5 Days Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park & Bwindi Gorilla Safari
5 Days / 4 Nights Days
Entebbe International Airport, Uganda → Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
Wildlife
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
Five days is enough to see both of western Uganda’s headline attractions, savannah wildlife and mountain gorillas, without taking too much time off work. You cross the Uganda Equator on your first full day and stop for lunch in Mbarara before reaching Queen Elizabeth National Park in time for an evening game drive, when the big cats and plains game are most active. The next morning an early game drive and a Kazinga Channel cruise let you look at the same park from land and water, with hippos, buffalo, elephants and over 550 recorded bird species. You then drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, and reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that shelters around half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Two nights at Mahogany Springs Lodge give you a full gorilla day with a village walk in Buhoma, and you can add a Serengeti, Maasai Mara or Zanzibar extension to build a longer trip.
Safari Highlights
- An evening game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park on arrival day, looking for the big cats and a wide range of savannah wildlife
- An early morning game drive in search of lion, hippo, buffalo, leopard, spotted hyena, elephant, antelope and the elusive giant forest hog
- A 1.5-hour launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, believed to hold one of Africa’s largest concentrations of hippos, with more than 550 bird species recorded
- A game drive through the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions
- An unforgettable hour with a mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in a group of no more than eight visitors
- A village walk through Buhoma to meet the people around Bwindi and support the local community
- A stop at the Uganda Equator on the way to the park, with lunch in Mbarara
Destinations to Travel
Kampala · Uganda Equator · Mbarara · Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya, Kazinga Channel, Ishasha) · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Buhoma) · Entebbe
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival at Entebbe Airport
When you land at Entebbe Airport, your guide gives you a warm welcome and takes you to your hotel in Kampala for the night, a transfer of about one hour. It’s an easy first evening to rest before the long drive west.
Day 2 — Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Evening Game Drive
After breakfast at 7:00am you set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a few stopovers along the way, including the Uganda Equator for photographs and lunch in Mbarara before you reach the park. On arrival you check in at your lodge and then head out for an evening game drive, looking for the cats and a wide range of savannah wildlife. You return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day 3 — Queen Elizabeth Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise, Transfer to Bwindi
At 6:00am you take an early game drive with high expectations of seeing lion, hippo, buffalo, leopard, spotted hyena, elephant, antelope and the elusive giant forest hog, then return to your lodge for breakfast. At 11:00am you board a launch for a 1.5-hour cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward to Lake George. It is believed to hold one of Africa’s biggest concentrations of hippos, and animals come to the water’s edge to drink, so the cruise is an excellent platform for photography. More than 550 bird species have been recorded here, including great white and pink-backed pelicans, great and long-tailed cormorants, open-billed storks, African jacana and malachite and pied kingfishers. You return to the lodge for lunch, then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions, with a short game drive before you continue. On arrival you check in and spend the night at Mahogany Springs Lodge.
Day 4 — Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi and Community Village Walk
After an early breakfast you drive to the park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger guides at 7:30am, then begin your gorilla trek at 8:00am through steeply forested, beautiful landscape along several animal trails. Some of the terrain is steep and strenuous, but watching gorillas undisturbed in their natural habitat is a reward that nothing else matches. No more than eight people may visit any gorilla family on any given day, so the encounter is intimate, and once you reach the gorillas you have an unforgettable hour to spend with them. Waterproof ankle shoes or good athletic shoes are recommended, along with thick long pants (not lightweight khakis) to protect your legs from the underbrush, heavy long socks pulled up over the pants to guard against stinging nettles and ants, sturdy gardening gloves and a rain cover for your camera (a plastic bag or shower cap can work). After the trek you return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you take a village walk to Buhoma, a great chance to meet the people who live around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and a unique way to support the local community. Spend the evening relaxing and trading stories with fellow adventurers.
Day 5 — Bwindi to Kampala and Entebbe, Departure
After an early breakfast you begin the drive to Kampala and Entebbe, with lunch en route. Depending on your flight time out of Entebbe, you are taken to the airport to check in for your outbound flight. The journey is long, around 9 to 10 hours, so if you’d prefer to skip the road you may opt to fly back to Entebbe on a domestic flight from Kihihi, with two options, one departing at 10:55am and arriving at 11:55am and another departing at 2:05pm and arriving at 3:55pm. On arrival in Entebbe you’re transferred to the airport or connect with your onward flight.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- All Services as specified in the itinerary
- All private transfers
- Accommodation and meals as detailed in the itinerary based on double/Twin/Single room sharing
- Private 4x4 Luxury safari Land Cruiser with popup roof for Game Viewing & Fuel for the whole trip
- Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
- 1 Gorilla Permit per person in Bwindi
- All park entry fees for all the parks
- Bwindi Community Visit
- Entrance to all sites indicated
- Game drive in Queen Elizabeth and Ishasha
- Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel Queen Elizabeth
- Drinking Water per day
- All local taxes and levies
- Amref Evacuation Insurance Cover
Rate Excludes
- Personal expenses & Tips
- Meals and drinks where they are not indicated
- Air tickets both domestic and International
- Covid Tests
- Visas
- Personal Insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and others not mentioned above
- Optional Activities
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and Uganda’s general seasonality. The drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, are usually the easiest for gorilla trails and the long road days at either end of this safari, and game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park is also comfortable then. The wetter months of March to May and October to November can leave forest paths muddy and slippery, but they bring fewer visitors, lush landscapes and excellent birding on the Kazinga Channel, especially from around November to April when migratory species join the residents. Gorilla permits are limited, so book well ahead whichever season you choose, and for the best overall conditions aim for June to September or December to February. You can read more on the Uganda Wildlife Authority site.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it take?
The safari starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and runs for 5 days and 4 nights, with no border crossings. You spend your first night in Kampala, then travel west to Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi before the return journey to Entebbe on Day 5.
Do I need to book gorilla permits and accommodation in advance?
Yes. Gorilla permits and accommodation are subject to availability at the time of booking, so both need to be booked and paid for in advance. Because the number of permits is limited, it’s best to enquire as early as possible once you have your dates.
What is gorilla tracking in Bwindi like, and what should I wear?
On Day 4, after a ranger briefing at 7:30am, you begin trekking at 8:00am through steep, forested terrain, and once you find the gorillas you spend one hour with them. No more than eight people visit any family each day. Wear waterproof ankle shoes or good athletic shoes, thick long pants and heavy socks pulled over them, and bring sturdy gardening gloves and a rain cover for your camera. You can read more on the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park page.
What will we see in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
With an evening game drive on Day 2 and an early morning drive on Day 3, you look for lion, leopard, hippo, buffalo, spotted hyena, elephant, antelope and the giant forest hog. The Kazinga Channel cruise adds hippos, elephants and birdlife from the water. Sightings can’t be guaranteed on any given day, but the mix of land and water makes it one of Uganda’s richest wildlife areas. You can find park details on the Queen Elizabeth National Park page.
How long is the drive back to Entebbe, and can we fly instead?
The drive from Bwindi to Entebbe on Day 5 takes around 9 to 10 hours, with lunch en route. If you’d rather avoid the long road transfer, you can opt for a domestic flight from Kihihi to Entebbe, with two departure options on the day, and then connect with your onward flight.
Can this safari be extended?
Yes. Many guests extend this Uganda trip with a Serengeti in Tanzania, a Maasai Mara safari in Kenya or a Zanzibar beach holiday. Contact our team and we can plan the extension around your dates and budget.