Karamoja – Eastern Uganda – Kidepo Valley (5 days)
Day 1 – Kampala to Jinja
Day 2 – Jinja to Sipi Falls
Day 3 – Sipi Falls to Kidepo
Day 4 – Kidepo via Moroto
Day 5 – Kidepo to Gulu
Discover Murchison Falls (2-3 days)
Day 1 – Arrival at Murchison Falls National Park
Day 2 – Wildlife Safari and Nile Boat Ride
Day 3 – Scenic Drive to Fort Portal
Best of Western Uganda (8-10 Days)
Day 1 – Fort Portal and Crater Lakes
Day 2 – Chimp Tracking and Queen Elizabeth
Day 3 – Explore Queen Elizabeth
Day 4 – Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Boat Ride
Day 5 – Bwindi and Gorillas
Day 6 – Gorilla Tracking and Lake Bunyonyi
Optional Days – Explore Kisoro
Day 7,8, or 9 – Return to Kampala
Rwanda Extension (4-6 Days)
Day 10 – Enter Rwanda
Day 11 – Gisenyi and Lake Kivu
Day 12 – Relax in Gisenyi
Day 13 – Kigali
Day 14 – Kigali City Tour
“All of Uganda and Rwanda”
Walter’s trail goes as follows:
Vast open expanses of savannah where you’re the only human in sight, until you stumble across a traditional manyatta homestead. There, one of the local Karamojong nomads offers you a gourd of local brew to sip with the village elders.
A flat sea of African bush, until it’s broken by a sheer cliff rising straight up out of the ground: one of countless “volcanic plugs” left over from the formation of the Great Rift Valley. You pull over and pop open the Land Cruiser to camp under the stars. The cliff looks perfect for rock climbing in the morning. Lions roar in the distance as you drift off to sleep.
This is Karamoja: the wildest, most remote, most evocative region of Uganda, and most tourists will never see it.
Walter’s Expeditions believes Africa is about more than just animals. Don’t spend your entire safari in the back of a car—get off the beaten track. Climb and camp amidst stunning landscapes that you have all to yourself. Visit villages of cattle-herding nomads untouched by commercial tourism. Pitch your tent in a national park—and experience the primal sound of lions, cheetahs, and leopards calling to each other during the night. And getting there is half the fun.
We offer expeditions to two areas of Uganda that allow you to “choose your own adventure,” mixing well-known destinations with off-the-beaten-path experiences:
Eastern Uganda:
En Route to Kidepo Valley National Park and Perhaps Murchison Falls NP (4-5 days)
Kidepo National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the northeastern region of Uganda, nearly 700 kilometers from Kampala, bordering Sudan and Kenya. This remote park offers a variety of activities, including game drives, cultural visits to Karimajong homesteads known as Manyatta, nature walks, and rock climbing. Kidepo is renowned for its untouched, wild landscapes and is considered one of the best African parks by National Geographic. It’s home to the Big 5, rare predators like the aardwolf, bat-eared fox, caracal, cheetah, hunting dog, and striped hyena, and offers insights into the Karimojong tribes. You can access the park by road or air from Entebbe. The duration of your stay can range from 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on your chosen activities, with rock climbing and mountain hiking taking the most time.
Karamoja – Eastern Uganda – Kidepo Valley (5 days)
Day 1 – Kampala to Jinja
Begin your journey from Kampala, making a stop in Jinja to explore the Source of the Nile. Enjoy a boat ride to the source, or partake in adventure activities like white water rafting with Nalubale Rafting Company or bungee jumping. The highlight is rafting, which costs $140 per person, but Walter and Nalubale Rafting can provide a discounted and fun experience. Along the way, you’ll pass through sugar cane and tea plantations and forests, offering opportunities for forest walks.
Day 2 – Jinja to Sipi Falls
Drive from Jinja to Sipi Falls, passing through Mbale town. Spend the day in the Mt. Elgon area, exploring the series of three waterfalls known as Sipi Falls, Uganda’s highest waterfalls. Hiking around the falls offers panoramic views of the Karamoja plains, Lake Kyoga, and the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Learn about coffee processing, visit coffee plantations, and even participate in picking, roasting, and making your own coffee (coffee tour). You can also embark on long hikes of over 6 hours to witness Uganda’s highest waterfalls on the mountain with the world’s largest caldera/crater, second only to the Rwenzoris in Uganda.
Day 3 – Sipi Falls to Kidepo
After morning Sipi walks and coffee tours, embark on a 700-kilometer drive to Kidepo via Pian Upe Game Reserve. Spend a night in the reserve and enjoy a morning game drive. Kidepo is the only park where you can encounter African hunting wild dogs and rare roan antelopes. It’s also home to ancient rock paintings from the Stone Age period.
Day 4 – Kidepo via Moroto
Drive to Kidepo via Moroto, with possible stops for a night and cultural experiences in Moroto, including hiking Mount Moroto, camping on top of the mountain, Karamojong homestead tours, and cultural tours. Alternatively, continue straight to Kidepo for two full days inside the park, with multiple game drives in the open savanna. Glamorous camping with tents can be organized.
Day 5 – Kidepo to Gulu
Drive for three hours from Kidepo to Gulu, the capital of Northern Uganda. Take some time to relax, swim, and rest. You can also enjoy the nightlife by going clubbing in Gulu.
Discover Murchison Falls (2-3 days)
Uganda’s largest national park is situated in Northern Uganda, close to West Nile. It boasts the largest number of animals, the world’s strongest waterfalls, and the largest population of Rothschild giraffes.
Day 1 – Arrival at Murchison Falls National Park
Begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park, which is a 6-hour drive from Kampala, 1-2 hours from Gulu in Northern Uganda, and 4 hours from Kidepo Valley National Park. Depending on your plan, activities for the day may include game drives, a boat cruise on the Nile, and hiking to witness the world’s strongest waterfalls, Murchison Falls.
Day 2 – Wildlife Safari and Nile Boat Ride
Enjoy a remarkable safari experience with a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest national park, spread around the Nile. The “Big Five” game animals, which include the lion, African elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros, can all be found in this park. The term “Big Five” was originally coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most challenging animals in Africa to hunt on foot using traditional tools. Nowadays, it’s much easier to spot these animals during a 4WD game drive. In the afternoon, at 2 pm, embark on a boat ride to the famous waterfalls, the strongest in the world, where you’ll be surrounded by crocodiles and hippos.
Day 3 – Scenic Drive to Fort Portal
Drive from Murchison Falls to Fort Portal, which takes approximately 5 hours. This scenic route offers beautiful views of the escarpment and the Rift Valley, with glimpses of Lake Albert along the way.
Best of Western Uganda (8-10 Days)
In Uganda, Walter’s Expeditions offers a unique experience that goes beyond traditional safaris. This journey is about more than gorillas and chimps; it’s about exploring nature, engaging with local people, and discovering the off-the-beaten-path wonders of Uganda. This 8-10 day itinerary takes you through the best of Western Uganda.
Day 1 – Fort Portal and Crater Lakes
Leave Kampala and drive 300 kilometers to reach Fort Portal and Kibale Forest, home to stunning crater lakes. Consider a two-hour walk to explore these natural wonders and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Fort Portal is a must-visit, known for its natural beauty and welcoming people.
Day 2 – Chimp Tracking and Queen Elizabeth
Spend the morning tracking chimps at Kibale Forest National Park. In the afternoon, drive to Queen Elizabeth, which is 2.5 hours away, or stay another night in the Kibale/Fort Portal area. You can also track chimps at Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 3 – Explore Queen Elizabeth
Relax and enjoy a scenic drive, passing the equator to reach Queen Elizabeth. Try to spot tree-climbing lions or simply unwind and enjoy the stunning sunset. Experience two to three game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its diverse landscape and wildlife.
Day 4 – Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Boat Ride
Embark on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park and, in the afternoon, take the best boat ride in Uganda on the Kazinga Channel.
Day 5 – Bwindi and Gorillas
Drive through the forests of Bwindi to Kisoro, Mgahinga, or Bwindi Forests to begin your gorilla adventure. Bwindi offers the largest forest and national park for gorillas. You can choose the gorilla family based on your fitness level, as trail difficulty varies.
Day 6 – Gorilla Tracking and Lake Bunyonyi
Track gorillas in the morning and complete your trek by early afternoon. Afterward, have lunch and drive for two hours to Lake Bunyonyi, where you’ll spend the night.
Optional Days – Explore Kisoro
If you have extra days, you can explore Kisoro, offering activities like hiking Virunga volcanoes. These hikes can be challenging, but the stunning views are worth it.
Day 7,8, or 9 – Return to Kampala
Drive back to Kampala at a leisurely pace. You can choose to stop at the equator and witness water swirling in different directions. For an extended adventure, consider visiting Lake Mburo National Park or Ssese Islands.
Rwanda Extension (4-6 Days)
Day 10 – Enter Rwanda
Cross into Rwanda through the southwestern Uganda border near Kisoro. Track gorillas at Volcanoes National Park in Virunga Volcanoes, close to the borders of Uganda, Congo, and Bwindi.
Day 11 – Gisenyi and Lake Kivu
Drive for two hours to reach Gisenyi near Lake Kivu.
Day 12 – Relax in Gisenyi
Enjoy Gisenyi, a beautiful destination much like Lake Bunyonyi. Take walks and boat rides on Lake Kivu.
Day 13 – Kigali
Drive for four hours to reach Kigali. Arrive in time for lunch, and consider an airport transfer or spend a night or two in Kigali city.
Day 14 – Kigali City Tour
Explore Kigali with a city tour and visit the memorial and genocide areas. The tour takes approximately 4 hours, and you can relax afterward.
Optional Extension:
For those with more time and a passion for nature, consider a 2-3 day extension into Eastern Congo for a hike to the world’s largest active volcanic crater lake. Spend a night on top of the volcano for a memorable experience. Contact Walter for details and pricing.
Embarking on a Uganda safari offers a unique and unforgettable journey into the heart of Africa’s natural wonders, combining lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural encounters in the “Pearl of Africa
You have multiple safari experiences to choose from, and we’re excited to offer them to you.
