6 dAY Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking

From $2,577 Person

Tour Overview

Your 6-day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Safari begins at Lake Mburo National Park, a beautiful park known for its zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and rich birdlife. Here, you can choose from exciting activities such as a walking safari, game drive, boat cruise, horseback safari, or mountain biking to experience the park in a unique way. 

Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most famous wildlife destination. Enjoy game drives across the savannah, search for the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, track chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, and cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and countless birds gather.

The highlight of your safari awaits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you will trek through an ancient rainforest to meet mountain gorillas in their natural home. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, relax at the peaceful shores of Lake Bunyonyi, surrounded by green hills and beautiful islands. With wildlife, adventure, culture, and some of Uganda’s most stunning landscapes, this safari offers a perfect introduction to the Pearl of Africa.

Highlights

  • Search for zebras, giraffes, and wildlife on a walking safari or game drive in Lake Mburo National Park.
  • Spot the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and cruise the wildlife-rich Kazinga Channel.
  • Trek through Bwindi’s ancient rainforest to meet mountain gorillas in the wild.
  • Relax at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, surrounded by islands, hills, and peaceful scenery.
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Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Uganda Safaris
Walking-safari-in-Lake-Mburo-National-Park (1)
Tree-climbing lions

Itinerary IN dETAIL

Discover your route below. This itinerary is the starting point, tailor your adventure with the specific experiences.

Welcome to Uganda! At around 9:00 AM, our professional driver-guide will pick you up from Entebbe Airport, your hotel in Entebbe, or Kampala and start the scenic journey to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes about 3 hours (230 km) and offers a wonderful introduction to Uganda’s countryside. Along the way, you’ll pass through local villages, farmland, and beautiful landscapes before reaching one of Uganda’s most unique wildlife destinations.

Unlike many of Uganda’s larger savannah parks, Lake Mburo is covered with acacia woodland, rolling hills, and wetlands, creating a special environment for wildlife. The park is the best place in Uganda to see zebras, giraffes, and the impressive giant eland, the largest antelope in the world. It is also home to buffalo, impala, waterbuck, topi, warthogs, leopards, spotted hyenas, and many other animals.

After entering the park, you’ll enjoy your first game drive as you explore the beautiful landscapes and search for wildlife. Keep your eyes open for animals grazing in the savannah, birds around the wetlands, and the peaceful scenery that makes Lake Mburo so special.

Later, you’ll arrive at your lodge to relax and enjoy the surroundings. If you still have energy after dinner, you can join an optional night game drive, offering a different view of the park. With a spotlight in hand, you may spot nocturnal species such as bush babies, hyenas, and, with some luck, the elusive leopard.

 

Accommodation Options:

Simple: Eagles Nest

Middle Class: Rwakobo Rock

Luxury: Mihingo Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

In the morning, you can choose between a mountain bike safari or a walking safari through Lake Mburo National Park. Since there are no lions or elephants here, these activities are safe and offer a close, personal experience with the wildlife and nature. If you prefer, you can also take an optional horseback safari, but this is only available if you stay overnight at Mihingo Lodge, and must be booked on-site. After your morning activity and a late breakfast, you’ll travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes about 3.5 to 4 hours covering roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles). We expect to arrive in time for lunch and a short rest before heading out for an afternoon game drive.

Morning Activities at Lake Mburo

Walking Safari

Explore the park on foot with an experienced ranger as your guide. You’ll search for zebras, buffalo, elands, and giraffes up close. Bird lovers will especially enjoy this safari — Lake Mburo is home to over 350 bird species, offering fantastic opportunities for stunning photos!

Mountain Bike Safari (Optional)

Ride a mountain bike through the lush green park and its surroundings. Along the way, spot zebras, impalas, and the rare eland antelope. The varied terrain makes this a fun and challenging ride to kick-start your day!

Horseback Safari (Optional)

Explore Lake Mburo on horseback, an exciting adventure for both beginners and experienced riders. Please note, riders must weigh no more than 90 kg (200 lbs). This activity can only be booked on-site and is available only for guests staying at Mihingo Lodge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is huge, nearly 2,000 km²,  and lies in Uganda’s Rift Valley. To the north, the majestic Rwenzori Mountains form a stunning backdrop, and to the west, you’ll find Lake Edward. At the heart of the park is the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George, offering some of the best boat safaris in Africa. West of the Kazinga Channel, you’ll see incredible volcanic craters. The Kyambura Gorge is a deep chasm filled with rainforest and home to chimpanzees. The park is rich in wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, topi, lions, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles. Bird watchers will be thrilled by over 600 bird species living here.

Accommodation Options:

Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda

Middle class: Eganzi Game Lodge

Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge

Exclusive: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, you will head to the nearby Kalinzu Forest for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Kalinzu is renowned as one of Uganda’s best locations to see wild chimpanzees, with around 90% chance of sightings. Compared to the more popular Kibale Forest, Kalinzu offers a quieter encounter and is part of a community-driven ecotourism initiative that supports both conservation and local livelihoods.

The chimpanzee trek covers approximately 3 to 6 kilometers through dense tropical forest and typically lasts 2 to 4 hours depending on chimpanzee movement. The trail can be moderately challenging, involving walking over uneven terrain and navigating thick vegetation. However, the effort is richly rewarded — listening to the chimps’ calls, watching them swing effortlessly through the canopy, and observing their playful behavior up close is a truly moving experience. Given that chimpanzees share 99% of our DNA, this encounter is both educational and deeply personal. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

In the afternoon, embark on one of Africa’s most spectacular boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel — a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George within Queen Elizabeth National Park. This wildlife-rich channel offers an incredible opportunity to see large numbers of hippos lounging in the water, massive crocodiles basking on the banks, buffalo bathing, and an impressive variety of birds. Spotting a herd of elephants spraying water and dust at one another completes what is sure to be an extraordinary day on the water.

Optional Activities:

Predator Tracking in Queen Elizabeth – Morning

Join a park biologist for a unique morning safari focused on studying the behavior and movements of lion prides and individual leopards. Thanks to radio collars fitted on the lions, you have a high chance of encountering these majestic predators. Leopard sightings, while not guaranteed, are possible. This special excursion allows you to venture off traditional roads and trails, gaining insights into the lives of these apex predators while supporting vital research funded by the safari fees.

Private Queen Elizabeth Boat Safari – Afternoon

Enhance your boat safari experience with a private boat, allowing you to get closer to wildlife and set your own pace. Unlike larger boats, a private vessel provides an exclusive, intimate connection with the spectacular scenery and wildlife along the Kazinga Channel — a perfect way to share this magical adventure with your own group.

Accommodation Options:

Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda

Middle class: Eganzi Game Lodge

Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge

Exclusive: Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You will start the day early with an exciting morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is known for its abundant wildlife, so keep a lookout for large herds of Cape buffalo, elephants, lions, and the occasionally elusive leopard, which can be hard to spot. 

The open plains offer excellent wildlife viewing and great photo opportunities during the cool morning hours. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for breakfast and check out before setting off toward the Ishasha sector. Ishasha is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions, and there is about a 70% chance of spotting these extraordinary animals perched in acacia trees. Although sometimes they remain hidden in the grasslands while hunting, seeing them in the trees is an unforgettable sight.

From Ishasha, you will continue your journey to your accommodation near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The distance from the Kasenyi area in Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Bwindi Buhoma sector is approximately 230 kilometers. Depending on road conditions and stops along the way, the drive usually takes about 3 to 4 hours. The route offers beautiful scenery, passing through rolling hills and local villages as you transition from savannah landscapes to dense rainforest.

Optional Activity: Rafting on the Birira River

For those seeking adventure, you can choose to go rafting on the Birira River, which flows through the jungle between Ishasha and Bwindi Forest. This full-day Gorilla Rafting experience takes you down the Birira River near the Rwenzori Mountains, allowing you to enjoy the stunning rainforest scenery while floating past green hills, banana plantations, and lush forest teeming with monkeys and birds. The rafting trip runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is suitable for adventurers, families with children aged 8 and older, and nature lovers. 

A typical Ugandan lunch is included. Your safety during rafting is a priority, with a professional trip leader accompanying you on the raft to ensure everything runs smoothly. Two additional guides in kayaks will act as safety escorts, ready to help if you want to swim or if you happen to fall in the water, making sure your experience is both safe and enjoyable.

Accommodation Options:

Simple: Ride 4 A Woman

Middle class: Gorilla Mist Camp

Semi-luxury: The Haven lodge Buhoma

Luxury: Buhoma Lodge

Exclusive: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will head to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for what is often considered the highlight of any Ugandan adventure: gorilla trekking. This unforgettable experience involves tracking habituated groups of mountain gorillas through dense, misty forest terrain that can be wet, muddy, and humid. 

The trek may reach altitudes close to 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) above sea level, and the path can be physically demanding. You should be prepared for steep climbs and uneven ground, making the trek moderately strenuous.

The duration of the gorilla trek varies depending on the location of the gorilla groups on the day, but it generally lasts 2 to 6 hours. The anticipation and excitement build as you follow the trackers through the forest until you finally come face to face with a family of gorillas led by a majestic silverback. 

These gentle giants are surprisingly calm and allow you to observe them at close range for one hour, making for an intimate and deeply moving wildlife encounter. Once your visit concludes, you will return to the park office where you will receive your official gorilla trekking certificate — a proud memento of this rare and special experience.

Afterwards, you will proceed back to your accommodation for lunch and check out before transferring to Lake Bunyonyi. The journey from Bwindi Forest to Lake Bunyonyi covers approximately 75 kilometers (47 miles) and typically takes around 1 hour by road, depending on conditions. Lake Bunyonyi is a breathtakingly beautiful crater lake nestled among lush, green terraced hills rising between 2,200 and 2,478 meters (7,200 to 8,130 feet) above sea level. 

What truly makes Lake Bunyonyi magical are its 29 islands, scattered across the calm, clear waters. Each island has its own unique shape and story, creating a stunning mosaic that visitors can admire endlessly. It is one of the deepest lakes in Africa, reaching depths of up to 900 meters (about 2,950 feet), and is famed for its remarkably clean water. The lake is home to several species of birds, but notably, it has no bilharzia (a parasitic disease common in many African lakes), making it safe for swimming. The tranquil atmosphere and picturesque surroundings make Lake Bunyonyi a perfect place to relax after your exhilarating gorilla trek.

Accommodation Options:

Middle class: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Luxury: BirdNest Resort

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today marks the end of your incredible Ugandan adventure with a full day of travel as you journey back to Kampala and Entebbe. Along the way, you’ll make a memorable stop at the Equator, where you can take photos and experience the fascinating geographical landmark firsthand. This is a great opportunity to capture some unique moments and learn about the science behind the Earth’s imaginary line.

You will also enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch en route, giving you time to reflect on your amazing experiences and soak in the scenic countryside. Your journey will conclude with your arrival at your hotel or the Entebbe Airport around 5:00 PM, in plenty of time to catch your onward flight. If you wish to extend your stay in Uganda with extra accommodation or additional activities, simply let us know, and we’ll be happy to assist with the arrangements.

Accommodation: Not Included

Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

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We founded Choose Uganda Safaris with a dream in hand: to organize the most beautiful trips for people who want to discover Uganda. Since then, we have built a passionate local team with one goal: to make your Uganda trip an unforgettable experience. 

© Choose Uganda 2026
Crafted By Ssonko Rashidu

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6 Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking Safari