Your 6 day Uganda gorilla trekking and wildlife adventures will take you through 2 (two) major tourist activities-game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park western and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park southwestern Uganda. The game drives at Queen Elizabeth National Park will reward you with spectacular views of the leopards, Uganda Kobs, lions including the tree-climbing lions, waterbucks, buffaloes and many more. This protected area is also famous for its 620 distinct bird species. A trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park will reward you with amazing experiences with some of the 400 rare mountain gorillas that thrive within this park and 11 habituated families are set for tourism purposes and there are 4 main trailheads (Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga) for you to track each day.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Departure from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 2: Game drive in the morning at Kasenyi sector and afternoon boat cruise along Kazinga channel-Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 3: Full day drive along Ishasha area-Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 6: Return to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Departure from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will have breakfast early in the morning and after, you will set off from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park approximately 417 kilometers, around 7 hours’ drive along the stunning country side landscapes of Uganda prior your stopover at Equator at Kayabwe about 77 kilometers off Kampala capital city. The Equator site offers the most remarkable views for you to take the most perfect photographs and the point divide between the northern and southern hemispheres. After, you will continue through Lukaya the most popular site for Muchomo vendors and Masaka town prior reaching Lyantonde and later to Igongo cultural center approximately 12 kilometers to Mbarara for a traditional meal at the popular Kahwa Kanuzire. When you get done with your lunch, you will embark on your journey via the spectacular Bunyaruguru crater and Kalinzu forest and then check in at the lodge of your choice for dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (midrange) or Pumba Safari Cottages (budget).
Day 2: Game drive in the morning and afternoon launch cruise along the Kazinga channel.
Following breakfast early in the morning in your respective lodge, you will embark on your long awaited game drive to Kasenyi area to look out for the 4 of the big 5 game in Africa as well as other wildlife species. You will be able to spot out lions including the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, side stripped jackals, water bucks, Uganda Kobs, spotted hyenas and many more. After, you will be at Mweya peninsular for your lunch and after, you will join the rest of the visitors at the Mweya jetty for your exciting afternoon launch cruise at 2:00pm along the Kazinga channel for you to sight at the hippos, Nile crocodiles, and bird species like yellow billed stork, African skimmer and many more. Kazinga channel links Lake Edward and George and it features as the major drinking spot for numerous wildlife species in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will spend at least 2 hours in this experience and you will return while driving through the channel track as you spot out some of the wildlife species and then back to your lodge for dinner and night stay at Mweya Safari Lodge (luxury), Enganzi Game Lodge (midrange) or Pumba Safari Cottages (basic).
Day 3: Full day drive along Ishasha area-Queen Elizabeth National Park
You will have breakfast early in the morning in your respective lodge and after, drive to Ishasha sector approximately 75 kilometers off north of Queen Elizabeth National Park through the spectacular savanna landscapes. In the southern side of the park, you will set off for wildlife viewing to look out for the rare tree climbing lions which in most cases relax on the branches of the fig trees. Besides, you will also have a chance to look out for other wildlife species like buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kobs and others. After you will return to your respective lodge where you will have dinner and night stay at Ishasha Wilderness Camp (up market), Ishasha Jungle Lodge (midrange) or Savanna Resort (Basic).
Day 4 Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and after set off to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via the stunning countryside to districts of Rukungiri and Kanungu. You will have a stop over around the rural areas to discover more about coffee farming process and traditional ways that the locals used to plant coffee the previous days. After you will drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where you will have your dinner and night stay at Chameleon Hill Lodge (up market), Gorilla Mist Camp (midrange) and Broadbill Forest Camp (Basic).
Day 5: Gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and connect to Lake Bunyonyi in the evening
Following breakfast early in the morning, you will join the rest of the visitors at the park headquarters in your respective tracking area for briefing by the park official and after, you will set off to the trailhead and begin your long awaited adventure via thick forest with steep slopes and valleys and streams flowing. Besides catching a glimpse at the rare mountain gorillas alone, you will also have a chance to spot out most of the bird species. You will spend only one hour while exploring the general behavior of the mountain gorillas, take photos as many as possible. This adventure usually takes about 1 to 8 hours but it all depends on your hiking speed, nature of the habitat and location of habituated family that will be assigned to you. After, you will connect to Lake Bunyonyi one of Uganda’s most spectacular Lakes that features over 29 dotted Islands for sun views of the Lake, myriad of Islands and the adjacent hills and then check in at Birdnest @ Lake Bunyonyi Resort (luxury), Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort (standard) or Byoona Amagara Island Retreat and others.
Day 6: Return to Kampala
Following breakfast early in the morning in your respective lodge, you will drive back to Kampala approximately 437kilometers nearly seven hours’ drive via the stunning landscapes that the southwestern side of Uganda offers for the world. You will have a stopover at Igongo Cultural Center for lunch and Equator crossing at Kayabwe and then drive back to Kampala and this will mark the end of your six days safari in Uganda.
Safari inclusions
- Gorilla permit
- Game drive and launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Full board accommodation
- Bottle of water
- Transport
- Professional driver
- Entrance fees in the park
Safari exclusions
- Laundry services
- General tips for guides, drivers, waiters
- Other beverages
- International flights
- Visas
- Domestic flights
- Optional activity fees
