5-Day Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorilla Safari

Your 5-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Gorilla Safari begins with an early morning pick-up from Entebbe, Kampala or another agreed location. After meeting your professional Enjobe Safaris driver-guide, you will receive a short briefing about the safari before beginning the scenic journey to western Uganda.

You will travel through Uganda’s countryside, passing roadside towns, farmland, wetlands and rural communities. A stop will be made at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe, where you can stand between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, take photographs and browse locally made souvenirs.  After the Equator experience, you will continue towards Mbarara and stop for lunch along the route.

The journey then continues through the rolling hills and changing landscapes of western Uganda before arriving at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a short evening game drive as you transfer towards your lodge. Possible wildlife sightings include elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks and several bird species. If you arrive later in the evening, you will proceed directly to the lodge for check-in, dinner and relaxation.

After an early breakfast, you will begin a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The cooler morning hours provide some of the best opportunities to observe wildlife before the temperatures rise.

Your driver-guide will explore the Kasenyi Plains or another productive wildlife-viewing area according to current animal movements and park conditions. The Kasenyi Plains are known for large herds of Uganda kobs, which attract predators such as lions and leopards. Other possible sightings include elephants, Cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, spotted hyenas and various antelope species.

Your driver-guide will interpret animal behaviour, identify wildlife tracks and help position the vehicle for photography while maintaining a respectful distance from the animals. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a short period of relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to the Kazinga Channel for a scenic boat cruise. The Kazinga Channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is one of Uganda’s most rewarding wildlife-viewing locations. During the cruise, you may observe large groups of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, monitor lizards and numerous waterbirds along the shoreline. Possible bird sightings include African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, African jacanas, pelicans, cormorants, herons and egrets. The slow-moving boat provides excellent opportunities to photograph wildlife from a different perspective.

After the boat cruise, you may enjoy a short evening game drive or scenic transfer back to the lodge, depending on the available time. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin the journey towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes you through the remote Ishasha Sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are sometimes seen resting on the branches of large fig trees. You will enjoy a game drive through the sector while your driver-guide searches for lions, elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs and other wildlife. Although tree-climbing lion sightings are never guaranteed, the Ishasha Sector offers beautiful scenery, fewer safari vehicles and a rewarding sense of wilderness.

After the game drive, you will stop for lunch and continue towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The landscape gradually changes from open savannah to cultivated hills, winding mountain roads and dense rainforest which is one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse forests. It is internationally recognised for protecting endangered mountain gorillas and numerous species of birds, butterflies, plants and other wildlife.

You will arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening. After checking in, your driver-guide will brief you about the following day’s gorilla trekking experience, including what to wear, what to carry and what to expect during the trek. You will have dinner and an early night in preparation for the adventure the following day.

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters. At the park headquarters, you will meet Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and receive a detailed briefing about gorilla trekking procedures and conservation guidelines.

You will then be assigned a habituated gorilla family and placed in a trekking group of 8. Accompanied by experienced trackers and rangers, you will enter the ancient rainforest and begin searching for the mountain gorillas. The trek may take between two and several hours, depending on the gorillas' location, movements and the condition of the forest trails. The hike can involve steep slopes, thick vegetation, mud and uneven terrain, but the reward is one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

Once the gorilla family is located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas as they feed, rest, groom, play and interact with one another. You will have time to take photographs while following the instructions provided by your ranger. After the encounter, you will trek back to the park headquarters and receive a gorilla trekking certificate. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later in the afternoon, you will participate in a respectful, community-led Batwa cultural experience. During the visit, Batwa community members may share stories about their forest heritage, traditional hunting methods, medicinal plants, songs, dances and survival skills. The experience offers an opportunity to learn about the Batwa people while contributing to community livelihoods and cultural preservation. You will return to the lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay on safari.

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and begin the return journey to Entebbe. The drive takes you through the beautiful hills and rural landscapes of southwestern Uganda. You will stop for lunch and comfort breaks during the journey. You will make a short stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe for photographs, souvenir shopping and refreshments. You will then continue to Entebbe, arriving in the evening.

Your driver-guide will drop you at your hotel, residence or Entebbe International Airport, marking the end of your 5-Day Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Gorilla Safari.

Guests departing Uganda on the same day should book a late-night flight. An additional night in Entebbe is recommended for travellers who prefer a more relaxed conclusion to the safari.