7‑Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari (Gorilla trek, wildlife drives)
Book this safari with Katland Safaris for expertly planned trips led by experienced local guides. Each safari is personalised, responsibly run, and focused on authentic wildlife encounters. Seamless planning ensures a smooth and unforgettable journey.
Overview
The 7-Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari is a perfectly balanced Uganda safari combining mountain gorilla trekking with classic savannah wildlife experiences. This itinerary is ideal for travelers who want to see Uganda’s most iconic species, including gorillas, elephants, lions, buffalo, and diverse plains game, while enjoying scenic landscapes and well-paced travel.
The safari focuses on Queen Elizabeth National Park for big game viewing and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, creating a rewarding blend of primates, predators, and natural beauty.
Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
- Day 3: Ishasha Sector Wildlife Drive
- Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Day 6: Forest Walk and Scenic Relaxation
- Day 7: Return to Entebbe and Departure
Detailed Itinerary: 7‑Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari (Gorilla trek, wildlife drives)
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your safari begins with arrival in Uganda and a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. After meeting your professional safari guide, you travel westward through rolling countryside, crater lake regions, and rural villages. The journey offers an introduction to Uganda’s landscapes and culture before entering one of the country’s most wildlife-rich parks.
Upon arrival, you settle into your lodge overlooking the savannah or crater lakes, where wildlife sightings are often possible even from the lodge grounds.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
This day delivers the heart of Uganda’s big game safari experience. An early morning game drive across the Kasenyi Plains provides excellent opportunities to see elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and predators such as lions and leopards. The open terrain allows for relaxed viewing and strong photographic conditions.
In the afternoon, you enjoy a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. The cruise brings you close to large concentrations of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and abundant birdlife, offering a peaceful yet immersive wildlife encounter.
Day 3: Ishasha Sector Wildlife Drive
The safari continues south to the remote Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This area is famous for its tree-climbing lions, often spotted resting in fig trees during the heat of the day. The drive through Ishasha combines game viewing with exploration of a quieter, less-visited part of the park.
The landscape here is wide and scenic, adding variety to the safari while increasing chances of unique wildlife sightings.
Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today marks the transition from open savannah to dense rainforest. After breakfast, you depart Queen Elizabeth National Park and travel toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive passes through rolling hills, cultivated farmland, and forested slopes, gradually climbing into the mist-covered highlands of southwestern Uganda.
Arrival at your lodge near Bwindi allows time to relax and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking experience.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the defining highlight of the safari. After an early morning briefing at the park headquarters, you enter the forest with experienced rangers and trackers. Trekking duration varies depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family, but every step through the ancient forest adds to the sense of adventure.
Spending one hour with a mountain gorilla family is an unforgettable and emotional experience, offering rare insight into their behavior, social bonds, and conservation success. After the trek, you return to the lodge for rest and reflection.
Day 6: Forest Walk and Scenic Relaxation
This day allows you to experience Bwindi beyond gorilla trekking. A guided forest walk introduces you to the park’s rich biodiversity, including birds, butterflies, and unique plant species. The walk also highlights Bwindi’s role as one of Africa’s oldest rainforests.
The afternoon is spent at leisure, enjoying forest views, photography, or simply relaxing at the lodge after the intensity of gorilla trekking.
Day 7: Return to Entebbe and Departure
The final day concludes your 7-Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari. After breakfast, you begin the return journey to Entebbe, traveling through Uganda’s scenic highlands and rural communities. Depending on your flight schedule, you may connect directly to your international departure or arrange an overnight stay.
This marks the end of a safari that combines Uganda’s most powerful wildlife experiences in one memorable journey.
Safari Includes
- Safari Park fees
- All Tour activities
- All Tour accommodation
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation ( To & From )
- All Taxes/VAT
- Everyday Meals ( As specified )
- Drinking water ( On all days )
Safari Excludes
- International flights ( From / to home )
- Additional Accommodation
- Tips
- Personal items(Souvenirs
- etc.)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gov increase of taxes and/or park fees
Request A Quote For this;
7‑Day Gorilla & Big Game Safari (Gorilla trek, wildlife drives)
Choose Your Location & Safari Type
Decide where you want to go, how long you will stay, and the kind of safari you want, such as game drives or gorilla trekking. This helps define your budget, travel dates, and overall plan.
Confirm the Safari Itinerary
Select a trusted safari operator and review the itinerary, including parks, accommodation, activities, and what is included. Confirm availability for lodges and permits before proceeding.
Make Payment and Prepare to Travel
Pay the required deposit to secure your safari bookings and confirm all arrangements. After confirmation, review the travel advice provided and prepare for your safari trip.
First-Time Safari Guide To Get Ready For Your Holiday
This East Africa Safari 101 guide explains everything a first-time safari traveler needs to know, from wildlife and game drives to costs, safety, and the best time to visit. It helps beginners understand what to expect on safari and how to plan a smooth, rewarding experience in East Africa.
