8 Day Big Five, Gorillas, and Chimpanzees Safari in Uganda
Uganda Safari
This trip will take you to the powerful fall in the world that is Murchison Falls National Park and to the gorillas in Uganda, not forgetting the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.
Key information
- Group safari
- Group size: 2 - 34 participants
- Starting and ending points: Entebbe
- English speaking guide
- Park fees are not included
Meet the guides
Read more
Highlights
- 13 game drives
- See gorillas, chimpanzees, and rhinos
- Ride in a pop-up roof 4X4 vehicle
- Visit Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo National Parks
- Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Styles
Accommodation
During this safari, you will stay in various lodges.
- Nights 1 and 2: Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar
- Night 3: Kibale Forest Lodge
- Night 4: Warujojo Safari Lodge
- Nights 5 and 6: Havens Lodge Buhoma or similar
- Night 7: Eagles Nest
Program
Day 1
This day after your early breakfast, you will have morning game drives to search for the leopards, lions, buffaloes, and elephants to complete the big five and in the afternoon, take the launch cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls, with the option of walking up the top of the falls. Sundowners will be served on your overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 2
After breakfast, you will depart Kampala for Murchison Falls National Park, having a break at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola to view the rhinos. This is a long drive as you travel north of the country. Once you reach the Nile in the heart of the park, the sight of the Nile River, the world's longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow gap is unforgettable. You will have an evening game drive, then later head to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge or similar.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3
After your breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on an early morning drive with a picnic lunch to Kibale Forest Park. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife. This is also a great opportunity to support local tourism initiatives that benefit social and economic development in the area. Overnight at Kibale Forest Lodge.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4
After breakfast at the lodge, you will go for chimpanzee trekking along the network of forest trails. Seeing habituated chimps squabbling and swinging from the trees is an exhilarating experience. Later you drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, through volcanic crater lakes, and on a clear day, one can see the famous “Mountains of the Moon”, the Rwenzori Mountains. Have a game drive while entering the park and later go for another evening game drive and overnight at your lodge. Overnight at Warujojo Safari Lodge.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5
Enjoy the morning game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park whose diverse ecosystems include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, that make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, primates, and over 600 species of birds. Return to the lodge for lunch and later. You will take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, 32 kilometers long followed by a game drive. Have a game drive before heading you will continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for two nights. Relax in the evening and get ready for the following day’s gorilla tracking. Overnight at Havens Lodge Buhoma or similar.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6
Today after an energizing breakfast, you will embark on your gorilla trek. Before 8:00 a.m., report to the ranger station for registration and briefing by one of the rangers; the guides will then lead you through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take anywhere from half an hour to seven hours - a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking boots.
It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas - sadly enough there are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left. If time permits, there are additional activities, unique to Bwindi, which you can engage in for the afternoon. These include the Batwa community trail, community visits, or waterfall hikes. Overnight at Havens Lodge Buhoma or similar.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park, home of zebras. You will have an evening game drive in the park and then later go to your hotel for an overnight at Eagles Nest.
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8
This morning, you will have breakfast and do the game drive or a walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. Arriving in the park for lunch, you can rest before exploring the park on a game drive and then proceed to Entebbe to have lunch en route. You will stop at the Equator-where you will be able to stand in both hemispheres simultaneously arriving in Entebbe.
Guides
Seruma Robert
Seruma has been in the industry for over 10 years doing guiding work inside and outside Uganda's national parks.
Location
The safari will take place in Uganda.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Uganda’s rhinos became extinct in the early 1980s, after a period of civil unrest and heavy poaching. This sanctuary has now been established to breed black and white rhinos and restore rhino populations in Uganda’s protected areas at a later stage.
Kibale Forest Park
This is home to some 13 species of primates including the red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and L'Hoest's monkeys as well as 70 mammal species.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
This is rich in bird species, vegetation, and wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This park which boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world and Uganda’s second largest national park, the 1,978 square kilometers has everything from open savannah to rainforest. Queen Elizabeth has over 100 mammal species, and an astounding 606 bird species, making it a premier safari destination.
The diverse ecosystems include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands which make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, primates, and over 600 species of birds. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills and panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel.
Kazinga Channel
This water system has the highest concentration of hippos in the world and you will get quite close to them. See also crocodiles, buffalos, and other games that drink from the channel, also marvel at the abundant ornithine life that is supported here.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi is home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Interacting with these gentle giants is one of the most moving experiences that Africa has to offer and should not be missed. The ancient rainforest of Bwindi spans 321 square kilometers and boasts 90 mammal species, including a range of primates, as well as 23 Albertine Rift endemic bird species, including the African Green Broadbill, the Bar Tailed Trogon, and many others.
Lake Mburo National Park
The 371-square-kilometer park is an extension of the Tanzanian Plains and has distinctly different fauna compared to other Ugandan parks. It is the best place in the country to see eland antelopes, zebras, topis, impalas, and acacias. The five lakes within the park attract hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of water birds while fringing swamps hide black and yellow papyrus gonoleks.
Food
You will be served daily meals and water while in a car included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 13 game drives
- 7 nights accommodation
- Full-board meals
- Water while in a car
- English-speaking guides
- All ground transportation
What's not included
- Airfare
- Gorilla fees (800 USD)
- Chimpanzee fees (250 USD)
- Rhinos fees (50 USD)
- All your personal expenses
- Single supplement fee
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Entebbe International Airport
276 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 24% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.