5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
The 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari is a well crafted safari package that allows you to experience Uganda’s Wildlife and the endangered mountain gorillas. This 5 Days Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari Uganda combines two of Uganda’s popular safari destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, to allow you to experience the best of Uganda in the shortest time possible. For travelers with only about one week for a safari, the 5-Day Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari is the best option. This 5 day Uganda safari combines traditional wildlife safari experiences like safari game drives across the savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park and boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel with the unique gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the major highlights of an African safari, and a must include in your bucket list during your visit. Unlike the popular wildlife safari game drives that are done on customized safari vehicles, the mountain gorilla trekking/gorilla tracking is done on foot. Mountain gorillas live in dense and impenetrable forests that are only accessible or possible to explore on foot. The experience usually brings you closer to nature as you’ll be able to navigate the forest on foot, witnessing its biodiversity up close. After mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you’ll travel to the second largest protected area in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park.
During your time at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you’ll enjoy game drives in the park for an opportunity to witness the different savanna wildlife species in the park. You’ll also enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway that connects Lake George and Lake Edward. The Kazinga Channel is a popular wildlife sightseeing area thanks to its impressive numbers of wildlife species, including large schools of hippos and crocodiles. This 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari therefore allows you to witness both wildlife and mountain gorillas during a Uganda Trip/Uganda Holiday Tour. Book this safari tour with Acacia Safaris Limited and experience the best of Uganda.
Detailed 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Your adventure begins in the morning with a pick-up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe by your professional safari driver-guide. After a short briefing about the safari, you will begin your journey southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The journey takes you through some of Uganda’s most scenic countryside. As you leave Entebbe behind, the landscape gradually changes from urban surroundings to open countryside, agricultural communities, rolling hills and traditional homesteads. You’ll have a stopover at Mbarara City, where you’ll enjoy lunch before proceeding with your drive to Bwindi.
You’ll arrive in Bwindi in the late afternoon and proceed to your booked safari lodge. Check in at the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Community Experience
After an early breakfast, prepare for your mountain gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will drive to the d park headquarters/trekking point for briefing before entering the forest. Your ranger guides will provide information about gorilla trekking procedures, safety, forest etiquette and responsible wildlife viewing.
Once the briefing is complete, you begin your trek into the forest. The trek can vary considerably in duration depending on where the assigned gorilla family is located on that particular day. You will hike through dense vegetation, following forest trails and looking for signs of the gorillas. Along the way, your ranger will interpret the forest environment, pointing out plants, birds, insects, animal tracks, and other signs of wildlife.
You’ll later encounter the gorillas and have an opportunity to observe them as they feed, rest, groom, and interact with one another. The observation period is usually 1 hour strictly. After your time elapses, you’ll trek back to the starting point or headquarters. Return to your lodge for lunch and some well-deserved relaxation.
Later in the afternoon, you will visit a Batwa community for a cultural experience. The Batwa have a deep historical connection with the forests of southwestern Uganda. During the visit, community members can introduce you to aspects of their traditional knowledge, stories, music, dance, and crafts.
The experience provides an opportunity to understand the cultural heritage of people historically associated with the forest while also supporting community-based tourism initiatives. Later, return to your lodge for dinner and relaxation after an eventful day.
Accommodation: Four Gorillas Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive takes you through the scenic southwestern Uganda, passing through rural communities, rolling hills and agricultural landscapes. Lunch will be enjoyed enroute.
After lunch, continue with your drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the Ishasha sector famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting on the branches of large fig trees. Proceed with your drive to the lodge and check in for an afternoon of relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before setting out for your morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The early morning is an excellent time to explore the park because temperatures are generally cooler and many animals are active.
Your driver-guide will take you to some of the best wildlife viewing areas for opportunities to encounter different species, including lion, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and several antelop species. You will have opportunities to stop at scenic points for photography and wildlife observation before returning to the lodge.
Return to the lodge around midday for lunch and some time to relax. Later in the afternoon, prepare for your next adventure.
You will head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. The cruise typically provides an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife from the water. Along the shores and in the water, you may see large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes, together with numerous waterbirds.
As the boat moves along the channel, your guide will help identify wildlife and bird species while explaining the importance of the channel to the surrounding ecosystem. The experience also provides excellent photography opportunities, particularly as the afternoon light begins to soften over the water.
After the cruise, return to your lodge. Enjoy your final evening in the Queen Elizabeth area with dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Aardvark Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Transfer Back to Entebbe
Enjoy your final breakfast at the lodge before checking out and beginning your journey back to Entebbe. Drive eastwards through the Ugandan countryside.
The journey provides another opportunity to appreciate Uganda’s landscapes and rural communities. If time permits, you can make a stop at the Equator crossing at the equator. Lunch will be enjoyed enroute. After lunch, continue towards Entebbe, arriving in the late afternoon. The driver-guide will drop you off at your preferred location (Hotel or Airport).
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
What is included and excluded on the 5 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
Safari Inclusions
- 4 nights’ accommodation.
- Daily meals as specified in the itinerary
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle for the entire safari.
- Services of an English-speaking professional driver-guide
- Fuel and transportation costs
- Airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off in Kampala or Entebbe.
- All national park entrance fees
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit
- Batwa cultural/community experience
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Bottled drinking water.
- Driver-guide allowances.
- All applicable government taxes and tourism levies on the included services.
Safari Exclusions
- International and domestic flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda entry visa and visa-related charges.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses, including laundry, telephone calls, internet/data charges and other personal services.
- Alcoholic and other specialty beverages.
- Tips and gratuities for the driver-guide, lodge staff, rangers and other service providers.
- Souvenirs, handicrafts and personal shopping.
- Additional activities not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
- Meals and drinks not specifically included in the itinerary.
- Porter fees for gorilla trekking, if the traveler chooses to hire a porter.
- Binoculars and personal photography equipment.
- Emergency evacuation or rescue costs, unless covered by the traveler’s insurance.
- Medical expenses incurred during the safari.
- Anything else not expressly mentioned under the inclusions.