This 6 days Safari offers a good combination of gorilla trekking in the bwindi impenetrable National Park and game viewing in the largest national park in Uganda – Murchison Falls National Park. You will explore the impenetrable forests of Bwindi as you track down the habituated mountain gorillas – a species considered to be greatly endangered as they are less than 1007 of these remaining in the world today. You will also visit the Murchison Falls National Park with an en-route stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track rhinos on foot.
Average Cost of 6 Days Murchison Falls and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
The average cost of a 6-day safari combining Murchison Falls and Bwindi Gorilla trekking ranges from approximately $1,700 to $3,500 per person. Budget options start around $1,700 per person (based on two sharing), while mid-range to luxury safaris with better accommodations and included permits can push prices closer to $3,000–$3,500. This typically includes gorilla trekking permits, park entrance fees, game drives, boat cruises, accommodation, meals, and transport. Optional activities like Batwa cultural visits, chimpanzee tracking, and hot air balloon rides are extra.
Day 1: transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Rhino tracking
Day 2: Game drive and boat Cruise
Day 3: transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Culture (Optional)
Day 6: departure to Kampala
Activities: gorilla trekking, game drives, lunch Cruise
Optional activities: batwa cultural visit chimpanzee tracking, hot air balloon ride
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: transfer to Murchison Falls National Park and Rhino tracking
Early morning you will be picked up from your accommodation by your safari guide-driver who will brief you about the Safari before beginning the drive to the Murchison Falls National Park. You will drive through the beautiful countryside to masindi where you will have lunch and a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for an opportunity to track rhino on foot. Later proceed to the park and check into your accommodation, freshen up, have dinner and enjoy the overnight’s rest.
Travel time: 5 hours
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- luxury: para Safari Lodge
- mid-range: pakuba Safari lodge
- budget red chilli rest camp
Day 2: Game drive and boat Cruise
You will begin the day early breakfast before going for an early game drive at about 7 a.m. During this you will explore the diverse habitats which support different types of birds and animals such as giraffes, warthogs, lions, Buffaloes, elephants and different antelopes to mention just a few. At around midday you will return for a nice lunch at your accommodation and have a short rest.
Later on you will head out for a 2 hours boat cruise on the River Nile (the longest river in the world) which will take you to the bottom of the powerful Murchison waterfalls. You will marvel at the various bird and animal species leaving on the river banks that include large schools of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, elephants and some lone buffaloes. it is a very spectacular sight watching as the Waters of the mighty Nile forced their way through a tiny 7 meter gorge before dropping over a 43 meter high cliff and drop in a pool below with a deafening sound to foam a raising cloud of water spray with beautiful rainbows. Later return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- luxury: para Safari Lodge
- mid-range: pakuba Safari lodge
- budget red chilli rest camp
Day 3: transfer to Kibale National Park
Have an early breakfast and begin the long drive to Kibale National Park located in southwestern Uganda which is primarily known as having the highest number and diversity of primates in the whole of East Africa among which are chimpanzees. along the way you will enjoy views of the snow-capped mount Rwenzori, Lake Albert and Lake George, in addition to the beautiful local human settlements, banana and tea plantation. lunch will be en-route and several stopovers to enable you stretch your legs. On arrival check into your accommodation to freshen up, have dinner and overnight rest.
meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- Luxury: primates Lodge
- Mid-range: chimpanzee guest house
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast at the lodge drive to Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park having lunch en-route. On arrival check into your accommodation
Meal plan: breakfast lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- Budget: Buhoma Camp
- Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp, Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Culture (Optional)
Begin the day early morning and set out with a packed lunch for the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the range guides about the gorilla trekking activity. At 8 a.m. you will set out into the forest in groups of 8 people and begin searching for the habituated gorillas family. This activity which takes between 2 to 5 hours involves a lot of hiking so you are advised to wear strong hiking boots and bring along a walking stick; don’t forget to wear pants or trousers to protect your legs from pricking bushes. When you find the gorillas you will spend one hour in their midst as you observed them feed, play and care for one another and also take photographs. Please remember to keep your camera flash off. At the end of this you will have your lunch break.
In the afternoon there will be an optional visit to the Batwa pygmy community for a cultural experience where they will demonstrate to you their traditional way of life as they survive off this forest and entertain you with vibrant performances. Alternatively you will spend the afternoon relaxing at your accommodation.
Meal plan: breakfast lunch and dinner
Accommodation
- Budget: Buhoma Camp
- Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp, Buhoma Haven Lodge
- Luxury: Bwindi Lodge Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Day 6: departure to Kampala
This is the final day of the 6 Day Murchison Falls and Bwindi gorilla Safari. after a relaxed breakfast at your Lodge you will begin the long drive back to Kampala having an en-route lunch in mbarara city. if time allows you will also visit the drum makers at mpambire to by souvenirs as well as the equator crossing for photographs. Once in Kampala you will be a dropped at your hotel of choice or dropped at the Entebbe international airport for your departure flight. This will be the end of our Safari
Travel time: 7 hours
Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
Safari includes: gorilla trekking permit, park entrance fees, boat cruise, game drives, all accommodation as highlighted in itinerary, all meals as highlighted in the itinerary, bottled drinking water, transportation in a four-wheel drive vehicle and full-time service of an English speaking safari guide-driver
Safari excludes: visa and flight tickets, activities listed as optional, personal expenses like tipping, purchase of souvenirs, drinks and laundry services, and insurance.
