7 Days Bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park safari
7 Days Bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park safari : This 7 Days Safari features Bwindi Impenetrable national park, the world’s habitant for half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world offering visitors the best experience of gorillas with a maximum adventure for both habituated and semi-habituated gorilla families. These experiences are both different and unique providing interested visitors more time with the mountain gorillas. It involves gorilla trekking in 3 different trekking sectors each with its unique feature that is the Buhoma sector which is the oldest trekking sector, Rushaga sector with the highest number gorilla families and Nyakagezi sector which shares location with the gorillas in Rwanda on Virunga Mountains.
Queen Elizabeth national park has a massive biodiversity with landscape including bushland, savannah, wetland and lush vegetation. The park covers an area of 1,978 square kilometers and was first founded in 1952 as Kazinga national park however later after the visit of Queen Elizabeth 11; it was renamed Queen Elizabeth national park. The park inhabits about 95 mammal species including the big 4 game (Lions, Leopards, buffaloes, and Elephants), other animals including; hyenas, hippos, waterbucks, Oribi to mention a few and over 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by 2 lakes including Lake Albert and Lake Edward which support water activities like boat cruises, and fishing activities. This 7 days Uganda Safaris plan starts and ends in Uganda – Entebbe airport
Safari highlights
- Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
- Day 2: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
- Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Buhoma sector
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience – Rushaga sector
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience – Nyakageri sector
- Day 7: Transfer to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park
Depending on your location in Kampala, you will be picked-up by our company representative/guide who will then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-routes at the stopover at the equator, proceed for lunch in Mbarara town. On arrival in the park, you will proceed and visit the crater lakes and check in your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Mweya Safari Lodge
- Mid-range option: Parkview Safari lodge
- Budget option: Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 2: Lion tracking/morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise.
On the 2nd day of your 7 Days Bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park safari, wake up early, have your delicious breakfast, meet your guide, and drive to the Kasenyi area where you will hand over to the research team for a lion tracking experience. This experience is only carried out in Queen Elizabeth national park where you are guaranteed to view the lions. You will get an opportunity to come close to a pride of lions. You will also connect to a game drive for chances of finding some of the park’s habitats like the Buffaloes, elephants, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and other types of Antelopes.
Return for lunch at your lodge, before you return to the park for a boat cruise that will take you along the Kazinga channel. The lakes have the highest concentration of hippos and other animals drinking at the water’s edge, also good for bird watching. The cruise also offers a good platform for photography, bird watching, and games. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
After breakfast early in the morning, transfer to Ishasha sector for an opportunity to spot the tree climbing lions, have lunch then after embark your 4-5 hours journey to Bwindi national park. Arrive in the park late afternoon and connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany springs Lodge
- Mid-range option: Buhoma Haven lodge
- Budget option: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Buhoma sector
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking by a local guide. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at a very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting for you.
Transfer to another sector of Bwindi for your second gorilla trekking experience. It is a 3 hours’ drive to connect to the other side of Bwindi forest. Check-in at your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge /Chameleon Hill Lodge
- Mid-range option: Ichumbi Gorilla lodge
- Budget option: Rushaga Gorilla Camp
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience – Rushaga sector
On the 5th day of your 7 Days Bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park safari, after having breakfast, drive to park headquarters for yet another gorilla trekking experience, visiting another gorilla family in Rushaga sector. The procedure for gorilla trekking is all the same in all sectors. After trekking, transfer to Kisoro closer to Mgahinga national park. It’s a 2 hours’ drive from Rushaga sector to Kisoro. Dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: Lake Mutanda Resort/Gahinga Lodge
- Mid-range option: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
- Budget option: Travellers Rest Camp
Day 6: Gorilla trekking – Nyakagezi sector (Mgahinga National Park)
Have breakfast and transfer you to park offices for briefing about Mountain Gorilla trekking. The time taken is usually between 2-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Meeting the gorillas unexpectedly is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences. You will have a chance to observe and take pictures at very close range. You will observe adults feeding and groaning among themselves. After an hour with the long-awaited gorillas, your guide and rangers will lead you back to the starting point where your driver will readily be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a restful evening.
Day 7: Transfer to Kampala
On the last day of your 7 Days Bwindi forest and Queen Elizabeth national park safari , Wake up and enjoy your breakfast. Meet your driver to drive back to Kampala. It’s an 8-9 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in Mbarara town. You will be dropped off at a location you will advise. End of 7 Days Uganda Safari
