Overview
Five Days in the Pearl of Africa
Uganda delivers extraordinary wildlife density and diversity. This 5-day itinerary pairs its two most celebrated experiences — gorilla trekking in Bwindi and classic savannah game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Uganda's gorilla permits are significantly more affordable than Rwanda's ($700 vs $1,500), making this one of the best-value gorilla experiences available.
Plan a Better Uganda Trip
Use these essentials to understand how Uganda fits your travel style, season and route.
-Trip style
Adventure-led gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris
-Best for
Uganda gorilla trekking, Bwindi safaris, wildlife and primate combinations
-Best time to visit
June – September and December – February for drier trekking and game viewing.
-Top places
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park
Itinerary
Arrival Entebbe & Transfer to Bwindi
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport. Scenic drive or charter flight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Settle into your forest lodge. Evening briefing on gorilla trekking protocol.
-Flight to Bwindi or scenic drive
-Forest lodge check-in
-Gorilla trek briefing
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Early breakfast. Trek through the ancient forest — Bwindi's terrain is steeper and wilder than Rwanda's Volcanoes. One extraordinary hour with a gorilla family. Afternoon community walk to visit a local Batwa village.
-Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
-One hour with gorillas
-Batwa community visit
Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Morning at leisure. Drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector — famous for its tree-climbing lions. Game drive en route searching for lions draped over fig tree branches.
-Tree-climbing lion search
-Scenic transfer through Ishasha
-Kazinga Channel views
Full Day Queen Elizabeth
Dawn game drive tracking lions, elephants, buffalo and Uganda kob across the Kasenyi Plains. Afternoon boat safari on the Kazinga Channel — hippos, crocodiles, buffalo at the water's edge and elephants coming to drink. Extraordinary birdlife.
-Dawn game drive
-Kazinga Channel boat safari
-Hippos and elephants at water's edge
Chimpanzee Trek & Return to Entebbe
Dawn chimpanzee trek in the Kyambura Gorge — the Valley of Apes. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Transfer back to Entebbe, stopping for lunch en route.
-Chimpanzee trek Kyambura Gorge
-Return to Entebbe
Useful Information
- Visa process descriptions
- Visa Prices, or similar
- Is Bwindi more challenging than Volcanoes (Rwanda)? Generally yes. Bwindi's terrain is steeper and the forest is denser. Most treks take 3-6 hours on hilly, often muddy trails. The experience is correspondingly more adventurous. Porters are available and strongly recommended.
- Why Travelers Choose Uganda for Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Uganda feels wilder and more varied than many travelers expect, blending primate experiences, river landscapes, savannah wildlife and a slightly more adventurous atmosphere. Uganda is wild, green, and richly biodiverse. From gorillas in the mist to tree-climbing lions, it rewards curious travelers.