4 days Uganda Gorilla Trek and Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

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About this activity

  • Instant Booking
  • Free Cancellation Free cancellation up to 4 day(s) prior departure, after which the tour cancellation policy applies Learn More.
  • Duration:4 Day(s)
  • Activities
    • Boat and Cruise Tours
    • Gorilla Trekking Tours
    • Nature & Sightseeing Tours
    • Photography Tours
    • Trekking and Hiking Tours
    • Unique Adventure Tours
  • Travel StyleLuxury
  • Guiding Type: Live Guide/Instructor
  • Guide Language
    • English
  • Tour Vibe Active
  • Recommended For
    • Couple
    • For Art Lovers
    • Senior
    • Solo
    • Women
    • Wheelchair Accessible
    • Youth
  • Destination Country: Uganda,
    • Entebbe
    • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
  • Pickup

    Entebbe international airport

    From: To:
    8:00 AM 8:45 PM
  • Drop-off

    Entebbe international airport

    From: To:
    7:00 AM 4:00 PM
  • Age Range 15 - 100 (Years Old)
Tour Highlights
  • Day 1: Meet and gree in Kampala or Entebbe at 07:00 am, drive to Uganda's mountain gorillas' sanctuary  - Bwindi impenetrable Forest, stopping over at Equator and lunch in Mbarara, sightseeing along the way.
  • Day 2: Encounter the gentle giants - Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Day 3: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park doing wildlife safaris along the way in the Ishasha Sector & Tree-climbing Lions, Boat trip for game viewing along Kazinga Channel
  • Day 4: Early Morning Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, depart back to Entebbe Airport or Kampala for end of the tour.
Tour Introduction

This 4 Days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Safari is a great way to experience game viewing, Chimpanzee tracking and Gorilla trekking in a short time and without spending a fortune. Enjoy a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Chimpanzee tacking at Kalinju forest and Gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

ITINERARY

Meet and greet with our local guide in Kampala/Entebbe/Kigali at 07:00 hours before starting the gorilla trek tour on your drive heading to southwestern Uganda to the home of the mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Our major purpose is that even though you are having only 4 days for this Uganda tour, you should get the maximum out of it. So the tour guide will be pointing out several places of tourist interest as we drive to the gorillas home. Under normal driving, this should only be about 6 hours but because of these sightseeing instances, it shall definitely be longer. We shall even be traversing Lake Mburo National Park along the way. There are also several traditional cultural drum-making communities along the way and you could just get interested in the entire process. The lush green organic farmlands of bananas, coffee, tea, pineapple, and fruit markets just look so beautiful along this journey. We shall also be having a brief stop at the Equator crossing point, just prepare your cameras, please. This line divides the earth into two halves and you have an opportunity to stand on both halves as they take your photograph. There are a couple of interesting experiments to show the earth's movements and their effects and you can ask your guide about these options. We should be arriving Bwindi at about 4 pm. You shall be assisted to check-in at your accommodation, which is located very close to the Bwindi park headquarters. Enjoy your evening in the remote jungles of Africa as you await more unforgettable experiences on the next day.

Waking up amidst African jungle sounds is one unforgettable experience for many visits on the gorilla trek expedition. Yes, with sleeping in the neighborhood of at least 310 species of butterfly, 51 reptiles, 88 moths, and an exceptional 120 types of mammal including 10 primates makes the most memorable African song for any morning. Usually, it is almost a guarantee that the sun will come up at 7 am. Having your breakfast basking in the glory of the morning sunrays, your guide chatting out on the expectations for the day's exceptional experience is the perfect set-up for encountering the mountain gorillas. After your breakfast, the tour guide/ driver shall be transferring you to the Bwindi park office from where all gorilla tracking activity commences. You will have a pre-trek briefing with detailed information about the ecology of the mountain gorillas and their conservation, rules and regulations about gorilla tracking, and other species in Bwindi. After, you will be allocated to a group (not exceeding 8 persons in total). Mountain gorillas live in groups/ or gorilla families. Bwindi now has at least 19 gorilla groups and every day, each gorilla family can be visited by not more than 8 persons, each encounter not exceeding 1 hour. The gorillas keep roaming the jungles of Bwindi but we easily locate them by first trekking to their previous day's location and then tracking signs of their movement to the current location. Your gorilla tracking experience could be as short as 1 hour or as long as 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. The lead trackers will allow for numerous breaks along the way for you to not only catch your breath but also get time to observe the rest of the species in Bwindi which can include forest elephants, buffalo, chimpanzees, L'Hoest's monkeys, red-tailed and blue monkey, black and white colobus and baboon. Bwindi is a prime destination for birdwatchers. Bwindi's 350 bird species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species which are difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and gorilla trackers, in search of a mountain gorilla family. The walking can sometimes be tough and long, but when you catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. When the gorillas are sighted, visitors will be guided to within 6 meters from the gorillas, sit around them for a whole hour while gazing into their big round eyes.

After your gorilla tracking experience in Bwindi, it is time for another exciting two days of African wildlife safaris. From the set-off from your Bwindi accommodation, we shall be driving through some beautiful and stunning savannah grasslands on our way to Uganda's most popular wildlife protected area, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our first call shall be the park's southern sector, Ishasha. Ishasha a much more remote and less-traveled part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but one which has a sense of exclusivity and remoteness. The game densities here are high, and this region has reported some of the largest herds of Elephant anywhere in Uganda, as it is their main migration corridor between Uganda and the DRC. To most visitors, the major highlight is the tree-climbing lions and your guide will outdoor himself to get you closer to them depending on how much time you have to reach the final destination. Lions are not known to climb trees but the ones in Ishasha sector have this habit, more so when the day gets warmer. We continue driving to the north of Queen Elizabeth National Park where we immediately join in on a 2-hours' launch trip along the Kazinga Channel. The 40km Kazina Channel divides Queen Elizabeth National PArk into two. Its 80km shoreline attracts large numbers of birds, reptiles and mammals. A launch trip on Kazinga to view this wildlife spectacle is the park's most famous and enduring activity. You have one opportunity to view wildlife up close: hippo’s huff and spray at a mere foot away from the boat, buffalo linger in the shallows. The shores of the channel are also home to an array of birds including pink backed pelicans, pied and malachite kingfishers, saddle-billed stork, and many others.

We set out early in the morning for a game drive in the northern part of the park in the Kasenyi Plains. A network of game tracks signed by stone cairns explores the plain north of the Kazinga channel. Although this patchwork of grassland and scrubby thickets can make game viewing a challenge, large numbers of animals actually live here. We shall be driving slowly while looking carefully to spot the wildlife. Across the wide plains, you should expect to see more wildlife like lions, elephants, solitary buffaloes. This is the best time for opportunities of viewing the cats in action owing to the vast population of Uganda kobs. We have an excellent chance to view just about every animal here at a very close range. Depart from Queen Elizabeth National Park and safari to Kampala. Return to your lodge for breakfast and afterward head for Kampala (about 5 hours driving) via Mubende. This route travels through breathtaking scenery and delightfully rolling plantations, some of the best in Uganda. Depending on how much time we have on us we can tour around Kampala’s crafts and souvenirs markets before checking in at your hotel or being transferred to the airport.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Accommodation
Location Nights Type Property Name Rating Occupancy
Uganda 3 Cottage Buhoma lodge and Mweya safari lodge 3 Star Shared
Private 4x4 ground transportation with an English speaking driver guide
Pickup & Drop-Off
  • Airport Transfer

The transfers can be arranged from your boader or hotel and airport.

Guide

Private 4x4 ground transportation with an English speaking driver guide

Meals
  • Meat
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Gorillas tracking and chimps trek permits
  • Full board accommodation with all meals
  • Bottled drinking water on safari
  • All park entrance and related fees
  • Private 4x4 ground transportation with an English speaking driver guide
Transport
  • Local Transport

Private 4x4 ground transportation with an English speaking driver guide

Other Included

This can be arranged on request.

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Extra Services

Other Excluded:

This can be arranged on request.

Covid Safety

The ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 may be impacting your travel plans and we’re here to help. As countries reopen borders and travel restrictions ease, guidance may change frequently. We encourage you to check with the World Health Organization (WHO) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest travel advisories.

Availability

Tour Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 4 day(s) prior departure, Or traveler will pay 50 % of the tour amount

The ongoing spread of the novel corona virus and COVID-19 may be impacting your travel plans and we’re here to help you out on this scarge. As countries reopen borders and travel restrictions ease, guidance may change frequently.

Tour Date Change Policy

Tour Date can be changed 30 day(s) prior departure

Good To Know

INFORMATION FOR EAST AFRICA TOURIST VISA (UGANDA, RWANDA & KENYA ONE VISA)

ELIGIBLE PERSON:

A foreigner who wants to visit simultaneously the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda for tourism.

An East Africa Tourist Visa is multiple entries within the three countries and shall be valid for 90 days.

Applications for this visa shall be lodged at any of the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda, at the Immigration Offices of the respective countries or online where applicable.

TRAVEL DOCUMENT:

Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.

VISA FEE:

100 USD

Free of charge to Foreign residents in the three countries: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

VALIDITY OF VISA:

 90 days

SINGLE OR MULTIPLE ENTRY:

 Multiple entries within the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda.

VISA EXTENSION:

An East Africa Tourist Visa shall not be extended.

How to Apply:
Applications for this visa shall be lodged at any of the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda, at the Immigration Offices of the respective countries or online where applicable.
• Rwanda
For those beginning their trip in Rwanda, you can apply through the Rwanda Online Visa Application System www.migration.gov.rw. Under “Type of Visa” select “East Africa Tourist Visa.”
• Kenya
For those beginning their trip in Kenya, you can find information on the visa application process on the consular section of your local Kenya embassy’s website www.ecitizen.go.ke

• Uganda 
For those beginning their trip in Uganda, you can find information on the visa application process on Uganda Online Visa – visas.immigration.go.ug

Travel document: Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
Visa Fees: 100 USD
Validity of Visa: 90 days
Single or Multiple Entry: Multiple entry
The holder of the East Africa Tourist Visa shall enter from the country that issued the visa and move within the two other countries without applying for another visa or paying for another visa fee.
The holder shall also be allowed to move out of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda; and return without having to pay for another visa. This will only be applicable in the period of 90 days.
Visas issued for specific countries can only be used for that particular country
Work or No Work: Work is not permitted
Visa Extension: An East Africa Tourist Visa shall not be extended.
Typical Requirements:
1. One clear colored passport size photo with white background recently taken without glasses, caps and scurf; (the photo should be attached to the application form by use of glue stick. Stapling and clipping the photo to the application form is not advisable).
2. A complete filled application form
3. Visa application letter addressed to the issuing authority of the concerned country

Online visa application tips:

Please be sure that you have all the required information ready to upload on to the websites when prompted.

  • Please ensure that you enter your e-mail address correctly as this will be used as the primary sources of contact between immigration department and the applicant.
  • Please note that if you do not get a response from the immigration department within the stated allotted time do contact your travel agent for assistance.
  • Please always check with your countries embassy first to check if you are required to apply for a visa to enter Uganda.
  • Please note that you are still able to apply for a visa on arrival to all the above countries but this option is being phased out over the up coming months.
  • Please make sure you print off your visa, once received so that it can be handed immigration

FAQs

The ongoing spread of the novel corona virus and COVID-19 may be impacting your travel plans and we’re here to help. As countries reopen borders and travel restrictions ease, guidance may change frequently. We encourage you to check with the World Health Organization (WHO) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest travel advisories. Already fully vaccinated? Be sure to double check with local guidelines to ensure a smooth travel experience. You can also find links to additional resources on Tripadvisor. In response, we’ve adjusted our cancellation policies to cover COVID-19-related cancellations and introduced additional safety features to support our community. Travelers can now search for experiences with additional health and safety measures.

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