Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a representative from Engabi Tours and Travel and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, relax and recover from your international journey while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. A safari briefing will be provided in preparation for your adventure.

Day 2: Fly to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your scheduled flight to Kasese Airstrip (alternatively Mweya Airstrip depending on flight schedules), the gateway to the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, meet your private safari guide and transfer to The River Station. Following lunch and time to settle in, embark on your first game drive through the park’s vast savannah plains.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to four of the Big Five, with excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, buffaloes, lions, and, with luck, leopards. The park’s diverse habitats support an impressive variety of wildlife, ranging from large mammal populations to more than 600 recorded bird species.

As the afternoon light softens across the plains, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Begin the day with an early morning game drive, the ideal time to observe wildlife at its most active. Explore the park’s open grasslands and acacia woodlands in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, Uganda kobs, and other species that thrive in this remarkable ecosystem. Return to the lodge for breakfast and leisure time before lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the famous Kazinga Channel, one of East Africa’s most rewarding wildlife experiences. This natural waterway connects Lake Edward and Lake George and attracts extraordinary concentrations of wildlife throughout the day. From the comfort of your boat, observe large pods of hippos, basking crocodiles, elephants bathing along the shoreline, and countless waterbirds inhabiting the channel’s rich wetlands.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon and enjoy a relaxing evening overlooking the wilderness.

Day 4: Scenic Drive to Ishasha and Tree-Climbing Lions

After breakfast, depart by road for the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey itself is an excellent game-viewing opportunity, traversing some of the park’s most scenic landscapes while searching for wildlife along the way. Upon arrival in Ishasha, enjoy lunch before setting out on an afternoon game drive in search of the area’s famous tree-climbing lions. This unique lion population is often seen resting high in the branches of large fig trees, creating one of Africa’s most distinctive wildlife spectacles.

Ishasha’s remote location and low visitor numbers provide an authentic safari atmosphere, while the surrounding plains support healthy populations of elephants, buffaloes, topis, and numerous bird species. As evening falls, arrive at Ishasha Wilderness Camp, beautifully situated beside the Ntungwe River.

Day 5: Morning Game Viewing and Fly to Bwindi

Enjoy an early breakfast and a final game drive in Ishasha before transferring by road to Kihihi Airstrip. Board your scheduled flight to the Bwindi region, enjoying magnificent aerial views of southwestern Uganda’s rolling hills, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Upon arrival, transfer to the renowned Gorilla Forest Lodge, one of Uganda’s most exclusive safari lodges and the only luxury property located within the Bwindi forest itself. Spend the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure. The lodge’s forest setting offers opportunities to observe birds, monkeys, and other wildlife right from your private cottage.

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Your gorilla trekking experience begins as you enter the ancient rainforest accompanied by experienced guides and trackers. The duration of the trek varies depending on the movements of the gorilla family being visited, but every journey through Bwindi’s lush forest is an adventure in itself.

Upon locating the gorillas, spend a precious hour observing these remarkable primates in their natural habitat. Witness family interactions, playful juveniles, and the powerful presence of the dominant silverback while gaining a deeper appreciation for one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories. Following the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

Day 7: Fly from Kihihi to Entebbe

After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi Airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe. Enjoy one final aerial perspective of Uganda’s spectacular landscapes as you journey north. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, connect with your international departure flight or day room arrangements.

Your luxury Uganda safari comes to an end, leaving you with unforgettable memories of mountain gorillas, tree-climbing lions, classic savannah wildlife, and some of Africa’s most beautiful and diverse landscapes.