5 Days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Safari

With only 5 days, you can experience almost all the highlights of Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Your Trip begins in the Capital of Uganda- Kampala, where you will drive through the bustling streets and head to one of Uganda’s top wildlife-viewing safari destinations where you will undertake game drives and boat rides. Then, it will be time for primate trekking as you leave for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track the endangered mountain gorillas and learn about the ancient inhabitants of Central African rainforests.

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Giant savannah African elephants
Giant savannah African elephants

Highlights

  • Venture out on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Learn more about the endangered mountain gorillas during your guided trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
  • Visit the Batwa communities.
  • Stroll the local communities to learn more about their cultures and traditions.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrive in Queen Elizabeth National Park via a road trip.
  • Day 2:  Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park- Game drives and Boat cruise.
  • Day 3: Explore Ishasha sector and Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
  • Day 4: Bwindi Tour- gorilla tracking and Batwa cultural tour.
  • Day 5: Transfer to Kampala, departure.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Queen Elizabeth National Park via a road trip

Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel in Kampala. From this point, your private safari driver will pick you up and transfer you to the western side of Uganda. As you make your way through the secluded areas of western Uganda, you will find yourself enjoying breathtaking views of the tea estates, vast banana plantations, roadside markets and others. Your lunch will be in Fort Portal Town, then continue to the Park via Kasese Town.

Arrive late afternoon, settle-in at the Lodge and enjoy lunch as well as overnight while getting treated to melodies of the wilderness.

Accommodation:

  • Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge or Kyambura Game Lodge
  • Moderate: Mweya Safari Lodge or Ihamba Lakeside Resort.
  • Budget: Bush Lodge tents or Simba Safari Camp.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2:  Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park- Game drives and Boat cruise

After a hearty breakfast at the Lodge, spend a full day exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park on a game drive (in the morning) and boat ride (in the afternoon) with an experienced guide. You will explore the Northern plains filled with herds of elephants, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, warthogs, Cape buffaloes, Defassa waterbucks, spotted hyenas, Topis, bushbucks, and prides of lions,  and the solitary leopards among others. This is a perfect photography opportunity and it will end after 3-4 hours.

In the afternoon you will visit the Kazinga Channel for a boat ride with sights of Hippos and Nile crocodiles as well as lots of birds that include pink-backed and great white pelicans, African skimmers, African fish eagles and Kingfishers among others. You will have the rest of the evening to freshen-up and enjoy dinner at the Lodge.

Accommodation:

  • Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge or Kyambura Game Lodge
  • Moderate: Mweya Safari Lodge or Ihamba Lakeside Resort.
  • Budget: Bush Lodge tents or Simba Safari Camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3: Explore Ishasha sector and Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today, you will transfer from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the crown jewel of Uganda. You will leave the Northern plains with a game drive and head towards the southern sector of Ishasha. Take a short game drive here before continuing to Bwindi with lunch at Savannah Resort Kihihi. You will be treated to a traditional lunch before continuing to your final destination for dinner and overnight.  

Accommodation;

  • Luxury: Bwindi Lodge.
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge.
  • Budget: Ride 4 a woman Cottages.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4: Bwindi tour – gorilla tracking and Batwa cultural tour

The spectacular Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a verdant and biologically-diverse Protected Area with 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 200 butterfly species and outstanding tree species. After the breakfast at the Lodge, you will embark on the briefing at the Park headquarters then 1-6 hours’ guided walk to track one of the habituated gorilla families and later spend one hour with them.

While tracking the mountain gorilla, you will also learn more about the Park- its history, animals, birds and trees until finally meeting and spending one hour foraging, resting, grooming each other and playing. Get back to the starting point to receive your trekking certificate before retiring to the Lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will get a chance to visit the Batwa community to learn how they lived in the forest before Bwindi National Park was gazetted. You will see how they make fire from sticks, make bamboo cups, and many others.

Accommodation:

  • Luxury: Bwindi Lodge.
  • Midrange: Engagi Lodge.
  • Budget: Ride 4 a woman Cottages.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 5: Transfer to Kampala, departure

Leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park this day after breakfast and arrive in the evening. Your flight for this day should depart Entebbe not earlier than 10pm.

Meals: Breakfast  and Lunch.

Drive time: 8-9 hours.

Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Safari Inclusions:

  • Gorilla permit/s
  • Park entry fees.
  • 4 nights’ accommodation
  • Road transfers by private 4WD Vehicle.
  • Services of our professional guide.
  • Boat rides.
  • Bottled water and snacks.
  • Meals per the program.
  • Relevant Government taxes and levies
  • Batwa walk.
  • Game drives.

Exclusions:

  • Cigarettes and drinks.
  • Airfares.
  • Travel and medical Insurance.
  • Visa where required.
  • Laundry fees.
  • Telephone calls.
  • Souvenirs shopping.
  • Gratuities.
  • Optional activities that aren’t mentioned on the itinerary.