Uganda: 5-Day Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Kampala
Drive Seven Hours Into Forest, Then Track Mountain Gorillas for a Day
You trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi's forest, boat across Lake Bunyonyi, drive through Queen Elizabeth spotting lions and elephants, cruise the Kazinga Channel among hippos and pelicans, and track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge before returning to Kampala. An English-speaking driver guide handles all transfers and logistics, and gorilla permits are included. The pace is steady and the terrain is hilly.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Breakfast in Kampala
- Briefing by driver guide
- Drive to Bwindi via Kabale
- Stop at Uganda’s Equator for photos
- Evening nature walk to Munyaga Waterfall
- See primates like Grey Cheeked Mangabey
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking and Lake Bunyonyi
- Morning briefing at park headquarters
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest
- Drive to Lake Bunyonyi via Kigezi Highlands
- Boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi
- Enjoy views of islands and birdlife
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park
- Early breakfast and check out
- Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Experience tree climbing lions in Ishasha
- Lunch and relaxation at lodge
- Afternoon game drive in park
- Return to lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 4: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise
- Breakfast at lodge
- Morning game drive for wildlife viewing
- Return to lodge for lunch and rest
- Afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- View hippos, buffaloes, pelicans, and birds
- Dinner and evening at lodge
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Return to Kampala
- Transfer to Kyambura Gorge
- Chimpanzee tracking safari
- Return to lodge for lunch
- Drive back to Kampala
- Stop at Equator for photos and shopping
- Arrive in Kampala in evening
What’s included
Your five days include hotel pickup from Kampala, all transfers between destinations, one gorilla permit, English-speaking driver guide throughout, accommodation at three lodges, afternoon and morning game drives in Queen Elizabeth, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura Gorge, evening nature walk to Munyaga Waterfall on arrival, and one bottle of distilled water per day. Meals and park entry fees beyond the gorilla permit are not included.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Friendly Africa Safaris
Prices and times updated 12 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
You're driving out of Kampala before dawn, heading west through the rolling hills of Kabale (the Switzerland of Uganda, locals call it) toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The road climbs and winds for about seven hours, and somewhere in the middle you stop at the equator for a photo. By evening you're walking into the forest itself, down to Munyaga Waterfall, where grey-cheeked mangabeys and blue monkeys move through the canopy above you. That first night you sleep at Rafiki Gorilla Lodge, still in the sound of the forest.
The gorilla trekking day starts early. You're at park headquarters by 8am for the briefing, then assigned to a gorilla family. The trek itself is steep and dense, moving through thick vegetation on hillside terrain, and it takes as long as it takes. When you find the family, you get an hour with them. After that, you drive east toward Lake Bunyonyi, a crater lake ringed with islands, and take a boat out across the water in the afternoon. The Kigezi Highlands rise around you, and you see local canoes moving between the islands. That's where you stay the second night.
Day three is the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, moving through the Ishasha sector where tree-climbing lions sometimes rest in the branches. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive (elephants, lions, leopards, warthogs, antelopes), then settle into your lodge. The next morning you're out again before the animals bed down from the night hunt, and after breakfast and a rest, you change your camera batteries because the Kazinga Channel boat trip is the centerpiece. The channel runs 40 kilometers between Lake Edward and Lake George, and it's crowded with hippos, buffaloes, pelicans, and birds. The boat moves slowly so you can shoot, and the shoreline is thick with wildlife.
On the final day you're transferred to Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking (an hour with the chimps in their own territory), then you drive back to Kampala, stopping again at the equator for last-minute shopping. You arrive in the evening. The whole trip is five days and four nights, and you're moving every day, so pack light and bring good walking shoes.
Is this one for you?This safari suits travelers who want to see mountain gorillas and African wildlife in one trip without arranging permits, transport, or timing themselves: the fixed five-day structure and included guide handle all the logistics, which is what makes both Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth possible in a single journey.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (13 to 17 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.
How long is the drive from Kampala to Bwindi?
About seven hours, with a stop at the equator.
What is included in the price?
Gorilla permit, all transfers, English-speaking driver guide, and one bottle of distilled water per day.
Do I need my own accommodation?
No. Lodging is included: Rafiki Gorilla Lodge near Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, and Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge.
How much time do you spend with the gorillas?
One hour with the gorilla family after you find them. The trek itself can take several hours depending on where the family is that day.
What is the Kazinga Channel boat trip like?
A slow cruise along a 40-kilometer channel between two lakes, where you see hippos, buffaloes, pelicans, and wading birds from the boat.
Is there chimpanzee tracking?
Yes, on the final morning at Kyambura Gorge, for about an hour before the drive back to Kampala.
What time do I need to be ready each day?
Early mornings are standard: gorilla tracking briefing is at 8am, and game drives start before sunrise.
Can I do this if I have mobility concerns?
The gorilla trek is steep and involves hiking through forest terrain. The itinerary is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. You should have at least moderate physical fitness.
Uganda: 5-Day Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Kampala
5d · EN
from US$ 2,228.72 per person
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