5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari
This 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari with Nextgen Safaris combines exhilarating adventure activities on the River Nile in Jinja with the unforgettable experience of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital, offers white-water rafting, tubing, and bungee jumping on the world’s longest river, the Nile. After this thrilling 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari, the safari continues to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, for a life-changing wildlife encounter.
Safari Highlights – 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari
- Experience Uganda’s Adventure Capital – Explore Jinja, the source of the River Nile, with thrilling activities including tubing, white-water rafting, and optional bungee jumping.
- Scenic Drive Through Uganda – Enjoy breathtaking landscapes from Mabira Forest, rolling tea plantations, and the Equator crossing to the misty highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi – Encounter the endangered mountain gorillas up close in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Africa’s most biologically diverse rainforests.
- Cultural Immersion with the Batwa Pygmies – Learn about the Batwa people’s traditional forest lifestyle, including their hunting techniques, herbal medicine, and cultural dances.
- Comfortable and Scenic Lodging – Stay at well-selected accommodations, including Jinja Nile Resort, Forest Cottages in Kampala, and Broadbill Forest Camp in Bwindi.
- Equator Stop & Igongo Cultural Experience – Visit the Uganda Equator for a unique photo opportunity and enjoy traditional cuisine at Igongo Cultural Centre.
- Professional Safari Guidance – Travel with an expert English-speaking guide for insightful experiences, wildlife interpretation, and cultural interactions.
This 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari is the perfect mix of adrenaline-filled adventure and immersive wildlife experiences, making it ideal for travelers who want to explore Uganda’s best highlights in just five days!
Detailed 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari
Arrival for 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Nextgen Safaris. After a short briefing about your safari, you will be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. (Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged at an extra cost.)
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe to Jinja – Tubing on the Nile
After an early breakfast, meet your expert safari guide and begin the 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari journey to Jinja, Uganda’s adventure capital, located in the eastern part of the country. The drive takes approximately 2 to 3 hours, passing through Mabira Forest, a lush tropical rainforest home to unique primates and bird species. Along the way, you will also pass extensive sugarcane and tea plantations before reaching the vibrant city of Jinja.
Upon arrival, check into your mid-range accommodation at Jinja Nile Resort and enjoy a delicious lunch with a view of the River Nile. Later in the afternoon, embark on an exciting tubing experience on the Nile. This adventure allows you to float down a naturally flowing lazy section of the river while soaking in the breathtaking scenery. With a beverage of your choice in hand, relax and enjoy the calm waters, lush riverbanks, and distant sounds of nature.
Main Destination: Jinja
- Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort – Mid-range hotel
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinking water provided (Other drinks not included)
Day 2: White-Water Rafting & Transfer to Kampala
After an early breakfast, head to Kalagala Falls, the starting point for one of the most thrilling white-water rafting experiences in Africa. You can choose between a full-day or half-day rafting experience, depending on your level of adventure. The Nile offers some of the best rapids in the world, ranging from Grade 3 to Grade 5, ensuring an adrenaline-pumping experience as you navigate the roaring waves.
After rafting, freshen up and enjoy a hearty lunch before embarking on a scenic drive back to Kampala. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, check into your accommodation at Forest Cottages, a peaceful retreat surrounded by lush greenery in the capital city.
Main Destination: Jinja & Kampala
- Accommodation: Forest Cottages – Budget hotel in Kampala
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinking water provided (Other drinks not included)
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Start the day with an early breakfast, then begin the long yet rewarding drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The drive takes approximately 8-9 hours, with several scenic stops along the way.
The first stop is at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe, where you can take memorable photographs and witness the famous water experiment that demonstrates the Coriolis effect at the Equator line. Afterward, continue to Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara for a delicious traditional lunch and an optional visit to the Ankole Museum, where you can learn about Uganda’s cultural heritage.
As you proceed towards Bwindi, the landscapes transform into rolling hills, mist-covered forests, and picturesque valleys, a sign that you are approaching one of the most biologically diverse rainforests in the world. Upon arrival at Bwindi, check into Broadbill Forest Camp, a charming tented lodge just outside the national park. Enjoy a relaxing evening, preparing for the next day’s gorilla trekking adventure.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp – Budget tented camp near Bwindi
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinking water provided (Other drinks not included)
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Batwa Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, head to the Bwindi park headquarters at Buhoma sector for a pre-trek briefing at 7:00 AM. Park rangers will provide essential information about gorilla trekking guidelines, safety precautions, and the history of the habituated gorilla families you may encounter.
By 8:00 AM, begin your guided trek through the dense rainforest, searching for one of the gorilla families that call Bwindi home. The trekking experience can take between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. As you hike through the rugged terrain, keep an eye out for other wildlife, including colobus monkeys, forest elephants, and over 350 bird species.
Once you find the gorillas, you will spend one magical hour observing them up close. Watch as they feed, play, groom each other, and interact within their family groups. The moment of sitting in the misty jungle, just a few meters away from these gentle giants, is an experience you will cherish forever.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later in the afternoon, visit the Batwa Pygmy community, an indigenous group that once lived in Bwindi Forest as hunter-gatherers. Learn about their traditional hunting techniques, medicinal plants, storytelling, and unique cultural dances.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp – Budget tented camp near Bwindi
- Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinking water provided (Other drinks not included)
Day 5: Depart Bwindi – Transfer to Entebbe
After breakfast, check out from the lodge and begin the return journey to Entebbe, passing through the scenic highlands of southwestern Uganda. Along the way, stop at a local crafts market to purchase souvenirs and interact with local artisans.
A lunch stop will be made in Mbarara or Masaka, depending on the timing of the journey. Continue towards Entebbe, arriving in the evening. Depending on your departure schedule, you will be dropped off at Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight, marking the end of your 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari.
Main Destination: Entebbe (End of Safari)
- Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch included; drinking water provided (Dinner not included)
End of 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari
This 5-Day Jinja and Gorilla Safari offers the perfect combination of adventure, wildlife, culture, and scenic landscapes, making it an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking both thrills and deep connections with nature.
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Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
After an early morning breakfast, meet with your experienced guide in Uganda for a briefing about your 5 days safari. After, board your 4x4 safari vehicle and be transferred to Jinja the adventurous city in the eastern part for your adventurous activities. The journey takes about 2 hours driving through the central Mabira tropical rain forest encountering tea and sugar cane plantations along the way.
On arrival check into your hotel have lunch and later in the afternoon go tubing on the river Nile as you make your way through a natural flowing lazy river on a tube while enjoying beverages of your choice and the beautiful atmosphere of the River Nile.
Main Destination: Jinja (Town)
Accommodation: Jinja Nile Resort
Mid-range hotel located in or near Jinja
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After a hefty breakfast, drive to Kalagala falls for your full-day rafting experience which is based on the level rafting you wish to do on the mighty river Nile for a full or half-day experience and later transfer back to your hotel and check out from your hotel and transfer to Kampala.
Main Destination: Jinja (Town)
Accommodation: Forest Cottages
Budget hotel located in or near Kampala
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Begin your day three with an early breakfast and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. A leisurely lunch served to you at Igongo Cultural Centre after a photography experience at the Equator crossing. Drive straight afterward to check into the lodge you booked around Bwindi National Park for relaxation and a night's stay.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp
Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
An early morning breakfast, after, report to Bwindi headquarters at Buhoma sector to the North. You will be orientated about gorilla trekking regulations, assigned a gorilla family and the actual trek begins at 8:00 am. Trek through the dense rainforest, and search for mountain gorillas with butterflies, other mammals, and birds while on the way.
Today’s experience will last 2-6 hours and after you have met a gorilla group, the park official will let you spend 1 hour with gorillas while maintaining a distance of about 10m. Retreat after observing mountain gorillas in the misty forest of Bwindi have lunch. Later, go learn, interact with the Batwa pygmies who are said to have spent 500,000 years, and explore different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles.
Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation: Broadbill Forest Camp
Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Check out of the lodge you slept in for the past 2 nights that is after breakfast and then drive back to Entebbe via Mbarara, Masaka. This will mark the end of 3 days gorilla safari in Bwindi National Park in Southwestern Uganda.
Main Destination: Kampala (City)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra
Official and Exciting: London to Entebbe Becomes Easier – Uganda Gorilla Trekking Expeditions.
