Gorillas, Chimps & Big 5
8 Days
From $3,795 per person
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RATED 5/5
Gorillas, Chimps and the Big Five
A classic, 8-day tour of the best of Uganda including mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi; chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge; walking with rhinos in Ziwa; game drives and boat safaris in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth. Four great lodges: one custom safari vehicle. Choose your pace to suit the mood on the day – chill out at the lodge or do more safari! – it’s all included.
- Gorilla, chimp and rhino treks, game drives and boat safaris
- Custom safari vehicle: window seat, pop-up roof, fridge
- Qualified and experienced driver guide
- Ziwa, Bwindi, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth
- The Nile, Rift Valley, savanna, mountains and jungle
- 4 superb mid-range lodges, 7 nights
Tour Itinerary
Highlights
- Arrive Entebbe
- Transfer to hotel
- Relax and Enjoy
Lodge at Via Via
Arrive Entebbe
Whatever time you arrive you will need somewhere to stay. We will meet you on arrival at Entebbe Airport and transfer you to a local hotel, most probably Via Via. We also include dinner and breakfast next morning. And if you have some time on your hands during the day, we are happy to suggest some things to do, maybe recommend some good local bars and restaurants, or perhaps meet up.
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Via Via, Entebbe.
Walking with Rhinos
Breakfast meet and greet at your hotel. Tour briefing and departure to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you will take a trek to see the white rhinos – the first of the Big Five that we expect to see on this tour. Spend time watching and tracking these magnificent beasts as they graze, rest and socialise in the wilds of Ziwa and learn about this inspirational programme to reintroduce the white rhino back into the wilds of Uganda.
After a leisurely lunch at Ziwa, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, crossing the Nile at Karuma Falls and enjoy either a short or a long game drive to your accommodation, as the mood dictates.
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge. Luxury room and swimming pool.
400k/7hrs – Road
Highlights
- Rhino trek at Ziwa
- Karuma Falls
- Murchison Falls NP
- Purongo Game Drive
Pakuba Safari Lodge
Game drives only
Highlights
- Dawn game drive
- Nile boat safari
- Relax at the pool, or...
- ...evening game drive
Pakuba Safari Lodge
The Nile at Murchison
Grab a quick early breakfast and head out for a dawn game drive on the vast savanna plains of Murchison Falls National Park. See elephant and buffalo to add to the Big Five, giraffe, warthog and plenty of antelope including Uganda kob, Jackson hartebeest, water buck and oribi. We will visit the hunting grounds by the Nile Delta at Lake Albert with a good chance to see lion and perhaps leopard.
Transfer to the Nile jetty at Paraa for a relaxing boat safari on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. See hippos in the water, huge Nile crocodiles and elephant on the banks and birdlife everywhere, including African fish eagle, Goliath heron and various kingfisher.
Collect from the boat dock and return to Pakuba Lodge for a late lunch. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the pool – or head back out to the savanna for an evening game drive to see what we can find. Perhaps lion and leopard to complete the Big Five?
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Lodge.
Queen Elizabeth
Relaxing breakfast. Depart Pakuba Safari Lodge and transfer to the top of Murchison Falls. Stand in the spray and hear the roar of the world’s most powerful waterfall as the Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gap and plunges 45 metres into the Devil’s Cauldron below.
Depart Murchison Falls and journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal and a lunch stop en route. Pass alongside the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled Mountains of the Moon, home to 6 of the highest peaks in Africa. Cross the Equator as we reach the vast savanna plains of Queen Elizabeth and cross the Kazinga Channel, a feature of the awesome Rift Valley landscape.
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge. Luxury banda overlooking Kazinga Channel.
450k/8hrs – Road
Highlights
- Murchison Falls
- Fort Portal
- Rwenzori Mountains
- Queen Elizabeth NP
Bush Lodge
Local transfers only
Highlights
- Chimpanzee trek
- Kazinga boat safari
- Relax at the lodge...
- ...or mix it up a little
Bush Lodge
Chimpanzees
Early breakfast and head out to meet the chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. A beautiful setting for a short trek down into the forested gorge, following the river to find the chimpanzees. A great rehearsal for the mountain gorillas to come and a fabulous experience in its own right.
Return to the Kazinga Channel for a relaxing boat safari to see buffalo and elephant close up at the water’s edge as well as abundant aquatic and birdlife such as weaver birds, spoonbills and cormorants.
Lunch at the boat dock followed by a leisurely afternoon at Bush Lodge – or take a drive to see the elephants massing at Lake Edward; visit the twin crater lakes at Kichwambiya; an evening game drive at Kasenyi – or all three?
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge.
Lions in trees?
Leisurely breakfast and depart Bush Lodge for transfer by savanna trail to Ishasha Game Reserve. Enjoy a final game drive in this remote savanna park on the border with DR Congo. Our last chance to complete the Big Five and hopefully to see the famous tree-climbing lions, unique to this region, and perhaps also leopard. Visit to the hippo pools on the Ishasha River border with DR Congo and rest up for a packed lunch in the forest glade overlooking the river.
After lunch, join the forest trail and head deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, otherwise known as “Jungle”. A wonderful trail through the mountainous jungle rising to over 2500 metres with occasional breaks in the forest and glimpses to the mountains beyond. This is gorilla country.
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Agandi Eco Lodge. Lodge fire and spectacular mountain sunset.
200k/6hrs – Trail
Highlights
- Ishasha Game Drive
- Tree Climbing Lions?
- Bwindi Jungle
Agandi Eco Lodge
Local transfers only
Highlights
- Gorilla Briefing
- Gorilla Trek
- Relax at Agandi Lodge, or...
- ...transfer to Lake Bunyonyi?
Agandi or Bunyonyi Lodges
The Mountain Gorillas
Enjoy an early breakfast, zip up the gorilla suit and head out for a short transfer to the Ruhija Gorilla HQ. Cultural dancing and detailed briefing for the gorilla trek.
Head out on the trek, typically for 1 to 2 hours through the mountainous forest to spend an unforgettable hour up close and personal with our close cousins: a family group of mountain gorillas. Truly breathtaking.
Anticipate return from the trek by early afternoon and return to Agandi Lodge for perhaps a much needed afternoon rest and relaxation. Alternatively, we can transfer to the mystical Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful lakes in all of Africa, and transfer by boat to lodge on one of the many islands.
Lodge
Dinner and overnight at Agandi Eco Lodge, or Lake Bunyonyi Eco Lodge.
Welaba!
Leisurely breakfast at chosen lodge location and return journey to Entebbe, commencing by lakeside or forest trail to Kabale.
Lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Centre and a visit to the Ugandan cultural museum. Afternoon coffee stop at the Equator and a good opportunity to stock up on last minute souvenirs.
Plan to arrive early evening with drop off at your chosen hotel in either Kampala or Entebbe. We don’t include final night accommodation because there are normally too many variables, such as Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja or even Entebbe Airport for a late flight home. Either way, we are happy to make recommendations and to drop you off at your chosen end point.
Tour Ends
450k/9hrs – Mainly Road
Highlights
- Forest or Lakeside Trail
- Igongo Cultural Centre
- Equator Coffee stop
Tour Ends
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Kindly provide a few details and we will get back to you.
Included
- Airport transfer and hotel on arrival
- Experienced driver/guide
- Custom safari vehicle with pop up roof, fridge
- Lodges as specified or equivalent
- Two persons sharing, double/single beds
- Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- All park fees, guides and excursions
- Gorilla permit ($800)
- Flying Doctors evacuation cover
Excluded
- Flights, visas and vaccinations
- Hotel night on return
- Departing Airport Transfer
- Personal insurances
- Available upgrades: own room