5-Day Bwindi Gorilla & Queen Elizabeth Safari

Five days gives this popular route room to breathe. Begin with Queen Elizabeth’s game drives and boat safari, continue south through Ishasha, then enter the highlands for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. It is one of Uganda’s strongest short safari combinations because every day feels different without adding unnecessary backtracking.

Day 1 – Entebbe/Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive west toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, stopping for lunch en route. Enter the park in the afternoon and enjoy a short game drive if time allows. Settle into your lodge overlooking the savannah, channel or Rift Valley landscape.

Day 2 – Game Drive and Kazinga Channel

Wake early for a wildlife drive, searching for lions, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob and other plains species. After a relaxed lunch, board the Kazinga Channel boat for excellent wildlife viewing from the water. Return to the lodge for a second night.

Day 3 – Ishasha Wildlife Drive and Transfer to Bwindi

Travel south through the Ishasha sector, scanning fig trees and open plains for the area’s famous tree-climbing lions while also watching for elephants, buffaloes and antelope. Continue into the increasingly green highlands toward Bwindi. Arrive at your lodge, prepare trekking gear and rest.

Day 4 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

After the ranger briefing, enter Bwindi with trackers and guides in search of a habituated gorilla family. The forest determines the pace: the walk may be gentle or demanding, so nothing else is allowed to compete with the experience. Once the gorillas are found, enjoy the permitted viewing time before trekking back. Return to your lodge and celebrate quietly over dinner.

Day 5 – Bwindi to Entebbe/Kampala

Enjoy a final highland breakfast and begin the return drive. Stop for lunch and scenic breaks along the way. Arrive in Entebbe/Kampala in the evening or adapt the final day around a domestic flight if included in your customized program.