This four-day tour combines gorilla trekking with a wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, ideal for those with limited time who still wish to experience both the mountain gorillas and Uganda’s Big Five. Following the gorilla trek, we will travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a safari, where we will search for tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, leopards, and buffalo, among other wildlife. The itinerary also includes a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, a crossing of the Equator, and opportunities to enjoy the scenic vistas along the route. In addition, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a variety of other primates and boasts over 600 bird species. This private transfer safari is flexible and can start and end in Entebbe or Kigali, accommodating any number of participants.
Tour Highlights.
4-Day Uganda Gorilla Trek and Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Experience Bwindi Mountain Gorillas along with a safari adventure looking for Lions, Hippos, Elephants, Buffalo, Hyenas, Leopards, and more.
Brief Tour Itinerary
- Day 1: Begin with a meet and greet in Kampala or Entebbe at 07:00 am, followed by a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the sanctuary for Uganda’s mountain gorillas. You will make a stop at the Equator for photos and enjoy lunch in Mbarara, taking in the sights along the route.
- Day 2: Experience the majestic mountain gorillas through a memorable trekking expedition in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Day 3: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park while participating in wildlife safaris in the Ishasha Sector where you can spot the famous Tree-climbing Lions, and enjoy a boat trip along the Kazinga Channel for an excellent game viewing experience.
- Day 4: Enjoy early morning game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park before returning to Entebbe Airport or Kampala, concluding your tour.
Detailed Tour itinerary.
Day 1: Begin your Uganda Gorilla trek tour with a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the home of the mountain gorillas.
Your journey will start with a meet-and-greet with our local guide in Kampala, Entebbe, or Kigali at 7:00 AM, prior to embarking on the adventure towards southwestern Uganda where Bwindi Impenetrable National Park awaits.
Our aim is to maximize your experience during these four days in Uganda. As we travel to the gorillas’ habitat, the tour guide will highlight various points of interest. Although the drive typically takes around six hours, it may extend due to multiple sightseeing opportunities. We will also pass through Lake Mburo National Park, enhancing your scenic experience.
Throughout the journey, you will come across traditional communities engaged in drum-making, which may pique your interest in their craftsmanship. The picturesque, verdant farmlands filled with bananas, coffee, tea, pineapples, and local fruit markets present a beautiful backdrop.
We’ll make a quick stop at the Equator, where you can prepare your cameras for memorable photographs. Here, you have the unique chance to straddle both hemispheres. Your guide can share fascinating experiments that demonstrate Earth’s movements and their implications.
We expect to reach Bwindi by approximately 4 PM. After checking into your accommodation, conveniently located near the Bwindi Park headquarters, you can unwind in the serene jungles of Africa as you anticipate the exciting adventures that await you the following day.
Accommodation options for Uganda Gorilla Trek (all inclusive of full board).
Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Four Gorillas Lodge
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Gorilla Conservation Camp.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Waking up to the sounds of the African jungle is a truly unforgettable experience for many participants in the gorilla trekking expedition. Nestled among at least 310 species of butterflies, 51 reptiles, 88 moths, and an impressive array of 120 mammal species, including 10 primates, the morning chorus becomes a memorable start to the day. Typically, the sun rises around 7 am, providing a perfect backdrop for breakfast as you enjoy the warmth of the sun. Your guide will discuss the day’s exciting activities, setting the stage for an encounter with the majestic mountain gorillas.
After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the Bwindi Park office, where all gorilla tracking endeavors begin. You will receive a pre-trek briefing that covers essential details about the mountain gorillas’ ecology and conservation, as well as important rules and regulations for tracking both the gorillas and other species within Bwindi. You will then be assigned to a tracking group, typically not exceeding eight individuals, as mountain gorillas live in social structures called families. Bwindi is home to approximately 19 gorilla families, and each family can be visited by a maximum of eight people for a one-hour encounter. To locate the gorillas, trekkers usually follow signs from their previous day’s location, navigating through the dense jungle.
The duration of your gorilla tracking experience may vary from one hour to seven hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Along the trek, lead trackers will encourage breaks, allowing you to catch your breath while observing other wildlife in Bwindi, which may include forest elephants, buffalo, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and baboons. Additionally, Bwindi is a prime location for birdwatching, with 350 bird species, including seven that are listed by the IUCN and 90% of Albertine rift endemics—species rarely seen elsewhere in East Africa.
Accompanied by guides and gorilla trackers, we trek through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes in search of a mountain gorilla family. Although the hike can be physically demanding and lengthy, any discomfort quickly fades when you see a magnificent silverback. When the gorillas are spotted, you will be led to a distance of about six meters from them and allowed to spend an hour viewing these incredible creatures, gazing into their expressive eyes.
Uganda Gorilla Trek Accommodation options available (all on a full board basis)
Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Four Gorillas Lodge
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Gorilla Conservation Camp.
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector & Tree-climbing Lions
Following your gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi, you will embark on an exhilarating two-day safari experience in Uganda. Departing from your accommodation in Bwindi, we will travel through picturesque and lush savannah landscapes to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s premier wildlife sanctuary.
Our first destination will be the Ishasha sector, located in the southern part of the park. This area is more secluded and less frequented by visitors, offering a unique sense of privacy. Ishasha boasts a high density of wildlife, including some of Uganda’s largest elephant herds that migrate between Uganda and the DRC. A key attraction for many visitors is the unique sight of tree-climbing lions. Your guide will make efforts to ensure you have the chance to observe these lions up close, adapting the schedule depending on travel time. While lions typically do not climb trees, those in the Ishasha sector have developed this unusual behavior, particularly during warmer hours of the day.
Next, we head north within Queen Elizabeth National Park to enjoy a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This 40-kilometer waterway divides the park into two halves and is renowned for its 80-kilometer shoreline, which attracts diverse populations of birds, reptiles, and mammals. A boat ride on the Kazinga Channel offers one of the most memorable ways to experience the park’s wildlife. You will have the chance to see hippos surfacing just feet from the boat, along with buffaloes resting along the shoreline. The banks of the channel are also home to an array of bird species, such as pink-backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, and saddle-billed storks, among others.
Up-market/Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge
Mid-range or moderate facility: Buffalo Safari Lodge | Bush Lodge (rooms) | Enganzi Lodge
Budget price: Bush Lodge (tents) | Simba Safari Camp | Pumba Cottages.
Day 4: Safari Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Departure Drive to Entebbe
We will begin our day with an early morning game drive in the northern region of the park, specifically in the Kasenyi Plains. This area features a network of game trails marked by stone markers, winding through grasslands and scruffy thickets, which can make wildlife observation somewhat difficult. However, a significant number of animals inhabit this area, and we will proceed at a slow pace, carefully scanning the surroundings for sightings.
As we traverse the expansive plains, we can anticipate spotting a variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, and solitary buffalo. This period is particularly favorable for witnessing the lions in action, thanks to the abundant Uganda kobs populating the landscape. We are well-positioned to observe many animals up close.
Departure from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala.
After enjoying breakfast at our lodge, we will embark on the approximately 5-hour journey to Kampala via Mubende. This route showcases stunning views and picturesque rolling plantations, highlighting some of Uganda’s finest scenery. Depending on our available time, we might explore the markets in Kampala, known for crafts and souvenirs, before either checking into our hotel or being transferred to the airport.
Included
- Accommodations for the gorilla trek as specified in the itinerary (full board basis)
- One gorilla permit per participant
- Sightseeing activities as detailed in the travel plan
- National park fees
- Entry charges
- Airport shuttle services
- Ground transportation via private 4WD vehicles
- Additional guides or porters when necessary.
Excluded
- Airfare and departure taxes
- Travel documents (visas)
- Travel and health insurance
- Optional activities
- Charges for excess baggage
- Tips and gratuities for guides and accommodation staff
- Laundry services
- Beverages aside from mineral water in the vehicle and during meals
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, postage, etc.
