5 Days Gorillas, Wildlife And Lake Bunyonyi Safari

Your adventure begins upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport (or pick-up from your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala). Your friendly English-speaking driver-guide will meet you with a warm welcome and a signboard bearing your name.

We then set off on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular and diverse wildlife destinations. The park is home to a remarkable variety of habitats, supporting over 95 mammal species—including elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, and leopards—plus 10 primate species (such as chimpanzees) and more than 600 bird species.

Enjoy a relaxed journey through Uganda’s beautiful countryside, with stops for photos and a delicious lunch en route at a local restaurant.

Arrive at the park in the late afternoon. Check into your accommodation (such as Pumba Safari Cottages or similar) and unwind with stunning views over the savanna.

If time and energy allow, we’ll head out for a short evening game drive to spot your first wildlife—elephants, Uganda kob, warthogs, and perhaps even lions—before returning for dinner and a peaceful night under the African stars.

Start your day at Pumba Safari Cottages in the Kyambura area, perched on the escarpment with stunning views over Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enjoy breakfast while watching for elephants at the waterhole below or soaking in the peaceful savanna sunrise.

After breakfast, check out and depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This scenic transfer takes approximately 4–5 hours (about 150–180 km), often routed south through the Ishasha sector for a chance to spot the famous tree-climbing lions lounging in fig trees. Keep an eye out for Uganda kob, elephants, buffalo, and perhaps an elusive leopard along the way.

The drive features a mix of park tracks and rural roads—gravel and murram sections can be bumpy, so a sturdy 4x4 vehicle is essential (especially in rainy seasons). Wind through charming villages, lush banana plantations, rolling hills, and forested landscapes. You may spot baboons, colobus monkeys, or even forest elephants crossing the path.

The route typically passes via Kihihi town before descending into the northern Buhoma sector of Bwindi—the most direct and convenient entry point from Queen Elizabeth.

Arrive in Buhoma by early to mid-afternoon and check into your lodge. Settle in with a relaxing lunch or afternoon tea, unwind on your veranda with rainforest views, and prepare for tomorrow's gorilla trekking adventure. This day perfectly transitions from Queen Elizabeth's open savanna wildlife to Bwindi's misty, ancient rainforest—one of Uganda's most rewarding safari journeys.

Embark on your morning adventure in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, searching for the famous tree-climbing lions lounging in the fig trees. Keep an eye out for Uganda kob, elephants, and perhaps an elusive leopard.

Then depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This rewarding route leads directly to the northern Buhoma sector—the closest and most convenient entry point from Ishasha.

The drive spans about 60–70 km and takes roughly 2–3 hours. The roads are scenic yet unpaved, featuring gravel and murram surfaces that can turn bumpy—especially in the rainy season. A sturdy 4x4 vehicle is essential for a smooth journey.

Wind through charming rural villages, lush banana plantations, rolling valleys, and forested hills. You may spot baboons, black-and-white colobus monkeys, or even forest elephants crossing the path.

The route passes via Kihihi town before descending into the Buhoma area.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge—options range from luxury eco-lodges like Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp or Mahogany Springs to comfortable mid-range and community-run stays.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch or afternoon tea. Take time to unwind and prepare for tomorrow's gorilla trekking experience.

Buhoma provides easy access to several habituated gorilla families, with briefings usually held at the sector headquarters.

Begin early with breakfast at your lodge. Then head to the UWA rangers’ station in Buhoma for the morning briefing. Your ranger guide will explain trekking rules, gorilla behavior, and safety tips.

Next, enter the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for your gorilla trek. The duration and terrain vary depending on the gorilla family’s movements. Eexpect anything from 2 to 7 hours of hiking through steep, muddy trails. Once you locate the habituated group, enjoy a magical one hour observing these gentle giants up close as they feed, play, and rest.

Return to the lodge for a quick lunch (or packed option) and a well-deserved rest. Then check out and depart for Lake Bunyonyi (approximately 2–3 hours scenic drive, 80–100 km).

Arrive at Africa’s deepest crater lake in the late afternoon. Marvel at the breathtaking landscape: lush, terraced hills rising to 2,200–2,478 meters and dotted with 29 unique islands scattered across the calm waters. Check into your lakeside accommodation, relax with stunning views, and enjoy dinner as the sun sets over this peaceful paradise

Start your final day with a peaceful breakfast at your lakeside lodge, enjoying breathtaking views of the beautiful little islands dotting Lake Bunyonyi right in front of you. Soak in the serene atmosphere one last time—perhaps with a cup of coffee as the morning mist lifts over the terraced hills.

After breakfast, check out and begin the scenic drive back to Entebbe International Airport (approximately 7–8 hours, 420 km). The journey winds through southwestern Uganda’s rolling hills, farmlands, and charming small towns.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch break at the Equator crossing—step into both hemispheres at once, capture fun photos with the equator marker, and perhaps shop for souvenirs or enjoy a quick coffee.

Continue onward, arriving in Entebbe in the late afternoon or early evening, perfectly timed for your departure flight (or an overnight if needed).