In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is located in Southwestern Uganda, you will walk through the rain-forest to see a family of mountain gorillas in Rushaga sector.

During gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector, you get to learn more about the different daily behaviors of mountain gorillas including how they socialize, mate, feed, groom each other with opportunity for you to also take pictures while they are in their natural habitat.

At Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda, you have 2 game drives to participate in, the first will be conducted via Kasenyi Track and the second game drive at Ishasha sector while en-route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Along Kasenyi track, the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you stand a chance to view Cape Buffaloes, African Lions, African Bush Elephants and for lucky visitors, you also have a chance to see Leopards.

A boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park takes you via Kazinga Channel in Kasese District which connects 2 fresh water lakes that is Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga channel is a natural channel with depth of 8 meters and has a length of about 32kms.

On a boat cruise along Kazinga channel, expect to view one of the biggest concentration of hippos in the world, the Nile Crocodiles, aquatic birds and also many other wildlife that roam along the banks of Kazinga channel.

Detailed Itinerary for the 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast at a hotel in Kampala, meet your Uganda safari guide for briefing about what you should expect on the 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari.

Leave Kampala for Queen Elizabeth National Park which is found in Western Uganda, 7 hours’ drive, pass via Masaka, Mbarara route using a 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop up roof for you to have amazing view of wildlife while on a game drive.

En-route, you will stop at Uganda Equator a historical landmark found at Kayabwe along the Masaka road. At the Equator landmark. You will perform a water experiment/demonstration of the carioles effect for you to have insight into how movement changes direction when in motion either to the left or to the right when moving on a rotating body.

The Equator crossing has the Northern and Southern hemispheres or poles with the Northern hemisphere indicating a clockwise rotation and southern hemisphere shows the anti-clockwise rotation.

Water experiment at Equator crossing can also be performed to determine the movement and drainage of water that differs in each of the hemispheres. This experiment can be performed or demonstrated on either sides of the Equator or directly on the Equator itself.

At the Equator, you will also buy some crafts at the craft stalls run by local community and they include baskets, jewelries like bracelets, necklaces, bangles and others.

In addition, you have a chance to take as many photos as you can then proceed to Igongo Cultural Center to have en-route lunch. After lunch, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park to check into the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation

Midrange: Elephant Hub Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge, Bush Lodge

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise

In the morning after breakfast, set off for a guided game drive via Kasenyi Track/Plains-the Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Your game drive experience will take 2-4 hours and in your 4×4 Land Cruiser, expect amazing encounter of wildlife species such as Lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, warthogs, antelopes including Uganda Kobs and hundreds of birds.

Retreat from your game drive, have lunch at the lodge and after relaxation, catch up with an afternoon boat cruise at 2:00pm.

The boat cruise will be done on Kazinga Channel, a 32kms long natural channel that links Lake George and Lake Edward and for your 2-3 hours’ launch cruise experience, you will enjoy view of hippos, Nile crocodiles, aquatic birds plus large herds of elephants on the land. Get back to relax, dine and spend a night at your lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodation

Midrange: Elephant Hub Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge, Bush Lodge

Day 3: Game drive at Ishasha sector and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Have breakfast, after leave your lodge at 8:00am for a morning game drive via Ishasha sector in the Southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will leave with some packed lunch.

At Ishasha, you will be watching lots of the tree climbing lions as they seek shelter in the tree branches due to hot sunshine and also for them to relax.

Have lunch under the tree shade proceed to Rushaga sector, the Southern gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Check into your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Lodges in Bwindi

Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa cultural experience

Breakfast be enjoyed early morning, after, transfer to Rushaga sector/trailhead for briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations-briefing starts at 7:00am. Report at Rushaga trailhead with some packed lunch or energy giving snacks, bottled water.

The park official who conducts the briefing will also allocate to you one gorilla family of the 9 that are in Rushaga including Nshongi gorilla family, Mucunguzi, Kahungye, Busingye, Mishaya, Bweza, Kutu, Rwigi family and Bikingi family. At 8:00am, the park guide leads you through 2-6 hours’ gorilla trekking experience in Rushaga sector.

Your gorilla trekking experience in Rushaga includes hiking through a lush vegetation, steep slopes and when you come across a gorilla family, you will be given one hour to stay with them.

This includes learning more about how they behave that is from their feeding habits, grooming, mating, how they socialize etc, then also take as many photos as possible.

All these will be explained to you by the park guide who also goes ahead to interpret the unique body gestures displayed by mountain gorillas. While trekking to see mountain gorillas, you will also encounter other primates, different plant species that of medicinal importance.

After your one hour with family of gorillas, return to relax, enjoy lunch at the lodge and in the evening, you will take a walk to Batwa community for a cultural experience.

This includes interacting with the Batwa pygmies who lived in Bwindi Forest for over 500,000 as hunters and gatherers, learn how the traditional methods they used for hunting or gathering, get to know the traditional ways they use for making fire.

The Batwa pygmies will also perform cultural dances before you then you return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Lodges in Bwindi

Midrange: Gorilla Valley Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Day 5: Return to Kampala

Have early breakfast, after check out of your lodge making sure you have some packed lunch to enjoy en-route. Meet your safari driver guide for transfer back to Kampala, about 9 hours’ drive while enjoying the scenic hills of Kigezi region.

Lunch be had en-route, have a stopover at Mpambire Village known as a home of royal drum makers. Get to know how African drums are made and then you connect to Kampala.

End of 5 Days Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari