2-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5 – 367 Uganda Reviews

Uganda is all about variety. This relatively small equatorial country is home to some of Africa’s tallest mountains and largest lakes, as well as the headwaters of the world’s longest river. It also supports a lush mosaic of jungle, savannah and wetlands whose diversity is reflected in an abundance of wildlife. Mountain gorillas and chimps can be tracked in the forests, while hippos and a wealth of waterbirds haunt the waterways, and the savannahs are home to all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). And for those with only 2 days to spare, Uganda is sufficiently compact that, while you obviously can’t uncover its full diversity in that time frame, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations for an overnight safari.

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4 Questions About 2-Day Uganda Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Philip Briggs

Philip Briggs is an Africa-specialized travel writer who first visited Uganda in 1988 and has returned on numerous occasions to research his Bradt Guide to Uganda (first published in 1993 and now in its 10th edition) and to lead wildlife tours and bird-watching safaris.
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What are the options for a 2-day Uganda safari?

“Several alluring national parks and other destinations can be visited on a 2-day Uganda safari starting and ending in the capital Kampala or nearby Entebbe International Airport. A great choice for active travelers who don’t want to spend too much time driving is a white-water rafting trip on the Victoria Nile river near Jinja, two hours’ drive east of Kampala. Another adventurous option is chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, a walking safari where you follow your guide and trackers to see chimps in their natural habitat, six hours’ drive from Kampala. Or you could do a fly-in gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is also a walking safari where you follow your guide and trackers to see gorillas. For a more conventional safari to see savannah wildlife, there are three options that can be done in 2 days. Closest to Kampala, some five to six hours’ drive southwest, is Lake Mburo National Park, which supports good numbers of hippo, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and antelope, but no lions or elephants. These days, thanks to recent road upgrades, it doesn’t take much longer to drive to Murchison Falls National Park. This is a more exciting safari destination where unforgettable boat trips on a wildlife-rich stretch of the Nile River can be supplemented with game drives in search of buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard. The third option is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which offers a broadly similar experience to Murchison Falls, but is at least seven hours’ drive from Kampala.”

Is it possible to see the Big Five in Uganda in 2 days?

“It is technically possible to see all the Big Five on a 2-day Uganda safari, but you’d need to plan it well and be extraordinarily lucky. A 2-day itinerary that gives the possibility of seeing all the Big Five is an overnight stay in Murchison Falls National Park stopping at Ziwa and Wildlife Ranch en route from or to Entebbe. You can be confident of seeing white rhinos at Ziwa, while Murchison Falls is home to all the other members of the Big Five. Of these, elephant and buffalo are commonly seen on afternoon boat trips to the base of Murchison Falls and morning game drives on the Delta Circuit. Lion and leopard are also both present on the Delta Circuit, but the odds of seeing both on one game drive are pretty low.”

Is 2 days enough time to see the gorillas in Uganda?

“Depending on your starting point, it is possible to see gorillas on a 2-day Uganda safari. What wouldn’t be realistic, however, is to try to squeeze a gorilla trekking excursion into a 2-day driving safari that starts and ends at Entebbe or Kampala. This is because the drive between Entebbe/Kampala and Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla, the two national parks where gorilla trekking takes place, takes at least 10 hours in either direction. The minimum duration for a gorilla safari out of Entebbe or Kampala is 3 days rather than 2 days, as you need to spend the night immediately before and after you trek at a lodge or camp close to the relevant park. A more realistic starting point for a 2-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour is Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Depending on where in Uganda you track gorillas, the drive from Kigali will take from three to six hours. So, even allowing for delays at the international border, you can easily drive to Uganda on day one, track gorillas the next morning, then return to Kigali immediately afterwards. Of course, it is also possible to track gorillas in Rwanda, so you might reasonably ask why anyone would cross into Uganda to do the same activity. The simple answer is that it is cheaper: gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost US$800 per person for foreign nonresidents, as opposed to US$1,500 in Rwanda (both countries offer cheaper rates to African citizens and foreign residents).”

How much will this safari cost?

“A 2-day Uganda tour package might cost anything from US$450 to US$1,800 per person, depending on a number of variables. If the safari includes gorilla trekking, a significant proportion of the price will cover the US$800 permit. Domestic flights are more expensive than driving, while the quality of accommodations will also affect the cost of a safari package. You can thus expect to pay around US$1,800 per person for a 2-day fly-in gorilla trekking safari out of Entebbe, or US$1,100 to US$1,500 per person for a 2-day Uganda gorilla trekking safari out of Kigali (Rwanda). Most other 2-day safaris out of Entebbe or Kampala are a lot cheaper because no gorilla trekking permit is involved. Budget 2-day camping safaris to national parks such as Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls might cost around US$400 to $US600 per person. More upmarket lodge-based safaris to the same destinations, or to track chimps in Kibale, or raft on the Nile River near Jinja, generally cost US$600 to US$800 per person.”

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 367 Reviews

Expert

Mark Eveleigh –

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic wildlife and some of the friendliest people in Africa make Uganda unbeatable

5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife or such great...

Full Review

Expert

Sue Watt –

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Great apes, great landscapes, great adventures

4/5

Most people understandably come to Uganda for its gorillas. Almost half of the world’s population of around 1,060 mountain gorillas lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks, and spending that precious...

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Levi Jacob Morris –

Reviewed: Apr 22, 2024

A country with a rich diversity of landscapes, people, and wildlife.

5/5

I explored Uganda for 12 days with Buyaga Safaris. The country is very diverse the culture, landscape, and wildlife can change a lot when traveling from one region to the next. The biggest highlights for myself as a wildlife photographer...

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Brooke –

Reviewed: Apr 9, 2024

Absolutely gorgeous with amazing wildlife and friendly people.

5/5

I booked a two day solo tour to Murchinson Falls National Park through Immersion . My guide Andrew was so friendly and knowledgeable. He picked me up at my Airbnb in Kampala and was an excellent driver on some very busy and rustic roads. We...

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Sandra –

Reviewed: Mar 31, 2024

Uganda has the most beautiful natural sceneries, the "big five" & a variety of birds

5/5

The safari with Yaneta was an amazing experience. If you want to see the big five, then Uganda's National parks such as Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth amongst others are the best places to visit and explore. Even birdlovers will be...

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Vickie –

Reviewed: Mar 27, 2024

Trip of a lifetime!

5/5

Ronnie with Dav Safaris was awesome. The people and weather was great. We always felt safe. Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking was amazing. We paid extra to spend time with the chimps that were less acclimated to people. Don’t do that...

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4 Questions About 2-Day Uganda Safaris

Answered by

Philip Briggs

4 Questions About 2-Day Uganda Safaris

What are the options for a 2-day Uganda safari?

Is it possible to see the Big Five in Uganda in 2 days?

Is 2 days enough time to see the gorillas in Uganda?

How much will this safari cost?

Uganda Reviews

Fantastic wildlife and some of the friendliest people in Africa make Uganda unbeatable

Great apes, great landscapes, great adventures

A country with a rich diversity of landscapes, people, and wildlife.

Absolutely gorgeous with amazing wildlife and friendly people.

Uganda has the most beautiful natural sceneries, the "big five" & a variety of birds

Trip of a lifetime!