5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Cultural Safari

5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Cultural Safari takes you on an adventurous and cultural experience to the Pearl of Africa. On these 5 days Uganda safari, you will get to track the rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and also see stunning wildlife in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Highlights of the 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Cultural Safari

Day 1: Pick up in Kampala and City Tour.
Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi & Batwa Community Tour.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 5: Lion Tracking Experience & Transfer back to Kampala.

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pickup in Kampala and City Tour.

Pickup & Kampala City Tour: Today marks the beginning of your 5 days Bwindi Gorillas & Cultural Safari in Uganda. Meet up with your guide at a pickup station of your choice either upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport or at your hotel in Kampala City. You will then embark on a short tour around Kampala city where you will visit interest historical and cultural sites like the Kabaka’s (King) Palace in Bulange-Mengo, the Uganda Museum, Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, and Ndeere Cultural Center. You will also take a stroll around some shopping malls and local markets in the city such as; Nakasero Market, Acacia Mall, Kingdom Kampala and Craft Village among others.

Later drive back to your hotel for dinner and accommodation.

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi National Park.

Transfer to Bwindi: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your hotel. You will then meet up with your guide and proceed with your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district, about 460 kilometers from Kampala city. You will have a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe where you will take a few pictures. You will have another stopover at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara city where you will have lunch. Proceed with your drive to Bwindi where upon your arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Trail Experience.

Gorilla Trekking: Have breakfast very early at you lodge as your guide will pick you up at 6am. You will embark on a short journey to the Parks headquarters in Buhoma or the southern part of the park depending on which gorilla group you are going to track. You are supposed to be at Buhoma at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger which will begin at 8am and then you will be put in groups of 8 individuals per group depending on the gorilla group you are going to track. Tracking begins at exactly 8:30 am hence endeavor to always keep time.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a total of 15 habituated gorilla groups that are tracked from four trailheads. Of these 15 habituated gorilla groups, 3 are found in Buhoma area in the northwest part of the park; while 4 gorilla groups are situated in Ruhija in the eastern part of Bwindi and 8 gorilla groups in Nkuringo and Rushaga respectively, located south of Bwindi.
Each tracking group consists of strictly eight individuals with each group having a park guide and ranger. Tracking can take about 1- 8 hours or more depending how easily and quick the gorillas are spotted. Once you have located a gorilla group, you will be given exactly an hour with them. After your gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest, you will be given time to have your packed lunch in case your carried some from your lodge.
Batwa Trail Experience: The Batwa trail experience is one of the most interesting and adventurous activities that are conducted in the park. This hiking experience is conducted by local Batwa guides in Bwindi impenetrable forest. You will get to learn a lot including how to hunt using tradition hunting tools and methods, how to use herbs to medicinal purposes and so much more. You will have an opportunity to interact with some of the Batwa local, who are also referred to as Pygmies. Head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Transfer to Queen: Wake in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Check out of your lodge and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kasese district. It is one of the most visited savannahs national parks in the country and the best for view lots of wildlife species in Uganda. It takes about 2 hours to get to the park from Bwindi.
Lion Tracking Experience: Upon your arrival in the park, you will embark on a lion tracking experience in the park. You will have an opportunity to see the famous tree-climbing lions of Queen, which can be found in the Ishasha sector. You will be accompanied by a park ranger and a team of expert researchers as you search for lions using advanced location tracking devices. This activity will give you the opportunity to have an up close view of the lions. The lion tracking experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on the location of the lions in the park. After your tracking experience, drive back to your lodge for lodge and rest for a while.

Afternoon Boat Cruise: After you have had your lunch and rested, you will then meet up with you guide and head out for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 1pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may sight lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Morning Game Drive & Transfer back to Kampala.

Morning Game Drive: Have an early morning breakfast and proceed on a morning game drive in the park which begins at 6am. This morning game drive will give you a great chance to view nocturnal animals like leopards, serval cats and other wildlife such as African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart beasts, giraffes, zebras and many more. Queen Elizabeth National Park is blessed with over 612 bird species thus making it a great destination for birding activities. While on your game drive, you may spot birds like the African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shoebill stock, the great flamingos and Pink- backed pelicans. You will then drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Transfer back to Kampala: After lunch you will drive back to Kampala where your guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice in Kampala or at the Airport in Entebbe in time to check-in and board your flight back home.

End of Tour.