15 Day Gorillas, Chimps and Big 5 Safari Tour

The rarest prize here is clear: gorilla trekking in Bwindi. You may walk for two hours, or seven, before reaching a habituated family, then spend one quiet hour watching these powerful, expressive animals at close range. The same trip also gives you chimpanzees in Kibale, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, rhinos at Zziwa, and classic safari animals across several parks.

I like the wide range of experiences, from Murchison Falls boat trips and Lake Bunyonyi canoe rides to a guided walk in Lake Mburo. I also like that gorilla and chimpanzee permits are included, since those costly permits are central to the trip. The drawback is the pace: several days involve long road transfers, and the $8,000 price demands careful checking of accommodation standards and exactly what your package includes.

Five things to know before booking

• The Big Five experience begins at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, with rhinos often easier to see than in a large open park.
• Murchison Falls combines game drives with a Nile boat trip, giving you both land and water wildlife viewing.
• Kibale and Bwindi provide the trip’s headline primate encounters, with chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking.
• Ishasha adds a special chance to see tree-climbing lions, although sightings are never guaranteed.
• The route includes Uganda’s quieter pleasures, including Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, Mabira Forest, and the equator stop.
• This is a private, full-board journey, but the 5:00 am start and many eight-hour activity days require stamina.

Why this Uganda safari covers so much

This is not a single-park safari. It is a long circuit through much of western and central Uganda, with a final turn toward Jinja and Mabira Forest. You get savanna, rainforest, crater-like hills, lakes, rivers, wetlands, primates, big mammals, and a good number of cultural stops.

The private format matters. Your group travels in private transportation rather than joining a large shared departure, so the guide can keep the day focused on your interests. If you care most about birds, primates, photography, or big cats, say so early.

The route is also demanding. A number of days are listed at about eight hours, and the trip begins at 5:00 am from Entebbe Airport. That is sensible for Uganda’s road distances, but it is not a relaxed holiday built around late breakfasts.

The package includes accommodation, private transport, drinking water, all meals, gorilla and chimpanzee permits, and the listed activities. International flights, extra nights before or after the trip, tips, and personal items are not included. At $8,000 per person, the convenience and permits add real value, but I would ask for the names and standard of the lodges before paying.

Day 1: Rhinos at Zziwa on the road to Murchison Falls

Your Hail Tours guide collects you and begins the drive toward Murchison Falls National Park. The first major wildlife stop is Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you get your opening Big Five sighting.

A sanctuary visit works well at the start of a long safari. Rhinos can be difficult to find in a huge park, while a protected reserve gives you a more focused introduction. The supplied schedule also names Rhino Fund Uganda, so confirm the exact first stop and whether the visit is at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

The road day continues toward Uganda’s largest national park. Murchison is known for open plains, lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hartebeest, hippos, crocodiles, and many antelope species. Birdwatchers have plenty to look for, including the shoebill, Goliath heron, dwarf kingfisher, and white-thighed hornbill.

Day 2: Game drives and the Nile at Murchison Falls

The morning game drive searches the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park. This is your best early chance for lions, elephants, buffalo, Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, waterbuck, bushbucks, and other antelope. Leopards are possible, but should be treated as a bonus rather than a promise.

After lunch and a short rest, you take a roughly three-hour boat trip toward the base of the falls. This is one of the strongest days in the program because the water brings you close to hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds along the riverbank.

The boat ride also changes the rhythm of the safari. Instead of scanning from a vehicle, you watch animals gather along the Nile and see the falls from below. Take sun protection and keep your camera ready, but remember that wildlife remains unpredictable.

Days 3 and 4: The falls, Semuliki, and a schedule to clarify

The itinerary description for Day 3 mixes Murchison Falls with Semuliki National Park. It explains the Nile squeezing through a narrow gorge before dropping about 43 meters, then places the day under Semuliki. This needs clarification before booking, because Murchison Falls and Semuliki are separate destinations and the road time between them affects the day considerably.

Once at the falls, the spectacle is simple and powerful. A wide river is forced through a narrow gap, creating a wall of spray and noise. The walk to the viewpoint is described as long, so comfortable shoes will help.

Day 4 focuses on Semuliki’s hot springs, including the male spring called Bitende and the female spring called Nyasimbi. The water reaches about 100 degrees Celsius, and the schedule says you may bring eggs to boil in the pools. Do not treat the springs as swimming spots.

The afternoon brings a game drive through Semuliki Valley, with birding and forest scenery. Semuliki adds a different setting from Murchison’s open plains, but the schedule is not perfectly clear. Ask how the two days are arranged, where you sleep, and how much time is spent driving.

Days 5 and 6: Forest culture and chimpanzees in Kibale

The program then moves toward Kibale National Park. A cultural visit introduces the Bambuti Pygmies, who are distinct from the Batwa communities associated with Bwindi and Mgahinga. That distinction matters, since these communities have different histories, customs, and relationships with the forest.

The cultural material deserves respectful attention rather than a quick photo stop. The schedule notes that the Bambuti were removed from their traditional forests but retain limited hunting and gathering rights. Ask your guide how the visit supports local people and how to behave appropriately.

Day 6 is devoted to chimpanzee tracking. Kibale is especially valuable for primate lovers because, beyond chimpanzees, you may see red colobus, red-tailed guenons, white-nosed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons.

Chimpanzee sightings are not guaranteed, but the forest offers more than one target. The tracking period is listed at about five hours, which is shorter than the possible gorilla trek but still calls for proper shoes, water, and patience.

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park and the evening drive

You reach Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon and take an evening game drive. The park has about 200 kilometers of game-viewing tracks and a mix of open grassland, water, and woodland.

Hippos, elephants, buffalo, antelope, baboons, and several cat species are part of the park’s appeal. Lions and leopards are possible, while civets, genets, and servals require luck and sharp eyes. Black-and-white colobus monkeys may appear in the trees.

The late start gives you a chance to reach the park without losing the whole day to transit. Still, an evening drive can feel tiring after the road journey. If photography is a priority, ask whether the drive can be adjusted around light and wildlife activity.

Day 8: Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions

On the way toward Bwindi, you enter the Ishasha sector in southern Queen Elizabeth National Park. The area is famous for adult lions resting in fig trees, often to escape insects and catch a cooler breeze.

This is one of the most distinctive wildlife hopes on the route. Tree-climbing lions are not a guaranteed sight, so keep expectations sensible. Even without lions in the branches, Ishasha offers remote tracks, open country, and good birdwatching.

The route is another long day, listed at about eight hours. That is a lot of sitting before a major trek, so use the evening to organize your boots, rain gear, water, and camera for Bwindi.

Day 9: The main event, gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking is the emotional center of this tour. Bwindi is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, and the trek follows one of nine habituated family groups with an experienced park ranger.

The walk may take two to seven hours depending on where the gorillas are that day. Once you find the family, you get one hour to watch them quietly. That hour can pass very quickly, so avoid spending every second looking through a camera.

Bwindi is a rainforest, and conditions can be wet, steep, and muddy. The supplied information does not give a required fitness level, so ask Hail Tours what clothing, boots, walking poles, and porter arrangements are recommended. Most participants can take part in the tour overall, but gorilla trekking itself is the most physically demanding activity.

The permit is included, which is a major part of the value. Confirm the permit date, the trekking sector, and the rules for the visit before departure.

Day 10: Lake Bunyonyi and its 29 islands

After breakfast, you travel to Lake Bunyonyi near Kabale. The lake is surrounded by steep, cultivated hills rising between about 2,200 and 2,478 meters, with 29 islands scattered across the water.

A boat ride gives you a calm change after the gorilla trek. Optional activities include a canoe ride, swimming in the lake, hiking, or visiting a nearby village. The schedule describes the lake as free of bilharzia, but you should still follow local safety advice before swimming.

This is one of the best rest days in the program. The scenery rewards simply sitting still, though the high hills and possible walks mean you can make the day as active or gentle as you like.

Days 11 and 12: From Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo

Day 11 allows more time around Lake Bunyonyi before the group leaves after lunch for Lake Mburo National Park. The route passes through Mbarara and includes the Igongo Cultural village and Ankole museum.

You reach Lake Mburo late in the evening, so the rest of the night is mainly for sleep. This is another example of the tour’s broad coverage coming with long transfers.

Day 12 brings a guided nature walk with an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. Lake Mburo is particularly good for walking because you can experience animals on foot rather than only from a safari vehicle. You may see zebras, giraffes, eland, topi, buffalo, birds, and butterflies.

Early walks may also reveal hyenas returning to their dens and hippos heading back to the lake after nighttime feeding. A hilltop trail offers views over Lake Mburo and the surrounding country. The armed ranger is important, and you should follow instructions closely.

Day 13: Lake Mburo, the equator, and Kampala

A morning game drive gives you another chance to find animals missed during the walk. Lake Mburo is smaller in scale than Murchison or Queen Elizabeth, but its walking options make it a useful contrast.

The journey then continues toward Entebbe and Kampala, with a stop at the equator for lunch, photographs, and a demonstration involving the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Craft shops provide a chance to buy souvenirs.

The equator stop is touristy, but it breaks up the drive and gives you a straightforward geographic landmark. Do not expect a major wildlife day here. This is mainly a transition day.

Day 14: White-water rafting on the Nile near Jinja

The early pickup to Jinja means another demanding start. Jinja is linked with the historic source of the Nile and is Uganda’s main base for river adventure.

After checking in at Brisk Hotel Triangle, you take a half-day or full-day white-water rafting trip. The Nile’s rapids provide the physical challenge, while the river setting gives you a different kind of outdoor experience from the safari parks.

The itinerary does not specify which rafting duration is included, so confirm this. It also does not list rafting safety requirements or equipment details. Ask about the exact operator, trip length, and what happens if water conditions affect the activity.

Day 15: Mabira Forest and the final afternoon

The final day takes you to Mabira Forest, one of East Africa’s major rainforest reserves. A forest walk may bring monkeys, birds, butterflies, flowering plants, and old trees.

The walk can suit different fitness levels, including families with children, and a guide is optional according to the schedule. I would still choose a guide if you want help identifying primates and birds.

Mabira also offers canopy zip-lining above the treetops. The activity is presented as East Africa’s only zip-line above the canopy, but confirm whether it is included in your package or offered at an extra charge. The tour ends back at the meeting point after this final stop.

Is $8,000 per person good value?

The price is high, but the package covers several expensive elements: private transport, accommodation, all meals, drinking water, all listed activities, a gorilla permit, and a chimpanzee permit. Gorilla permits alone can make a major difference to the total cost of a Uganda trip.

The value is strongest if you want one organized journey rather than arranging separate transfers, lodges, permits, and park activities yourself. It is weaker if you prefer a slower itinerary or already have accommodation and transport in Uganda.

Before paying, ask for a day-by-day cost breakdown, lodge names, vehicle details, the exact rafting and canopy activities included, and clarification of the Day 3 schedule. Those questions are especially important at this price.

Who should book this trip?

You should consider it if you want Uganda’s major primate experiences in one journey, enjoy full days outdoors, and prefer private transport with meals and permits arranged. It suits a couple, family group, or small private party that values variety over a slow stay in one park.

Think twice if you dislike early starts, long drives, muddy forest walks, or a tightly packed route. This is an ambitious countrywide circuit, not a quiet lodge holiday.

The company has received praise for attentive service, local insight, and professional handling, with particularly positive comments about gorilla trekking, game drives, and boat cruises. The available feedback is limited, but the repeated theme is personal care. Use that as a reason to ask for a named guide and clear written answers before booking.

Cancellation is generous only at a distance from departure: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund, two to six days before for a 50 percent refund, and within two days for no refund. The tour is private, begins at Entebbe Airport at 5:00 am, and ends back at the meeting point.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 5:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is transportation private?

Yes. Private transportation is included, and only your group participates in the private tour.

Are accommodation and meals included?

Yes. All accommodation and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?

Yes. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are included in the tour price.

Is drinking water provided?

Yes. Drinking water is provided on all days.

Are international flights included?

No. International flights to and from your home are not included.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least six full days before the experience start time. Cancellation two to six full days before the start receives a 50 percent refund.

Is gorilla trekking guaranteed to be short?

No. The trek can take about two to seven hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located. Once the family is found, the scheduled viewing time is one hour.