Uganda Big Five Safari: Uganda is a landlocked East African nation bordered by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC, with its capital called Kampala. With a population of nearly 50 million, it is a diverse country featuring Lake Victoria, the Nile River’s source, and rich diversity highlighting the country’s breathtaking landscapes and varied flora and fauna.

Through the country’s most celebrated national parks, including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, and Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you will have thrilling game drives across the vast savannahs to breathtaking landscapes and close encounters with Africa’s legendary big five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes); this adventure is designed to give you the ultimate wildlife experience. Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa and offers incredible national parks, rich diversity, and unforgettable safari moments.

Detailed Itinerary of Uganda Big Five Safari

Day 1: Airport pickup and transfer to the booked lodge.

On arrival, you will be welcomed by a professional tour guide who will brief you about your adventure, and later you will be transferred to the booked lodge for dinner and relaxation to prepare for the next day’s activities.

Accommodation: Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Ziwa Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, and do Top of the Falls.

You will have an early breakfast and later proceed to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking. You will track the wild rhinos on foot with guidance from the experienced rangers, where you will learn about the successful conservation efforts to reintroduce more rhinos in Uganda.

You will then transfer by road to Murchison Falls National Park and visit the top of fall where you will view the falls from the top. This is where the Nile squeezes itself through a narrow gorge 8 meters wide and gives you the best experience as you also create everlasting moments. And later you will proceed to the booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Fort Murchison Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Paara Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park, and transfer to Kibale National Park.

After morning breakfast, you will prepare for the morning game drive across the northern savanna. During the drive, you will be able to spot wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, kobs, leopards, hippos, and warthogs. You shall also get to see birds like marabou storks, bee-eaters, and starlings and return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon you shall go for a boat cruise on the bottom of the Nile; expect to see a variety of animals that come out to the shores of the Nile to sunbathe, drink water, and sometimes trap food. During boat cruising, you shall also get to see different species of birds that live along the shores of the delta, like the African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, and various storks. After the cruise you shall transfer to Kibale National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Guereza Canopy Lodge, Turako Treetop Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park.

You will wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and then proceed to Kanyanchu Visitor Center and have a simple briefing that will be conducted by the UWA guide. During the briefing, you will learn about chimpanzee behaviors, trekking guidelines, and safety procedures before being assigned to small guided groups.

In the company of an experienced ranger guide, you’ll venture into the rainforest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community. The trek may last between two and four hours, depending on the chimpanzee’s movements through the forest.

Once the group is located, you will be allowed to spend one unforgettable hour observing the chimpanzees as they feed, groom, communicate, build nests, and interact with one another. After the trek, you will then return to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Guereza Canopy Lodge, Turako Treetop Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Evening game drive in the park

You will wake up in the morning and have breakfast and then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, you will set off for the evening game drive in the park, where you will be able to watch animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, baboons, warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbacks.

You will also proceed to the southern sector of the park, which is the Ishasha sector, for the tree-climbing lions. This is a rare species of lions that climb trees for shelter and maybe a clear view of the park. This makes the park more unique and offers a different game drive experience, and you will then return to your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Elephant Hab Lodge, Parkview Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 6; Morning game drive, afternoon boat cruise at Kazinga Channel, and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

You will have early morning breakfast and then set off for the game drive in the park where you will be able to watch over animals like African elephants, lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, baboons, warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbacks. You will also be able to see birds like marabou stock, great white pelican, sacred ibis, hamerkops, and village weavers.

Later in the afternoon, you will prepare yourselves for the boat cruise where you will be required to carry binoculars for clear bird watching and clear views of reptiles along lake shores. The cruise will set off from Mweya and will proceed to Kazinga channel.

During the cruise, you will be able to watch birds of all kinds such as hamerkops, great white pelicans, marabou stocks, African spoonbills, and black-winged stilt. You will also be able to see some reptiles like crocodiles and snakes along lake shores and in the evening, you will transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Entebbe International Airport for departure.

In the early hours after the breakfast, you will start your adventure tracking gorillas in the northern part of the park. You must be well prepared for hiking since these gorillas are known to walk long distances from the enclosure, and so you’re encouraged to put on long sleeves.

The tracking may take about 1 hour, and so during this adventure, you will observe the remarkable animals as they feed, groom one another, care for their young ones, and interact within their family groups.

While watching a massive silverback calmly oversee his family or playful juveniles tumbling through the vegetation, you will create memories that will last for a lifetime. After gorilla tracking, you will then prepare yourselves for departure back to Entebbe International Airport.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Uganda Big Five Safari Package Includes:

Gorilla permit

Chimpanzee permit

Rhino tracking

Top of the falls

En-route meals

Airport transfers

Park and car entrances

Boat cruises

Game drives

Transport

Accommodation

Drinking water

Uganda Big Five Safari Package Excludes:

Souvenir

Flight tickets

Insurance

Alcohol and other soft drinks

Tips