Overview.
The 5 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi flying safari comprise of 5 days and 4 nights using scheduled flights landing at Kihihi airstrips for gorilla trekking and Mweya airstrip to trek lions. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda where you get a chance to trek and encounter endangered mountain gorillas within their natural habitat.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second largest after Murchison Falls National Park. It is located in the western part of the country. The place is famous for lion tracking, adventurous game drives and amazing boat cruises at Kazinga water channel joining Lake Edward to Lake George.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Fly from Entebbe to Mweya Airstrip in Queen Elizabeth (Afternoon boat cruise)
After breakfast, the driver will take you to Entebbe to be transferred to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and prepare for the afternoon boat cruise. The boat cruise usually lasts for about 2 hours and happens at the Kazinga water channel that connects Lake Edward to Lake George.
During the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, you will get a chance to encounter and spot various hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and various water birds that come to the water banks to drink water.
After the cruise, you can then return to your hotel for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 2: Full-day game drive and experiential lion tracking.
After breakfast, the guide will transfer you to Kasenyi Plains for an amazing morning game drive within the park. The morning game drive is more rewarding since it is when animals are more active.
During game drives, you can explore diverse habitats while spotting iconic African wildlife like lions, leopards, antelopes, zebras, warthogs, Uganda kobs, hyenas, waterbucks, elephants and hippos. You are also able to spot birds like the African skimmer, African fish eagle, red-chested sunbird, squire-tailed nightjar, and the vibrant malachite kingfisher.
After the game drive, you will then head back to your hotel for lunch. Prepare for an experiential lion-tracking adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lion tracking involves experienced guides using their knowledge to locate lion pride. You can witness these majestic creatures within their natural habitat.
This is the only destination in Uganda offering lion tracking experiences where you are supposed to drive within the park while looking out for lions. The activity takes about 2 to 3 hours of driving closely to lions, monitoring and learning about their different behaviours in their natural habitat.
After lion tracking, you can head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Fly from Mweya to Kihihi airstrip (Leisure evening)
After breakfast, the driver will transfer you to Mweya and catch a flight to Kihihi airstrip. After landing comfortably, the driver will then transfer you to your booked hotel. This is to check in and relax. You can choose to spend your evening visiting nearby towns till sunset. Head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Batwa village tour.
Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and pack some lunch and refreshments. The driver will drive you to the park headquarters to attend the pre-briefing session where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking.
After briefing you will be divided into groups of eight accompanied by an experienced guide through thick creepers and undergrowth searching for gorillas. Trekking can take about 2 to 3 hours depending on the location of your allocated gorilla family.
Upon allocating your gorilla family, you will be given one hour to observe how they feed, live and stay with one another, you are allowed to take a few snaps and capture incredible moments within the jungle.
After trekking, you are required to go back to the starting point and have your packed lunch and some refreshments before heading out for a Batwa village tour.
During the Batwa village tour, you get a chance to learn about the first forest inhabitants before they were evicted from the forest. You are given a glimpse into the community’s history showing off their dances, songs, storytelling and cultural norms and beliefs. You are free to participate in any of these activities as well as donate to their community.
After the Batwa village tour, you are required to go back to the starting point. This is where the driver will transfer you back to the hotel for relaxation. Then, have some dinner and after some peaceful hours, have an overnight stay.
Day 5: Fly from Kihihi to Entebbe airport.
This is the last day of your 5 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi flying safaris. After breakfast, according to the time of your booked flight, you will be at Kihihi. Board a flight straight to Entebbe International Airport. End the 5 days Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi flying safari.
