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5-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

4.4/5  –  404 Uganda Reviews

Mountain gorillas, chimps, tree-climbing lions and an astonishing tally of 1,080 bird species are among the many attractions that lure wildlife enthusiasts to Uganda. Situated at the ecological crossroads of the eastern savannah and western jungle, this well-watered country is also home to Africa’s largest lake and the snowcapped peaks of the legendary Mountains of the Moon. Elsewhere, the seething headwaters of the world’s longest river offer superb white-water rafting and host the breathtakingly eruptive Murchison Falls. True, you might face some difficult choices when it comes to deciding which highlights to include in a 5-day Uganda itinerary, but whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed by this truly amazing country.

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6 Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris

1. Is 5 days enough time for a trip in Uganda?
2. Where should I go on a 5-day safari in Uganda?
3. Which animals am I likely to see?
4. What are the options to extend my 5-day Uganda trip?
5. What is the best time of the year for a trip in Uganda?
6. How much will this safari cost?
 
 

6 Questions About 5-Day Uganda Safaris

Answered by Philip Briggs

Is 5 days enough time for a trip in Uganda?

“Yes, provided that you don’t try to cram too much into the itinerary. A 5-day Uganda tour allows you enough time to cover several wildlife highlights, including gorilla trekking, chimp trekking and at least one boat safari and game drive. Having said that, if you want to fit all of this into 5 days, you’ll be looking at a very busy schedule. If possible, there is a lot to be said for allocating another day or two to the safari.”

1

Where should I go on a 5-day safari in Uganda?

“The most popular 5-day itinerary heads southwest from Entebbe International Airport (the main port of entry to Uganda) to combine Bwindi Impenetrable and Queen Elizabeth National Parks with any of several chimp trekking destinations, and possibly Lake Mburo National Park. The main reason to visit Bwindi is to track gorillas, but this forested national park is also great for monkeys, birds and scenic walks. Highlights of Queen Elizabeth NP include boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel and game drives in the Ishasha sector to look for tree-climbing lions. You can also include Kibale National Park, Uganda’s most popular chimp trekking destination, on a combined 5-day itinerary with the above parks. However, less travel is involved if you replace it with Kalinzu Forest Reserve or Kyambura Gorge, both of which offer chimp trekking on the border of Queen Elizabeth. For those who don’t want or can’t afford to track gorillas, a popular option for a 5-day safari is scenic Murchison Falls National Park. Here, four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) might be seen on boat trips on the Nile or game drives north of the river. Murchison Falls is easily combined with Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and/or chimp trekking in Budongo Forest. An off-the-beaten-track alternative to Murchison Falls is a 5-day day safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, which also hosts lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, and could be combined with a stop at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.”

2

Which animals am I likely to see?

“That depends on your itinerary for the 5 days. On a tour package that includes Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth NPs, you can be almost certain of mountain gorilla, elephant, buffalo, hippo, warthog and Nile crocodile. You’ll also see plenty of antelope, most notably the endemic Uganda kob, and a variety of monkeys including Angola colobus, olive baboon and vervet monkey. You’re also quite likely to see lions in Queen Elizabeth, and lucky visitors might even encounter leopard and giant forest hog there. If you go chimp trekking, you probably stand an 80% to 90% chance of seeing chimps too. If you head north to Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley NPs, you’re almost certain to see elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, warthog, patas monkey and a variety of antelope. Hippo and Nile crocodile are common on the Nile as it flows through Murchison Falls, while Kidepo Valley is home to plenty of zebras. Leopards are present but rather uncommon in both parks. White rhinos can be tracked on foot at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch and are almost 100% certain to be located. Chimp trekking at Budongo Forest, which borders Murchison Falls, also has a high success rate. Although the focus tends to be on large mammals, you can expect to see a huge variety of colorful tropical birds wherever you travel in Uganda.”

3

What are the options to extend my 5-day Uganda trip?

“Within Uganda, if you have a day or two spare at the end of your 5-day safari, popular add-ons include white-water rafting on the Nile River near the city of Jinja (on the shore of Lake Victoria) and boat trips into Mabamba Swamp to look for the bizarre shoebill. If you want to chill out by the water, your best option in Uganda is Lake Bunyonyi. Farther afield, a 5-day Uganda safari focused on gorilla and chimp trekking pairs well with a Big Five safari in neighboring Tanzania or Kenya. For the more recreationally minded, the obvious coastal extension is Zanzibar Island, which lies in the Indian Ocean offshore of Tanzania.”

4

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

“The top months to travel in Uganda are from June to August and December to February. These are generally the driest months in the southwest, and thus ideal for gorilla trekking and other rainforest hikes. Wildlife viewing in savannah reserves also tends to be best during the Dry season, and there’s less chance of activities being rained out. While it is possible to track gorillas and chimps over March, April and May, these are the wettest months in Uganda and best avoided.”

5

How much will this safari cost?

“Budget 5-day Uganda safaris that don’t include gorilla or chimp trekking might come in at just over US$1,000 per person, while those that need to allow for a costly gorilla trekking fee are typically in the US$2,000 to US$2,500 range. Upmarket 5-day gorilla trekking safaris using more luxurious accommodations and/or domestic flights generally cost at least US$3,500. Safari prices in Uganda generally include everything except drinks, tips and purchases of a personal nature.”

6

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