Two weeks in Uganda gives you access to the full sweep of what this country offers: mountain gorillas in Bwindi, tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth, the Nile at Murchison Falls, chimpanzees in Kibale, and the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley in the far northeast. This 14-day itinerary covers five national parks and approximately 2,400 km of driving. It is ambitious but absolutely achievable with a reliable 4×4 and good pre-trip planning.
Route Summary
- Days 1–2: Kampala/Entebbe → Queen Elizabeth (305 km)
- Days 3–4: Full days at Queen Elizabeth (Kasenyi + Kazinga + Ishasha)
- Day 5: Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (190 km)
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking
- Day 7: Bwindi → Kibale Forest via Fort Portal (220 km)
- Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking at Kibale
- Days 9–10: Kibale → Murchison Falls (330 km) + full day Murchison
- Days 11–13: Murchison Falls → Kidepo Valley (320 km) + 2 days Kidepo
- Day 14: Kidepo → Kampala (580 km)
Days 1–8: The Western Circuit
Days one through eight follow the same western circuit as the 10-day itinerary: Queen Elizabeth for lions and the Kazinga Channel, Bwindi for gorilla trekking, Kibale for chimpanzees. The main difference in this 14-day version is more relaxed pacing — you can add an optional day at Lake Bunyonyi between Bwindi and Kibale, a stunning crater lake at 1,960 metres altitude that offers kayaking, birding, and complete peace. Many visitors cite Lake Bunyonyi as the most beautiful place in Uganda.
Days 9–10: Murchison Falls National Park
From Kibale, drive north to Murchison Falls. The most direct route goes via Hoima and Masindi, joining the A109 near Karuma. Murchison Falls National Park covers 3,893 square kilometres — Uganda’s largest. The north bank game circuit is Uganda’s best savannah wildlife experience outside of Queen Elizabeth. Rothschild’s giraffe, elephant herds, lion prides, cape buffalo, oribi, hartebeest, waterbuck, and Uganda kob are all present in large numbers.
Day ten: the Murchison Falls hike to the top of the falls is mandatory. The Nile compresses through a seven-metre-wide rock gap before plunging 43 metres — it is considered the most powerful waterfall on earth by the force of the water compressed per unit width. The walk from the top car park takes 45 minutes on a marked trail above the gorge. Crocodiles and hippos are visible from the trail. The boat trip from Paraa to the base of the falls (USD $30, 1.5 hours) offers close views of the hippo pool, nesting crocodiles, and the shoebill stork in the papyrus margins.
Days 11–13: Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley is where this itinerary separates from the standard Uganda safari. Most visitors never make it this far — the 9–10 hour drive from Murchison via Gulu is a deterrent. But the reward for those who persist is a national park that feels like no other place in East Africa.
From Murchison, drive north to Gulu (3 hours on improving tarmac), then east toward Kitgum and Kotido. The road quality deteriorates progressively as you leave Gulu — expect rough murram sections for the final 2–3 hours to the Apoka gate. Total driving time: 9–10 hours. Depart Murchison by 5am.
Kidepo’s wildlife roster is unique in Uganda: cheetah, Burchell’s zebra, eland, greater kudu, ostrich, caracal, and bat-eared fox are found here and nowhere else in the country. The park sits in a semi-arid valley bordered by the South Sudan border to the north and the Imatong Mountains to the northeast. With fewer than 5,000 visitors annually (compared to 120,000+ at Bwindi), game drives feel genuinely remote — you may spend an entire morning circuit without seeing another vehicle.
Two full days at Kidepo allows a morning and afternoon game drive each day, a visit to the Narus Valley (best for cheetah and lion), and the optional cultural visit to a Karamojong manyatta village — the Karamoja region’s semi-nomadic cattle herders maintain some of the most distinctive traditional cultures in East Africa.
Day 14: Kidepo to Kampala (580 km, ~10 hours)
The return from Kidepo to Kampala is Uganda’s longest single driving day. Depart the park by 5am. The route via Kitgum, Gulu, and the A109 south to Kampala is the most direct. Road quality improves significantly once you hit the Gulu–Kampala highway, which has seen major rehabilitation work in recent years and is now largely good tarmac. Allow 10 hours total including fuel stops. If your flight allows, consider overnighting in Gulu and completing the final 3.5 hours to Kampala the following morning — it is a safer and more enjoyable end to what has been a remarkable two weeks.
Permits and Costs Summary
- Gorilla permit: USD $800 per person
- Chimpanzee tracking: USD $200 per person
- Vehicle rental 14 days: USD $1,400–$2,000 (Land Cruiser with full kit)
- Park entry fees across 5 parks: approx. USD $500–$600 per person
- Fuel (approx. 2,400 km): USD $350–$400
Contact Car Hire 4×4 Drive to check Land Cruiser availability for your 14-day circuit. We provide GPS, rooftop maps, and a pre-departure briefing on current road conditions across all five parks.
