Uganda · Wildlife

5-Day Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo Safari with Gorilla Trekking

5 Days Round trip from Kampala Moderate pace

Spot Impalas in Lake Mburo National Park

Lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with park rangers
02 Walk through the Batwa community for cultural encounters and traditional dances
03 Discover Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in the world and a noted birdwatching destination
04 Spot impalas, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and birds in Lake Mburo National Park

Join this 5-day journey through southwestern Uganda, combining mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with the scenic beauty of Lake Bunyonyi and wildlife viewing in Lake Mburo National Park. Track Uganda's finest mountain gorillas with park rangers, enjoy cultural encounters with the Batwa community, and discover one of the deepest lakes in the world. The tour also offers rewarding birdwatching opportunities, with species such as the African wattled lapwing, bare-faced go-away-bird, and black-bellied bustard, alongside mammals including Burchell's zebra and eland.

Join this 5-day journey through southwestern Uganda, combining mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with the scenic beauty of Lake Bunyonyi and wildlife viewing in Lake Mburo National Park.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Kampala, Mbarara, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Bunyonyi

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After breakfast, meet your guide in Kampala and immediately set off for Bwindi Forest in southwestern Uganda. Enjoy an incredible journey with many sights along the way, including rolling terraced hills, as well as a few stopovers at the Equator for photos and in Mbarara for lunch before continuing to Bwindi. Arrive in the evening and rest at the hotel with dinner.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 02

Mountain Gorilla Tracking and Batwa Cultural Walk

After an early morning breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing, carrying your packed lunch with you. Then enter the forest for gorilla tracking, guided by the park rangers.
Later in the evening, take a walk through the Batwa community for cultural encounters with the Batwa people, including traditional dances, among other experiences.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 03

Transfer from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

After a tasty breakfast this morning, say goodbye to the gorilla sanctuary and drive to Lake Bunyonyi, an excellent destination for birdwatchers because of the numerous birds found in this region. The area also offers eye-catching scenery, including the waters, hills, forests, and islands.
Upon arrival, you may opt to go canoeing on the lake or take a nature walk around the area. In the evening, retire to the lodge and have dinner.

Accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Eco-Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 04

Journey to Lake Mburo and Evening Game Drive

After breakfast, continue your journey to Lake Mburo National Park and look out for the large numbers of impalas, mainly concentrated in this park, as well as zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, and more. Along the way, enjoy more of the stunning landscapes of the Kigezi Highlands.
Have lunch en route, and upon arrival at the park, go on a game drive for a chance to see many of the animals found here. Later, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 05

Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo and Return to Kampala

Enjoy breakfast, then go on a boat cruise along the lake, where you will see more wildlife on the shores, such as hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes drinking water, as well as many birds. You will also spot smaller lakes such as Bwa and Kazuma.
In the afternoon, after lunch, drive back to Kampala after an amazing time in the wild.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

Where this trip takes you

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi waters and islands, Lake Mburo National Park

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kampala 5 cities · 5 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

All airport transfers
Gorilla permits
Accommodation and lodging
Meals throughout the itinerary
English-speaking guides/drivers
4WD safari vehicles
Domestic flights
Park fees
Emergency evacuations (AMREF)
Masks and sanitizers

What's Not Included

International flights
Visa and customs fees or charges
Travel insurance
Cigarettes and alcohol
Gratuity
Souvenirs

What to bring

Rain jacket/coat
Shoes with good traction
Binoculars
Travel plug adapter with USB port
Mask and antibacterial hand cleaning gel
Good camera with a fully charged battery and sufficient memory card storage
First aid kit
Small backpack
Sun block hat
Sunglasses
Hiking boots
Mosquito repellent

Know before you go

Staying healthy while you travel is vital; it is not all about vaccinations and medicine. Most problems you could face are easily preventable. Drinking bottled, boiled, or treated water, washing your hands properly before eating, and carefully avoiding insect bites could save your life, money, and time.
Please endeavour to get your yellow fever/Covid-19 vaccines as a crucial requirement, especially in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Please be sure to visit the Centres for Disease Control at . Or check with a physician for more information.
Pay telephone service provider accounts and bills before you go so they will not be disconnected while you are away.
Call your credit card companies to advise them of the dates and places to which you will be travelling.
Put a hold on newspaper and magazine deliveries.
Ensure arrangements for your pets are in place.
Remove perishable food items from your fridge.
Turn off any pre-set alarm clocks and electrical appliances at the switch.
If you are taking your cell phone on tour, contact your service provider to ensure international roaming is on.
Inform neighbours and neighbourhood watch groups of your trip dates.
Make sure your family members or close friends have copies of your travel itinerary if they need to contact you, or for emergency purposes.
Alert us if you have any special food considerations, such as vegetarian requirements.
Some airlines will allow you to check in online and select your seats before you travel. You can also register online to receive an email or cell text message if your flight is delayed.
Forward your mail, arrange to have it collected, or ask the post office to hold it.
Our tour director is committed to executing the tour activities as detailed in the itinerary provided. We only request our clients to be understanding, remain calm, and stay flexible on a few isolated occasions where local events may inconvenience the activities on the itinerary. Clients should also note that the first day of the trip is simply for the drive or flight to the destination shown on the itinerary and has only a few activities planned. We advise that you be conversant with our representative, who will take you through the pre-departure briefings.
Entebbe International Airport is your gateway to and from Uganda. To avoid inconveniences caused by rushing at the time of departure, we advise that you book international flights departing from Entebbe after 8 pm. We will need you to furnish us with the following information:
Airline
Flight number
Arrival and departure date
Flight times/flight changes
Each traveller is responsible for obtaining the required visa, as visa requirements vary by country. We advise our clients to consult the US State Department and local embassies, or the relevant authorities for non-US citizens, for visa information.
A visa can be obtained at Entebbe International Airport on arrival at a fee of $50 per person.
Visas for all other East African countries can be obtained on arrival at the international airport or border points.
Leave a copy of your itinerary, travel insurance, and passport with a family member for reference purposes in case of an emergency. Travel insurance is also compulsory on all trips.
Some of our tours have a strict age limit. Children 13 years and below are not allowed to visit the gorillas or participate in certain activities like canoeing. For adults above 65 years of age, a medical report may be required.
We prioritise the safety of our tours; however, travel is susceptible to risks. It is important to be prepared and approach all arrangements with utmost caution. It is advisable to research your destination to equip yourself with tips to ensure safety. Register your trip and also avail a copy of your emergency contact details to your government travel advisory service, or diplomatic mission, in the country you are visiting so that they can contact you in case of emergency. This process can be done online, and it is also advisable to get the contacts of the American Embassy in Uganda, your final destination. Depending on the itinerary you have booked, some activities may carry greater risks of personal injury; we therefore advise that you take great care and strictly adhere to the established precautions before participating. These activities include white water rafting, canoe and boat rides, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, mountaineering, bungee jumping, culture walks or community visits, and game drives. For safety, the following must also be accorded due consideration:
Avoid expensive jewellery.
Hide your cash and monitor your ATM/credit card transactions.
Avoid all demonstrations and protests, given their potential to turn violent.
Monitor the media for information about any possible security risks and pay close attention to your personal security.
Carry a copy of your passport and avoid moving around alone without the advice of the tour guide. Also avoid voluntary helpers who are not among your group, and be wary of assistance from seemingly helpful strangers, however polite or well dressed. Safeguard your items and report any lost or blocked bank card to your bank.
Prices for a twin/double shared room are per person, and rates for single or triple travellers are available on request.
This tour requires that all travellers have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and all personal emergencies, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We therefore recommend Travel Guard, Allianz, and Nomads Travel Insurance for your insurance needs.
We understand and respect the value and importance of your privacy. Be assured, therefore, that protection of privacy is given the highest priority. All personal information that you avail to us is strictly used for purposes of safari tour booking. We will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to secure any personal information about the guest. However, aware of the rampant hacking cases involving data on the internet, it becomes tricky to guarantee 100% security for data shared through online sources. We therefore will not be held guilty if the breach or hacking of your personal information is by unauthorised international individuals.
It is with regret that our office cannot compensate where an impediment to the proper performance of duty is the result of an event above and beyond our own making, control, and anticipation, nor is it due to the supplier of the service in question. Such events may include unexpected government quarantines, travel bans, riots, civil strife, natural disasters, terrorist acts, border closure, fire, road closures, industrial disputes, extreme weather conditions, and other incidents beyond our control.
In some unfortunate circumstances, getting a park or gorilla permit may not guarantee seeing wildlife in their habitats, as unfavourable local conditions may sometimes hinder access to the wildlife. This can happen without prior notice or at short notice. We therefore accept no liability in circumstances where gorilla or wildlife viewing is cancelled by the authorities. Loss due to the absence of gorillas, closure of borders, national parks, or security changes is refunded at the discretion of the responsible offices. However, we shall use all means necessary to obtain the refunds and pass them on to the client.