Safari experiences

Big Five experiences

Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino: discover where and how to see Africa’s most iconic animals on a safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

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Searching for the Big Five

The term “Big Five” was first used by big-game hunters to describe the five animals considered most dangerous to hunt on foot: the lion, leopard, African elephant, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros. Today it is used by photographers and safari-goers, and seeing all five remains one of the great ambitions of an African safari.

Many people assume that Uganda and Rwanda are only for primates, but both countries offer excellent Big Five safaris. Rwanda’s Akagera National Park is home to all five, and in Uganda you can see four of them in the savannah parks and track rhinos on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Combine these with gorilla trekking and you have one of the most complete safaris in Africa.

Summary

All five in one parkAkagera, Rwanda

Rhinos in UgandaZiwa Rhino Sanctuary

Best parksAkagera, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo

Best timeDrier months: Jun–Sep & Dec–Feb

Lion

Lions are the animal most visitors hope to see. In Uganda, they live in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley national parks. Queen Elizabeth is famous for the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector, which rest in the branches of large fig and acacia trees, possibly to escape the heat and insects, and to keep watch over the plains. Lions are also seen in the Kasenyi plains, where they hunt Uganda kob. In Murchison Falls, lions roam the grasslands north of the Nile, and Kidepo’s Narus Valley offers sightings in a dramatic wilderness setting. In Rwanda, lions were reintroduced to Akagera in 2015 after an absence of many years, and the population has since grown.

Leopard

Leopards are the most elusive of the Big Five. Solitary and mostly nocturnal, they spend the day resting in dense vegetation or trees, so sightings require patience and luck. Good places to look include Lake Mburo, the Mweya peninsula and Kasenyi area of Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo in Uganda, and Akagera in Rwanda, where guided night drives increase the chances of seeing leopards and other nocturnal animals.

African elephant

Elephants are found in most of Uganda’s savannah parks. Large herds gather along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, where you can watch them bathe and drink from a boat, and in Murchison Falls and Kidepo. Uganda’s forests, including Kibale and Bwindi, also have smaller numbers of forest elephants, though these are rarely seen. In Rwanda, Akagera has a healthy elephant population that is often seen around the lakes.

Cape buffalo

Buffalo are widespread and usually easy to see. Large herds graze the plains of Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo and Akagera, and smaller groups live in Lake Mburo. Though they may look like cattle, buffalo are powerful and unpredictable, which is why they earned their place in the Big Five. They are often seen wallowing in mud or resting near water, accompanied by oxpeckers and cattle egrets.

Rhinoceros

Rhinos completed the Big Five in Uganda until poaching wiped out the country’s wild population by the early 1980s. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, on the road between Kampala and Murchison Falls, was established to bring them back. Its population of southern white rhinos has grown steadily through breeding, and visitors can track them on foot with experienced rangers, an exciting and intimate experience. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda to see rhinos, and it fits naturally into a Murchison Falls safari.

In Rwanda, eastern black rhinos were returned to Akagera in 2017, followed by southern white rhinos in 2021. Rhino sightings in Akagera require some luck, because the park is large and the terrain varied, but with a good guide and time, they are possible on a game drive.

Where to see the Big Five

Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Akagera is the only park in Rwanda, and one of very few in the wider region, where all five can be seen in one place. Managed by Rwanda Development Board in partnership with African Parks, it combines game drives through rolling savannah, boat trips on Lake Ihema, night drives and behind-the-scenes conservation experiences. Akagera is around two and a half hours from Kigali, making it easy to combine with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Uganda: Ziwa, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth

In Uganda, a classic route combines rhino tracking at Ziwa, game drives and a Nile cruise in Murchison Falls, and then a journey south to Queen Elizabeth for lions, elephants and buffalo, before ending with gorillas in Bwindi. Kidepo Valley can be added for a true wilderness experience.

Tips for spotting the Big Five

Start early. Lions and leopards are most active at dawn and dusk, and the light is best for photography.
Give it time. Plan at least two full days in each savannah park to increase your chances.
Trust your guide. Experienced guides read tracks, listen for alarm calls and watch the behaviour of antelope and birds to find predators.
Bring binoculars. Leopards in trees and lions in long grass are much easier to spot with good optics.
Enjoy everything else. Some of the most memorable moments come from giraffes, hippos, kob and birds. The Big Five is a goal, not the whole story.

Beyond the Big Five: the Primate Five

One of the great attractions of Uganda and Rwanda is that you can combine the Big Five with what some call the “Primate Five”: mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s or other forest monkeys. Few places in Africa allow you to see both on one trip. See our pages on gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and golden monkey tracking.

When to go

Big Five safaris are possible all year, but the drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, are generally best because the grass is shorter and animals gather near water. The wetter months bring greener landscapes, fewer visitors and newborn animals, and game viewing can still be very good.

Responsible Big Five viewing

Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos are powerful wild animals, and their welfare comes first. Our guides keep a respectful distance, avoid surrounding animals with vehicles, never encourage off-road driving where it is not permitted, and follow ranger instructions on rhino walks. Responsible viewing protects the animals and ensures that future visitors can enjoy the same encounters.

Why choose Kamere Tours for your Big Five safari

We design private safaris that combine the Big Five with primates, culture and relaxing lake stays in both Uganda and Rwanda. We know which parks, seasons and routes give you the best chances, we handle permits and park fees, and we choose lodges that maximise your time on game drives. Tell us your dates and interests and we will design a Big Five safari around you.

Rhino tracking at Ziwa, step by step

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lies roughly three hours north of Kampala on the road to Murchison Falls, so most visitors stop there on the way to the park. On arrival you are briefed by a ranger about the sanctuary’s history, the rhinos and the safety rules. You then drive a short distance to the area where rangers have located a rhino or a group, and continue on foot. Walking quietly through the bush, you approach to a safe distance, often close enough to hear the rhinos graze, and spend time watching and photographing them while the ranger explains their behaviour and the work involved in protecting them. Walks typically last between one and two hours. Because the rhinos are monitored around the clock, sightings are very reliable.

Sample Big Five itineraries

3 days Akagera from Kigali: two full days of game drives, a Lake Ihema boat trip and a night drive, with all five possible.
3 days Murchison Falls: rhino tracking at Ziwa, the top of the falls, game drives and a Nile cruise. See our 3-day Murchison Falls safari with rhino tracking.
8 days Rwanda: Akagera for the Big Five, Nyungwe for chimpanzees and Volcanoes for gorillas. See our 8-day Rwanda wildlife safari.
10–14 days Uganda: Ziwa, Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth including Ishasha, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

What to pack for a Big Five safari

Binoculars for every traveller, ideally 8×42 or 10×42.
A camera with a zoom lens and spare batteries and memory cards.
Neutral-coloured, comfortable clothing in layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons.
A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Closed walking shoes for rhino tracking and short walks.
A light rain jacket, especially in the wetter months.

Where to stay

In Akagera, accommodation ranges from a lakeside lodge to tented camps in remote corners of the park. In Murchison Falls, lodges and camps sit along both banks of the Nile, and in Queen Elizabeth there are options on the Mweya peninsula, near the crater lakes and in Ishasha. We choose locations that give you early access to the best game-viewing areas.

Other animals you will meet

A Big Five safari in Uganda and Rwanda is about much more than five species. Hippos crowd the Kazinga Channel and the Nile, Nile crocodiles bask on sandbanks, and Rothschild’s giraffes stride across the plains of Murchison Falls. Uganda kob, topi, waterbuck, hartebeest and oribi graze the grasslands, while spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals and servals hunt at dusk. In Akagera, zebras and Masai giraffes share the savannah with impala and eland. Birdlife is spectacular everywhere, from fish eagles and ground hornbills to crowned cranes. Many guests find that these encounters become just as memorable as their Big Five sightings.

Conservation behind the comeback

The return of lions and rhinos to Akagera, and the growth of the rhino population at Ziwa, are among Africa’s most encouraging conservation stories. They depend on dedicated rangers, careful monitoring, community partnerships and the income that responsible tourism brings. By visiting, you help make these protected areas viable for the long term.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the Big Five in Uganda?

Yes. Lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo live in parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo, and white rhinos can be tracked on foot at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Where can I see all of the Big Five in one park?

Akagera National Park in Rwanda is home to all five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Are there rhinos in Uganda's national parks?

Not currently. Uganda’s rhinos live at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a protected area between Kampala and Murchison Falls, where they can be tracked on foot.

How many days do I need to see the Big Five?

Allow at least two to three days in Akagera, or around five to seven days in Uganda to combine Ziwa, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth.

Can I combine the Big Five with gorilla trekking?

Yes. Akagera combines easily with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Queen Elizabeth links directly with Bwindi in Uganda.