This 5-day gorilla trek safari takes you to the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to more than half the population of the remaining 720 mountain gorillas. Bwindi Forest offers a unique birding opportunity, cultural experiences, and the scenic allure of stunning hills. You will have the experience of a lifetime watching at close range these majestic apes as they feed and relax. Before crossing to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a great game viewing experience.
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Kampala-Masaka Road (7 hours’ drive). En route, make a stopover at the equator for photography and Mbarara for lunch. Later, you’ll be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is roughly 3 hours’ drive from Mbarara to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation
Mid-Luxury: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Luxury: Buffalo Safari Lodge
High-End: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 2: Game Drive and Launch Cruise along Kazinga Channel
In the morning, enjoy a game drive to the northern sector of the park–Kasenyi plains in search of leopards and lions. As you drive along Kasenyi tracks, expect to encounter big herds of elephants, buffalos, Uganda kobs, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, and giant forest hogs among others. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch before undertaking a launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel at 2:00 pm. The launch experience will bring you closer to big herds of elephants, hippos, and a plethora of migrant and endemic birds among others. At 6:00 pm, return to the lodge for your dinner and relaxation.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation
Mid-Luxury: Twin Lake Safari Lodge
Luxury: Buffalo Safari Lodge
High-End: Mweya Safari Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 3: Ishasha – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast at 8:00 am, transfer to Ishasha the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in search of tree-climbing lions. It is approximately an hour’s drive from Mweya to Ishasha Gate. At 10:00 am, lions begin climbing fig trees as they seek shelter in the tree branches from the scorching sunshine and relax after a night and morning feast on the antelopes.
At 1:00 o’clock, transfer to Savannah Hotel for a hot lunch and later proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an evening Batwa (Pygmies) community walk.
NOTE: On this day you may choose to go for Chimpanzee tracking at Kalinzu Forest early in the morning before you proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is found in southwestern Uganda in the district of Bushenyi. The forest reserve is close to Maramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu forest reserve has abundant wildlife. Over 379 species of birds exist in the forest. There are six species of primates.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation
Mid-Luxury: Agandi Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
High-End: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 4: Gorilla Tracking Adventure
Wake up very early in the morning for your breakfast and then hike to the park headquarters, which is a few meters from your lodge for a briefing by the park ranger before commencing the gorilla trek at 8:30 am. Gorilla tracking is a strenuous exercise but is ranked the most rewarding wildlife experience. The time taken to encounter these apes ranges from an hour to several hours depending on their movement in the jungle.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation
Mid-Luxury: Agandi Lodge
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
High-End: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 5: Departure
After breakfast, transfer back to the airport either Entebbe or Kigali. It is more than 8 hours’ drive to Entebbe from Bwindi; whereas it is a 4 to 5 hours’ drive to Kigali International Airport.
Location: Entebbe
Accommodation: No
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Included
Park fees (For non-residents)
Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All Accommodation based (Mid-luxury, Luxury, High-End)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinking water (On all days)
Excluded
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
The government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees