Explore This 5-Day Bwindi Gorilla And Queen Elizabeth Safari

This 5-day Bwindi gorilla and Queen Elizabeth safari combines mountain gorilla trekking with a visit to the Ishasha sector, home to Queen Elizabeth's famous tree-climbing lions, one of only a handful of places on earth where this behavior occurs.

Your Tour at a Glance

Day 1: Kampala to Bwindi National Park

We pick you up from your hotel in Kampala and drive southwest, stopping at the Mpigi drum makers to watch ceremonial drums crafted using methods passed down through generations, then again at the equator for photos. We continue on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, checking in at Mahogany Springs for the night, full board.

Bwindi sits in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift, spanning 331 sq km across an altitude range of 1,160 to 2,607 metres, with average temperatures of 7°C to 20°C. The park holds roughly half the world's mountain gorilla population, managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, alongside 346 bird species and over 200 butterfly species, in a dense afromontane forest of ferns, vines, and shrubs.

Birders take note: Bwindi holds 90% of all Albertine Rift endemic species, with experienced birders logging up to 100 species in a single day around Ruhija and Buhoma.

Opened in 2011, Mahogany Springs offers some of the finest accommodation in Bwindi. Each of the eight cottages is spacious, with running hot and cold water, flushing toilets, and a private veranda overlooking the forest.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking, the Heart of This Bwindi Gorilla and Queen Elizabeth Safari

Enter the forest at dawn and take in the beauty and freshness of Bwindi. After a short briefing from your guides, you'll trek through dense bush in search of a habituated gorilla family, following the trail from where they nested the previous night. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. Return to Mahogany Springs for the night.

We recommend booking your gorilla trekking permit at least six months in advance, and up to two years ahead for peak season dates, to secure availability.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. The trek begins at 8:30 AM local time and can last anywhere from a few hours to most of the day, depending on the gorillas' location. Registration at the park gate starts at 7:45 AM.

What to bring:

• Sturdy jungle boots suitable for steep, muddy slopes
• A rain jacket, the forest is frequently wet
• Earplugs, if you're sensitive to jungle sounds
• Sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent
• A packed lunch

Park rules to know before your trek:

• No one with a communicable illness (flu, diarrhea, etc.) may enter the park
• Stay together as a group, don't surround the gorillas
• Keep a minimum distance of 7 metres (21 feet) from the gorillas
• No eating or smoking within 200 metres of the gorillas
• Turn away and cover your mouth if you need to cough or sneeze
• Bury human waste at least one foot deep and cover it properly
• Carry out all litter, nothing is left behind in the park
• Minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years
• Groups are limited to 8 visitors per gorilla family, all aged 15 or older

Day 3: Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a game drive en route in search of the famous tree-climbing lions. Continue on to Mweya Safari Lodge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, together with the Kyambura and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves, forms one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. Meltwater from the Rwenzori Mountains feeds a vast wetland system, including Lake George, Lake Edward, and the connecting Kazinga Channel, home to thousands of hippos. Open savannah supports elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, and large buffalo herds, alongside ten primate species including chimpanzees. The park holds more recorded bird species than any other in Africa.

Mweya Safari Lodge sits on a peninsula at the heart of the park, with sweeping views and some of the best birdwatching in East Africa.

Day 4: Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drive & Boat Cruise

An early 6:30 AM game drive through terrain that shifts from grassy plains to tropical forest, rivers, swamps, and volcanic craters, with strong chances of spotting buffaloes, lions, and elephants. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast.

After lunch, an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel brings you close to hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and waterbucks at the water's edge, alongside a wide variety of water birds and occasional crocodile sightings. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.

Game drives cover more than 200km of well-maintained tracks, including major Uganda kob breeding grounds. Watch for hungry lions on the hunt, giant forest hogs in the bush, elephant herds gathering at water in the heat of the day, and warthogs, a common sight around the Mweya Peninsula. The Crater Track leads toward the misty Rwenzori Mountains for some of the park's most dramatic scenery.

The Kazinga Channel boat cruise puts you eye to eye with yawning hippos and surrounded by resident and migratory water birds. Buffalo rest in the shallows while elephant herds drink and play along the banks, crocodiles are a common sight, and leopards are occasionally spotted along the shoreline.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala

In the morning, transfer back to Kampala via Fort Portal, arriving in the afternoon.

End of safari.

Continue Planning Your Trip

Want to add Kibale's chimpanzees to this route? Our 7-day Uganda gorilla & chimpanzee safari covers Bwindi, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth in one trip.

Explore more sample safari itineraries, use our Build My Safari tool to customize this trip, or contact us to check availability and pricing for your travel dates.

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