5 Days 4 Nights Uganda Gorilla And Game Safari

This 5 day Uganda gorilla and game safari gives you an opportunity to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will experience gorilla trekking, Batwa culture, wildlife viewing and boat cruise for an ultimate African safari. This trip can start any time of the year either from Kampala or Entebbe. This program offers a fantastic combination of primate encounters and savanna wildlife viewing, including the famous tree-climbing lions (if you visit the Ishasha sector)

An intinerary for 5 days 4 Nights Uganda gorilla and game safari.

Day 1: Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Morning: Your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in  Entebbe/Kampala to start your trip. The drive is long but scenic with beautiful landscapes of the country side to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You can stop for photos at the Equator crossing and have lunch in Mbarara. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge and rest before an evening game drive on the Kasenyi plains. Return back to the lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Day 2:  Early morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise

• Game drive: Start the day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains to see different wildlife like buffaloes, antelopes, elephants, Uganda kobs and various antelope species. You might also get to spot lions or leopards.
• Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel: Start your afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel that connects to Lake Edward and Lake George. This is a great opportunity to see a high number of hippos, crocodiles, and variety of bird species. Later return back to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

• Tree-climbing lions: Drive through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, that is famous for the tree-climbing lions. You will get to spot them in the fig trees but it is not guaranteed, but it's a great sight if you get lucky to see them.
• Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Proceed with your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arrive at your lodge for relaxation and dinner as you prepare for a great experience of gorilla trekking the next day.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

• Briefing: After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. You will then be assigned to a gropu and 8 and given a gorilla family that you will get to trek.
• Trekking: The trek usually takes a few hours or full day depending on the location of the gorilla family. A team of trackers always monitors their movements to guide you and makes it easier to find the gorilla family.
• Observation: Upon finding the gorillas, you will have one hour observing them while they eat, play and photographing them in their natural habitat.
• Return from the trek: After a great trekking experience, you will be awarded a gorilla trekking certificate of completion  before returning to your lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Day 5: Return to Kampala or Entebbe

After your final early morning breakfast, you will drive  to Kampala or Entebbe, with a stop over for lunch en-route. Depending on your flight time, your driver guide will drop you off at your hotel or Entebbe International Airport.

Key considerations For a 5 days 4 Nights gorilla and game safari in Uganda.

• Gorilla Trekking Permit: A gorilla trekking permit is very essential and costs $800 USD per person for foreign non residents. Due to the scarcity of the gorilla permits, it is best to always have your gorilla permit booked several month in advance, ideally 6-12 months ahead especially if you plan to travel during the peak season. Booking your gorilla permit early ensures you secure your preferred dates and more options for gorilla trekking regions and selecting accommodations. This also allows for smooth planning of your trip.
• Fitness Level: Gorilla trekking is physically demanding because it involves hiking through the steep, dense forests and sometimes muddy terrain during the rainy season. It is good for trekkers to have a good level of fitness to do this activity. For the elderly and those with some physical limitations, sedan chairs can be hired and a team of four porters will carry you on the chair for a comfortable ride through the forest.
• Packing list: For a smooth gorilla trekking experience, you will need good waterproof hiking boots, gardening gloves, a rain coat, gutters, long comfortable  pants and shirts with neutral colors, a hat, insect repellent, re-usable water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, extra batteries, camera, binoculars, waterproof back pack, two face masks and hand sanitizer. For game drives, neutral-colored comfortable clothing and binoculars are recommended.
• Travel Time: The driving distances on this itinerary are quite long. Depending on the time you set off from Entebbe,  the drive time to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 6-7 hours and the drive time from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 4 – 5 hours. You can also opt to take a domestic flight to shorten travel time during your safari.
• Visa: A single-entry tourist visa to Uganda is $50. For $100, the East Africa Tourist visa grants multiple entries to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
• Transportation: You will use a 4x4 safari vehicle that comes along with an expert driver guide.
• Documents: You should ensure that you carry your passport, yellow fever card, visa and any other vaccination certificates.

Best time to travel for a 5 Days 4 Nights gorilla and game safari.

For comfortable trekking and game drive safaris, the best time for this safari is during Uganda’s dry season;

December to February: This season has a shorter dry spell with less chances of rain though there are some occasional rain showers.

June to August: This is usually the longer dry season with dry trails and clear visibility for  wildlife viewing on safari. This is also a peak season which means permits and accommodations book up in advance.

For more information about a 5 Days 4 Nights gorilla and game safari, get in touch with our great team of experts and we will assist you in planning a memorable safari.