5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park & Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY.

Day 1: Fly to Bwindi and engage in an afternoon optional activity

On the first day of this safari, you will wake up very early in the morning at 6:00 am to ready yourself for pick up at 6:30 am by one of our safari guides who will transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Bwindi which departs from Entebbe International airport at 7:45 am.

During this 1 hour and 45 minutes flight, you will be able to have a bird’s eye view of Uganda’s ever-changing landscape as you get further away from the airport.

As soon as you take off, you will be able to see the serene waters Lake Victoria as well as the surrounding hills near this lake. As you get nearer to Kihihi, you will realize a change in topography as the hills here become more pronounced and these are majorly covered with thick tropical forests and this will definitely make it known to you that you are now over the Bwindi forest.

Upon landing at Kihihi, airstrip, you will be welcomed by our guide who is stationed here and he will transfer you to your already booked safari lodge that is beautifully tucked away in the dense tropical jungle of Bwindi for check-in.

Upon your arrival at the lodge, you will be given a sweet and warm welcome from the highly experienced lodge staff with broad and genuine smiles a true signature of Ugandan hospitality. The lodge staff personnel will lead you to an elegant room with exquisite decor using several African art pieces that will make you have an African living experience.

After you have fully settled in, later you will be fetched later on so that you get to dine on a sumptuous Ugandan meal that has been cooked using freshly handpicked organic Ugandan ingredients by a team of chefs. In the afternoon, you can choose to engage in any of the numerous possible optional activities here such as a nature stroll as you venture into the forest to encounter some of its other inhabitants except the gorillas.

If you have an undying passion for birds, then just grab your pair of binoculars and venture into Bwindi jungle for a birding expedition as this jungle is home to over 350 bird species with 23 Albertine rift endemics.

You can also decide to engage in a community walk and this gives you an opportunity to encounter the Batwa people who have managed to live side by side with these incredible mountain beasts for over 1000 years in perfect peace and harmony. At the end of this activity, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

 Having an aerial view of Uganda’s changing landscape will be the highlight of the day

Accommodation: –

• Top-Notch / Exclusive: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
• Luxury/ Upmarket: Haven Lodge Buhoma

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Flight distance &time: Approx. 520 or 1-2 hours

Activities & Services

• Fly to Bwindi
• Equator experience

Day 2: Do gorilla trekking and have an evening village walk to the Batwa / Bakiga

This is a great day that will mark your re-union with your long lost cousins – the mountain gorillas. You will gather at the respective park headquarters for briefing in the morning at 8 am where you are also allocated the respective gorilla families to track. With your armed ranger in the lead, embark on a trek, searching for your allocated gorilla family.

Along the way keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for several of the 350 bird species that are found in this park that might come your way, you will also be in a position to see some of the other primates here such as the Black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, different species of lizards such as the 3 horned chameleon and many more.

You are to be treated to the impressive bird songs and beautiful flowers through the experience. The encounter tends to take 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla’s movements and one hour is availed to you to have a direct touch with the gorillas.

Upon approaching gorillas, their reaction is not predictable as it can include them giving you a courteous welcome, minding less about you, and charging against you. However, as a result of habituation, Mountain gorillas are always welcoming with the Silverback beating a little of his chest to demonstrate his might and also welcoming you to the group.

The young gorillas are very playful and are at times not aware of the 7m rule thus can try to draw closer to even touching on your body – save it by taking some steps away to observe the distance. You are not limited in any way to ask as many questions about gorillas and their habitats along with taking pictures so long as you have the opportunity to do so.

After your one hour with the gorillas, return to the starting point and connect to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening engage in a Batwa or Bakiga village walk and this allows you to have an up-close encounter with these people to have an understanding of their daily lives.

Being in close contact with Mountain Gorillas will be the highlight of the day.

Accommodation: –

• Top-Notch / Exclusive: Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge
• Luxury/ Upmarket: Haven Lodge Buhoma

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Gorilla trekking
• Batwa/ Bakiga community walk

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi. Do a game drive in the Ishasha sector

You will wake up early in the morning at 6:30 am for breakfast then get comfortable in our 4×4 safari car then begin your 2-3 hours journey towards the Ishasha sector which is the Southern section of Queen Elizabeth Park.

On arrival here, you will engage in a stunning game drive in search of the tree-climbing lions that have made this park and particularly this region a must-visit place for numerous Africa safari adventurers who are interested in having encounters with these rather unique lions as they usually find them taking a mid-morning rest while lodging in between the tree branches.

After your game drive which lasts between 3-4 hours, transfer to a convenient lodge in this park sector for your lunch break which also helps you stretch your body for a while before you then embark on the remaining part of your journey to your lodge in the Northern side of Queen Elizabeth Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

A sighting of the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector logged in between tree branches is the highlight of the day

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Safari Lodge / Mazike Valley Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive distance & time: Approx. 160-240km or 7-9 hours

Activities & Services: –

• Game drive in the Ishasha sector
• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 4: Do a morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise & an evening game drive

On the fourth day of this safari, in the morning you will be up very early, grab a quick coffee and then head out on a 3 to 4 hour morning game drive before it gets too hot, and to catch some of the nocturnal species returning to their dens or burrows.

You will watch the sunrise as you search for wild game, then have a short tea and coffee break to stretch the legs and continue the drive. You will soon agree that this is what a real safari should be like: excellent game viewing with a rich diversity of wildlife, stunning landscapes, and unspoiled by mass tourism in the Kasenyi sector which is filled with a wide variety of animals such as 4 out of the 5 big five mammals which include lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, large herds of African bush elephants, Topis and many other antelope species.

Retreat from the encounter which tends to take 2 – 5 hours, settle for lunch after which you transfer to Mweya jetty for an afternoon Kazinga Channel boat cruise which is the highlight of the day as it is considered the best boat cruise experience on the African savanna plains.

During this boat cruise, you have the opportunity to sail on the tranquil but turbid waters of the Kazinga channel a 40 km long channel that connects Lake George to Lake Edward. This cruise offers you an opportunity to see at close range the highest concentration of water submerged Hippos which is close to 5000 individuals and Nile crocodiles that are seen basking along the shores of the channel.

If you are interested in birding, then this boat cruise in a good place for you to be because it offers you the chance to several of the waterbird species that constitute a big part of the 600 bird species that are found in this park alone.

The cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching, and game viewing. You retreat from the boat cruise and engage in an evening game drive along the Channel track to explore more wild game in their evening moments. Continue to the lodge for overnight.

 Today’s highlight be will the incredible boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Accommodation: –

• Luxury/ Upmarket: Mweya Safari Lodge / Katara Safari Lodge / Mazike Valley Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Activities & Services: –

• Morning game drive in the Kasenyi sector
• Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Other optional activities you can choose to do on this day include: –

• Night game drive experience in Queen Elizabeth park
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest/ Kyambura Gorge
• Bush Dinner
• Hot air ballooning experience early in the morning at 5:30 am
• Birding
• Cultural encounters

Day 5: Drive/ Fly from Queen Elizabeth National Park back to Kampala/ Entebbe.

The final day of this safari is quite relaxed and it begins with a laid-back breakfast served at 7:30 am, you will then pack your bags, check out and commence on the 6-7 hours fascinating road drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala which lies 417km away. You can also choose to fly back to Entebbe and if that is the case, you will transfer to Mweya airstrip at 9:30 am and embark on a 1-hour return flight to Entebbe.

However, if you decide to drive back to Entebbe (which is most recommended), you will enjoy exciting road stops at different points of the journey aimed at giving you an opportunity to have a break from this journey to allow you to stretch your body and also have an interaction with the local people.

The first stop will come at the eastern edge of the western arm of the great East African rift valley and while here you will have impressive views of Queen Elizabeth wilderness which lies in the valley floor of the rift valley and while here, you can stop to have a photo moment.

You will then enjoy a scenic drive through the tea plantations of Bushenyi as you proceed to Mbarara. On your arrival at Mbarara, you will have another stop at the Igongo country hotel for a lunch break. While having this sumptuous traditional lunch buffet, if you’re a foodie, you can take your taste buds on a culinary experience as you ask for the Eshabwe dish which is a delicacy in this part of Uganda.

After having your lunch break, you will proceed and visit the 1520AD solar eclipse monument in Biharwe and listen to its to the intriguing history behind this piece of artistic mastery and if you like, you can hike to the top of Biharwe hill where the monument and enjoy the sweeping views of the flat plains of Mbarara region.

You will have a stop at the Equator point in Kayabwe and have another photo moment here.  A final stop will be at Mpambire drum center where you will have an encounter with local artists as they manufacture a wide variety of local musical instruments such as the drums, African chairs.

You will now continue with the rest of your journey back to Kampala or Entebbe for your late evening departure flight back home or check-in at the lodge depending on your travel plans.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive distance & time: Approx. 417km or 7-8 hours

Activities & services: –

• Equator experience
• Transfer to Kampala

• Flights will be communicated to you upon booking depending on availability at that time. 

END of the 5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip

5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip – SAFARI INCLUSIONS:-

   Full-time English professional safari driver-guide

   4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with pop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C

   Full board accommodation

   Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permit fees

   Boat cruise fees

   Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle

   Bottled water

5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip – SAFARI EXCLUSIONS:-

•    International &domestic flight fees
•    Visa fees
•    Laundry services
•    Items of personal nature
•    Gratuities and tips
•    Other beverages/ drinks
•    Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above

5 Days Uganda Luxury Safari Trip – GETTING THERE

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