This route traces Uganda’s great contrasts: river landscapes and coffee hills in the east, raw wilderness and wide horizons in the north. You’ll stand at the Source of the Nile, hike the three Sipi waterfalls, and cross the little-visited plains of Pian Upe.
In Karamoja, tradition and resilience colour the stories you’ll hear, before Kidepo delivers some of Africa’s most cinematic safaris. The journey then swings west to the thunder of Murchison Falls, with chimps in Budongo and rhinos at Ziwa completing a meaningful conservation arc.
Thoughtfully paced, characterful stays, and scenery that keeps changing—this is East and Northern Uganda Safari Tour with depth.
12 Days / 11 Nights
Kampala / Entebbe
Guesthouses, bandas & midrange lodges
Private vehicle with driver-guide
Year-Round
Private tour
Flexible: Individual or small group
On request (depends on group size & lodge choices)
Kampala/Entebbe → Jinja → Mbale → Sipi Falls → Pian Upe → Moroto → Kotido & Nakapelimoru → Kidepo Valley NP → Gulu → Murchison Falls NP (Paraa) → Masindi → Budongo → Ziwa → Kampala/Entebbe
We welcome you at Entebbe airport or your hotel and start our East and Northern Uganda safari tour. First, we will head East to Jinja. In Jinja we enjoy lunch before going on a boat ride to the Source of the Nile, where Africa’s longest river begins its 6,600 km journey to the Mediterranean. Along the way we meet Paul and Ibrahim, two potters who show us how clay from the riverbank is shaped into everyday household items – a tradition passed down for centuries. In the evening we settle by the water, with the Nile flowing quietly beside us.
Overnight at River Explorers Camp Jinja
After breakfast we visit a weaving company where fabrics are still made entirely by hand, using wooden looms that echo techniques brought to Uganda generations ago. From there we continue to the fertile hills outside Mbale, known for Arabica coffee that grows well at this altitude. Farmers guide us through their gardens, show us how beans are sun-dried on mats, and explain how local cooperatives work together to market their harvests. We taste the coffee straight from the source – rich and smooth – before driving into Mbale.
Overnight at Salem Uganda Guesthouse
Today we set off to explore the famous Sipi Falls, three separate waterfalls that tumble down the slopes of Mount Elgon. The trails lead us through farms of onions and coffee, crops that thrive in the volcanic soil. At the first fall we feel the power of an almost 100-metre drop; at the second we duck into caves hidden behind the curtain of water; and at the third we find a quiet green valley where children often swim. These falls provide water for the whole region, and we see how closely nature and daily life are connected here. By afternoon we return to the lodge for dinner.
Overnight at Sipi Falls Lodge
After breakfast we leave Sipi and drive north into Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Uganda’s second-largest protected area. On arrival we visit a local village inside the reserve, where people tell us about life in this remote region and their close ties with the land. In the afternoon we head out on a game drive across the open plains. Pian Upe is home to species such as eland, hartebeest and oribi, and with luck we may also see ostrich or cheetah. As evening falls we return to the UWA campsite and settle in for a night under the stars.
Overnight at UWA Bandas
We begin with a morning game drive in Pian Upe, when animals are most active. The reserve is home to antelope, baboons and a wide variety of birds. During the gamedrive we also stop at Napadet Cave, where prehistoric rock paintings give us a glimpse of early life in Karamoja. After lunch at the UWA campsite we continue our journey towards Moroto. By evening we arrive in Moroto, lying at the foot of Mount Moroto, and settle into our hotel.
Overnight at Mount Moroto Hotel
This morning we visit Nakapelimoru, the largest traditional Karamojong village. Elders explain the customs of this pastoral community and show us the structure of their manyatta homesteads. After lunch we continue towards Kidepo Valley National Park. In the afternoon we enjoy our first game drive, crossing the vast savannah while heading towards our Lodge for the coming 2 nights.
Overnight at Kidepo Savanna Lodge
We rise early for a full day of game drives in Kidepo. The Narus Valley offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Uganda, with buffalo, giraffes, elephants and lions common here. After lunch at the lodge we drive back into the Kidepo Valley, an open landscape where ostriches stride across the plains and dry riverbeds cut through the land. As dusk falls we return to the lodge, ending the day with dinner.
Overnight at Kidepo Savanna Lodge
The morning in Kidepo is free to take it slow. You may simply enjoy the views from the lodge, or, if you wish, we can arrange an additional game drive for those who would like to experience more of the park. After our lunch at the lodge we leave Kidepo behind and begin our journey south. The road leads us through northern Uganda’s open landscapes before arriving in Gulu by afternoon. Here we check in at our hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening.
Overnight at Northern Pearl Gulu
After breakfast we set off for Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest park. In the afternoon we board a boat on the Nile and travel upstream to the falls. Here the river forces its way through a gap only seven metres wide before plunging 43 metres below – a breathtaking sight. Along the river we often see hippos, crocodiles and elephants. The evening is spent at our camp.
Overnight at Red Chilli Restcamp Paraa
We begin the day with a morning game drive in Murchison, when the savannah is alive with movement. Lions, elephants and giraffes are often seen here, and the park is also home to more than 450 bird species. After the drive we cross the Nile and visit the Top of the Falls viewpoint. Standing here gives a dramatic perspective on the raw power of Murchison Falls. Later we continue our journey to Masindi, where we spend a quiet evening at the hotel.
Overnight at New Court View Hotel
This morning we trek into Budongo Forest, part of the great Murchison ecosystem and home to hundreds of chimpanzees. Guided by a ranger, we walk beneath giant mahogany trees in search of our closest relatives. After lunch we continue to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where we track rhinos on foot. Seeing them up close is a rare and powerful experience. Then we will head back to Kampala, where we will arrive in the evening.
Overnight at Forrest Cottages
On our final day we visit the Crafts Market in Kampala, a very large and busy place where artisans sell carvings, textiles and jewellery. It is a chance to take home a reminder of Uganda. From here we continue to Entebbe for your flight or drop you at a hotel if you are staying longer. Our East and Nortern Uganda safari tour ends, but the memories of twelve days through Uganda’s wilderness will remain.
Overnight at airport or hotel drop-off
Airport pick-up and all private transport
Park fees, permits and entrance charges
Guided hikes, boat cruises and game drives
All listed accommodations with meals as specified
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo and rhino tracking at Ziwa
English-speaking guide and bottled water during travel
International flights and Uganda entry visa
Meals and drinks not mentioned
Personal expenses and tips
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Travel insurance
Uganda still holds places where wilderness feels raw and undiscovered, and Pian Upe is one of them. Covering more than 2,000 square kilometres, it is the country’s second-largest reserve and still largely unseen by visitors. Ostrich stride across the plains, hartebeest gather in herds, and with luck even cheetah appear. Further north lies Kidepo, often called Uganda’s crown jewel of safari parks. Its Narus Valley teems with lions, buffalo and giraffes, framed by wide horizons and silence broken only by nature. Few travellers ever reach this far, which is why sharing it feels so special to us as guides.
Safari is not only about animals, it is also about people and their stories. In Karamoja, resilience and tradition remain at the centre of life, visible in music, cattle culture and daily rhythm. At Nakapelimoru, one of East Africa’s largest traditional villages, homesteads form circular patterns that reflect deep communal bonds. Here we take time to listen before we learn, ensuring respect guides every encounter. Meeting the Karamojong is not a staged performance, but an insight into a living culture. These exchanges create memories that photographs cannot capture. For us, they are as valuable as any wildlife sighting. You can read more about Karamoja on the Uganda Tourism Board website.
Water shapes the early chapters of this East and Northern Uganda safari tour, from the calm Source of the Nile to the thundering cascades of Sipi. At Jinja we stand where Africa’s longest river begins, a place steeped in history and symbolism. In the foothills of Mount Elgon, Sipi’s three waterfalls drop dramatically from the escarpment, the tallest almost 100 metres high. Local guides lead us past coffee gardens, where Arabica thrives in volcanic soil and families proudly share their crop. These landscapes offer more than scenery; they connect livelihoods with natural beauty. Visiting them gives a deeper sense of Uganda’s richness beyond the savannah.
This safari closes with experiences that speak of protection and renewal. In Budongo Forest we trek among towering mahogany trees in search of chimpanzees. It is home to one of Uganda’s largest chimp communities, and their calls carry through the canopy like echoes of our own family. Later at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary we track Uganda’s only wild rhinos on foot. Once extinct here, rhinos are now returning through careful conservation. These encounters link primates and pachyderms in one arc of survival and hope. They remind us why travel matters: to witness, to learn and to help protect.