11 Day Uganda Safari – Sipi Falls, Karamoja, Kidepo and Murchison Falls

Your safari begins with an early departure from Kampala or Entebbe, travelling east toward the Mount Elgon region and the Sipi Falls area.

As you leave the busy central region behind, the landscape gradually changes to greener highlands and farmland. Continue toward Sipi Falls, arriving at your lodge with time to settle in and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Depending on your arrival time, you can take a short walk around the lodge or nearby community before dinner.

After breakfast, set out with a local guide for a hike around the Sipi Falls area. The trails pass through farmland and local communities, with several viewpoints providing different perspectives of the waterfalls and surrounding Mount Elgon landscape.

The hike can be adapted to your pace and interests, with opportunities for photography, birdwatching and interaction with local communities along the way.

Later, visit a local coffee farm for a Sipi Arabica coffee experience. Learn how coffee is grown, harvested, processed and prepared before tasting the finished coffee.

Return to your lodge for the evening.

Leave the Mount Elgon highlands and travel north-west toward Karamoja. The landscape changes considerably as the lush highlands give way to drier plains and open country.

Arrive at Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and settle into camp before heading out for an afternoon wildlife experience.

Pian Upe is known for its open grasslands and supports species including roan antelope, eland, zebra, ostrich and other plains wildlife. The reserve offers a quieter safari experience, with fewer vehicles and a strong sense of wilderness.

Spend the evening at camp surrounded by the landscapes of the reserve.

After breakfast, continue north toward Moroto, entering the heart of Karamoja.

The journey takes you deeper into a region where livestock remains an important part of everyday life and where communities have maintained distinctive traditions and ways of living.

After arriving in Moroto and settling in, visit a Karamojong homestead with a local guide. Spend time learning about family life, livestock keeping, traditional homes and the role cattle play within the community.

Later in the afternoon, continue the experience as the day cools, with opportunities to meet local people and learn more about life in Karamoja.

Begin the day early for a more intimate Karamoja experience around a traditional cattle kraal.

As the sun rises, spend time with local cattle keepers as they tend to their animals and begin their morning routines. This provides an opportunity to observe pastoral life at close range, while also experiencing the atmosphere of Karamoja in the early morning light.

After breakfast, continue toward the Morungole Mountains. Depending on local arrangements and the timing of your journey, there may be an opportunity to visit a village market or cattle auction when one is taking place.

Continue toward the Ik communities around the Morungole Mountains. With a local guide, learn about Ik traditions, food, language, livelihoods and their relationship with the mountain environment.

Rise early for a guided hike in the Mount Morungole area. The trail takes you into the rugged landscape of the East African Rift Escarpment, offering a completely different perspective of northeastern Uganda.

Walk through mountain terrain while observing birds, plants, wildlife signs and the surrounding landscape. The hike is also an opportunity to appreciate the relationship between the mountain communities and their environment.

After the hike, continue toward Kidepo Valley National Park. As you approach the park, the landscape opens into broad savannah plains backed by mountains.

Today is dedicated to exploring Kidepo Valley National Park by 4×4 safari vehicle.

Begin with an early morning game drive when wildlife is active and the light is ideal for photography. Explore the Narus Valley and surrounding plains in search of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, Uganda kobs and other wildlife.

Kidepo is also known for its predators, including lions and leopards, although sightings are never guaranteed. Depending on conditions and wildlife movements, explore different areas of the park throughout the day.

After a break for lunch, continue with another wildlife drive or a guided nature experience before returning to your lodge.

Today is primarily a travel day as you leave northeastern Uganda and begin the long journey west toward Murchison Falls National Park.

The route crosses changing landscapes and rural communities, providing a different perspective of Uganda beyond the national parks.

Arrive in the Murchison Falls area later in the day and settle into your lodge. Depending on arrival time, the evening can be spent relaxing at camp or enjoying the surrounding environment.

Start the morning with a game drive through the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park.

The savannah plains support elephants, buffalo, giraffes, Uganda kobs, hartebeest and other wildlife. With an early start, there are also opportunities to search for lions and other predators.

After lunch, head to the Victoria Nile for a boat safari toward the base of Murchison Falls. From the water, watch for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo along the riverbanks, as well as the area's abundant birdlife.

The boat journey provides a different perspective of the park before returning to your lodge.

If time and conditions allow, a visit to the top of Murchison Falls can be arranged.

Depart early for Budongo Forest, one of Uganda's important destinations for wild chimpanzee tracking.

With experienced forest guides and trackers, enter the forest in search of chimpanzees. The experience focuses not only on finding the primates but also on understanding their behaviour, the forest ecosystem and the other wildlife encountered along the trail.

After the forest experience, continue toward Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Arrive at the sanctuary and settle into your lodge.