7 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Zanzibar Holiday

7 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Zanzibar Holiday

There is a natural logic to pairing gorilla trekking with a beach holiday, and this 7 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Zanzibar Holiday trip does it directly: three days in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, followed by three days unwinding in Zanzibar’s Stone Town.

The Uganda portion centers on a gorilla trek in Bwindi’s ancient forest, one of only a handful of places on earth where mountain gorillas survive in the wild, followed by a stop in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a Kasenyi Plains game drive and a Kazinga Channel boat cruise. From there, a short flight takes you to Zanzibar for Stone Town’s history, a spice farm tour, and a dolphin excursion off Kizimkazi.

This itinerary suits travelers who want their one major wildlife encounter of the trip the gorilla trek followed by genuine relaxation rather than more game drives, and who are comfortable with the flight connection between Entebbe and Zanzibar partway through.

Quick Facts

Highlights

• Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 2: Gorilla trekking, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Day 3: Game drive in the Kasenyi Sector, boat cruise at Kazinga Channel
• Day 4: Transfer back to Entebbe, fly to Zanzibar
• Day 5: Stone Town city tour
• Day 6: Dolphin excursion
• Day 7: Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick Up and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver-guide, who will brief you before the six- to eight-hour journey south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Stop at the Equator crossing in Kayabwe for photos, with lunch in Mbarara along the way.

You will arrive at the park in the evening. Check in at your lodge for an evening of rest, with dinner and an overnight stay to follow.

Accommodation: Chameleon Hill Lodge

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wake very early for breakfast before heading to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. A senior ranger guide will walk you through the rules for time spent in the presence of the gorillas before you are assigned a gorilla family and head into the misty forest to find them.

The trek takes approximately two to six hours, sometimes longer, depending on where the gorillas settled the previous night. You are permitted one hour with them, watching them go about their lives, groom, and play. Afterward, return to the park offices to meet your guide for the transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in the evening. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Game Drive in Kasenyi Sector, Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel

After breakfast, head to the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park for a morning game drive, a good window for spotting early risers and predators returning from a night of hunting. Expect leopards, hyenas, lions, warthogs, elephants, and various antelope species.

Return to your lodge for lunch, then head out in the afternoon for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of the richest wildlife concentrations in the region. Watch for hippos, waterbucks, crocodiles, and other mammals along the banks — the channel is also a genuine birder’s paradise, hosting both resident and migratory species. Return to your lodge to rest, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Transfer Back to Entebbe and Fly to Zanzibar

Enjoy an early breakfast before saying goodbye to Queen Elizabeth National Park, with a game drive en route back to Entebbe International Airport. After lunch, board your afternoon flight to Zanzibar.

On landing, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Stone Town.

Accommodation: Serena Stone Town Hotel

Serena Stone Town Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Stone Town City Tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up around 8:00 a.m. for a Stone Town tour, visiting historic sites and shopping among the antique and gift shops. Enjoy lunch at Mtoni Marine Restaurant before continuing to the spice farms for a look at the island’s famous spices and tropical fruits.

Day 6: Dolphin Excursion

After breakfast, drive south for a dolphin excursion off the tip of the island in the fishing village of Kizimkazi, where a resident pod makes this stretch of coastline home, giving you a good chance of seeing them in their natural habitat. Tours run in the early morning and afternoon, subject to weather conditions.

Day 7: Departure

Depending on your flight schedule, take a final stroll along the white sand beaches before transferring to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.

What’s Included

• Gorilla permit (currently around $800 USD — subject to change; please confirm the current rate when booking)
• Chimpanzee permit
• Transportation during the safari in a safari van
• Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
• En-route lunches
• All park entrance fees and activities in the itinerary
• Full-board accommodation
• Batwa Village visit
• Bottled drinking water in the tour vehicle

What’s Not Included

• Flights
• Visas
• Beverages
• Tips and souvenirs
• Extra activities not included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, and portage
• Anything else not included in the itinerary