5-Day Uganda Gorilla Express

Catch a morning flight from Nairobi to Entebbe International Airport, arriving by late morning. Your Uganda driver-guide meets you and you begin the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The route passes through the lush Ugandan countryside, climbing gradually into the mountainous southwest. Alternatively, a domestic flight to Kihihi airstrip significantly shortens the journey. Arrive at your lodge near Bwindi in the late afternoon, settle in, and attend the evening briefing on gorilla trekking procedures and what to expect.

Wake early and report to the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station for your pre-trek briefing at 7:30am. Learn about gorilla behaviour, trekking rules, and the family you have been assigned to visit. Set off into the dense forest with your guide, trackers, and armed rangers. The trek can take between 1 and 6 hours depending on the gorilla family's location, navigating steep terrain and thick vegetation. Once located, you spend a transformative hour with the gorillas as they go about their daily routine. Silverbacks, mothers with infants, and playful juveniles create an unforgettable spectacle. Return to your lodge for rest and dinner.

For those with a second gorilla permit, embark on another trek to visit a different gorilla family for a new perspective on these magnificent primates. Alternatively, visit a Batwa pygmy community to learn about their ancient forest heritage through interactive demonstrations and storytelling. After your morning activity, drive approximately 1.5 hours to Lake Bunyonyi, a stunning terraced crater lake surrounded by green hills. Check into your lakeside lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing, swimming, or taking a canoe ride among the lake's 29 islands.

Enjoy a full morning at Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest and most scenic lakes in Africa. Paddle a traditional dugout canoe to visit Punishment Island and learn its history. Swim in the bilharzia-free waters or simply sit on the lodge terrace watching local fishermen in their wooden boats. Birdwatchers will appreciate the diverse avian life around the lake shores including grey crowned cranes, weavers, and kingfishers. After lunch, begin the return drive to Entebbe or take a domestic flight, arriving in the evening for an overnight stay near the airport.

After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight. If time allows before your flight, visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe to see orphaned and rescued wildlife, or stroll through the Entebbe Botanical Gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria. Your driver-guide assists with airport formalities. C.A.T.S can arrange onward connections back to Nairobi or to your next destination.