This five-day journey through southwestern Uganda is one of East Africa's most extraordinary wildlife adventures, combining a face-to-face encounter with mountain gorillas in the ancient rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with the big-game spectacle of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will travel comfortably with our expert driver-guides, pausing at the Equator en route and immersing yourself in the rich traditions of the Batwa and Bakiga communities. The iconic Kazinga Channel boat cruise rounds out the experience with hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a dazzling procession of water birds. Africompass crafts every detail of this trip so that you arrive, trek, and return home with memories that will last a lifetime.
Your driver-guide will collect you from your chosen Kampala address at 7:00 am and set off southwest toward the ancient rainforest of Bwindi. En route you will pause at the Equator crossing at Kayabwe for photographs, refreshments, and a browse through the local craft stalls. After the scenic drive through Uganda's lush highlands you will arrive at the lodge in time for dinner and a well-earned rest.
After breakfast you will report to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who will assign you to a habituated gorilla family. The trek itself will take you through steep, richly forested terrain, and once you locate the gorilla group you will have up to one hour to observe and photograph these magnificent primates at close range. In the afternoon you will take part in an immersive cultural visit with the Batwa and Bakiga communities, learning about their traditional way of life before returning to the lodge for dinner.
After breakfast you will depart Bwindi and drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda's finest wildlife destinations, home to lions, elephants, buffaloes, and the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector. On arrival you will receive a brief orientation before heading out on an afternoon game drive through the Channel Drive Circuit or the Kasenyi Plains, two of the park's most productive wildlife corridors. You will settle into your lodge in time for sundowners and dinner.
An early morning game drive will take you back through the Kasenyi Plains and Channel Drive Circuit, prime territory for lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, and large herds of buffalo. After lunch at the lodge you will board a boat for the celebrated Kazinga Channel cruise, gliding along the natural waterway that links Lake Edward and Lake George. You will encounter hippos wallowing at close range, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, and an impressive variety of water birds including African fish eagles and pink-backed pelicans.
After breakfast you will begin the return drive to Kampala, retracing the scenic route through Uganda's western highlands. Your driver-guide will drop you at your preferred location in Kampala, bringing your gorilla and wildlife safari to a close. Africompass recommends allowing a little extra time in the capital for an evening flight departure, and our team will be happy to arrange onward transfers or additional nights if needed.
All rates are per person and vary by travel season. Choose your season below to view the applicable pricing.
| Per adult | USD 2,824.50 |
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
