5 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari and Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Experience

Safari highlights

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Game drive and Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Ishasha sector, famous for tree-climbing lions
• Scenic drive across south-western Uganda
• Equator crossing and views of the Rwenzori and Virunga ranges

Itinerary route map

1. Kampala
2. Mbarara
3. Queen Elizabeth National Park
4. Ishasha Sector
5. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1 Kampala / Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park

   Your journey begins early with a drive south-west on the highway through Mpigi and Masaka. A short distance beyond Masaka you cross the Equator at Kayabwe, where there is a famous monument for photographs and a row of craft shops. The drive then continues through Mbarara, the largest town in western Uganda.

   Lunch is taken in Mbarara or along the road, and you then continue through Bushenyi and Ishaka towards the park. The scenery becomes more dramatic as you approach the Rift Valley, with rolling hills and glimpses of the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days. The total drive takes about six to seven hours.

   You arrive at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the late afternoon. If time allows, you can start with a short sunset drive or simply relax with a view over the plains. Dinner is served at the lodge, and you rest before an early start tomorrow for a game drive.

2. 02
   Day 2 Kasenyi game drive and Kazinga Channel cruise

   Wake early for a sunrise game drive on the Kasenyi Plains, one of the best places in the park for seeing lions. The open grassland attracts large herds of Uganda kob, which in turn draw predators. You may also see elephants, buffalo, warthogs and a variety of birds, including crowned cranes and martial eagles.

   After breakfast and a rest, you drive to Mweya Peninsula for the afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This 32-kilometre waterway links Lake George and Lake Edward and hosts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. The cruise lasts about two hours and is led by a guide who explains the wildlife.

   From the boat you often see elephants and buffalo at the water's edge, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks and numerous waterbirds such as pelicans, African spoonbills and fish eagles. It is relaxed and excellent for photography. You return to your lodge for dinner, tired and happy after a rich day of wildlife viewing.

3. 03
   Day 3 Ishasha sector to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

   After breakfast, you check out and drive south towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which lies on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey takes about two to three hours and passes through open savannah and fig-tree woodland. Your guide explains the area's wildlife and landscape.

   Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which sometimes rest in the branches of fig trees during the day. Your guide searches known spots, though sightings are not guaranteed. You may also see topis, Uganda kob, buffalo, elephants and many birds as you drive through the plains. Patience is often rewarded, and your guide knows the favourite resting trees well.

   After a picnic or lunch, you continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via a winding road through the Kigezi highlands. The scenery becomes greener and steeper as you approach the forest. You reach your lodge in the evening, have dinner and rest in preparation for tomorrow's gorilla trek. Evenings in the forest are cool, so a warm layer and a good night of sleep are welcome.

4. 04
   Day 4 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

   After an early breakfast you drive to the park trailhead for the briefing, usually starting at around 7:30. Rangers explain the rules of gorilla trekking, including keeping a safe distance, staying in a group and not visiting if you are unwell. Groups are limited to a maximum of eight visitors, and you are assigned to a habituated gorilla family.

   The trek begins on forest trails, led by a ranger guide and armed escorts while trackers locate the family. Depending on where the gorillas spent the night, the hike may take one to several hours over steep, muddy and sometimes slippery ground. Porters can be hired locally to carry your bag and assist on difficult stretches, which also supports local families.

   Once you reach the gorillas, you spend one hour observing and photographing them. You may see adults feeding, infants playing and the silverback keeping watch over the family. It is a quiet, emotional experience that most visitors describe as the highlight of their trip. You then hike back, receive your trekking certificate and relax at the lodge.

5. 05
   Day 5 Bwindi to Kampala / Entebbe

   After a relaxed breakfast, you may use the morning for an optional village or Batwa cultural walk, which gives insight into how local communities lived alongside the forest and how conservation has changed their lives. The walk is paid separately and takes about two to three hours. Otherwise, you can rest and enjoy the lodge setting before departure.

   You then begin the long drive back towards Kampala, retracing the scenic route through Kabale, Mbarara and Masaka. Lunch is taken along the way, and there is usually a further stop at the Equator for any photographs you missed. The road can be busy on approach to Kampala, so allow extra time if you have a flight to catch.

   You arrive in Kampala or Entebbe in the early evening, where you are dropped at your hotel or the airport. Your guide helps with luggage and confirms any onward transfer arrangements. This marks the end of your gorilla adventure, and you leave with memories of one of the world's rarest wildlife encounters.