5 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Safari – Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth NP

Set out on an unforgettable 5-day journey through two of Uganda’s most spectacular protected areas. This adventure begins in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where game drives across open savannah combine with a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. Home to over 700 bird species and the world’s largest concentration of hippopotamus, this channel offers an extraordinary wildlife viewing experience that perfectly complements the park’s game drives. The safari then continues into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where you’ll have the rare privilege of trekking a habituated mountain gorilla family in their natural rainforest home. Get ready for a journey that blends adrenaline, discovery, and the raw beauty of the African wild.

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Your adventure begins the moment you touch down at Entebbe International Airport, where a representative from our company will greet you and arrange pickup from your hotel. Given the considerable distance to Bwindi, roughly 8 to 9 hours of driving, an early start is essential.

The journey takes you from Entebbe toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a memorable stop at the Equator for breakfast and photos marking your crossing between hemispheres. Along the way, you’ll break for lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, a great spot to learn about Uganda’s cultural heritage before continuing on. The final stretch brings you into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which shelters roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population, with arrival expected in the late evening.

Once you reach your lodge, settle in, enjoy dinner, and rest up for the trekking day ahead.

Accommodation options: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury), Ichumbi Lodge (Midrange), Rushaga Haven Lodge (Budget)

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park

Morning

Following breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a mandatory briefing beginning at 8 a.m. Park rangers will walk trekkers through the guidelines for respectful and safe behavior around gorillas in their natural environment, an essential step before entering the forest.

Trek and Observation

With the briefing complete, you’ll set off into the dense, ancient forest in pursuit of the gorillas. The trek itself is an experience in its own right, immersing you in a wild, untouched world filled with birdsong and the calls of various monkey species swinging through the canopy overhead. Once your group locates a gorilla family, you’ll be granted a full hour to observe and photograph these magnificent creatures up close (flash photography is prohibited to avoid disturbing them). During this hour, you may witness the gorillas feeding, resting, or caring for their young, offering a rare window into their everyday lives.

Afternoon

Once the trek concludes, your guide will drive you back to the lodge, where a satisfying lunch awaits after your morning in the forest.

Evening

Spend the rest of the day unwinding at your lodge, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation options: Gorilla Leisure Lodge (Luxury), Ichumbi Lodge (Midrange), Rushaga Haven Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s second-largest national park, known for its striking mix of lakes, forests, savannah, and wetlands. Your entry point will be the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, a rare behavior seen in only a handful of places worldwide. Beyond the lions, this area is also home to African elephants, Ugandan kobs, giraffes, and a wide variety of other species. Depending on timing and luck, you may spot several different animals and birds throughout the drive.

From Ishasha, you’ll continue north through the park toward your accommodation, arriving in time for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi or Enshama (Midrange), The Bush Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Dinner and breakfast

Day 4: Game Drive and Evening Boat Cruise

Start your day with a warm cup of coffee before heading out to explore the many wonders Queen Elizabeth National Park has to offer. Your morning game drive follows the Kasenyi tracks, one of the best areas in the park for spotting lions, Cape buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, mongoose, and kobs. If fortune favors you, a leopard sighting is also possible.

After the drive, return to your lodge for lunch and some downtime before the afternoon’s activity. You’ll then board a boat for a two-hour cruise along the Kazinga Channel, the natural waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward. This channel is renowned for its birdlife, with over 600 species recorded in the surrounding area, making it one of the richest birdwatching spots in the park. From the water, you’ll also have excellent chances to see crocodiles, hippos, buffalo, and various monkey species gathered along the banks.

Once the cruise wraps up, you’ll head back to your lodge for dinner and another restful night.

Accommodation options: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Enganzi or Enshama (Midrange), The Bush Lodge (Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 5: Departure from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Entebbe

Rise early to take in the sunrise over the park’s landscape, a peaceful way to close out your safari. After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the journey back toward Entebbe, with a lunch stop along the way. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you’ll say your goodbyes to your guide before heading to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels, and thank you for joining this incredible journey through Uganda’s wilderness.

Tour Inclusions

• Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits
• All activities listed in the itinerary, plus park entry fees
• Accommodation and meals as specified
• Transport throughout in a standard safari vehicle
• Professional tour guide

Tour Exclusions

• International flights
• Items of a personal nature
• Tips and gratuity

This 5-day escape brings together two of Uganda’s most iconic wildlife experiences: the thrill of standing face-to-face with mountain gorillas in Bwindi’s misty forest, and the abundance of savannah and aquatic wildlife found in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whether you’re drawn by the promise of tree-climbing lions, hippo-filled channels, or the rare intimacy of gorilla trekking, this itinerary is designed to deliver an authentic, immersive taste of Uganda’s natural heritage in just five action-packed days.