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5 Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
From
$2423
5 Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
From
$2423
Contact a Safari Expert
or
Safari Overview
5 Days Uganda Wildlife And - Gorilla Trekking Tour
This 5 Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari takes you through some of Uganda’s best places for nature and wildlife. The trip starts with a drive from your hotel or the airport to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will enjoy exciting game drives where you can see animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes, and more. You will also take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which is full of hippos, crocodiles, and birds. You can also choose extra activities like tracking lions with a biologist or walking in Kyambura Gorge to try and see chimpanzees.
Next, you will drive through the Ishasha area to look for the famous tree-climbing lions. Then you will go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Here, you will go on a special walk to see the rare and gentle mountain gorillas. After this amazing experience, you will travel to Lake Bunyonyi. This peaceful lake has 29 small islands and beautiful green hills. It is a perfect place to relax. You will sleep in good lodges, with choices from simple to luxury. On the last day, you will drive back to Entebbe. On the way, you will stop at the Equator for lunch and photos.
Trip highlights
- Spot elephants, lions & more on thrilling game drives
- Cruise past hippos, crocs & birds on the Kazinga Channel
- Walk through the jungle to track chimpanzees (optional)
- Meet mountain gorillas up close in the wild forest
- Relax by Lake Bunyonyi with its 29 green islands
What's included
- Overnight stays according to itinerary
- Meals according to itinerary
- One Gorilla Trekking Permit per person
- Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- All entrance fees to the national parks
- Suitable 4x4 safari vehicle
- Professional guide/driver (English speaking)
- All airport and hotel transfers
5 Days Uganda Safari Itinerary
Day By Day
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elisabeth National Park
You will be picked up by our English-speaking driver from the airport or your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. From there, you will begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the southwest of Uganda.
The drive is about 410 kilometers and takes around 7 hours. Along the way, you will pass through beautiful landscapes, including green hills, tea farms, crater lakes, and small roadside markets selling bananas (called Matoke). Around midday, you will stop in the town of Mbarara to enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your journey.
In the afternoon, you will arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is one of the best places in Uganda to see wild animals and enjoy beautiful landscapes. It is very large and has many types of landscapes, from open grasslands and forests to lakes and volcanic craters. The park is home to elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, and many kinds of birds. After checking in at your lodge and having a short rest, you will go on your first game drive in the park.
During the game drive, you will ride in a safari jeep and explore the park while looking for animals. You may see large herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as antelopes like the Ugandan kob and topi. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a lion or a leopard. As the sun sets, the park becomes even more beautiful, with glowing light over the volcanic hills and the Kazinga Channel. After the safari, you will return to your lodge, enjoy a tasty dinner, and spend the night surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda (Half Board)
Middle class: Elephant Hab Lodge (Half Board)
Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge (Full Board)
Exclusive: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Full board with drinks)
Day 2: Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari Activities
Today is all about enjoying the amazing wildlife and nature in Queen Elizabeth National Park. After an early breakfast, you will go on a morning game drive through the park. In the afternoon, you will take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, one of the top highlights of the trip. Between these activities, you will return to your lodge for lunch and have some time to rest.
During the morning game drive, you will ride in a safari jeep across the open savannah. The soft morning light and cool air make this a perfect time to see animals. You may come across elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes like the Ugandan kob and water bucks, and many different birds. The park is full of life in the early hours, and the views are beautiful.
In the afternoon, you will go for a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This channel is full of hippos, crocodiles, bathing buffaloes, and many types of birds. Sometimes, elephants come to drink and play at the water’s edge. Watching wildlife from the water is peaceful and exciting at the same time. After the boat trip, you will return to your lodge for dinner and spend the night surrounded by the sounds of nature.
If you prefer, there are some optional activities you can choose instead of the regular ones. You can go on a special predator tracking experience in the morning, where you join a biologist to track lions and leopards using radio signals. This activity takes you off the usual roads and gives you a chance to see these big cats up close while learning about their behavior. Or you can take a guided nature walk through Kyambura Gorge, a deep green valley with a river and rainforest. This walk is a real adventure, and though spotting chimpanzees is not guaranteed, the hike itself is beautiful and exciting. You can also choose a private boat safari in the afternoon, which allows you to explore the Kazinga Channel at your own pace in a smaller boat, offering a more personal experience with the wildlife. After your chosen activities, you will return to your lodge for a relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Bush Lodge – Banda (Half Board)
Middle class: Elephant Hab Lodge (Half Board)
Semi-luxury: Katara Lodge (Full Board)
Exclusive: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Full board with drinks)
Day 3: Ishasha Game Drive and Transfer to Bwindi
Start your day early with a final morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a great time to see animals before the sun gets too hot. Keep your eyes open for Cape buffaloes, elephants moving in groups, antelopes, and—if you’re lucky—lions and leopards. Though big cats are often harder to spot, the excitement of the search makes the experience even more thrilling. After the game drive, return to the lodge for breakfast and check out.
Next, you will travel south to the Ishasha sector of the park, which is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. These lions often rest in the branches of large fig trees, especially during the hot hours of the day. There is about a 70% chance of seeing them, though they can sometimes be hard to spot when they are hunting or hidden in the tall grass. If you do see them lounging in the trees, it is a truly special and unforgettable sight.
After the Ishasha game drive, you will continue your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the best places in the world for gorilla trekking. The drive offers scenic views of rolling hills and rural villages. You will arrive at your lodge in the early evening around 6:00 pm, where you can relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the exciting gorilla experience the next day. If you prefer, you may choose to go chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge instead of the sunrise game drive, but this must be arranged in advance and requires a special permit.
Accommodation Options:
Simple: Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Half Board)
Middle class: Gorilla Mist Camp (Half Board)
Semi-luxury: Haven Lodge Buhoma (Full Board)
Exclusive: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Full board with drinks)
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
After an early breakfast, you will go to the ranger station for a short briefing. A ranger will explain what to expect during the gorilla trek and share important rules to follow while in the forest. Then, with your guide, you will begin your trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The trek can take different amounts of time depending on where the gorillas are that day, and the path may go through thick forest and steep hills.
Once you find a gorilla family, you will be allowed to spend one full hour quietly watching them. You may see them feeding, resting, or playing. It is a truly unforgettable and emotional experience to be so close to these gentle giants in their natural home. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest, then begin your journey to Lake Bunyonyi.
Lake Bunyonyi, meaning “place of many little birds,” is one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda. Surrounded by terraced green hills rising up to 2,478 meters, the lake feels peaceful and magical. Its 29 small islands are scattered across the calm waters, each with its own shape and story. The views are stunning and peaceful—you could spend hours just looking at the water and the islands. In the evening, you will check into your lodge by the lake and relax after a big day.
Accommodation Options:
Middle class: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort (Full Board)
Luxury: Birdnest Resort (Full Board)
Day 5: Drive back to Entebbe
Start your day with a peaceful breakfast as you take in the beautiful views of Lake Bunyonyi and its many small green islands. The calm water and fresh morning air make it a perfect moment to relax before the long journey ahead. After breakfast, you will begin your drive back to Entebbe. The trip takes most of the day, but the changing scenery—from rolling hills to open plains—makes the drive enjoyable. Along the way, you will stop at the Equator for lunch and a short rest. This is a great chance to take photos, buy a few souvenirs, and enjoy the fun experience of standing on the line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. You will arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon or early evening. Depending on your flight time, your driver will take you straight to the airport or to your hotel. This marks the end of your unforgettable journey through Uganda’s wildlife, forests, and lakes.
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