7 Days Bwindi Gorillas Uganda and Serengeti Wildlife Safari

Ultimate Safari Overview

This 7-day adventure brings together the vibrant beauty of Uganda’s mist-covered highlands and the endless, wildlife-rich plains of Tanzania. It is a journey designed for travelers who long to meet the world’s most powerful primates face-to-face and witness Africa’s greatest wildlife drama unfold on open savannahs. The safari opens in Entebbe, where the calm breeze from Lake Victoria welcomes you to the Pearl of Africa. From here, the adventure heads west to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The experience of trekking through the ancient rainforest, hearing the rustle of vegetation, and standing a few metres away from a mighty silverback becomes a moment engraved in memory forever.

After the exhilaration of Bwindi, the journey takes a dramatic shift as you fly to Tanzania, landing in the legendary Serengeti National Park. The sheer scale of the Serengeti offers a breathtaking contrast to the dense forests of Uganda. Here, endless plains support one of the largest wildlife populations on Earth. This is the realm of lion prides, massive elephant herds, elegant cheetahs, and the awe-inspiring movements of the Great Migration. The safari blends thrilling game drives with peaceful moments at your lodge, creating a perfect balance for travelers seeking both adventure and comfort. Every day offers a new experience, each one designed to deepen your connection with nature and the wild beauty of East Africa.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to the Pearl of Africa

Your safari begins in Entebbe, a charming lakeside town that sets the perfect tone for the days ahead. On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your lodge. The drive introduces you to Uganda’s vibrant energy-friendly faces, lush gardens, and the refreshing atmosphere created by Lake Victoria’s cool winds. Once at your lodge, you settle in and relax as you recover from your journey. The rest of the day is free for you to unwind, enjoy the serene environment, or take an optional walk along the lakeshore.

Entebbe offers a calm and peaceful start to the safari, giving you time to prepare for the days of adventure ahead. The town is rich with birdlife, green spaces, and quiet corners that help you ease into the rhythm of East Africa. Dinner is served at your lodge, where you enjoy a delicious meal and retire early for a well-deserved rest.

Day 2: Flight to Bwindi – Journey Into the Mountain Gorilla Highlands

After breakfast, you head to Entebbe Airport for a scenic domestic flight to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, depending on your Bwindi trekking sector. As the aircraft glides above Uganda’s rolling hills and patchwork farmlands, you begin to witness the astonishing landscapes that define the country’s western region. On landing, your driver-guide meets you for a picturesque transfer through banana plantations, forested slopes, and villages decorated with smiling children waving along the roadside.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park greets you with cool air, towering trees, and deep valleys wrapped in mist. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most biologically diverse forests on Earth, sheltering gorillas, rare birds, butterflies, primates, and unique plant species. You arrive at your lodge, perfectly positioned on the forest edge, where you settle in and take in the majesty of Bwindi’s green blankets.

The afternoon is spent relaxing, enjoying scenic views, or taking a brief nature walk around the lodge. Dinner is served as sounds from the forest echo through the evening. Tomorrow brings one of the greatest wildlife encounters in the world.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – A Life-Changing Encounter

Today marks the highlight of your Uganda experience. After an early breakfast, you drive to the park headquarters for a detailed trekking briefing. Expert rangers explain gorilla behaviour, trekking etiquette, and safety procedures before assigning you to a gorilla family. With your trekking gear ready, you start your journey into the thick, ancient rainforest that gives Bwindi its name, “impenetrable”.

The trek can take one to several hours, depending on the gorilla family’s movements. Along the way, you listen to birdcalls, spot fresh gorilla nests, and follow ranger signals deeper into the forest. Then, in a moment that feels almost surreal, you stand face-to-face with a mountain gorilla family. Watching a silverback protectively observe his group, seeing infants play, and admiring the gentle strength of these giants creates one of the most emotional wildlife experiences on Earth.

You spend one full hour with the gorillas, a precious opportunity to take photos, observe their behavior, and absorb the beauty of this rare moment. After the trek, you return to your lodge for a well-earned rest, followed by a cultural village visit with the Batwa community. Their songs, stories, and traditional practices offer a deep connection to the region’s history.

Day 4: Flight to Tanzania – Arrival in the Serengeti

After breakfast, you transfer back to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip for your flight to Entebbe, followed by a connecting flight to the Serengeti. The journey offers incredible aerial views as you travel from Uganda’s highlands to the sweeping plains of northern Tanzania. On landing, you are welcomed by your Tanzanian guide and driven into the heart of Serengeti National Park.

The Serengeti’s open landscapes immediately capture your senses with golden grasslands, granite kopjes, scattered acacia trees, and wildlife visible from the very moment you enter the park. Your first game drive begins right from the airstrip, offering sightings of zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, and gazelles. You arrive at your lodge in time for relaxation and dinner, with the Serengeti sunset filling the sky with flaming colours.

Night falls with distant roars of lions and the calming sounds of nocturnal wildlife, giving you an authentic taste of Africa’s wild heart.

Day 5: Full-Day Wildlife Safari in the Serengeti

Today is dedicated to exploring the unrivalled beauty of the Serengeti. After breakfast, you venture into the park on a full-day game drive. The Serengeti is famous for its dramatic wildlife encounters, including stalking lions, sprinting cheetahs, wandering elephants, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebras. Your guide follows wildlife tracks, water sources, and migration routes to give you the best opportunities for close-range sightings.

You enjoy a picnic lunch under a shaded acacia tree before continuing through various ecosystems ranging from riverine forests to sweeping plains. Every turn brings new sightings, and no two game drives are ever the same in a place as dynamic as the Serengeti.

You return to your lodge in the evening for a warm shower, a hearty dinner, and peaceful relaxation under the starlit African sky.

Day 6: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Arusha

Your final Serengeti morning begins with a sunrise game drive as predators finish their nightly hunts and herbivores begin to graze. The golden light creates the perfect atmosphere for wildlife photography and peaceful viewing. After the game drive, you return to the lodge for brunch before checking out.

You then transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Arusha. On arrival, you enjoy a relaxed evening at your lodge as you reflect on the incredible days spent between Uganda’s forests and Tanzania’s plains.

Day 7: Departure – End of Your East African Adventure

After breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, you may take a short city tour, visit local craft markets, or relax at the lodge. You are later transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your unforgettable gorilla and wildlife safari, filled with memories of mountain gorillas, vast savannahs, and the timeless rhythm of Africa.

Safari Inclusions

• Airport transfers
• Domestic flights (Uganda and Tanzania)
• All ground transportation
• Gorilla trekking permit (Uganda)
• All park entry fees
• Full-day game drives in Serengeti
• Professional English-speaking guides
• Accommodation in midrange lodges
• All meals as per itinerary
• Bottled drinking water
• Batwa cultural visit

Safari Exclusions

• International flights
• Tanzania entry visa
• Optional activities not listed
• Tips and gratuities
• Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
• Personal travel insurance
• Laundry services