4 Days in Uganda – Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park
Is it possible to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Queen Elizabeth National Park? Tourists on Uganda safari can easily drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track mountain gorillas. Usually, visitors on tour in Uganda incorporate game viewing tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park and gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
With 4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour, you can get great opportunity to explore and experience what Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have to offer the world. The 2 magical safari parks are of no doubt among Uganda’s most popular tourist destinations. Queen Elizabeth National Park is positioned in Western Uganda, about 5-6 hours’ drive from Kampala. It takes its name from Queen Elizabeth the second and it occupies an area of about 1978sq.kms which makes it the second largest park in Uganda just after Murchison Falls National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts of its huge profusion of wildlife which makes it one of the premier game viewing safari destination. The numerous wildlife species to look out while on Uganda safari include African lions, leopards, elephants, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, an estimate of about 620 bird species, water bucks, hippos, crocodiles, elands, warthogs, giant forest hogs and a lot more.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on the other hand straddles in Southwestern Uganda, about 8-10 hours’ drive from Kampala, 3-4 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park and about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city of Rwanda. Bwindi host an estimate of about 459 mountain gorillas which make up part of the 1063 mountain gorillas which today still exist on planet earth. This makes it one of the most outstanding gorilla trekking safari destinations in the world. The other gorilla parks to visit to track mountain gorillas include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park usually begins from anyone of the 4 main regions (Ruhija sector in the East, Buhoma sector in the North, Nkuringo and Rushaga region in the South). About 20 gorilla families have been habituated and open for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Every gorilla group is trekked by 8 visitors each day. Each gorilla permit in Uganda is obtainable at $600 for visitors under category of foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and Shs. 250000 for visitors under category of East African citizens.
However, given the current increase in gorilla tariffs, the new rates will be effective starting 1st July, 2020. This means that every trekker on Uganda gorilla safari will require $700 to get a gorilla permit and this applies to category of foreign non-residents, $600 for those under category of foreign residents and shs. 250000 remains for East African citizens. To reserve your gorilla permit, Maranatha Tours and Travel is readily available to help you not only to secure your permit but also to arrange for you a wonderful gorilla tour.
Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park is undoubtedly a major tour activity you can enjoy on Uganda tour in this safari park. It is best carried out in Kasenyi Plains, Mweya Peninsular and Ishasha sector in the Southern side of the park. Game viewing tour in this park lets you have amazing sight of wildlife species such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, water bucks, birds and a lot more.
4 Days Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Safari
4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour is one of the best wildlife and gorilla tours which is set for you to strike your imaginations with a habituated gorilla family in their natural habitat and view diversity of wildlife species including the tree climbing lions at Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Your journey will begin from Queen Elizabeth National Park and end in Kampala/Entebbe.
Tour Highlights
- Gorilla trekking
- 1 hour of magical encounter with mountain gorillas
- Boat cruise along Kazinga Channel
- Game drive via Kasenyi Plains
- Bird sighting
- Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Service of an English-speaking tour guide.
- Bottled drinking water
Brief itinerary
- Day 1: Leave Kampala for Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 2: Game drive and connect to Bwindi
- Day 3: Gorilla trekking and visit to Batwa Community
- Day 4: Return to Kampala/Entebbe.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Leave Kampala for Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning at your hotel in Kampala and later, meet your tour guide ready to embark on 5-6 hours’ drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in a 4×4 safari vehicle. Your journey will begin from Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara-Ishaka to Queen Elizabeth National Park. En-route, make a stopover at Equator crossing for you to take pictures, relax and then proceed to the park to check in at your lodge where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will take part in boat cruise via Kazinga Channel which lets you have incredible sight of the Nile crocodiles, hippos and water birds plus several other wildlife species. Later, get back to the lodge to spend the rest of your evening.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Luxury: Mweya Safari lodge, Katara Lodge
- Mid-range: Park View Lodge, Enganzi Lodge
- Budget: Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostels
Tree climbing lion Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 2: Game drive and connect to Bwindi
Day 2 of your 4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour will begin with breakfast and later, embark on morning game drive via Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This lets you see variety of wildlife including the tree climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, birds and a lot more. After your remarkable game viewing experience from Ishasha sector, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with lunch served to you at Savanna Resort.
Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge
- Mid-range: Gorilla Mist Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nshongi Camp
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and visit to Batwa Community
Day 3 of your 4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour begins with an early morning cup of tea or coffee and after, you will be expected at Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga region where you will have briefing on gorilla tracking guidelines. At 8:00am, the park ranger guide will accompany you on a search for mountain gorilla group that will be assigned to you to track in a group of 8 people.
The whole trek may cover between 2 and 6 hours including 1 hour of magical encounter. Interestingly, you will also come across other primates, birds and a lot more. Since this adventure is unpredictable, you are advised to come along with some packed lunch and plenty of drinking water. After, get back to the lodge to relax and in the evening, visit the Batwa pygmy community to learn more about the Batwa pygmies’ unique cultures, their hunting and gathering techniques, dances and music performances.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour with Silverback Gorilla Tours
Day 4: Return to Kampala/Entebbe.
Rise up early to have breakfast and later, check out of your lodge ready to make a return journey to Kampala. This will mark the end of your 4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour.
End of your 4 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi tour
Tour inclusions
- Gorilla permit
- Game drive
- Park entry fees
- Boat cruise
- 3 nights and meals
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Fulltime English-speaking tour guide
- All activities in the itinerary except the optional ones
Safari exclusions
- Tips
- Personal Insurance
- Laundry service
- Telephone calls
- Cigarettes
- International airfares
- Hotel fees in Kampala after your trip
- Additional tour activities
