5 Days Gorillas & Wildlife from Kigali
Book the guided 5 Days Uganda gorillas & wildlife safari starting from Kigali Rwanda. Fly into Kigali and explore endangered mountain gorilla and wildlife in Uganda on this 5 Days trip. The safari takes you to Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park for mountain gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing and launch cruise experience. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in southwestern Uganda sheltering half of the world’s surviving endangered gorillas habituated into 17 gorilla families. Gorilla trekking is a major tourist activity in Bwindi Forest National Park and treks can be done in any of the four gorilla regions (Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo & Rushaga) that make up this impenetrable Forest Park. More so, Bwindi Forest is a Centre of mountain gorilla habituation experience where wild gorillas are trained and tamed to get used with human presence. Bwindi Forest is also home to over 350 bird species some of which are endemic to the Albertine region. You will also visit Batwa pygmies on your gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Regarding Queen Elizabeth National Park, it’s the second largest park in Uganda spreading over 1978 square kilometers of Land. The tour to Queen Elizabeth offers you exceptional game viewing experience and a launch cruise at Kazinga Channel. You shall start in Kigali Rwanda and end in Kampala Uganda.
Trip summary
Day 1: Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking & visit Batwa pygmies
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 4: Game viewing & launch cruise
Day 5: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Upon arrival at Kigali International airport, your driver guide representing our company will be waiting for you. After meet and greet, you will start off a drive through beautiful Kigali city and proceed to Rwanda Uganda border at Cyanika in Kisoro district. After clearances, cross over to Uganda and drive direct to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The drive time from Kigali to Bwindi is roughly 5 hours via rolling hills, Kigali city and local community villages. Spend an overnight at your lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking & visit Batwa pygmies
This is the great day to track the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. You will rise up very early, have breakfast and with your packed lunch transfer to the park headquarters depending on which gorilla region you are trekking in. You are expected to be at the park headquarters by 7:00am for pre gorilla trekking briefing and registration. Having been allocated a gorilla family to visit, start off the trek in the company of park rangers and a porter if you have any. Gorilla treks commence at 8:00am and can be as short as 30 minutes or even an entire day since the actual time is unpredictable. The magical encounter with mountain gorillas lasts for an hour but it’s worth it. Ensure to take photos, capture videos and have fun with these endangered primates. In the evening, you will visit batwa pygmies, the initial dwellers of Bwindi forest to learn about their traditions, customs and norms which make a unique tribe.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a relaxed morning breakfast at your lodge in Bwindi, check out and depart headed to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive between the two parks takes you through beautiful Kigezi highlands, local communities and farms. Have lunch enroute and connect to Queen Elizabeth via Ishasha sector in the southern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is home to the famous tree-climbing lions, which are not found anywhere else in the Pearl of Africa. Look up in the Acacia trees where you will see lions resting lazily in the afternoon. You will then drive straight to your lodge and relax for the rest of the evening
Day 4: Game viewing & launch cruise
In the early morning, go a guided game viewing experience to meet and explore various wild animals in the park. Game drives offer you exceptional chance to see predators hunting and grazers feeding in the savannah grasses of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your driver guide will help you spot animals from a distance. Given its wide area, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a high concentration of wild animals that include Elephants, Lions, Buffalos, Leopards, Hyenas, Hippos, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Warthogs, Impalas, Wild dogs, Serval cats and Topis among others. Return to the lodge for late lunch and relax at your lodge waiting to have lunch. In the afternoon, go for a boat cruise at Kazinga channel for a fresh breeze. The banks of Kazinga channel shelter a variety of birds and wild animals that you will definitely see. The 40 kilometers long Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and its one of the best places to enjoy launch cruise.
Day 5: Departure
Have breakfast and drive out of Queen Elizabeth National Park for your journey to Kampala.
Safari inclusions
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Park entrance fees
- Full time English speaking guide
- Accommodation & meals
- Bottled drinking water
- Launch cruises
- Government taxes
- Miscellaneous
- All activities included in the itinerary
Safari exclusions
- Visa fees
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Driver /guide tops
- Porter’s fee