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4-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5  –  404 Uganda Reviews

Uganda’s best-known safari attraction is its magnificent gorillas, which can be tracked in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla. But this lush equatorial country has plenty else to offer wildlife enthusiasts. Uganda’s forests rank among the very best places to see chimps roam wild, while the savannahs provide refuge to more typical safari icons such as lion, elephant, giraffe and hippo. Add to this a checklist of 1,080 bird species, most famously the bizarre shoebill, and you’re looking at arguably Africa’s most biodiverse safari destination. True, you can’t see it all in 4 days, but a safari of this duration is more than sufficient to visit a couple of Uganda’s most compelling highlights.

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5 Questions About 4-Day Uganda Safaris

1. Where should I go on a 4-day safari in Uganda?
2. Can I fit gorilla trekking and chimp trekking into a 4-day trip?
3. Is it likely that I will see all of the Big Five on a 4-day safari in Uganda?
4. What is the best time of the year for a trip in Uganda?
5. How much will this safari cost?
 
 

5 Questions About 4-Day Uganda Safaris

Answered by Philip Briggs

Where should I go on a 4-day safari in Uganda?

“That depends on your interests and priorities. If your main reason for visiting Uganda is gorilla trekking, then you’ll want to focus on Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, both of which are in the far southwest. For a more conventional Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) safari that doesn’t include gorilla trekking, the recommended first choice is Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest. If you would like an off-the-beaten-track safari destination, try Kidepo Valley National Park in the remote northeast. And if you are more into hiking and adventure activities than wildlife, a popular combination is white-water rafting on the Nile River near the city of Jinja (on the shore of Lake Victoria) and Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mt Elgon.”

1

Can I fit gorilla trekking and chimp trekking into a 4-day trip?

“Yes, 4 days in Uganda is enough time to track both gorillas and chimps. Assuming that you start in the capital Kampala or nearby Entebbe International Airport, your first day will be dominated by the 10-hour drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga. You can go gorilla trekking in one of these parks on the morning of day 2, then depending on the exact itinerary, transfer to a suitable chimp trekking site the same afternoon or the next morning. Coming from Bwindi or Mgahinga, the most convenient places for chimp trekking are Kalinzu Forest Reserve or Kyambura Gorge, both of which border Queen Elizabeth National Park and can easily be visited from there. This itinerary should also allow time for a boat trip and/or a game drive in Queen Elizabeth, which is home to the likes of elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion and leopard. While all this can be achieved in 4 days, it will be quite rushed, so there is a lot to be said for extending the itinerary to 5 or 6 days if possible. It’s worth noting that many Uganda gorilla trekking safaris now use the Rwandan capital Kigali as a starting point. There are three reasons for this. The first is that the driving time to Bwindi or Mgahinga from Kigali is less than half of what it is from Kampala or Entebbe. The second is that Coastal Aviation operates direct flights to Kigali from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. And the third is that gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost US$1,500, almost double the US$800 charged in Uganda.”

2

Is it likely that I will see all of the Big Five on a 4-day safari in Uganda?

“If you choose the right itinerary, yes. Uganda is not generally thought of as a Big Five safari destination comparable with the likes of South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania. Despite this, you do stand a fair chance of seeing all members of this iconic quintet on a 4-day safari that combines Murchison Falls National Park with Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. Ziwa is one of the best places in Africa to track white rhinos on foot. It’s a genuinely thrilling experience, and the success rate is close to 100%, even on a day visit. In Murchison Falls NP, boat trips along the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls often throw up good sightings of elephant and buffalo, as well as hippo, crocodile, giraffe and an array of waterbirds. Lions are seen with some regularity on game drives north of the Nile. And while leopard encounters are more hit-and-miss (as they tend to be in most parts of Africa), you stand a fair chance of a sighting over 4 days in Murchison Falls. Elsewhere in Uganda, you have a good chance of seeing lion, elephant and buffalo on any itinerary that includes Queen Elizabeth or Kidepo Valley National Parks. Leopards are present in both these parks, too, but sightings are erratic. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda (apart from zoos) where you can see rhinos, and while it is easily visited en route to Kidepo Valley, it does not combine with Queen Elizabeth on a 4-day safari.”

3

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

“Travel conditions in Uganda are best for safaris and rainforest hikes during the Dry seasons of June to August and December to February. The main Wet season, from March to May, should be avoided if possible. This is especially the case if you plan on tracking gorillas or chimps in the rainforest, as hiking conditions tend to be more challenging and unpleasant during the rains.”

4

How much will this safari cost?

“The cheapest 4-day tours in Uganda cost US$950 to US$1,200 per person. These budget safaris typically use campsites or relatively basic accommodations, and focus on savannah destinations such as Murchison Falls, Ziwa, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo. More upmarket safaris that focus on the same destinations but use more luxurious accommodations typically work out upwards of US$1,500. Prices quoted by operators usually include park fees, accommodations, meals, transport, drivers and guides. Safari itineraries that include gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga are more expensive because operators need to incorporate the US$800 fee for a gorilla trekking permit. Budget 4-day gorilla trekking safaris that use basic accommodations or campsites typically cost US$1,500 to US$1,800 per person, while mid-range safaris tend to work out at more than US$2,000. Upmarket safaris that use luxurious accommodations and/or domestic flights generally fall into the US$2,800 to US$4,500 price bracket.”

5

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 404 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 nor such great...

Full Review

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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Astrid EM  –  
South Africa ZA
Reviewed: Jan 20, 2025
A quick visit with amazing experiences to friendly, beautiful Uganda
4/5

Only having 3 days to see as much as possible, I opted for 1 day of relaxing on the shore of Lake Victoria where I enjoyed the view, discovered a multitude of birds (I am a birder) and met very friendly people. The next day I puttered along...

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Henrik  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Jan 11, 2025
It's definitely worth a visit
5/5

Great tour filled with unforgetable moments. Doing the 3 day gorilla trekking means that you will spend a lot of time in a car getting to and back from Bwindi National Park (road conditions in Uganda are unpredictable), but both the gorilla...

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Abhi Varshney  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Jan 1, 2025
Uganda delivered amazing wildlife, unmatched friendliness and beautiful scenery.
5/5

Tubale Safaris, and Arthur in particular, were simply amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for Arthur. We felt welcome and safe the entire trip. The wildlife that we saw was beyond our wildest expectations - we saw the big 5, plus so...

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Malte Lukas  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: Dec 27, 2024
The friendliest and colourful wildlife I have ever seen!
5/5

I went on safari with my girlfriend in Uganda in December. It was definitely the best way to explore the animals and the landscape there. We were able to see much more and much closer to the wildlife than we expected. The accommodation met...

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All 404 Uganda Reviews