development, training opportunities, and conservation-linked livelihoods.
Safaris are delivered in partnership with Meanda Uganda, a leading Ugandan tour operator, as part of their strong commitment to responsible and ethical tourism. This collaboration ensures that each journey is professionally managed while also aligning with shared values of environmental stewardship, cultural respect, and meaningful community engagement.
Our joint mission is to curate transformative safari experiences that touch the soul, creating lasting memories for travellers while honouring a deep and active commitment to conservation and local communities. By combining immersive wildlife encounters with authentic cultural interaction, we aim to ensure that every safari contributes positively to both people and nature.
Two reasons.
Firstly, Uganda is “The Pearl of Africa” – so named because it encapsulates the essence of Africa. It is also Africa’s best kept secret – which means you often have the place to yourself.
Secondly, this Grand Tour shows you the whole of Uganda. Thrilling and raw experiences with wildlife and culture in a spectacular environment. And if we missed anything, we offer lots of easy options for you to make the tour even grander.
Our non-profit NGO delivers safaris in partnership with Meanda Uganda. As part of their Responsible Tourism Charter, Meanda Uganda share 25% of their profits with Joeboentoe, with an additional marketing bonus for safaris initiated through us. So, as you travel around Uganda and come face-to-face with those who may be struggling more than others, just know that you are supporting their journey as well as your own. Read more about it above in the tab ‘Sustainable Safari’.