This 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali begins and ends in Kigali and offers you an opportunity to explore Bwindi, Africa’s home of mountain gorillas, and Queen Elizabeth National Park – a famous bio-diverse national park and notable home of the tree-climbing lions.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides comfortable and safe shelter to about 15 gorilla families, well spread within its 4 gorilla regions. It is also home to 350 species of birds, 120 mammal species, 27 chameleon species, 220 butterfly species, and up to 1000 floral species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, on the other hand, is one of the most famous savanna parks in Uganda. It’s about 376 kilometers away from Kampala and spans approximately 1978 sq.km.
This biosphere conservation area shelters about 95 mammal species, over 600 bird species (10% of Africa’s total bird population), 10 primate species, and 2 prides of tree-climbing lions. It’s one of the best places for launch cruises and amazing game drives.
4-Day Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector
- Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Return to Kigali
Detailed 4-Day Bwindi & Queen Elizabeth Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel in Kigali or a morning pick-up from the airport depending on your schedule to begin your 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
Transfer to Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda, a journey taking roughly 4 to 5 hours.
You will have numerous stopovers along the way, where you can take as many photos as you like, including views of the Virunga Volcanoes, extensive tea and sugar cane plantations, and great views of local Rwandan homesteads.
You may choose to visit a local homestead to learn about the daily life of native Rwandans.
You will be impressed by the stunning scenery and undulating geography, typical of the “land of a thousand hills”. On arrival in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wake up with anticipation for a great gorilla trekking adventure on this day of your 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
After an early breakfast at your lodge, join other trekkers at the ranger station for a briefing on the rules and regulations to observe while trekking gorillas. With your trekking gear, packed lunch/snacks, and bottled water, the adventure begins at 8:00 am.
Head into the Bwindi jungles to search for your assigned gorilla family. There are porters available at the station to help carry your luggage and provide walking sticks.
The trek can last from 2 to 8 hours or more, depending on your hiking speed, the nature of the habitat, and the location of the gorillas.
Upon meeting the gorilla family, spend up to one hour with them, learning in-depth about their behavior, family composition, history, and unique social structure, capturing as many photos/videos as your camera can hold.
Afterward, trek back to the starting point and return to the lodge to relax. Enjoy the cool forest breeze in the afternoon as you prepare for an evening community walk.
Visiting the homes of the Batwa pygmies will allow you to explore more about their cultures and traditions, and enjoy their dances and traditional performances. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector
After an early morning breakfast on this day of your 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the famous Ishasha area, located at the southern tip of the park.
En-route, observe wildlife such as bushbucks, topis, kobs, elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, and birds. With luck, you may even spot the elusive tree-climbing lions.
Continue to the park headquarters at Mweya. Depending on your arrival time, opt for an afternoon boat trip at 2 pm or wait for the one at 4 pm.
An afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga Channel lasts for up to 2 hours and offers opportunities to spot schools of hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species such as the African fish eagle, pied and malachite kingfishers, pink-backed pelicans, African skimmer, saddle-billed stork, and many others.
Return to the lodge where you will spend the night and have dinner.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Return to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast in the morning and then embark on a quick game drive along the Kasenyi sector to spot Queen Elizabeth Park’s permanent residents, including elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, as well as some of the 620 bird species.
After the game drive, exit the park as you drive back to Kigali. Transfer through the towering Kigezi highlands and eventually arrive in Kigali late in the evening. Depending on your schedule, be dropped off at your hotel or the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of this 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
End of 4-Day Uganda Safari from Kigali.
