5 Day Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari from Kigali
5 Days – 4 Nights
5 Day Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari from Kigali
Overview
This 5-day Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari from Kigali is the perfect blend of thrilling primate encounters and classic African safari experiences. Starting from Kigali, Rwanda, this route offers quicker access to Uganda’s top attractions—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for big game viewing and boat safaris along the scenic Kazinga Channel.
This adventure is ideal for travelers short on time but eager to experience Uganda’s wild beauty, from misty mountain jungles to open savannah teeming with elephants, lions, and hippos.
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5 Days/ 4 Nights
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Uganda
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Guided, Private Safari
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Airport TransfersCar hireServices of an English-speaking guideRefreshments like waterAll accommodation & MealsAll activitiesAll Taxes /VATA professional driver /guideFuelGorilla permitDrinking water
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Tips and gratuitiesAll items of personal natureInternational flightsAlcoholic drinks
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali – Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (via Genocide Memorial)
Your journey begins in Kigali, Rwanda, where your professional safari guide will pick you up from your hotel or the airport. Before crossing into Uganda, you’ll visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a moving tribute to Rwanda’s past and its path to peace and healing.
From Kigali, enjoy a scenic drive through rolling hills, terraced farms, and rural countryside. You’ll cross into Uganda and continue toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Africa’s most biodiverse and awe-inspiring rainforests.
Arrive in the late afternoon or evening and settle into your lodge in the southern sector of Bwindi—Rushaga or Nkuringo—depending on gorilla permit allocation.
Drive Time: Approx. 4–5 hours (with border crossing and stops)
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge / Bakiga Lodge
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Optional Cultural or Nature Activity
Today is your gorilla trekking day, and it’s likely to be one of the most powerful wildlife encounters you’ll ever have. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing. Your ranger will explain the rules and assign your group a gorilla family.
You’ll then hike into the thick jungle, guided by trackers and rangers. The trek can last anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Once you find them, you’ll spend a magical hour observing the gorilla family up close—watching them feed, groom, and interact in their natural habitat.
After the trek, return to your lodge to rest. If you still have energy in the afternoon, you can choose an optional cultural activity such as a village walk, Batwa pygmy experience, or a visit to a local craft center.
Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge / Bakiga Lodge
Meals: Full board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Evening Game Drive
After breakfast, set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most visited wildlife reserve. The drive offers scenic views of the Kigezi Highlands and distant volcanoes. Upon entering the park via the southern Ishasha sector (optional upgrade for tree-climbing lion viewing), continue north to the Mweya Peninsula.
In the late afternoon, head out for an evening game drive in the Mweya sector. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and—if lucky—lions and leopards beginning their evening hunt.
Drive Time: Approx. 4–5 hours
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge
Meals: Full board
Day 4: Morning Game Drive – Afternoon Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel
Start your day with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, where predators like lions are often spotted as they stalk antelope herds in the golden light of dawn. You’ll also likely see elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, and perhaps a glimpse of a hyena or leopard.
After lunch at the lodge, embark on a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. This relaxing ride is one of the best ways to observe hippos, Nile crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species, including kingfishers, African fish eagles, and pink-backed pelicans. Elephants and buffalo often come to the water to drink—so keep your camera ready.
Accommodation: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Elephant Hab Lodge
Meals: Full board
Day 5: Return to Kigali – End of Safari
After a relaxed breakfast and checkout, begin your return journey to Kigali, Rwanda. Enjoy scenic countryside views and perhaps stop along the way for photos or local crafts. Your guide will drop you at your hotel or Kigali International Airport, marking the end of your 5-day Uganda Gorilla and Game Safari.
Drive Time: Approx. 5–6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
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Suggested Gorilla Safari Ideas
The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what’s possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.
