8-Day Fly-In Gorilla & Wildlife Safari

From
USD 3983 Per Person
TOUR OVERVIEW

8-Day Fly-In Gorilla & Wildlife Safari

This 8-day fly-in safari combines the misty forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with the open savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park. On arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will be welcomed by your professional driver-guide and transferred to a comfortable hotel in Entebbe. The next morning, you will have you relax at your lodge to get acclimatized to the climate zone. On the third day, you will board a scheduled domestic flight of about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Kihihi Airstrip, followed by a scenic 1.5-hour drive to your lodge on the edge of Bwindi, where mountain gorillas live. 

Led by expert park rangers, you trek through dense rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family. After the trek, unwind at the lodge, take a guided forest walk, or visit a nearby Batwa community to learn about their ancient forest traditions. 

Leaving Bwindi, you travel about 3 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most famous park. You will find a multitude of wild wildlife there; tree-climbing lions, leopards, large herds of elephants, hippos, buffaloes, many waterbirds, and deep pink flamingos. You will enjoy a classic game drive and enjoy a boat cruise on the wildlife-filled Kazinga Channel. You will also have plenty of time to relax at your luxurious lodge.

Tour Highlights
  • Significantly shorter travel times due to domestic flights
  • The most impressive accommodations in Uganda
  • Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Search for tree-climbing lions

Ready For Your Unique Uganda Journey

From cruising on hippo-filled Kazinga Channel to standing face to face with mountain gorillas, this adventure is filled with unforgettable moments. Get in touch today and let us design your tailor-made Uganda safari.

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Create a fully personalized safari through Uganda, from tracking mountain gorillas deep in the rainforest to exploring the country’s vibrant landscapes and cultures. Together with our experienced travel experts, you will shape a tour that matches your interests, pace, and sense of adventure. Let’s craft the trip that’s truly yours

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Your itinerary Detail

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), you will be warmly welcomed by a Choose Uganda Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Entebbe. Set on the scenic shores of Lake Victoria, Entebbe is a relaxed town perfect for exploring at your own pace. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to browse local markets for souvenirs, stroll through the beautiful Entebbe Botanical Gardens, or enjoy a calming boat cruise on Lake Victoria. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after your journey or explore the town further. Additional activities and transfers can be arranged upon request.

Overnight: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa (or similar)

Included Meals: Dinner

If you are looking for a touch of luxury and calm after your flight or before your Uganda safari, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa is a perfect choice.

Today is dedicated to pure relaxation as you enjoy a full day at leisure at the stunning Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa, allowing you to fully adjust to the time zone while embracing the calm beauty of Lake Victoria. After a leisurely breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You may choose to unwind by the swimming pool with panoramic lake views, explore the lush gardens, or indulge in a soothing spa experience. Optional activities include a gentle boat ride on Lake Victoria, a relaxed round of golf on the championship course, or simply enjoying the peaceful lakeside ambiance. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the resort, followed by an unhurried afternoon of rest and rejuvenation. In the evening, savor a beautifully prepared dinner, marking the perfect end to a tranquil and refreshing day.

Accommodation: Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa (Standard Deluxe Room)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Entebbe Airport for your morning scheduled flight on a light aircraft to Kihihi Airstrip, a scenic journey of just over one hour. Upon arrival, you will continue by road through local villages and along mountain roads to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive takes approximately 90 minutes. Bwindi is considered one of East Africa’s richest ecosystems, hosting over 120 mammal species, 345 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and 160 tree species. Most importantly, the park protects an estimated half of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas, making it a site of global conservation importance.

Optional Activities:

Buhoma Community Village Walk – Support the local community while exploring the village on foot. Highlights include a visit to a traditional healer and a banana brewery.

Bwindi Forest Walk – Accompanied by a Uganda Wildlife Authority guide, hike the forest trails to enjoy the rich flora and wildlife. A popular option is the 3–4-hour hike to the waterfall.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge or similar

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Buhoma Lodge

Today will be one of the most unforgettable moments of your life. Gorilla trekking is a true bucket-list experience that nature lovers from around the world dream of. After breakfast at your lodge, you will head to the park offices for a briefing from expert local guides. At 8:00 am, you will begin the trek along the designated trails within the impenetrable forest in search of these majestic mountain gorillas. Bwindi is home to about 500 gorillas, nearly half of the world’s remaining population, making this one of the most significant wildlife encounters on the planet.

Trekking can be challenging, with walks ranging from 45 minutes to eight hours, often at high altitude and in warm conditions. But the effort is richly rewarded when you finally meet the gorillas—watching them, spending time with them, and photographing them as you look into their expressive brown eyes is a life-changing experience that only Bwindi can offer.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

While the gorillas are the highlight, you may also spot other wildlife along the way, including Black-fronted and Yellow-backed Duiker, Guereza, L’Hoest’s, Blue and Red-tailed Monkeys, Chimpanzees, and several squirrel species such as Fire-footed Rope, Carruthers’ Mountain, Ruwenzori Sun, and Red-legged Sun Squirrels. After the trek, you will return to the starting point to receive your gorilla trekking certificate. You will then enjoy a packed picnic lunch before returning to the lodge for relaxation or exploring the surrounding Bwindi community.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you will drive for about 3 to 4 hours from the green mountains of Bwindi to the golden savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, you will pass through the park and may spot wildlife en route—sometimes even the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha lounging in the branches. You will arrive at your lodge in time for a late lunch. After a short rest, you will head out for an afternoon game drive to explore the impressive landscapes of “Queen,” as locals and safari enthusiasts affectionately call it. Founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, it was renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen-Elizabeth-National-Park-Ishasha_Uganda_20110805_11-2.webp

Queen Elizabeth National Park covers 1,978 square kilometers, stretching from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest, connected by the Kazinga Channel. It is Uganda’s most visited park, and for good reason. Its diverse habitats include sprawling grasslands, moist forests, fertile wetlands, and beautiful crater lakes set in rolling hills. This incredible variety supports 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species, making it a photographer’s paradise. After your first game drive, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and dinner before a restful night’s sleep.

Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will head out for a morning game drive through the Kasenyi Plains, where you can spot some of Africa’s most impressive wildlife. Keep an eye out for elephants, buffalo, kob, bushbuck, hippos, giant forest hogs, warthogs, Nile crocodiles, spotted hyenas, leopards, and many smaller creatures. This area is not only rich in wildlife but also one of the most scenic parts of the park, especially in the golden morning light.

Bird lovers will also be thrilled, with chances to see species such as shoebill, African hobby, Rüppell’s vulture, bateleur, brown snake eagle, peregrine falcon, grey kestrel, African skimmer, black bee-eater, great blue turaco, great white pelican, papyrus gonolek, Pel’s fishing owl, and many more.

After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, you will head to Mweya Jetty for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, starting at 2:00 pm. This is a must-do experience, offering close-up views of hundreds of hippos and buffalo, while elephants often linger along the shoreline. The channel is also home to numerous waterbirds and Nile crocodiles, creating a truly unforgettable wildlife spectacle from the comfort of the boat.

After the cruise, you will enjoy a short game drive along the channel track as you return to the lodge for relaxation and dinner. After such an exciting day, you will be ready for a well-deserved night’s rest.

Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is dedicated to exploring Uganda’s most diverse national park. You will begin the day with a morning game drive, where you can spot wildlife while taking in the park’s stunning landscapes.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is as much about scenery as it is about animals. One of the most beautiful routes is the Crater Lake Drive, where you pass ancient volcanic craters filled with deep blue water. The views are wide and open, and the sky feels endless. This drive is especially magical in the afternoon, when the light is perfect for photos and a sundowner.

The afternoon is free for you to relax and enjoy your lodge, which features a swimming pool. If you prefer to stay active, you can choose to take a second boat safari.

Other optional activities include:

Predator Tracking:

Join a special morning safari led by a park biologist. This unique experience allows you to learn about lion prides and leopards through scientific observation. Lions (and leopards when spotted) are tracked using radio collars, ensuring you will encounter lions, and the biologist can take you off the usual trails for a closer view. This activity supports ongoing research in the park.

Kyambura Gorge Trekking:

Trek through the spectacular Kyambura Gorge, an 11-kilometer chasm cutting through the savannah. Inside the gorge lies a lush tropical rainforest along the Kyambura River, home to snakes, chimpanzees, and other wildlife. Rangers aim to spot chimpanzees, but sightings are not guaranteed (about a 50% chance), so the hike itself is a highlight. The trail includes some scrambling and climbing, making it a thrilling adventure.

Accommodation: Elephant Plains Lodge (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, your driver-guide will transfer you to Kasese Airstrip, where you will say farewell before boarding your scheduled domestic flight back to Entebbe. The scenic flight lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, saving you a long road journey of at least 7 hours. Along the way, you will enjoy stunning aerial views of Uganda’s landscapes, including the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Victoria. For many travellers, the flight is a memorable highlight of the trip. Upon arrival in Entebbe, if your international flight departs later in the evening, our driver-guide will meet you and transfer you to a nearby hotel. You can relax, freshen up in a reserved day room, and enjoy lunch or dinner at your leisure. (Day room and meals are at your own expense, but we can assist with bookings if needed.) Later, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your onward journey home.

Accommodation: Not Included (End of Tour)

Included Meals: Breakfast

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PRICES FOR THIS PRIVATE TRIP

The tour is costed basing on luxury  accommodation options and different travel seasons. We would be happy to discuss whether the accommodations align well with your wishes and combine different levels where desirable. This safari is price  is per person. The low season rates apply for March, April, May, and November. You can contact us for more information.

Low season Price

  • 1 person: US$ 7166
  • 2 People: US$ 5124
  • 3 People: US$ 4894
  • 4 People: US$ 4441
  • 5 People: US$ 4439
  • 6 People: US$ 4213
  • 7 People: US$ 3983

High Season price

  • 1 person: US$8205
  • 2 People: US$ 5739
  • 3 People: US$5632
  • 4 People: US$ 5542
  • 5 People: US$ 5117
  • 6 People: US$ 4810
  • 7 People: US$ 4716

What Is INCLUDED

  • Airport meet and greet on arrival
  • All transfers as per the itinerary
  • 2-night accommodation in Entebbe
  • 2-night accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • 3-night in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Meals as indicated
  • Domestic flights (Entebbe–Kihihi and Kasese–Entebbe)
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • One gorilla trekking permit per person
  • Transport in a 4x4 safari land cruiser with a pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
  • Park entry fees

what is NOT Included

  • International flights to/from Uganda
  • Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Optional excursions or activities not pre-booked
  • Uganda visa costs
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips and gratuities

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Crafted By Ssonko Rashidu

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8 Day Fly-In Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari