6 Day Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorilla Safari

OVERVIEW

This safari is the classic Uganda combo: savannah wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park and mountain gorillas in Bwindi. It’s the best ‘short but complete’ route for travellers who want big game and primates in one trip. The pacing is realistic: Queen Elizabeth gets proper time for both game drives and the Kazinga Channel, then you transition south through Ishasha before trekking the gorillas. After the trek, you leave — no filler day pretending to be essential.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe and meet your private guide. Tonight is a calm reset near Lake Victoria before heading west tomorrow. A buffer night keeps the safari from starting in a rush and improves the overall flow.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Hotel No.5

Mid-range: The Boma Hotel

Budget: ViaVia Guest House

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive west through tea country and crater‑lake landscapes, then descend into the Rift Valley as Queen Elizabeth opens into wide savannah. Arrive late afternoon and take a first game drive — elephants, buffalo and antelope are common, and sunset light makes the plains look unreal.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge

Mid-range: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

Budget: Bush Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Start early on the Kasenyi plains where kob herds and predator tracks shape the morning’s story.

In the afternoon, cruise the Kazinga Channel for close‑range wildlife: hippos, crocodiles, elephants and dense birdlife along the banks.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge

Mid-range: Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

Budget: Bush Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Ishasha Sector to Bwindi

Travel south through Ishasha scanning fig trees for the iconic tree‑climbing lions that make this sector famous.

Continue into Bwindi’s highlands and settle into your lodge on the forest edge, ready for tomorrow’s trek.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Mid-range: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Gorilla Trekking & Optional Afternoon Add‑On

After the ranger briefing you trek into Bwindi with trackers. The search can be quick or it can take hours — that uncertainty is part of what makes it real.

Your hour with the gorillas is the point of the journey. If you return early enough, add a short community‑led cultural visit (optional). Otherwise, rest — the trek is physically and emotionally demanding.

Accommodation:

Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Mid-range: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 – Return to Entebbe

After breakfast you begin the drive back to Entebbe, descending from the highlands into central Uganda’s rolling countryside.

Stop at the Equator for photos and lunch, then continue to Entebbe for your departure.