8-Day- Big Five & Gorilla Trekking Safari

Start your day with an early breakfast, then embark on a thrilling tour of Murchison's Northern section, teeming with savannah wildlife. Get up close to majestic elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, giraffes, Uganda kob, and lions, with a chance to spot elusive leopards. After a morning of game viewing, return to your accommodation for lunch. In the afternoon, take a scenic 3-hour boat cruise to the base of the magnificent falls.

After breakfast, you'll have two options: take a scenic drive to the top of the falls for breathtaking views (if you didn't hike), or head straight to Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale is renowned for its abundant primate population, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys – get ready for an unforgettable wildlife experience!

Start your day with an exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experience, led by an experienced ranger. The adventure begins at 8:00 am with a briefing on trekking guidelines, followed by a guided search for these incredible primates in their natural habitat. Once you've found the chimpanzees, you'll have an unforgettable hour observing them up close.

Later, we'll hike to the "top of the world" for panoramic views and visit Lake Nkuruba, where we'll encounter various primates and bird species. Along the way, you'll meet and interact with local people as you trek through their villages, and take in the stunning views of the Kibale area.

Return to our accommodation for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay

On the 5th day, we'll explore the vibrant Bigodi wetlands before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park. After breakfast, we'll venture out for an exciting excursion in the Bigodi wetlands, renowned for its incredible biodiversity. This wetland paradise is home to various primates, including black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, and baboons. It's also a birdwatcher's haven!

Optional (additional cost $230 per person): If you're interested, you can opt for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest instead of the Bigodi wetlands excursion. Please note that chimpanzee tracking permits need to be secured in advance.

After our wetlands adventure (or chimpanzee tracking), we'll embark on a scenic transfer (approximately 2 hours) to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, we'll have time for an afternoon game drive, where we'll spot an array of wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and many more

Rise early and embark on an exciting morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains, where you'll have the chance to see Cape buffalos, elephant herds, lions, and elusive leopards. Then, head to the Ishasha sector (Southern Queen) in search of the tree-climbing lions. The chance of spotting these lions is about 60-70% but they can be challenging to spot, especially when they're hunting in the grasslands.

After this thrilling adventure, we'll begin the final leg of our journey, making our way to our accommodation situated at the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Check-in, relax, and unwind, as we prepare for the pinnacle of our adventure - the gorilla experience awaiting us tomorrow!

The moment we've all been waiting for on this custom safari and gorilla trekking tour has finally arrived! After breakfast, head to the rangers' post for a comprehensive briefing from a ranger-guide on the essential guidelines and rules for gorilla trekking. Then, venture into the breathtaking rainforest, where the stunning scenery and dramatic landscape will leave you in awe. The dense forest is crisscrossed by animal trails, allowing for an exciting and accessible adventure.

The duration of the trek (4-8 hours) and terrain will vary depending on the movements of the majestic gorillas. Once you've located a gorilla group, you'll have the privilege of spending an unforgettable hour in their presence. Observing these gentle yet endangered giants up close is a thrilling experience that will leave you with lifelong memories.

After the trek, return to your accommodation to rest and recharge.

Optional(extra cost):  If you've finished early and are eager for more, you can request your guide to arrange an optional community visit or a short nature walk along one of the forest trails.

Start the day with a leisurely breakfast, then check out and prepare for our transfer to the Gatuna Border Post. Here, you'll meet our Rwanda-based Tour Driver-guide, who will take over from our Uganda-based counterpart. You will be transferred to Kigali, where you can be dropped off at the airport or your hotel of your booking.

Optional: If you have time and interest, consider adding an exciting excursion of Kigali City before your drop off at the airport/hotel.

This marks the end of our incredible adventure. 

Thank you for choosing us (Raja Safari Holidays) as your travel companion.