Gorilla Trekking & Queen Elizabeth Safari
The classic Uganda route: track mountain gorillas in Bwindi, see tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, and cruise the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Route Overview
This seven-day itinerary covers Uganda's two most popular parks in a single loop. You start and end in Entebbe or Kampala, heading southwest to Bwindi for gorilla trekking before continuing north through the Ishasha sector to the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It works year-round, though the dry seasons (June to September and December to February) offer the most comfortable trekking conditions.
Day 1: Arrive Entebbe / Kampala
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your flight time, spend the afternoon exploring the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or resting before the early start tomorrow. If you arrive in the evening, a straightforward airport transfer to your hotel is all you need.
Where to stay — Entebbe
- Budget:Karibu Guesthouse
- Mid-range:Protea Hotel Entebbe
- Luxury:Hotel No.5 Entebbe
Day 2: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The overland drive from Entebbe to Bwindi takes 8 to 9 hours via Mbarara and Kabale — long, but the scenery through the Ugandan highlands is spectacular. Alternatively, take a charter flight to Kihihi airstrip (about 1 hour), then drive 1.5 to 2 hours to your lodge. Arrive in the afternoon, settle in, and prepare for tomorrow's trek.
Where to stay — Bwindi (Buhoma sector)
- Budget:Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Mid-range:Buhoma Lodge
- Luxury:Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking
Report to the park headquarters by 7:30 am for the morning briefing. You will be assigned a gorilla family and set off with your ranger guide into the forest. The trek can last from 2 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are that day. Once you find them, you have one hour of observation — an experience most people describe as life-changing. Return to your lodge in the afternoon for a well-earned rest, or explore the Batwa cultural trail nearby.
Where to stay — same lodge as Day 2
- Budget:Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Mid-range:Buhoma Lodge
- Luxury:Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge
Day 4: Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha
Leave Bwindi after breakfast and drive north to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (3 to 4 hours). This remote southern section is famous for its tree-climbing lions — one of only two places in Africa where lions regularly climb fig trees. Enjoy an afternoon game drive through the Ishasha plains, looking for lions, elephants, and Uganda kob.
Where to stay — Ishasha
- Budget:Honey Bear Bushcamp
- Mid-range:Enjojo Lodge
- Luxury:Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Day 5: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari
Drive from Ishasha to the Mweya Peninsula area (about 2 hours within the park). In the morning, take a game drive through the Kasenyi Plains — one of the best areas in East Africa for spotting leopards, lions, and large herds of buffalo. In the afternoon, board a boat on the Kazinga Channel for a two-hour cruise past hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of waterbirds. This boat safari is consistently rated as one of Uganda's best wildlife experiences.
Where to stay — Queen Elizabeth (Mweya / Kasenyi area)
- Budget:Bush Lodge Queen Elizabeth
- Mid-range:Kasenyi Safari Camp
- Luxury:Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 6: Morning Game Drive, then Lake Bunyonyi or Kampala
Take one final early morning game drive — dawn is prime time for predator sightings. After brunch, you have two options. Option A: drive east to Lake Bunyonyi (about 5 hours), a stunning crater lake dotted with islands, perfect for a relaxing final night. Option B: begin the drive back toward Kampala (6 to 7 hours), breaking the journey at a stopover lodge.
Where to stay — Lake Bunyonyi (Option A)
- Budget:Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
- Mid-range:Birdnest Resort Lake Bunyonyi
- Luxury:Arcadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi
Day 7: Departure
If you stayed at Lake Bunyonyi, take a morning canoe ride before transferring to Kihihi airstrip for a domestic flight back to Entebbe (about 1 hour), or begin the 7 to 8 hour drive to the airport. If you drove to Kampala the previous day, transfer directly to Entebbe for your international departure.
Practical Tips
- Gorilla permit: $700 per person — book 3 to 6 months ahead for dry-season dates. See our gorilla permit guide.
- Best time: June to September and December to February for the driest trekking conditions.
- Domestic flights: A charter flight to Kihihi or Ishasha cuts a full day of driving each way.
- Budget estimate: $1,800 to $5,500 per person depending on lodge category and whether you fly or drive.
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