6 days · Uganda
6-day Kidepo and Bwindi gorilla safari by air
Remote savannah first, mountain gorillas second. You fly to Kidepo in the far north-east, then fly across the country to Bwindi, so two very long road journeys disappear from your plan.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Meet your guide at Entebbe or Kajjansi airfield and board your flight to Kidepo Valley National Park. Operators and schedules vary, so we confirm the flight when we plan your dates. A typical flight takes about two hours. Your guide meets you at the airstrip, and you reach your lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon, take a first game drive across the Narus Valley, where buffaloes, elephants and giraffes are often seen. Our Kidepo guide describes the landscape and the wildlife.
Day 2
Leave early for a long game drive. The valleys of Kidepo are wide and open, so animals are easy to spot at a distance. Kidepo is known for sightings that are rare elsewhere in Uganda, such as cheetahs and ostriches, but nothing is guaranteed. Return to the lodge for a rest in the heat of the day. Then head out again for the late afternoon, when predators and plains animals become more active. Dinner and a quiet night under a very dark sky follow.
Day 3
After an early game drive, you can visit a Karamojong community, if local arrangements allow it on your dates. Your guide explains what is appropriate, and we ask you to follow local guidance when taking photographs. In the afternoon you fly back to Entebbe or Kajjansi. You spend the night near the airfield, so that the next morning's flight to the south-west starts without a rush.
Day 4
Take a morning flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, depending on the sector of your gorilla permit. A flight of about an hour to an hour and a half is typical, and the schedule is confirmed when we book. A driver then takes you to your lodge, usually within one to two hours. Rest, repack for the forest and meet your guide for a briefing about tomorrow. Read how to get to Bwindi to compare the air and road options.
Day 5
After an early breakfast, attend the briefing at the park office. Rangers assign you to a habituated family and lead you into the forest, with trackers who have already located the group. The walk can take from about one hour to most of a day. When you reach the family, you spend one hour with them at a distance of 10 metres. Porters are available at the park office to carry your daypack. Return to your lodge for a late lunch and a hot shower.
Day 6
Transfer to the airstrip after breakfast and fly back to Entebbe or Kajjansi, in time for your international flight. If you prefer a slower finish, we can add a night or a forest day before you leave. Ask us to check your dates for the extra night.
What is included
- Gorilla permit for your date
- Domestic flights as set out in your quote
- Lodging and meals as set out in your quote
- Park entrance fees and ranger guides
- Game drives and the Narus Valley circuits listed in the itinerary
- Airport and airstrip transfers with a driver-guide
- Bottled water on the road
Not included
- International flights
- Extra nights before or after the trip
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Personal items and tips
Your quote lists every inclusion for your dates and group size.
How to book this trip
- Send your dates. Use the request form or WhatsApp.
- We check for you. Our office confirms your permit date with the park, normally within 24 hours.
- You receive one quote. Then we secure your permit and plan the rest.
Why flying both ways makes sense
Kidepo lies in the far north-east of Uganda, and Bwindi lies in the far south-west. By road, the two are separated by many hours of driving over several days. A flight turns each leg into a short hop, and it protects the days you want to spend with wildlife.
This plan uses scheduled or chartered flights, depending on your dates and group size. If you want a wider view of air travel in Uganda, read our guide to flying in for the gorillas. It explains airstrips, baggage and what changes the schedule.
A flying plan also makes the trip easier on the body. You arrive at the gorilla trek rested instead of tired from a long drive, and the walk feels shorter for it.
What Kidepo adds to a gorilla trip
Kidepo Valley National Park is remote, wide and quiet. Open savannah and mountain views replace the forest, so the two halves of your trip look and feel different. You see plains animals that do not live in Bwindi, and the park receives far fewer visitors than the southern parks.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages Kidepo and Bwindi alike, so park fees and rules follow one system. Our team handles the permits and the park fees for both parks.
Wildlife depends on the season and on luck. Guides here read tracks, listen for alarm calls and know where animals gather at different times, so ask them questions on every drive.
Your trek day in Bwindi
The trek day follows the same steps in every sector. You meet rangers at the park office, attend a briefing and set out in a small group. Groups are limited to eight visitors per gorilla family. At the end, you spend one hour with the family.
The rules protect the gorillas and you. Stay 10 metres away, keep your voice low and do not trek if you are unwell. Our rules and etiquette guide explains each one.
Your sector depends on your permit. Read about Rushaga and Nkuringo, which are the sectors closest to Kisoro, and about Buhoma, which is closest to Kihihi. Our team recommends the sector that fits your flights and your fitness.
Best months for this safari
Both parks can be visited all year, but each has a drier period when roads and trails are easier. Kidepo's drier months are generally between November and March, while Bwindi's longer dry spells fall between June and September and again in December and January. The two overlap in December and January, which suits this plan.
Wetter months are quieter and greener. They also bring muddy trails and the occasional flight delay, so we plan more buffer in them. Our month-by-month guide compares every month, and our seasons guide explains the dry and wet periods.
Comfort, fitness and who it suits
This trip suits travellers who want a mix of savannah and forest and who prefer flying to long drives. It also suits families with teenagers who will enjoy the game drives. For older travellers, the short transfers help, and our senior travellers guide explains how to prepare.
Lodging runs from simple tented camps to comfortable lodges. We match the style to your group when we plan the dates. For packing, read our packing guide, and remember soft bags for the small aircraft.
Planning notes before you book
Send your dates early. The permit is the limiting item, and flights depend on it. We check your dates with the park, then build the rest of the plan around the permit.
Check your documents too. Our travel documents page links to the official visa sites and travel advisories. Also read about travel insurance, and malaria prevention, and ask your doctor about vaccines.
The UNESCO listing for Bwindi explains why the forest matters. When you are ready, ask for your quote and we reply with a plan for your group.
Frequently asked questions
Is the gorilla trek on a fixed day?
Your trek is on day five in the plan above. We confirm the permit date with the park before we buy it, so the rest of the trip is built around that date.
What are the baggage limits on the flights?
Small aircraft usually take soft bags with a modest weight limit. We confirm the exact rule for your operator when we book, and we can store extra luggage at your hotel in Entebbe.
How fit do I need to be?
Gorilla trekking takes place on steep, muddy ground at altitude. Kidepo game drives are easy. Read our guide to how difficult gorilla tracking is before you book.
Can I add a chimpanzee trek or a safari day?
Yes. Many guests add Kibale or Queen Elizabeth on the road leg. See our combinations guide for ideas.
What is the minimum age to trek?
Visitors must be at least 15 years old. Our age limit guide explains the rule.
Is the gorilla permit included?
Yes. We buy your permit for your chosen date once we have confirmed it with the park.
Can the dates and lodges be changed?
Yes. Every trip is a starting point, and we adapt it to your dates, group and comfort level.
Ready to trek? Ask for your quote.
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