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4-Day Gorilla Trek & Queen Elizabeth Safari
From
US $2320 Per Person
Tour Overview
This 4-day safari begins in Bwindi, where you’ll trek through a misty rainforest in search of mountain gorillas. Walking through the forest and coming face-to-face with these gentle giants is a truly powerful experience that stays with you forever.
You’ll also have the chance to connect with the local community through a traditional dance experience and a hands-on Ugandan cooking class. Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most scenic wildlife destinations. Explore its beautiful landscapes on a game drive, searching for elephants, lions, buffalo, antelopes, and other wildlife. Later, enjoy a boat safari along the famous Kazinga Channel, where hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of birds gather along the shores.
End your safari with a chimpanzee trek in Kalinzu Forest, following the sounds of these intelligent primates through the jungle before returning to Kampala or Entebbe. This short but rewarding safari is the perfect choice for travelers who want to experience Uganda’s most iconic wildlife highlights in just a few days.
Highlights
- Trek through Bwindi’s ancient rainforest to meet mountain gorillas in the wild.
- Enjoy game drives and a Kazinga Channel boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Track wild chimpanzees in the beautiful Kalinzu Forest.
Itinerary IN dETAIL
Discover your route below. This itinerary is the starting point, tailor your adventure with the specific experiences.
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your adventure starts early in the morning, around 6:00 AM. A friendly guide from Choose Uganda Safaris will come to pick you up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. If you’re arriving that day, they can also meet you directly at Entebbe International Airport.
After a short briefing about the trip, you will begin your drive to the southwest of Uganda. The journey takes about 8-to-9-hour hours, but it’s full of interesting sights and changing landscapes. Along the way, you will pass through busy towns, green farms, and beautiful rolling hills. You’ll stop in the town of Mbarara for lunch and take a short break.
After lunch, the drive continues through the cool, green highlands of Kigezi. This area is often called the “Switzerland of East Africa” because of its fresh air, terraced hills, and amazing mountain views.
As the sun begins to set, you will arrive in the thick, magical forest of Bwindi. This forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in the world to see mountain gorillas.
When you reach your lodge, you’ll check in and take some time to relax. Enjoy the quiet of the forest, listen to the birds, breathe in the fresh air, and get ready for your exciting gorilla trekking experience the next day.
Optional: Local Cooking and Traditional Dance (Only at Ride 4 a Woman Lodge)
If you choose to stay at Ride 4 a Woman, you’ll have the chance to join a local cooking class and a traditional Kiga dance workshop. These activities are led by women from the community who are part of a special project that helps them learn skills and earn money to support their families.
During the cooking class, you will go to the garden with the women to pick fresh vegetables and herbs. Then you will join them in the kitchen to prepare traditional Ugandan food. Some of the dishes include matoke (a dish made from green bananas), G-nut sauce (a tasty sauce made from groundnuts), roasted goat meat, and cooked greens like skumawiki.
You will also help make a traditional drink called Imonda, made from sorghum, millet, honey, and water. In the evening, you will sit around the campfire with the women and enjoy the food you cooked together.
The dance workshop is full of energy and fun. You’ll learn traditional Kiga dances, listen to drums, and move to the lively rhythms. It’s a joyful way to experience the local culture and connect with the people who live in the area.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Ride For A Woman
Middle class: Gorilla Mist Camp
Semi-luxury: The Haven Lodge Buhoma
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Exclusive: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Diner
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today is the big day you have been waiting for, your gorilla trekking adventure! After an early breakfast, your guide will take you to the park headquarters at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
This is where your trek begins. Before you enter the forest, you will meet expert rangers who will explain everything you need to know.
They will give you a short briefing and tell you how to behave when you meet the gorillas. Bwindi is one of the best places in the world to see these amazing animals—almost half of all mountain gorillas live here! The forest is also full of life, with over 120 types of mammals and more than 350 species of birds.
The trek is a true adventure. You’ll walk through thick jungle, climb hills, and sometimes crouch under branches as you follow the rangers. They’ll look for signs of the gorillas—like footprints, broken plants, or nests. Then, suddenly, the moment comes—you find them.
Seeing a gorilla family in the wild, especially the huge silverback watching over his group, is something you will never forget.
You will spend about one hour with them, quietly watching, taking photos, and enjoying this magical moment in nature. After the trek, you will enjoy your packed picnic lunch and return to the starting point, where you will receive a special gorilla trekking certificate to remember the day.
Later in the afternoon, you will leave Bwindi and begin the drive of about 3 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The scenery changes from green forests to wide, golden savannahs.
You might spot some wild animals en route—maybe even the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, resting in the branches above the road. By evening, you will arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You can check in, relax, and enjoy a peaceful dinner while looking forward to more exciting wildlife experiences the next day.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda
Middle class: Elephant Hab Lodge
Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Exclusive: The River Station
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Diner
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park Activities
Today, enjoy the stunning wildlife and scenery of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After an early breakfast, you will head out for a morning game drive on the open savannah. This is one of the best times to spot animals, as they are active in the cool morning air.
As the sun rises, you may see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hyenas, waterbucks, and, with a bit of luck, lions or even a leopard resting in the grass. Your guide will help you spot wildlife and explain their habits and behaviors as you drive through this beautiful landscape.
After the morning safari, return to your lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, you will head to the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George.
A boat safari along this channel is one of the most unforgettable experiences Queen Elizabeth National Park has to offer.
The Kazinga Channel boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa and is also home to Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and an incredible variety of water birds. You may spot pelicans, cormorants, African fish eagles, and—if you’re lucky—the elusive shoebill stork.
Optional: Predator Tracking Experience
If you want a closer look at big cats, you can join a predator tracking activity with expert rangers and researchers. Using special radio equipment, they track lions and leopards in real time. This is an exciting way to learn about how predators move and survive in the wild, and it’s great for travelers who want a deeper experience in conservation.
Optional: Private Boat Safari Upgrade
If you want a more personal and quiet experience, you can choose a private boat safari. This allows you to explore the Kazinga Channel at your own pace, avoid the crowds, and get closer to wildlife—perfect for photographers and birdwatchers.
Optional: Visit to the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative
You can also choose to visit the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, a local project run by strong, passionate women.
You’ll learn how they grow, harvest, and roast Ugandan coffee. You’ll smell the fresh beans, taste the coffee, and hear inspiring stories from the women behind this amazing community project. It’s a warm and meaningful cultural experience that supports local families. After a full and exciting day, you’ll return to the lodge for dinner and overnight rest.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda
Middle class: Elephant Hab Lodge
Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Exclusive: The River Station
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Diner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kalinzu & Transfer Back to Kampala
After an early breakfast, check out of your lodge and travel to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for an exciting chimpanzee trek. Kalinzu is one of the best places in Uganda to see wild chimpanzees, with over a 90% chance of spotting them. It’s less busy and more affordable than Kibale Forest.
The forest is part of a community ecotourism project that helps protect nature and support local people. The trek can be a bit challenging, as you may need to hike through thick forest, but most visitors find it very rewarding. Hearing the chimps call and watching them swing through the trees or play on the ground is a special, unforgettable moment.
Chimpanzees are very close to humans genetically, sharing 99% of our DNA, so this experience is both touching and educational. After your trek, you will drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, stopping for lunch and breaks along the way. The trip takes about 7 hours (around 400 km). You’ll be dropped off at your hotel, home, or airport, ending your amazing safari adventure.
Accommodation: Not Included
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
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