5 Days Uganda Safari

5 Days Uganda Safari | Queen Elizabeth National Park & Bwindi Gorilla Trekking                                                                       

Explore Uganda’s Savannah Park and lush tropical forests on this thrilling 5 days Uganda safari. Track our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, at the Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and experience the awe of locking eyes with the endangered mountain gorillas deep in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, also home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. Scenic drives, breathtaking landscapes, and a refreshing boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel for more wildlife viewing opportunities.

Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After your breakfast at 6:30am, you will be met by your professional safari guide/driver from Salt Holidays who will brief you on your day’s transfer and begin the scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The journey takes approximately 7 hours, passing through the lush green countryside and farmlands. You will have some coffee and picturesque breaks to stretch and minimize the long drive fatigue. Lunch will be served at your lodge; relax after lunch and later proceed for an evening game drive/safari.

Dinner and overnight at The Bush Lodge

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Ride

After an early morning breakfast at 6:00am, you will be transferred for a game drive on the Kasenyi plains in search of animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, African bush elephants, Cape buffalo, several antelope species including Uganda kobs and waterbuck, among other mammal and bird species recorded here.

Return later to your lodge for lunch before a two-hour refreshing afternoon boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. This gives you an opportunity for more mammal and bird viewing at close range. If time allows and upon your interest, we may proceed with an optional evening game drive.

Dinner and overnight at The Bush Lodge

Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Bwindi

After an early morning breakfast at 6:30am, you will be transferred to the Kyambura Gorge (approximately a 25-minute drive) for a briefing before you descend into the gorge with your lead guide tracking our closest relative—the chimpanzee. The Kyambura Gorge, also known as the underground forest or “valley of apes,” features a tropical rainforest and the Kyambura River hosting 5 primate species, hipo and a rich avian list that no picture or explanation can do justice to except you experiencing it.

After your chimpanzee tracking experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch and, after lunch, embark on a scenic journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes approximately 5 hours through Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions; if you are lucky, you may spot them on fig trees. Proceed to arrive in Bwindi, check into your lodge and relax and prepare for the next day’s gorilla trekking experience.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 4: Gorilla Tracking Experience

After an early morning full breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the park’s visitor information office with your lunch pack for a briefing by a ranger guide on your day’s activity—the dos and don’ts during your gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing, you will be led by an experienced ranger-guide hiking deep into the forest trails. This may take a few hours to a full day depending on the location of the gorillas as well as your physical fitness/speed. Once you locate a gorilla family, your lead guide will give an additional safety briefing, offering you maximum safety and a lifetime experience with the gorillas.

It is such a humbling experience standing just a few meters from the gentle giants in their natural habitat. After your lifetime encounter with the gorillas, you’ll return to the lodge for a deserved relaxation or optionally participate in the Batwa community experience to learn more about these indigenous forest people, also known as the Batwa pygmies, who accepted to relocate from the forest to allow gorilla conservation.

Gorilla Tracking Vs. Gorilla Habituation Experience:

Unlike normal gorilla tracking that allows a maximum of 8 people per group to view a habituated gorilla family for up to 1 classic hour, gorilla habituation is a scientific research process that allows a maximum of 4 visitors to take part in this unique experience that makes wild gorillas get used to the presence of tourists. In gorilla habituation, you spend up to 4 memorable hours with a gorilla family being habituated, studying their dynamic behavior.

However, gorilla habituation permits cost a little more as opposed to normal gorilla tracking. Please let us know at the time of booking should you prefer to do gorilla habituation as opposed to normal gorilla tracking; both are amazing with the exception of the time spent viewing/following them.

Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Please note: While you do not need to be an Olympic athlete to track mountain gorillas, it’s important to note that gorilla tracking requires some minimum effort and a relative degree of fitness.

However, should you have any walking or altitude challenges, you’re not left alone, for as little as $20 US dollars, a team of local community members also known as “potters” who are part of the Uganda Wildlife Authority conservation efforts are ready to assist you in carrying your backpack, hold you and giving you a push or pull on some technical hikes. It’s also a direct way to support the local community and enhance your gorilla trekking experience.

Day 5: Transfer Back to Entebbe or Kigali for your flight

After breakfast, begin your early journey, departing the impenetrable home of the mountain gorillas, marking the end of your amazing primate safari of Uganda. En-route stopover at the equator for lunch and check out several souvenirs sold here before proceeding to arrive back in Kampala or Entebbe. Your guide will drop you off at your booked hotel/apartment or at Entebbe Airport.

End of the safari