5 Days Kibale Queen and Bwindi Safari : Queen Elizabeth National Park is approximately 376kms away from Kampala and sits on 1978sq.km of land area in Western Uganda. This is one of the best Uganda safari parks to see the big mammals like elephants, buffaloes, lions plus the tree-climbing lions, leopards; over 620 bird species; 10 primates, etc. It is the most accessible park from Kampala of the 10 Uganda National Parks.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best destinations that make up the Southwestern safari circuit in Uganda, sitting on an area of 331sq.km and largely comprised of a tropical rainforest. The park is mostly explored for Mountain gorilla trekking – being a home to over 459 of the 1063 world’s mountain gorilla population.
While in Bwindi, trekking with mountain gorillas commences from either Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga-the 4 main trailheads or gorilla trekking regions found in Bwindi forest. Your 5 days Uganda safari to Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi begins and ends in Kampala.
Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – evening game drive
- Day 3: Ishasha game drive – transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 5: Transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Kibale National Park – Bigodi swamp walk
Depending on your location in Kampala, meet your safari guide and transfer to Kibale forest national park. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route lunch in Fort portal town. Proceed to Kibale forest to Bigodi wetland for a nature walk and be rewarded with views of different bird species and some of the available primates. Connect to your reserved lodge with en-route visit of crater lakes before you check-in at your booked lodge for evening relaxation and overnight stay at Chimpanzee forest guest house for budget/Chimpundu Lodge for luxury option/Primates Lodge for mid-range
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – evening game drive
Have early morning breakfast and go for briefing and start Chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking. Kibale’s 795km2 National Park contains one of the most beautiful and with the most varying tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda. This is place to a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primate coupled with chimpanzees.
After trekking, have lunch and proceed to Queen Elizabeth national park which is a 3-4 hours’ drive, arriving in Queen Elizabeth national park late afternoon and connect for an evening game drive in Kasenyi area. Thereafter, proceed to check-in your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight at Elephant Hub Lodge for mid-range/Pumba Safari Cottages for budget/Elephant Plains Lodge for luxury
Day 3: Ishasha game drive – 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 impenetrable national park. Arrive in the park late afternoon and connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget/Buhoma Haven lodge for mid-range/Mahogany Springs Lodge for luxury
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
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 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 5: Transfer back to Kampala
Wake up early and enjoy your breakfast. Later meet with the guide/driver for your long day transfer back to Kampala. This journey takes 8-9 hours on road including en routes. Arrive in Entebbe and proceed to the airport for your return flight back home. End of 5 Days Gorilla safari.
