12 Days Gorilla & Big5 In Botwana Holidays Overview
This extraordinary 12 Days Gorilla & Big5 In Botwana Holidays journey combines the very best of Uganda’s primates and wildlife with the Big 5 safari spectacle of Botswana. Beginning in Entebbe, you travel west through Uganda’s lush landscapes to trek with chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and enjoy classic game drives and a boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From there, you head south into the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before reaching the misty highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Here, you’ll embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trek to spend an hour in the company of mountain gorillas.
After your primate adventures, you fly via Johannesburg into Botswana, where the setting shifts to the pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta and the predator-rich Moremi Game Reserve. Activities range from tranquil mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions along papyrus-fringed channels to exhilarating game drives across floodplains, offering opportunities to spot elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, and even wild dogs. Luxury camps and lodges throughout the journey provide comfort, scenic views, and authentic safari atmosphere.
By balancing Uganda’s rainforests and gorillas with Botswana’s Big 5 savannah safaris, this itinerary offers a diverse and unforgettable African experience.
Gorilla & Big5 In Botwana Holidays Trip Highlights
Uganda: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, game drives and boat safari in Queen Elizabeth, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, and unforgettable gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Botswana: mokoro excursions in the Okavango, luxury lodge stays, thrilling game drives in Moremi, and Big 5 sightings in pristine wilderness.
12 Days Gorilla & Big5 In Botwana Holidays Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe (Uganda)
Day 2: Entebbe → Kibale National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Kibale → Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Cruise
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (via Ishasha)
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park
Day 8: Flight from Kihihi Airstrip back to Entebbe – ohannesburg, South Africa
Day 9: Fly from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana, and connect to the Okavango Delta
Day 10: Full Day Exploring The Okavango Delta.
Day 11: Transfer into The Moremi Game Reserve
Day 12: Fly Back to Maun or Kasane
12 Days Gorilla & Big 5 in Uganda & Botswana
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe (Uganda)
Your adventure begins on Day 1 with arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. After clearing customs, you are transferred to a boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax in the gardens or take a short optional sunset boat ride before settling in for the evening.
Destination: Entebbe Uganda
Accomodation : Hotel No.5 or Victoria Serena Resort
Day 2: Entebbe → Kibale National Park
On Day 2, you leave Entebbe and drive through Uganda’s scenic countryside towards Kibale National Park, a lush region famous for its primates and crater lakes. Along the way, you pass through small towns and tea plantations before arriving in the afternoon. That evening, you stretch your legs with a guided walk through the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where you might spot colobus monkeys and vibrant bird species.
Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accomodation : Kyaninga Lodge or Primate Lodge
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 3 is dedicated to chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest. In the early morning, you join rangers to track and observe habituated chimpanzee groups. The experience of listening to their loud calls and watching their energetic interactions is unforgettable. After the trek, the afternoon is yours to relax at the lodge or enjoy an optional crater lake hike.
Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accomodation : Kyaninga Lodge or Primate Lodge
Cheacking in at Kibale Forest National Park
Equator Experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Kibale → Queen Elizabeth National Park
The journey continues on Day 4 as you drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife reserves. After checking into your lodge, you embark on an afternoon game drive across the Kasenyi plains, where elephants, buffalo, antelope, and lions roam against the dramatic backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accomodation : Mweya Safari Lodge or Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Day 5: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Cruise & Transfer to Ishasha Sector
On Day 5, you enjoy a full safari experience. A dawn game drive offers opportunities to see predators like lions or leopards on the move, while herds of elephants and buffalo graze nearby. In the afternoon, you take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lakes Edward and George. Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and countless waterbirds crowd the channel, making it one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles And Later in the Eening be transfered to Ishasha Sector for Tree Climbing Lions
Destination: Ishasha Sector
Accomodation : ishasha wilderness camp
Day 6: Ishasha Sector → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
On Day 6, you travel through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions, before Heading to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your lodge here is nestled in the rainforest, offering a tranquil base before tomorrow’s adventure.
Destination: Bwindi Forest National Park
Accomodation : Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park
Day 7 is the pinnacle of your Ugandan journey: gorilla trekking in Bwindi. With skilled guides, you trek through the dense, misty forest until you find a habituated gorilla family. Spending an hour with these gentle giants is a moving and once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the evening, you can relax at your lodge or join a Batwa cultural performance.
Destination: Bwindi Forest National Park
Accomodation : Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs.
Day 8: Flight from Kihihi Airstrip back to Entebbe – ohannesburg, South Africa
On Day 8, instead of heading to Lake Bunyonyi, you fly directly from a nearby airstrip back to Entebbe and connect to Johannesburg, South Africa. After arrival, you spend the night at a comfortable hotel near the airport to prepare for your Botswana safari.
Destination: Johannesburg, South Africa
Accomodation : City Lodge O.R. Tambo or Peermont Mondior.
Day 9: Fly from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana, and connect to the Okavango Delta
The Botswana chapter begins on Day 9, when you fly from Johannesburg to Maun and transfer into the Okavango Delta, one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems. After settling into your luxury safari camp, you enjoy your first activity — either a mokoro (traditional canoe) ride through the tranquil channels or a sunset game drive across the floodplains. Overnight at Xugana Island Lodge or Camp Okavango.
Destination: Okavango Delta
Accomodation : Xugana Island Lodge or Camp Okavango.
Day 10: Full Day Exploring The Okavango Delta.
Day 10 is a full day in the Okavango Delta. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal the Delta’s extraordinary wildlife, from elephants and buffalo to lions, leopards, and giraffes. Between activities, you relax at camp, soaking in the beauty of this pristine wilderness. Each safari ends with sundowners in spectacular settings.
Destination: Okavango Delta
Accomodation : Xugana Island Lodge or Camp Okavango.
Day 11: Transfer into The Moremi Game Reserve
On Day 11, you may explore a different ecosystem by flying into the Moremi Game Reserve, one of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations. Here, the chances of spotting the Big 5 — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — are excellent, alongside cheetah, hyena, and wild dog. Game drives through Moremi’s varied habitats provide thrilling wildlife encounters, while evenings are spent around the campfire under starlit skies.
Destination: Moremi Game Rserve
Accomodation : Camp Moremi
Day 12: Fly Back to Maun or Kasane
Your journey concludes on Day 12. After a final morning safari in the Delta or Moremi, you fly back to Maun or Kasane for your onward flight to Johannesburg, connecting with your international departure.
Inclusions
Accommodation in lodges, tented camps, and safari lodges as per itinerary (mid-range or luxury depending on choice).
All meals on safari (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner), except in Entebbe and Johannesburg where it’s usually Bed & Breakfast.
All ground transfers in Uganda in 4×4 safari vehicles with an English-speaking driver/guide.
Domestic flights in Uganda (Bwindi → Entebbe).
Charter flights in Botswana (Maun ↔ Okavango Delta ↔ Moremi/Kasane).
Park entry fees for Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha, Bwindi, and Botswana reserves.
Chimpanzee trekking permit (Kibale Forest).
Gorilla trekking permit (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, 1 trek per person).
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth NP, Ishasha, Okavango Delta, and Moremi Game Reserve.
Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel in Uganda.
Safari activities in Botswana (mokoro excursions, guided bush walks, day & night game drives).
Bottled drinking water in safari vehicles.
Full support from local safari guides and lodge staff throughout the journey.
Exclusions
International flights to Entebbe (Uganda) and from Johannesburg (South Africa).
Regional flights: Entebbe → Johannesburg, Johannesburg → Maun (Botswana), Johannesburg → home.
Visa fees for Uganda, Botswana, and South Africa (if applicable).
Travel insurance (mandatory).
Optional activities not included in the itinerary (e.g., cultural visits, extra treks, hot air balloon in Botswana).
Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, and lodge staff.
Drinks and bar bills unless specified (some Botswana lodges include drinks, Uganda lodges often do not).
Laundry services (unless included by specific lodges).
Personal expenses (souvenirs, phone calls, etc.).
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