The Ultimate Uganda Safari: Trekking Gorillas and Spotting the Big Five
Why choose between the giants of the forest and the kings of the savannah when you can have both?
Imagine this: One morning, you are hacking through thick misty vines to spend a surreal hour with a family of endangered mountain gorillas. Forty-eight hours later, you are watching a lion draped over the branches of a fig tree while elephants march across the golden savannah below.
This isn’t a fantasy. This is Uganda.
Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is the only place on earth where you can reasonably combine the two most coveted wildlife experiences on the continent: Gorilla Trekking and the Big Five Safari .
Here is your guide to planning the adventure of a lifetime.
The Crown Jewel: Meeting the Gorillas
You cannot talk about Uganda without talking about Bwindi. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the sanctuary for roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas .
The trek is not a walk in the park—it’s called “impenetrable” for a reason. Depending on where the family slept the night before, you might hike for 2 hours or 6. But when you finally lock eyes with a Silverback, the fatigue evaporates. Watching a 400-pound leader protect his family while babies swing through the vines is a profoundly moving, life-changing moment .
Pro Tip: Permits cost $800 and sell out months in advance. Book early .
The Quest for the Big Five
While Rwanda might be famous for gorillas, Uganda wins the all-rounder trophy. Unlike savannah giants like Kenya or Tanzania, Uganda requires a bit of a treasure hunt to get the “Big Five,” but that just makes it more exciting.
Here is where to find them:
1. The Rhinos (Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary)
You can’t see the Big Five without the Rhino. Unfortunately, they were poached to extinction in the wild here. However, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has successfully reintroduced White Rhinos. You can do a walking safari here to get shockingly close to these prehistoric tanks. This is the only place in Uganda to check this box .
2. The Giants (Murchison Falls National Park)
Uganda’s largest park is a powerhouse. Here you will find Elephants, Cape Buffalo, and Lions roaming the open plains. But the real star of Murchison is the water. A boat cruise to the base of the falls is non-negotiable—you’ll see hippos and crocs as the Nile explodes through a 7-meter gorge right in front of you .
3. The Tree-Climbing Lions (Queen Elizabeth NP)
Head south to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you will witness a phenomenon found in only two places on earth: Lions hunting and resting in fig trees. They drape themselves over branches to escape the heat (or the flies), offering the strangest and most photogenic safari experience in Africa .
You also have a decent shot at the elusive Leopard here, though they are shy.
How to Plan the Perfect Combo Trip
You cannot just wake up and do this. You need a strategy. Most travelers opt for a 7 to 10-day loop starting from Entebbe .
The Classic 10-Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrive Entebbe.
- Day 2: Drive north. Stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
- Days 3-4: Murchison Falls NP (Game drives + Nile boat cruise).
- Day 5: Travel west to Queen Elizabeth NP.
- Day 6: Queen Elizabeth NP (Kazinga Channel boat cruise + game drive for lions/elephants).
- Day 7: Ishasha sector specifically for the tree-climbing lions. Transfer to Bwindi.
- Day 8: GORILLA TREKKING (The main event).
- Day 9: Relax at Lake Bunyonyi (optional).
- Day 10: Fly home .
When to Go
Timing is everything.
- Dry Seasons (June to September & December to February): This is the best time. Trails are less muddy for gorilla trekking, and animals congregate around water sources in the savannah .
- Wet Season: Lower prices, lush scenery, and fewer tourists. However, roads become challenging, and the “impenetrable” forest lives up to its name.
Some Practical Advice
- Fitness Level: Trekking gorillas at high altitude requires moderate fitness. Don’t be the person who holds up the group because you didn’t break in your hiking boots.
- Packing: Neutral colors (greens/khakis) for the savannah. Waterproof pants and tough gloves for the forest (you’ll be grabbing stinging nettles to pull yourself up hills).
- Budget: This is a luxury adventure. Gorilla permits are the main cost, but the value of seeing a Silverback in the wild is priceless.
Uganda offers a diversity that no other African country can match. You can go from tracking great apes in the mist to watching the “kings of the jungle” sleeping in trees in just one trip.
Are you ready for the ultimate African wildlife double-header?