8-Day Big 5 Trip to Murchison Falls and Gorilla Trekking

Upon arrival, the assigned English-speaking professional driver-guide will pick you up from Entebbe International Airport and hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. The highlights of this park include: the roaring rapids of Murchison Falls, the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park (where you will have the chance of viewing lions, giraffe, hartebeest, buffalo and elephants among others). On arrival at the park, you check into your accommodation to relax for the Evening.

Accommodation: Mama Washindi Lodge/Bamboo Eco Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 6-7 hours.

Have your breakfast, depart for an early morning game drive across the rolling plains of Uganda’s largest National Park and be on the lookout for wildlife including: lions, leopards (though hard to spot) and many others. For any birder, there are quite a number of birds to sight too during the drive. Return to the accommodation for some rest time and lunch. After lunch, you will head out for the boat trip to the base of Murchison Falls where you will also be able to see more animals including Hippos and Crocodiles and several water birds. Continue with a hike (if you like) to the top of the falls. The hike may be a strenuous one but the thrill on reaching the top is unforgettable. Miss it only if you must. Return to your accommodation and have a relaxed evening.

Accommodation: Hornbill Bush Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast at your accommodation, depart for Kibale Forest National Park. The drive is quite long but incredibly scenic – passing through villages, lush green countryside and hills dotted with tea plantations that characterize this part of Uganda. The beautiful scenery will amaze you all the way.

Kibale NP is popular for its primates like Chimpanzees, Black and White Colobus monkeys, Red-Tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey and Uganda Mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). You will arrive at and check into your accommodation where you will have dinner and the overnight rest. Optional: If time permits, and you’re interested, you may also do any of; Bigodi swamp walk, crater lakes tour, or visit Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru cave for some historical/cultural insights.

Accommodation: Rubalika Safari Lodge & Farm (Mid-Range) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 7 hours.

Have breakfast and head to the rangers’ post where you will receive a briefing on the dos and don’ts during chimp trekking. Thereafter, you will proceed to trek the chimps in the Kibale Forest. An experienced ranger guide will accompany you and you will be left amazed by the proximity of primates here. Once you locate the Chimpanzees, you will have a full hour in their presence. You will return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter you will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in the evening and overnight at your booked accommodation. Optional: If interested you may hike to the twin lakes or do a brief evening game drive.

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 2-3 hours

Rise early and after breakfast proceed to the Kasenyi plains for a morning game drive and be on the lookout for Cape buffalos, herds of Elephants plus the big cats: lions and leopards (though hard to spot) among others.

Return to the accommodation for some rest and lunch. After lunch, you will go for a 2-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. During the trip, the sight of wildlife including giant Hippos, Elephants and Crocodiles among others will fascinate you. You will also see many varieties of birds at the water shores. You will have dinner and overnight at your accommodation. Optional: If interested, you can proceed for a brief evening game drive before return to the lodge.

Accommodation: Irungu Safari Lodge (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Have breakfast then set off for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park – famously known for its resident tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 70%, though sometimes they are hard to spot (most especially when they are down in the grassland looking for prey). Hoping you get the chance to spot them, the sight will be spectacular!

Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is a big habitat for Mountain Gorillas in Uganda (harboring an estimated population of 400 – roughly half of the world’s population) including several habituated groups, which you will trek. With a strenuous day ahead, to just check in to your accommodation and take the opportunity to relax as you prepare for the Bwindi Gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp (budget level) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Drive Time: 5-6 hours.

After breakfast proceed to the rangers’ post where you will receive a briefing (from a ranger guide) on the dos and don’ts during trekking. Thereafter, you will enter the Bwindi Forest for your adventure. The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular! The area offers dramatic steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time taken and the terrain vary with the movements of these great primates. Once you have located a Gorilla group, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle but endangered giants is unforgettable. Return to the accommodation, check out and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green-terraced hills that reach a height of 2,200 – 2,478m, but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical — you could admire them all day.

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Resort- (budget level) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drive Time: Approx. 2-3 hours.

Have a relaxed breakfast at the accommodation with spectacular views of the Bunyonyi islands right in front of you and thereafter embark on your return journey to Entebbe Airport. Expect lunch en route and a stop at the Uganda Equator line mark in Kayabwe for some memorable photos and maybe buying some art pieces of interest. Proceed with the journey arriving late afternoon/evening for drop off at the airport to catch your flight back home.

Accommodation: Recommended on request | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drive Time: 7-8 hours