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5-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5  –  366 Uganda Reviews

Mountain gorillas, chimps, tree-climbing lions and an astonishing tally of 1,000-plus bird species are among the many attractions that lure wildlife enthusiasts to Uganda. Situated at the ecological crossroads of the eastern savannah and western jungle, this well-watered country is also home to Africa’s largest lake and the snowcapped peaks of the legendary Mountains of the Moon. Elsewhere, the seething headwaters of the world’s longest river offer superb white-water rafting and host the breathtakingly eruptive Murchison Falls. True, you might face some difficult choices when it comes to deciding which highlights to include in a 5-day Uganda itinerary, but whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed by this truly amazing country.

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6 Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris

 
 

6 Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris

Answered by Philip Briggs

Is 5 days enough time for a trip in Uganda?

“Yes, provided you don’t try to cram too much into the itinerary. A 5-day Uganda tour allows you enough time to cover several wildlife highlights, including gorilla trekking, chimp trekking and at least one boat safari and game drive. Having said that, if you want to fit all of this into 5 days, you’ll be looking at a very busy schedule, so if at all possible, there is a lot to be said for allocating another day or two to the safari.”

1

Where should I go on a 5-day safari in Uganda?

“The most popular 5-day itinerary heads southwest from Entebbe International Airport (the main port of entry to Uganda) to combine Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth National Parks with any of several chimp trekking destinations, and possibly Lake Mburo National Park. The main reason to visit Bwindi is to track gorillas, but this forested national park is also great for monkeys, birds and scenic walks. Highlights of Queen Elizabeth NP include boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel and game drives in the Ishasha sector to look for tree-climbing lions. You can also include Kibale National Park, Uganda’s most popular chimp trekking destination, on a combined 5-day itinerary with the above parks. However, less travel is involved if you substitute it with Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge, both of which offer chimp trekking on the border of Queen Elizabeth. For those who don’t want or can’t afford to track gorillas, a popular option for a 5-day safari is scenic Murchison Falls National Park. Here, four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) might be seen on boat trips on the Nile or game drives north of the river. Murchison Falls is easily combined with Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and/or chimp trekking in Budongo Forest. An off-the-beaten-track alternative to Murchison Falls is a 5-day day safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, which also hosts lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, and could be combined with a stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.”

2

Which animals am I likely to see?

“That depends on your itinerary for the 5 days. On a tour package that includes Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth NPs, you can be all but certain of mountain gorilla, elephant, buffalo, hippo, warthog and Nile crocodile. You’ll also see plenty of antelope, most notably the endemic Uganda kob, and a variety of monkeys including Angola colobus, olive baboon and vervet monkey. You’re also quite likely to see lions in Queen Elizabeth, and lucky visitors might even encounter leopard and giant forest hog there. If you go chimp trekking, you probably stand an 80% to 90% chance of seeing chimps too. If you head north to Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley NP, you’re almost certain to see elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, warthog, patas monkey and a variety of antelope. Hippo and Nile crocodile are common on the Nile as it flows through Murchison Falls, while Kidepo Valley is home to plenty of zebras. Leopards are present but rather uncommon in both parks. White rhinos can be tracked on foot at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and are almost 100% certain to be located. Chimp trekking at Budongo Forest, which borders Murchison Falls, also has a high success rate. Although the focus tends to be on large mammals, you can expect to see a huge variety of colorful tropical birds wherever you travel in Uganda.”

3

What are the options to extend my 5-day Uganda trip?

“Within Uganda, if you have a day or two spare at the end of your 5-day safari, popular add-ons include white-water rafting on the Nile near Jinja and boat trips into Mabamba Swamp to look for the bizarre shoebill. If you’re looking for somewhere to chill out by the water, your best option in Uganda is Lake Bunyonyi. Further afield, a 5-day Uganda safari focused on gorilla and chimp trekking pairs well with a Big Five safari in neighboring Tanzania or Kenya. For the more recreationally minded, the obvious coastal extension is Zanzibar Island, which lies in the Indian Ocean offshore of Tanzania.”

4

What is the best time of the year for a trip in Uganda?

“The top months to travel in Uganda are June, July, August, December, January and February. These are generally the driest months in the southwest, and thus ideal for gorilla trekking and other rainforest hikes. Wildlife viewing in savannah reserves also tends to be best during the Dry season, and there’s less chance of activities being rained out. While it is possible to track gorillas and chimps over March, April and May, these are the wettest months in Uganda, and best avoided if at all possible.”

5

How much will this safari cost?

“Budget 5-day Uganda safaris that don’t include gorilla or chimp trekking might come in at under US$1,000 per person, while those that need to allow for the US$600 gorilla trekking fee are typically in the US$1,700 to US$2,000 range. Upmarket 5-day gorilla trekking safaris using more luxurious accommodation and/or domestic flights generally fall into the US$2,500 to US$4,500 price bracket. Safari prices in Uganda generally include everything except drinks, tips and purchases of a personal nature.”

6

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 366 Reviews
Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

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...

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Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

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  –  
United States US
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  –  
United States US
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  –  
Germany DE
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  –  
United States US
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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