Gorilla Trekking & Big Five Safari in Uganda

How to Combine Gorilla Trekking with a Big Five Safari – Uganda is one of the top destinations in Africa where you can experience both gorilla trekking and Big Five safaris.

From the dense rainforests of southwestern Uganda to the Savannah grasslands in the west and north, tourists can fully immerse themselves in nature.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers the best chance to see mountain gorillas, as it is home to almost half of the remaining gorillas in the wild. Mgahinga National Park is also an option for gorilla trekking.

For Big Five safaris, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks offer popular sightings of lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes.

This combined trip begins in Entebbe, from where tourists travel to Bwindi for gorilla trekking. The road journey takes about 8 to 10 hours, covering around 500 km. By air, the trip takes about 1 hour, offering aerial views of the countryside.

At Bwindi, tourists are welcomed by park rangers who will brief them and form groups of 8 people, each assigned to a specific gorilla family. After the briefing, tourists begin the trek, following trails through dense vegetation, rugged paths, and muddy terrain, while listening to the calls of birds and forest animals.

After several hours of trekking, tourists will finally encounter a gorilla family, with the silverback guarding his group while others feed and play. It is a moment that leaves visitors in awe.

After spending time with the gorillas, tourists return to the park headquarters. A gorilla permit costs USD 800 for foreign non-residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.

After the gorilla trek, tourists can continue to either Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth takes about 3 to 4 hours by road, while the journey to Murchison Falls takes about 8 to 10 hours.

At Queen Elizabeth, tourists can spot tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector during game drives. Other activities include boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, bird watching, mongoose tracking at Mweya Peninsula, and visits to Lake Katwe.

Accommodation options at Queen Elizabeth include Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, and Elephant Plains Lodge.

At Murchison Falls National Park, tourists can visit the Buligi and Delta game tracks for game drives to see lions, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants. A boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls adds a scenic touch to the wildlife experience.

To fully enjoy this combined trip, it is recommended to plan for 8 to 10 days.

The best time to visit is during the dry season, from June to August and December to February, when the trails are easier to navigate and wildlife is often found near water sources.

This combination of gorilla trekking and a Big Five safari offers unforgettable memories of Uganda’s wilderness.

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