5-Day Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda with Ishasha Lions

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Stop at the Equator for photography on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• 02 Search the Kasenyi plains for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and Uganda kobs
• 03 Cruise along the Kazinga Channel to spot hippos, elephants, and migrant and endemic birds
• 04 Look for the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector
• 05 Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a rewarding gorilla tracking experience

Explore Uganda on an exciting 5-day safari featuring Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Enjoy game drives in the Kasenyi plains in search of lions, leopards, elephants, and other wildlife, then take a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel for close-up views of hippos, elephants, and birds. Continue to the Ishasha sector to look for its famous tree-climbing lions before heading into Bwindi for a rewarding gorilla trekking adventure. The journey also includes a stop at the Equator and an evening Batwa community walk.

Gorilla tracking is a strenuous exercise, but it is ranked as the most rewarding wildlife experience.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Kampala, Entebbe, Mbarara, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Equator

• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Kampala-Masaka road, a journey of about 7 hours.
• En route, stop at the Equator for photography and continue to Mbarara for lunch.
• Later, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive from Mbarara to the park takes roughly 3 hours.

2

Day 02

Game Drive in the Kasenyi Plains and Kazinga Channel Cruise

• In the morning, enjoy a game drive to the park's northern sector, the Kasenyi plains, in search of leopards and lions.
• As you drive along the Kasenyi tracks, expect to encounter big herds of elephants, buffalos, Uganda kobs, warthogs, Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, and giant forest hogs.
• Return to the lodge for a hot lunch before undertaking a launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel at 2:00 pm. This launch experience brings you closer to big herds of elephants, hippos, and many migrant and endemic birds, among others. At 6:00 pm, return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.

3

Day 03

Transfer to Ishasha and Continue to Bwindi

• After breakfast at 8:00 am, transfer to Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, in search of tree-climbing lions. It is approximately an hour's drive from Mweya to Ishasha Gate.
• At 10:00 am, lions begin climbing fig trees as they seek shelter in the branches from the scorching sunshine and relax after a night and morning feast on antelopes.
• At 1:00 pm, transfer to Savannah Hotel for a hot lunch.
• Later, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an evening Batwa (Pygmies) community walk.

4

Day 04

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Wake up early for breakfast and then hike to the park headquarters, a few meters from your lodge, for a briefing by the park ranger before commencing the gorilla trek at 8:30 am. Gorilla tracking is a strenuous exercise, but it is ranked as the most rewarding wildlife experience. The time it takes to encounter these apes ranges from an hour to several hours, depending on their movement in the jungle.

5

Day 05

Transfer Back to the Airport

• After breakfast, transfer back to the airport. This concludes the 5-day Uganda safari.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Park fees (for non-residents)
• Gorilla permits (one per person, non-resident)
• Chimp permits (one per person, non-resident)
• All activities (unless labelled as optional)
• All accommodation (unless listed as upgrade)
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
• All taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)

What's Not Included

• International flights (from/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (tipping guideline: US$10.00 pp per day)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• The government imposed an increase in taxes and park fees

What to bring

• Sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes
• Jacket

Know before you go

• Book in advance to avoid inconveniences.
• Note: You may choose to go for chimpanzee tracking at Kalinzu Forest early in the morning before proceeding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is located in southwestern Uganda, in the district of Bushenyi. It is close to Maramagambo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu Forest Reserve has abundant wildlife, including over 379 bird species and six primates.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Airport Road, Entebbe, Uganda

Tour start

Uganda

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.