Day 1: Welcome and transfer to the Queen Elizabeth
Depending on your arrival location, you will be met by a Pearl Nest guide who will first explain the itinerary. You will then be driven in a comfortable safari vehicle to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the South West region of Uganda. The journey takes approximately 6 hours. You will have lunch en route in Mbarara. Continue the drive to the park with spectacular views of farmlands, traditional houses and tea plantations. Further stops are possible for taking photos. Upon arrival in the park, check into the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Safari or lion tracking and afternoon boat cruise
Safari: After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the Kasenyi plains for a morning game drive. During the game drive, you will have rewarding views of the sunrise, the big four mammals such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and other animals like bushbucks, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, various species of birds and many more. After the game drive, return to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel starts after lunch. You will take a boat cruise along the impressive Kazinga Canal to see a variety of aquatic animals, including hippos, buffalo, crocodiles and elephants bathing on the banks of the canal. You can also spot various species of water birds on the banks, especially the famous pelicans and Jacana, the royal fishermen, among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi gorilla park, safari with the Ishasha lions
After breakfast at the lodge, you will leave the lodge and meet your driver guide for transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive will take you through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have the chance to spot lions climbing trees and resting in the branches of fig trees during the excursion. The Ishasha sector is not only home to climbing lions but also animals such as buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, Uganda kobs and many more.

After the safari, you will leave Queen passing through Ishasha sector and continue the journey to Bwindi with a stop for lunch en route. The journey from Queen to Bwindi takes approximately 4-5 hours. On arrival, you will settle in at the lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 4: Hiking to meet the gorillas
Wake up early, breakfast at 6:30 am and packed lunch. You will be picked up by your driver guide who will take you to the park headquarters for a briefing on the gorilla trekking activity. You will then be grouped into groups of 8 and you will be assigned a family of gorillas. The guide will accompany you through the thick canopy and undergrowth in search of gorillas.

Gorilla trekking can last from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on their movements. Once you locate the gorillas, you will have an hour with them. You will learn how they survive in the forest, how they behave, how they play, how they build their nest in the evening and you will be able to take great photos for your future memories. After gorilla trekking, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. On arrival, you will settle into your lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 5: Boat cruise and departure for Kampala/Entebbe
Boat Cruise: After breakfast, you will depart the lodge for a cruise on the lake where you can explore some of the 29 islands. One of them is Punishment Island, where young girls were thrown to starve to death because they got pregnant before being married off by their parents. You will have spectacular views of terraced farmlands, Kigezi hills, traditional dwellings and will be able to spot magnificent bird species. Later, you will meet your driver and start the return journey to Entebbe.