5 Days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari
The 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari is an exceptional safari that starts and ends in Kampala. The safari will take you to the misty forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern part of Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park is famously known for harboring half of the world’s mountain gorilla population in Africa and during the Uganda safari you will get an opportunity to spend one hour with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari will also take you to Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, warthogs, lions, leopards, topi, hippos and primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
Highlights of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and departure to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. It’s a whole day journey and on the way you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will buy souvenirs and then continue the journey with en-route lunch. After lunch, you will proceed with great views of the terraced farmlands, beautiful landscape among others. Upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking,
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, you will carry packed lunch and your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the gorillas and well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will have views of animals like forest elephants, buffaloes, other primates like l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, different bird species like African harrier hawk, crowned hornbill, African green pigeon, blue headed sunbird among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, observe their behaviors, take great photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home. After the one hour encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park which is the most visited national park in Uganda. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover at Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Ishasha sector is famously known for the tree climbing lions which will be viewed lying up in acacia/fig tree branches during the game drive. Ishasha sector also harbors other animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs among others. After the game drive you will have lunch where after you will proceed the journey to Queen Elizabeth national park, upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Morning game drive/ lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise
Morning game drive,
After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive or lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains. During the game drive you will have great views of the sunrise, big four mammals which are lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, other animals like waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, views of different bird species among others. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon boat cruise,
After lunch you will drive to the landing site near Mweya safari lodge for an incredible boat cruise along Kazinga channel which is a 40km long channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. During the boat trip which lasts for about 2 hours you, will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants, warthogs drinking water along the banks, view water birds like yellow billed stork, cormorants, hornbills, African skimmer, kingfishers, fish eagles among others. You will also be able to see the fishermen along the shores preparing their fishing gears for night fishing, take beautiful pictures among others. After the boat cruise you will go for an evening game drive where you will be able to view some of the animals that you missed in the morning and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and departure to Kampala
After an early breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kyambura gorge for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in forest which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, birds, plants, colorful butterflies among others. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will meet up with your driver guide and start the journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Kampala, your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advise.
End of 5 days Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit @ $700 pp
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Park entrance fees/ game drive
- Boat cruise fee
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off in a 4WD vehicle
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
