6 Day Gorilla Trekking and Big Game Uganda Safari

Your adventure begins with a scheduled domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip, reducing the long road journey to southwestern Uganda. Upon arrival, meet your driver-guide and continue through the lush countryside to your lodge on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you may choose to enjoy an optional community visit, birding walk, or short forest hike to the waterfalls. Alternatively, simply relax at the lodge and take in the peaceful surroundings ahead of tomorrow’s gorilla trekking experience.

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing before entering the dense, mist-covered rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Follow your ranger guide through the forest in search of one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain. Once the family is located, spend a full hour observing their natural behaviour, including feeding, grooming, resting and interaction within the group.

After the trek, depart Bwindi and drive south towards the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Known for its scenic savannah landscapes and famous tree-climbing lions, Ishasha provides a striking transition from the rainforest to open wilderness. Arrive at your camp and enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by the sounds of the bush.

Start the day with an early game drive through the Ishasha sector, exploring its open savannah plains, woodland and riverine areas. Keep watch for tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda kobs and other wildlife, along with the diverse birdlife found across the sector.

After the morning game drive, continue north through the scenic landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park towards the Mweya region. Enjoy lunch before heading to the Kazinga Channel for an afternoon boat cruise.

The cruise offers a relaxed opportunity to observe wildlife gathered along the water. Large concentrations of hippos can be seen in and around the channel, while elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles and numerous waterbirds are often visible along the shoreline. The experience provides a different perspective on the wildlife and landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This morning, visit Kyambura Gorge for a guided chimpanzee trekking experience. Descend into the dramatic gorge and follow the forest trails through this lush riverine ecosystem, listening for the calls of chimpanzees and other forest wildlife.

Along the way, your ranger will introduce you to the plants, birds and other species that inhabit the gorge. The experience combines chimpanzee tracking with an exploration of one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s most distinctive landscapes.

Return to your lodge afterwards for time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Depending on your preference, you may choose to take an optional evening game drive in the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park for another opportunity to encounter wildlife.

After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel towards Lake Mburo National Park, a greenery savannah landscape characterised by acacia woodlands, open plains and seasonal wetlands.

Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a game drive as you enter the park, with opportunities to see zebras, impalas, elands, warthogs, giraffes and other wildlife. Continue to your lodge and take some time to relax before your evening activity.

Later, head out on a guided night game drive, offering a different perspective of Lake Mburo after dark. With the help of a ranger and spotlight, look for nocturnal species such as hyenas, genets, bush babies and, with luck, leopards moving through the darkness.