7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari (Bwindi, Lake Mburo & Queen)

7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari: Explore the best highlights of Uganda on a 7 days Bwindi, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth Safari. Explore one of the oldest and most beautiful tropical rain forests in the western part of Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You will have close and incredible encounters with the rare Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; and view stunning wildlife in Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.

Highlights of the 7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari

• Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Bwindi National Park.
• Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Trail Experience.
• Day 3: Morning Boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi & Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.
• Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise.
• Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Day 6: Morning Game Drive & Community Tour.
• Day 7: Transfer Back to Kampala.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Bwindi National Park.

Pickup & Transfer to Bwindi: On Day 1 of your 7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari, your guide will pick you up from your preferred pickup location which could be from your hotel in Kampala or upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport. You will then proceed with your transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you are scheduled to do gorilla trekking from. The drive to Bwindi national park from Kampala can take between 5 to 7 hours depending on which section of the park you will be tracking the mountain gorillas. You will have a stopover at the equator monuments in Kayabwe and then drive to Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara for lunch. Proceed with your transfer to Bwindi where upon your arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation. 

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Trail Experience.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: 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.

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. You will be given time to have your lunch in case you packed some from your lodge before setting off.

Batwa Trail Experience: After your gorilla trekking experience, you will embark on the Batwa Trail Experience in the forest. You will be guided by local Batwa guides who have vast knowledge and experience of the forest. You will be taught some of their hunting techniques, making of traditional herbal medicines and so much more. Head back to base where you will be given your gorilla trekking certificate and then reconnect with your guide/driver.

Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Morning Boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi & Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park.

Morning Boat Ride on Lake Bunyonyi: Have your breakfast in the morning and meet up with your guide who will drive you to Lake Bunyonyi, which is located in Kabale district in the southwestern part of Uganda. The lake happens to be the third deepest lake in the world, and it is popular for its 29 islands. You will take a boat ride on one of the traditional canoes and explore some of the popular islands on the lake such as ‘the punishment island,’ where young women long ago were abandoned to in isolation when they got pregnant out of wedlock. The lake is also rich with a variety of bird species, which you can get to view during your tour. Have lunch by the lakeside at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort.

Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park: After having your lunch, you will transfer to Lake Mburo national park. It is Uganda’s smallest savannah national, spanning over a radius of 370 square kilometers. The park is situated about 3 hours’ drive from Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Mburo national park in Uganda is home to over 315 bird species and about 68 mammal species. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and rest for the afternoon.

Night Game Drive: Later in the evening after you have had your dinner, you will meet up with your guide and head out for a night game drive in the park. Night game drives in Lake Mburo national park will give you an opportunity to view wildlife animals that are rarely seen in the park during the day. Night game drives in the park last between 2-3 hours and must be accompanied by a park guide/ranger.

Drive back to your lodge for an overnight.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Launch Cruise.

Morning Game Drive: Wake up in the morning and take breakfast at your lodge. Meet up with your guide and take a morning game drive and encounter zebras, buffalo, elands, and impalas along with a great variety of birds. Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park can take between 1 to 2 hours of spectacular wildlife viewing. Head back to your lodge for lunch and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Afternoon Launch Cruise: After having a delicious meal at your lodge, head out for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo. Boat cruises in the park commence for the dock at Rwonyo, and usually take 1- 2 hours and offers you great sights such as; crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and some bird species such as; the white egret, fish eagles, kingfishers and Shoebill stock. The boat leaves Rwonyo every 2 hours starting from 8am.

Horseback Riding (Optional): If you still wish to explore the park more, you can opt to embark on a horseback riding safari in the park. Horseback riding safaris in the park are ideal for viewing wildlife such as eland, zebra and buffalo. Also commonly sighted are warthogs, topi, impala, duiker, bushbuck, and waterbucks to mention but a few. The four hour rides take visitors up to hilltop viewpoints with an option of a sundowner.

Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and an over night.

Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Transfer to Queen: Have your breakfast in the morning and exit the park. You will then drive Queen Elizabeth National Park. It takes about 5 hours driving from Lake Mburo to Queen Elizabeth national park. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch.

Afternoon Boat Cruise: After having your lunch, head out for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The boat cruise starts at exactly 2pm and can take approximately 2 hours. During your boat cruise, you may sight lots of wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks and some species of birds like the great flamingos, Shoebill stock, Ibis and so many others.

Later retire back to your lodge for dinner and rest for the remainder of the evening.

Night Game Drive: After your dinner, you will embark on a night game drive in the park. Night Game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park are ideal for viewing nocturnal wildlife animals such as; lions, cheetah, jackals, bush backs, and hyenas to mention but a few. All visitors on a night game drive in the park must be accompanied by a park ranger.

Drive back to your lodge for an overnight.

Day 6: Morning Game Drive & Community Tour.

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 the stunning wildlife in the park like; African savannah elephants, hyenas, Uganda Kobs, heart beasts, giraffes, zebras and many more. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to 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. Game drives in the park usually take between 2-3 hours or more depending on which areas of the park you are exploring. Later drive back to your lodge lunch.

Community Tour: Later in the evening you can head out for a tour to one of the neighboring communities outside the national park. You will get an opportunity to mingle with the locals in these communities and learn more about their interesting cultures.

Later have dinner and accommodation at your lodge.

Day 7: Transfer Back to Kampala.

Transfer back to Kampala: After having your breakfast, you will proceed with your transfer back to Kampala. Upon your arrival in Kampala, you will embark on a short tour of the city where you can visit some interesting places in the city like the Uganda museum, Craft village and shopping malls like Kingdom Kampala and Acacia Mall among others. Later have your guide drop you off at any 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 the 7 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Safari