5 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Detailed Itinerary of 5 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

Your incredible Uganda safari experience begins the very moment you arrive at Entebbe International Airport. A professional tour guide from Orinoco Expeditions will welcome you in time after completing immigration and customs formalities.

Your tour guide will then lead you to a clean private transfer vehicle, after which you will be driven to your lodge, taking about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the lodge’s location.

Entebbe is a quiet town found along the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest Lake in Africa. Along the way, expect to catch sight of the people’s local life, beautiful gardens, or some of the colonial-era buildings.

Your lodge will offer a relaxing and peaceful environment that showcases a heartwarming Ugandan hospitality.

Entebbe also offers short activities like a walk at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, wildlife viewing at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Entebbe Zoo), a boat tour at Mabamba Swamp to find the rare Shoebill Stork, and a visit to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary to see orphaned Chimpanzees.

You may have one of these incredible experiences depending on your time of arrival.

Day 2: A Trip From Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

After an early breakfast, your safari driver guide will make sure that you are settled in your clean and well-conditioned safari vehicle for the beginning of an unforgettable Ugandan adventure.

The journey from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will take about 8 to 10 hours, depending on traffic and the region of the park where you will be settled (that is, Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, or the Rushaga sectors).

However, the journey is so picturesque, leaving you amazed with the terraced hills, lush green landscapes, bustling towns, and beautiful farmlands.

As you leave Entebbe and Kampala (Uganda’s capital city) in central Uganda, you will head to Southwestern Uganda through the Masaka-Mbarara route.

The route is well known for the popular Equator stop at Kayabwe, views of the Ankole long-horned cattle, tea plantations, banana groves, and a delicious traditional lunch stop.

You will arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (the world’s most famous home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas) through the rugged roads of the forested mountains in the late afternoon.

Enjoy a warm welcome and a friendly check-in at your lodge, which is nestled in a serene atmosphere with spectacular views of the dense ancient forest.

You can have a warm shower, a delicious dinner, and a good night’s rest for an amazing Gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Experience & Transfer from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Lake Bunyonyi

Start your day off right with a good breakfast at your lodge before a transfer to the park headquarters, where the Gorilla trek officially begins.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers or tour guides will give you  an important, detailed briefing session to guide you on the rules and regulations, safety information, and gorilla behaviour.

You will then be grouped with a maximum of 8 trekkers, after which you will hit the road to track one of the habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat.

Bwindi is one of the oldest and most biologically diverse forests in Africa, thus the name “impenetrable”. You will therefore walk through the rugged terraces and thick ancient forest, and after about 30 minutes to 2 hours, you will find a Gorilla family that you will spend a magical hour with.

The Gorilla adventure is considered one of the Earth’s greatest nature experiences that will also allow you to encounter other wildlife, for example, birds, monkeys, and butterflies.

Upon returning to the park headquarters, you will receive a Gorilla Trekking Certificate to congratulate and celebrate your experience.

After completing a face-to-face encounter with the gigantic Mountain Gorillas, you will set off on a journey to one of Uganda’s most tranquil safari destinations – Lake Bunyonyi (the second deepest lake in Africa, about 900 meters above sea level).

It is a 3 to 4-hour drive from Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda.

From the beautiful forested highlands, the scenic roads will lead you along terraced hills, traditional villages, rolling farmlands, and the locals living their unique lives.

Your guide may make a lunch stop, a village stop, or a market stop for an amazing exploration.

Arrival at Lake Bunyonyi will reveal a more unique scenery, displaying the surrounding hills and over 20 islands that sit on the lake.

Check into your lodge, relax, unwind from your journey, and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Lodging at Lake Bunyonyi.

Day 4: Travelling From Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe

The serene environment at Lake Bunyonyi offers a rejuvenating atmosphere through different activities that you can choose to enjoy, for example, canoeing on the calm waters, island tours, birdwatching, or just listening to the soothing sounds of birds.

Enjoy an early breakfast at your lodge before departing for Entebbe, taking about 8 to 10 hours.

As you leave the misty hills of Kabale District, you will enter open plains as you follow the Mbarara-Masaka route to Kampala and Entebbe.

You will have a lunch stop and also enjoy a quick photo opportunity at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe.

You will arrive at your lodge in Entebbe for dinner and an overnight rest.

Day 5: Departure Day

Depending on the time for your flight, wake up and have a lovely breakfast. You may do some light packing or enjoy some lake views.

The journey from your lodge to Entebbe International Airport will take about 10 to 30 minutes. It is advisable to arrive at least 3 hours before your scheduled departure time to allow enough time for security checks, check in and immigration procedures.

Although your journey will end back in Entebbe, the memorable experience of the endangered Mountain Gorillas, landscapes, and other wildlife will last a lifetime.