Gorillas and Big Five
8 Days
From $3,595 per person
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RATED 5/5
Gorillas and Big Five, Lodge
A classic, 8-day tour of the best of Uganda including the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Big Five at Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Ziwa. Three great lodges. Choose your pace to suit the mood on the day – chill out at lodges or optional afternoon activities
- Gorilla trek, rhino trek, games drives and boat safaris
- Custom safari vehicle with pop up roof and experienced driver/guide
- 4 Parks: Ziwa, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi
- Classic tour of Uganda’s top safari destinations
- The Nile, savanna, Rift Valley, mountains and jungle
- 4 superb mid-range lodges, 7 nights
Tour Itinerary
Highlights
- Arrive Entebbe
- Transfer to hotel
- Optional activities
Lodge at Via Via, Entebbe
Arrive Entebbe
Whatever time you arrive you will need somewhere to stay. Arriving early morning after a night flight you will need somewhere to rest and recover. Arriving late, the last thing you want on your mind is: Where am I going to stay? In either case, 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 Night
Dinner and overnight at Via Via, Entebbe
First of the Five: The Rhinos
Breakfast meet and greet at your hotel. Tour briefing and departure to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Walk with the white rhinos, one of the Big Five, and learn about this inspirational programme to reintroduce these amazing creatures back into the wilds of Uganda.
After a leisurely lunch at Ziwa, proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, crossing the Nile at Karuma Falls. Optional short or long game drive to accommodation inside Murchison Falls National Park.
Lodge Night
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
- Lunch at Paraa Lodge
- Delta Game Drive
Pakuba Safari Lodge
The Nile at Murchison
Dawn game drive into the vast savanna plains of Murchison Falls National Park. See elephant and buffalo to add to the Big Five. Plenty of antelope including Uganda kob, Jackson hartebeest, water buck and oribi. Other favourites such as giraffe and warthog. Visit the hunting grounds by the Nile Delta at Lake Albert with a good chance to see lion and perhaps leopard to complete the Big Five!
Transfer to the Nile boat dock for late morning boat safari on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. See hippos in the water, crocs and elephant on the banks and birdlife everywhere, including African fish eagle and Goliath heron.
Collect from the boat dock and return to Pakuba Lodge for late lunch and leisurely afternoon at the pool – or optional afternoon game drive, perhaps back to the delta.
Lodge Night
Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Lodge.
Queen Elizabeth N.P.
Early breakfast and depart Pakuba Safari Lodge. Enjoy a final game drive as we depart Murchison Falls National Park.
Visit the top of Murchison Falls. Stand in the spray 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.
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal and a lunch stop en route. Pass beneath the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled Mountains of the Moon and home to 6 of the highest peaks in Africa. Arrive at Queen Elizabeth NP, crossing the Kazinga Channel, a feature of the rich Rift Valley landscape.
Lodge Night
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
Game drives only
Highlights
- Kasenyi game drive
- Kazinga boat safari
- Crater Lakes
- Elephants at Katwe
Bush Lodge
Kazinga Channel
Early breakfast and depart for dawn game drive towards Lake George at Kasenyi. Target good sightings of lion and perhaps leopard, as well as buffalo, elephant, warthog and plenty of antelope.
Return to 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 and kingfisher.
Lunch at the boat dock.
Return for a leisurely afternoon at Bush Lodge – or optional drive to see the elephants massing at Lake Edward or to visit the crater lakes – or both.
Lodge Night
Dinner and overnight at Bush Lodge.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N.P.
Leisurely breakfast and depart Bush Lodge for transfer to Ishasha Game Reserve. Enjoy a final game drive, hopefully to see the famous tree-climbing lions, unique to this region. 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”, in readiness for next day’s gorilla trek.
Lodge Night
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
- Lake Bunyonyi?
Agandi or Bunyonyi Lodges
The Karamojong
Suit up, early breakfast and short transfer to Ruhija Gorilla HQ for cultural dancing and a thorough briefing for the gorilla trek.
Trek for typically 1 to 2 hours through the mountain forest to spend an unforgettable hour up close and personal with a family group of mountain gorillas. Truly breathtaking. Anticipate return from 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 Night
Dinner and overnight at Agandi Eco Lodge, or Lake Bunyonyi Eco Lodge.
Welaba! Return Entebbe
Leisurely breakfast at chosen lodge location and commence 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 Trail
- Or Lakeside Drive
- Igongo Cultural Centre
- Equator
Tour Ends
Like What You See?
Why not take an extra day in the wild at Murchison Falls; or to rest up at Kidepo Savannah Lodge; or spend time in Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda – perhaps to go white water rafting on the Nile?
Want to upgrade to include more lodges? – or to have your own room? Let us know.
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
Lodge accommodation as specified or equivalent, subject to availability.