5 Days Gorilla Tracking Safari

An exclusive five-day Uganda wilderness experience — Batwa cultural encounters and mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, followed by tree-climbing lions, Kazinga Channel hippos, and chimp trekking in the Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Embark on an unforgettable five-day adventure into the heart of Uganda's wilderness. Prepare to be captivated by the rare beauty of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the abundant wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Begin with a scenic drive from Kampala through lush, Switzerland-like landscapes to Bwindi — a UNESCO World Heritage Site sheltering roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Spend the first evening on a Batwa community cultural walk before the main event: an early morning gorilla trekking expedition deep into the ancient rainforest. Come face to face with habituated mountain gorilla families, observe their behaviour, and spend one magical hour among these gentle giants. Transfer south through the Ishasha sector — famous for its tree-climbing lions — to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Kazinga Channel boat cruise teeming with hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. On Day 4, choose between a chimpanzee trek into the dramatic Kyambura Gorge or a game drive along the Kasenyi Trail for giraffes, Kob, and buffalo. The tour concludes with a scenic return drive via the Equator monument to Entebbe. This is a private tour — only your group will participate.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Kampala → Bwindi — Scenic Drive & Batwa Community Walk · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Depart Kampala early for the long but spectacular drive south-west to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — passing through the Kigezi Highlands, known as the Switzerland of Africa, with rolling terraced hillsides, banana plantations, and misty mountain ridges. Arrive at your lodge, check in, and choose from a selection of deluxe accommodations nestled in the forest. In the afternoon, venture into the northern edge of the Bwindi Rainforest on a Batwa community cultural walk — meeting Africa's oldest forest-dwelling people and experiencing their traditional dances, fire-making, medicinal plant knowledge, and forest lore. Return to the lodge for dinner and a restful night in the forest. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.

Batwa/Pygmy community cultural walk and traditional dances

Day 2

Mountain Gorilla Trekking — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Awaken before dawn for an early breakfast, then gather at the park headquarters for a comprehensive briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers — covering gorilla behaviour, health precautions, and forest etiquette. Transfer to the trekking start point and enter the ancient Bwindi forest. Navigate through dense vegetation, mossy rocks, and challenging terrain with expert ranger guidance until you come face to face with a habituated mountain gorilla family. Spend one magical hour observing silverbacks at rest, juveniles wrestling, and mothers nursing infants in the mist. Capture unforgettable moments before trekking back to the lodge for a well-deserved dinner. Dinner and overnight near Bwindi.

Mountain gorilla trekking permit (USD 700 per person) included

Day 3

Bwindi → Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha — Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel · Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, bid farewell to Bwindi and drive north through Queen Elizabeth National Park, entering via the remote Ishasha sector — the only place in Africa outside the Congo where lions regularly climb and rest in large fig trees. Spend time game-viewing along the Ishasha circuit, scanning the broad branches of towering fig trees for lions at rest and the grassland below for Uganda Kob, topi, buffalo, and antelope. Continue to the main park area, refresh at your accommodation, then in the afternoon embark on a captivating boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel — the natural waterway linking Lake George to Lake Edward. Witness hippos at close range, Nile crocodiles lining the banks, abundant waterbirds, and large herds of buffalo and elephant coming to drink. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Tree-climbing lions at Ishasha + Kazinga Channel hippo cruise

Day 4

Kyambura Gorge Chimp Trek or Kasenyi Game Drive — Queen Elizabeth NP · Queen Elizabeth National Park

Embark on your choice of adventure today. Option A — Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee trek: descend into the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, a sunken rainforest carved by the Kyambura River into the Queen Elizabeth savannah, home to a habituated chimpanzee community. Trek with experienced ranger guides through this spectacular gorge, spotting chimps, black-and-white colobus, and red-tailed monkeys against the backdrop of sheer walls and lush vegetation. Option B — Kasenyi game drive: explore the open Kasenyi plains in search of Rothschild's giraffes, Kob, Cape buffalo, leopards, and lion prides. Both options offer rich wildlife viewing. After your chosen activity, begin the drive back towards Kampala, arriving in the evening for onward connections.

Chimp trek in Kyambura Gorge or Kasenyi game drive — your choice

Day 5

Equator Experience & Transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, depart for Entebbe with a scenic drive north. Stop at the Uganda Equator monument at Kayabwe for photos and the famous water-flow demonstration — standing with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing to Entebbe or Kampala, where your driver/guide will transfer you to a hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your return flight. We hope you carry home extraordinary memories of the Pearl of Africa.

Equator monument stop at Kayabwe