This 4-day Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth safari combines primate encounters with a classic savannah wildlife experience. The trip begins with a drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi National Park, home to the rare and endangered mountain gorillas. Here you will trek into the forest for a close encounter with these gentle animals.
The journey continues to Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions, the Kazinga Channel, large numbers of hippos, elephants, buffalos, and many bird species, including migratory ones. This short safari blends primates, wildlife, and culture with scenic landscapes along the way.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi National Park
Your driver guide will meet you at the agreed point in Kampala or Entebbe and start the journey to Bwindi National Park. The drive takes about 7 hours and includes a stop at the Uganda equator crossing.
Along the way, enjoy views of tea plantations, terraced hillsides, and local villages. On arrival in Bwindi, home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, carry enough drinking water and some snacks, then head to the park offices for a briefing. Rangers will check permits, explain trekking rules, and assign gorilla families and guides.
Begin the trek with the help of guides and escorts. Along the way, you may see birds, butterflies, and forest plants. Trekking can take 5 to 6 hours, including one hour spent with the gorillas. Watch them as they play, feed, rest, or care for their young. Take photos for memories.
Later, return to your lodge for lunch, check out, and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will spend the night.
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth
Start the day with a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains to look for lions, elephants, buffalos, warthogs, leopards, Uganda kobs, and waterbucks. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. Here you will see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and many bird species such as pelicans, fish eagles, skimmers, and hamerkops. Each activity lasts about 2 hours.
Day 4: Return to Kampala or Entebbe
After breakfast, you may choose to have an optional game drive before starting the journey back. Pass through Fort Portal, Uganda’s tourism city, and enjoy views of tea estates, banana gardens, and the Rwenzori mountain ranges. On arrival in Kampala or Entebbe, you will be dropped off at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of your safari.
