7 Days Big Five Uganda End Of Year Safari

We're as excited as you are to get started on your Ugandan safari. After an introduction to your guide and a few brief formalities, it's time to get out there and find the animals for which Uganda is so famous. Today we head to Murchison Falls National Park, which is Uganda's largest conservation area and one of its most rewarding overall safari destinations. Wildlife viewing activities focus on the Nile River, a mesmerizing tropical waterway that supports impressive concentrations of hippo, crocodile and aquatic birds, and attracts plenty of other thirsty wildlife, from elephants and buffaloes to giraffes and antelope. The park is named after its scenic highlight: an explosive waterfall formed by the Nile as it siphons through a narrow crack in the Rift Valley escarpment. Rhino tracking, Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch Second only to elephants when it comes to bulk among African land mammals, white rhinos are intimidating creatures, as you'll see for yourself when you track them in Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. This admirable rhino breeding project is home to plenty of other wildlife too, but Uganda's only population of rhinos does tend to steal the show, and it is a real thrill to encounter these peaceful grass-cropping giants on foot.

We once again find ourselves in the lovely surrounds of Murchison Falls National Park. Early Morning Game Drive, Murchison Falls National Imagine being out in the soft, early morning light, wrapped in a blanket, just as the animals emerge from their night’s rest or from the shadows of their nighttime adventures. The world feels fresh and new on an early morning game drive, the sun has yet to beat down upon the earth, and it may end up being your favorite time to be out on safari.

Today, we enter the prime chimpanzee country of Kibale National Park. This immense forest is renowned for its rich diversity of primates, but it is chimps – humankind's closest genetic relative – that top the wish list of most visitors. On a good day in Kibale, you might also see half-adozen different monkey species, including the extremely localized Uganda mangabey. Other attractions include a bird checklist of 370 species, a kaleidoscopic variety of butterflies, and a scattering of beautiful crater lakes.

The opportunity to see chimpanzees in the wild is one of the most memorable of all safari activities. Getting close to these creatures that share so much of our DNA is a oncein-a-lifetime experience, and the excitement of walking through the forest and knowing that they are close will stay with you forever.

Viewed as you approach the park boundary, the forested mountainsides of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park stand in magnificent contrast to the surrounding cultivated hills. Once inside the park, expect a sensory overload of sounds, smells and sights you could only experience in a pristine African jungle. Even without any wildlife, Bwindi would be an amazing place to visit, but the presence of a diverse forest fauna – most notably the endangered mountain gorilla but also 10 other primate and 350 bird species – has made this Unesco World Heritage Site one of Africa's undisputed top destinations.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking, Ruhija Sector When you go mountain gorilla trekking, you'll hike through the forest and then spend time in the presence of these remarkable and soulful family groups. The walking can be strenuous, but you'll never forget your experience here.

As your safari in Uganda ends, it's time to look back on your trip with us and enjoy the incredible memories we're sure you have