Uganda
5-Day Gorillas, Lake Bunyonyi & Wildlife Safari
This 5-day adventure blends Uganda’s most iconic experiences: gorilla trekking in Bwindi, cultural immersion at Lake Bunyonyi, and wildlife safaris in Lake Mburo. Perfect for those seeking primal encounters with gorillas, serene canoe rides, and Savannah game walks—all in one unforgettable journey.
What to Expect
- 🦍 Gorilla tracking in Bwindi’s misty forests (1-hour face-to-face encounter)
- 🛶 Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi’s 27 islands (birdwatching & primate spotting)
- 🌿 Walking safari in Lake Mburo (zebras, giraffes, hippos)
- 🎶 Cultural tours with Bakiga & Batwa tribes (dances, medicine, brewing)
- 🌍 Equator photo stop
Key Notes
✔️ Fitness Level: Moderate (Gorilla trekking can be physically demanding).
✔️ Packing Tips: Waterproof hiking boots, rain jacket, binoculars, camera.
Itinerary Summary
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Entebbe |
| Day 2 | Scenic drive to Bwindi |
| Day 3 | Gorilla tracking → Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi |
| Day 4 | Canoeing & Batwa/Bakiga cultural tour |
| Day 5 | Lake Mburo walking safari → Return to Entebbe |
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
- Airport pickup by your guide
- Transfer to a comfortable hotel in Entebbe
- Relax and prepare for the adventure ahead
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where your guide will greet you. Settle into your accommodation, enjoy a quiet evening, and recharge for the journey to Bwindi tomorrow.
Accommodation: The Boma Hotel / 2Friends Beach Hotel
Meals: Dinner (Depending on arrival time)
Day 2: Entebbe → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Drive time: 8–9 hours through scenic landscapes
- Highlights:
- Rolling hills & terraced farmland
- Traditional villages & Ankole cattle
After breakfast, embark on a picturesque drive through Uganda’s countryside. Pass vibrant villages, lush tea plantations, and herds of long-horned Ankole cattle. Arrive at your lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas.
Accommodation: Gorilla Heights Lodge / Buhoma Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking → Lake Bunyonyi
- Gorilla tracking: 2–6 hours (depending on gorilla family location)
- 1-hour encounter with a habituated gorilla family
- Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi (2–3 hours)
Wake early for a briefing at the park headquarters, then trek through dense forest with your ranger. The hike can be strenuous—expect steep, muddy trails. Your reward? An hour observing gorillas as they feed, play, and interact. Afterward, drive to Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s deepest lake, fringed by terraced hills.
Accommodation: BirdNest Resort / Bunyonyi Overlook Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Canoeing & Cultural Tour
- Morning canoe ride to explore the lake’s 27 islands
- Afternoon cultural tour with the Bakiga & Batwa communities
Glide across Lake Bunyonyi by canoe, spotting otters, birds, and maybe even a harmless python! Later, meet the Batwa pygmies (former forest dwellers) and Bakiga farmers to learn traditional dances, herbal medicine, and local brewing techniques.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Lake Mburo Walking Safari → Return to Entebbe
- Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park (zebras, giraffes, hippos)
- Equator photo stop
- Evening drop-off in Entebbe
Depart early for Lake Mburo, where you’ll walk alongside zebras, impalas, and buffaloes—a rare chance to experience wildlife on foot. After lunch, drive back to Entebbe, pausing at the Equator for souvenir photos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
End of Safari
A perfect mix of primates, culture, and wildlife—from the depths of Bwindi to the tranquil waters of Bunyonyi and the open plains of Mburo.
✅ Included
- All accommodation on Half Board (HB), Full Board (FB) or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) basis as quoted in the text
- Safari vehicle and fuel
- English speaking tourist guide
- Game drives and walks
- Entrance fees to the national parks. All boat tours
- Taxes
- Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour
- AMREF emergency evacuation insurance
- Gorilla Permit
❌ Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Drinks / alcoholic drinks / additional meals
- Tips
- Activities not part of the described program
- International travel insurance
- Items of personal nature / souvenirs
PLEASE NOTE
The safari indicated here is essentially an offer. Changes in the course of the journey, the duration of your tour, the number of travelers, as well as the choice of accommodation are subject to availability, although we always endeavor to stick as closely as possible to this program. For the majority of itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid range or budget versions of this safari upon request.
Sometimes it is not possible to adhere to the travel plan as described in this itinerary, due to weather and road conditions, authority regulations, organizational requirements, etc. Occasionally, the planned route of the tour has to change according to the situation on the ground. We must therefore explicitly refuse liability for adherence to the journey plan.
