5 Days Uganda Gorillas and Game Safari

Embark on a 5 Day Gorillas and Game Safari, exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy thrilling game drives and a scenic boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, known for its abundant hippos and diverse birdlife. This channel boasts the world’s highest concentration of hippos and over 600 bird species. Experience an extraordinary wildlife encounter, as a single cruise along the channel unveils more wildlife than a typical game drive. Continue your adventure to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you’ll have the opportunity to trek a habituated mountain gorilla family. This safari begins and ends in Entebbe, providing a seamless travel experience.

• 01

  Day 1: Pickup from Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park

  Your safari begins with pickup from Entebbe International Airport or your accommodation in Entebbe. Meet your driver guide and begin the scenic journey westward toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travel through Uganda’s countryside, passing local communities, plantations, farms, and rolling landscapes. Stop at the Equator for photographs and a short experience before continuing toward the park, with lunch along the way.

  Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park and arrive later in the afternoon. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a relaxed drive through the park as you head toward your lodge, offering your first opportunity to see Uganda kob, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and other wildlife. Check in, enjoy dinner, and relax ahead of the following day’s wildlife activities.

  Meals: Lunch and Dinner

  Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget)

• 02

  Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

  Wake up early for breakfast before heading into Queen Elizabeth National Park for a morning game drive. Explore the Kasenyi Plains and surrounding savanna in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and other wildlife. The early hours provide excellent opportunities to watch animals becoming active as the sun rises over the park.

  After lunch, head to the Mweya Peninsula for an afternoon boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel. Cruise between Lake Edward and Lake George while observing large numbers of hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and waterbirds along the shoreline. Return to your lodge after the cruise for dinner, relaxation, and overnight rest.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  Accommodation: Pumba Safari Cottages.

• 03

  Day 3:Travel to Bwindi Through Ishasha for Tree Climbing Lions

  After breakfast, begin the journey south through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Enjoy a game drive through Ishasha as you search for the area’s famous tree climbing lions, which are often seen resting on large fig and acacia trees. You may also encounter elephants, buffaloes, topis, antelopes, and other wildlife along the route.

  Continue toward Bwindi after the Ishasha game drive, passing through villages, farms, rolling hills, and the spectacular landscapes of southwestern Uganda. Enjoy lunch along the way before continuing to your selected Bwindi sector. Arrive at your lodge later in the afternoon, relax, have dinner, and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking experience.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge (Budget).

• 04

  Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Experience and Optional Batwa Cultural Experience

  Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before travelling to the gorilla trekking headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides. After receiving your gorilla family allocation, enter Bwindi’s ancient rainforest and follow the experienced guides through dense vegetation, steep slopes, and forest trails. Once you locate the gorillas, spend the permitted viewing time observing their behavior, photographing the experience, and appreciating this remarkable encounter with mountain gorillas.

  Return to the park headquarters after the trek and receive your gorilla trekking certificate before returning to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, enjoy an optional Batwa cultural experience where you can learn about traditional forest heritage through storytelling, music, dance, traditional knowledge, and community interaction. Return to your lodge for dinner and your final night in the Bwindi area.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  Accommodation: Gorilla Valley Lodge.

• 05

  Day 5: Drive to Entebbe or Kigali for Departure

  After breakfast, begin your journey toward either Entebbe or Kigali, depending on your onward travel arrangements. Travellers returning to Kigali drive toward the Cyanika or Katuna border and continue through Rwanda’s scenic countryside toward Kigali. The journey generally takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on the border crossing and road conditions.

  Travellers returning to Entebbe begin the longer journey through southwestern Uganda toward central Uganda. Enjoy the changing scenery, local communities, farms, and rolling countryside along the route. Depending on your departure schedule, stop for lunch and make a short Equator stop for photographs and souvenirs before continuing to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.

  Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

  Accommodation: None unless requested