TourismFive days is the sweet spot for a first Uganda safari. It’s long enough to tick off the big experiences — gorilla trekking, game drives, a boat safari — without needing two weeks off work. This day-by-day itinerary is designed specifically for travellers flying from London, with realistic drive times, the best parks, and what to expect at each stop.
This itinerary combines Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (gorilla trekking) with Queen Elizabeth National Park (Big Five game drives and the famous Kazinga Channel boat safari). It’s the most popular Uganda safari package we run at Nature Nest Safaris — and with good reason.
Flight: Depart London Heathrow on an evening flight (Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways via Nairobi, or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul). Flight time is 10–14 hours including the transit. Most flights arrive in Entebbe early the following morning.
On arrival: Your Nature Nest Safaris driver meets you at Entebbe International Airport. Transfer to your hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria — about 10 minutes from the airport. Rest, acclimatise, and enjoy views over the lake. If you arrive early enough, you can visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre or explore Entebbe’s botanical gardens.
Overnight: Entebbe (mid-range lodge from £80/night, luxury from £200/night)
Morning: After breakfast, drive south through Uganda’s green countryside toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive is roughly 8–9 hours via Mbarara, or you can opt for a domestic flight to Kihihi airstrip (1 hour, from £180 one way) and drive the last 2 hours.
En route: Stop at the Equator crossing for photos, then pass through Mbarara — Uganda’s “milk capital” — with views of Ankole long-horned cattle grazing on rolling hills. The landscape gradually shifts from flat savanna to lush, mountainous terrain as you approach the Impenetrable Forest.
Evening: Arrive at your lodge near Bwindi. Briefing from your guide about tomorrow’s gorilla trek — what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect. Early dinner and bed — tomorrow starts early.
Overnight: Bwindi area (mid-range from £100/night, luxury from £400/night)
7:00am: Report to the park headquarters for the pre-trek briefing. Rangers assign you to a gorilla family based on your fitness level and preferences. Groups of 8 trekkers maximum per gorilla family.
8:00am onwards: Enter the forest with your ranger guide and armed escorts. The trek through dense, ancient rainforest takes anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are. Porters carry your daypack and help on steep sections — hire one for about £10–£15 (it also supports local employment).
The encounter: When you find the gorilla family, you have one uninterrupted hour with them. Silverbacks weighing 200kg sit metres away, completely unbothered. Juveniles play in the trees above. Mothers cradle infants. It’s the wildlife experience of a lifetime — most trekkers describe it as deeply emotional.
Afternoon: Return to your lodge. Optional Batwa cultural experience — meet the indigenous forest people and learn about their traditional way of life. Celebrate with a cold Nile Special beer and swap stories with fellow trekkers.
Overnight: Bwindi area
Morning: Drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park (3–4 hours). This is Uganda’s most visited park, spanning 1,978 square kilometres of savanna, wetlands, and crater lakes along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Midday: Arrive and check into your lodge in the Mweya area with views over the Kazinga Channel — the natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George.
2:00pm: Board the Kazinga Channel boat safari (2 hours, £30). This is one of East Africa’s best wildlife-watching experiences from water. Hippo pods of 50+ animals, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, African fish eagles, elephants drinking at the water’s edge, and enormous pelican colonies. The light in the late afternoon is perfect for photography.
4:30pm: Evening game drive through the Kasenyi Plains. Queen Elizabeth is home to lions (including the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha), leopards, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, and over 600 bird species.
Overnight: Queen Elizabeth NP (mid-range from £80/night, luxury from £350/night)
6:00am: Early morning game drive when animals are most active. Dawn on the savanna with the Rwenzori Mountains (“Mountains of the Moon”) as your backdrop is unforgettable. Look for leopards, lions, and hyenas returning from night hunts.
9:00am: Return to the lodge for breakfast and checkout. Drive to Kasese airstrip (45 minutes) for a domestic flight back to Entebbe, or begin the 6-hour drive if you prefer road travel.
Evening: Connect with your international flight home from Entebbe. Most London-bound flights depart late evening, arriving the following morning.
A 5-day Uganda safari with gorilla trekking, game drives, and a boat safari costs from £2,500 per person when booked with a local operator like Nature Nest Safaris. That includes all accommodation, meals, transport, park fees, the gorilla permit (£630), guide, and the Kazinga Channel boat trip.
Add £550–£900 for return flights from London, and £180 per person if you want domestic flights instead of long road transfers.
UK travel agencies typically charge £4,000–£5,500 for the same itinerary. By booking direct with a local Uganda operator, you save 30–40% and your money goes directly into the local economy.
When you book this 5-day itinerary with Nature Nest Safaris, everything is covered: airport pickup and drop-off in Entebbe, all road transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle, gorilla trekking permit ($800), all park entrance fees, full-board accommodation (all meals), an experienced English-speaking guide throughout, the Kazinga Channel boat safari, and bottled water in the vehicle.
Not included: international flights, travel insurance, visa ($50 e-visa), tips for guides and porters, alcoholic drinks, and personal expenses.
This 5-day Uganda safari runs year-round, with the best conditions in the dry seasons (June–September and December–February). Browse all Uganda safari packages or contact us directly for a personalised quote.
Email: book@naturenestsafaris.com | Phone/WhatsApp: +256 777 131 912
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