5 Days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari

The 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari is an interesting safari that will take you to the misty forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern part of Uganda where travelers will get an opportunity to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari will also take you to Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be able to view animals like the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, leopards, waterbucks, hippos among others during the game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga channel and Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest fresh water lake in Uganda.

Highlights of the 5 Days Uganda gorilla trekking and Queen Elizabeth safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Day 4: Gorilla trekking safari and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

Day 5: Morning boat cruise and departure to Kampala

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park

Depending on your location in Kampala or Entebbe on the first day of the 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will be picked by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Queen Elizabeth national park located in western part of Uganda. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours’ drive and on the way you will have a stopover at the Equator in Kayabwe where you will take photos, buy souvenirs and then continue the journey with another stopover in Mbarara town for lunch. After lunch, you will proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park and upon arrival you will go for an evening game drive in the park where you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks among others. After the evening game drive, you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury accommodation: Elephant plains lodge, Mweya safari lodge

Super midrange accommodation: Kikorongo safari lodge, Katara lodge

Midrange accommodation: Elephant hab lodge, Buffalo safari lodge

Budget accommodation: Queen Elizabeth Bush lodge, Simba safari camp, Pumba safari cottages

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Morning game drive/ Lion tracking experience and afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel

After having an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive/ lion tracking experience in Kasenyi plains where you will be able to view animals like elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, bush bucks, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, giant forest hogs, view different bird species among others. After the morning game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will go for an afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga channel a water body that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the boat cruise, you will be able to enjoy great views of the scenery, view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view animals like buffaloes, elephants, antelopes along the shores, water bird, view fishermen preparing their fishing gears among others. After the boat cruise, you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight as above.

Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park

After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with the driver guide to transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. On your way, you will have a stopover in Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the famous tree climbing lions during the game drive which will be lying up in acacia or fig tree branches. After the game drive, you will have en-route lunch and then continue the journey to Bwindi impenetrable national park. Upon arrival, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury accommodation: Buhoma lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Bwindi lodge, Ruhija gorilla lodge

Super midrange accommodation: Mahogany lodge, Silverback lodge,

Midrange accommodation:  Buhoma haven lodge, Engagi lodge, Gorilla mist camp

Budget accommodation: Buhoma community rest camp, Ruhija community ret camp

Meal plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

You will have an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 Days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari, carry packed lunch and then meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a gorilla family to trek, park rangers and an experienced park guide. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other wildlife species and once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.

After the one hour with the gorillas, you will return to the starting point where you will be given a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and then start the journey to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive with great scenic views on the way and stopovers to take photos and upon arrival, you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Luxury accommodation: Birdnest resort

Super midrange accommodation: Arcadia cottages Lake Bunyonyi

Midrange accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi overland resort

Budget accommodation: Lake Bunyonyi Eco resort

Meal plain: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Morning boat cruise and departure to Kampala

After breakfast on the last day of the 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for an interesting boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi where you will enjoy views of the farmlands, landscapes, explore the 29 islands including punishment island, kyahugye island, view different bird species among others. After the boat cruise, you will meet up with your driver guide and start the journey back to Kampala with en-route lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Kampala your driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe international airport for your departure flight or drop off at your hotel in Kampala.

End of 5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari

5 days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari includes

• Gorilla trekking permit
• Park entrance fees/Game drives
• Boat cruise fee
• Lion tracking experience
• Boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi
• Experienced English speaking driver guide
• Full board accommodation
• All meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Ground transport in a 4WD safari vehicle
• Vehicle and fuel
• Bottled drinking water

5 Days Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi safari excludes

• International air flight tickets
• Visas
• Optional activities and accommodation not included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses like such as laundry services, buying souvenirs, crafts, Alcoholic drinks, hiring a porter, tipping among others.