The 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour starts from Entebbe or Kampala with pick up by one of our professional driver guides or do the same tour starting from Kigali International Airport/Hotel in Kigali via Katuna or Chanika border with opportunity to visit the scenic Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda for you to embark on community walk or canoe ride while enjoying the breathtaking views of rolling hills or scenic islands. Alternatively, take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip then connect to Bwindi National Park.
Entebbe International Airport in Uganda
Kajansi Air Field
Kasese Air Field
Kihihi Air Field
Any Time
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest national park
One hour of magical encounter with mountain gorillas
Stopover at Equator (Kayabwe)
Batwa experience
Breathtaking views of the landscape in southwestern Uganda among others
Photo taking
View the tree climbing lions at the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Summary Itinerary Gorilla Trekking Tour
What is included in your 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour
Gorilla trekking permit ($600 per person)
Batwa cultural experience
Visit Lake Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation 2 nights and meals
Transport in 4-wheel drive safari vehicle
Fulltime English-speaking driver guide
Stopover at the equator and at Mpambire drum makers
What is excluded in your 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour
Personal/medical insurance
Personal expenses such as cigarettes, tips, laundry services, airfares, accommodation and extra activities outside itinerary and others.
Other safari activities offered in Bwindi National Park
Birding
Cycling
Nature walks/hiking
Gorilla habituation experience
When to go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Bwindi National Park is regarded as all year-round safari destination. Despite this fact, the dry season is the best time to go trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. The dry season in Bwindi National Park starts in the months of June, July, August, September and December, January, February. It is also regarded as the peak season and you are encouraged to secure your gorilla permit at least 3-4 months before actual trek. The wet or rainy season is also ideal but it is characterized by plenty of rainfall which makes the habitat muddy thus posing a challenge when hiking through dense vegetation and steep slopes. It starts in March, April, May, and October, November. The wet season is characterized by plenty of forage which gorillas depend on which makes it simpler or visitors take short hours to find these creatures compared to the dry season when they move to search for what to feed on.
What to Carry for a 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour
Waterproof hiking boots
Rain jacket or poncho
Long sleeved shirt/t-shirts
Drinking water and energy giving snacks
Sweater
Valid visa and passport
Gorilla permits (each costing $600-for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and Ug.shs. 250000 for East African citizens).
Gardening gloves
Camera with no flashlight
First aid kit
Insect repellent
Hat
Sunglasses and others.
Gorilla Trekking Rules to consider while in Bwindi
Keep a distance of 7 meters at all times away from mountain gorillas
No flashlight camera is allowed when taking photos of gorillas and if your camera has, please turn it off
Keep your voices low while on the trek but feel free to ask as many questions as possible
Do not go for gorilla trekking if you are not feeling well
Do not smoke, drink or eat in the presence of gorillas
Keep within your group and never surround gorillas
Only persons above 15 years are allowed to trek gorillas
You have only an hour to have face to face encounter with gorillas
The Great APES of Uganda
Watching mountain gorillas play is surely one of the world’s most moving wildlife experiences. On this wonderful tour you could experience it for yourself, amongst dozens of other unforgettable encounters. Glimpse the endangered chimpanzees of Kibale Forest and spot crocodiles and hippos wallowing in the Kazinga Channel on a boat safari. In Lake Mburo National Park, hear the local fauna spring into noisy, exuberant life on an early morning nature walk. Throughout, you’ll enjoy incredible views from your warm and welcoming lodges.
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla tracking
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Day 3: Return to Entebbe or Kampala
After you have had your delicious breakfast at your respective hotel or area of residence in Entebbe or Kampala or Kigali, you will be picked up by our professional and experienced driver-guide. You will have a briefing about your 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour and then embark on a road trip to southwestern Uganda via Entebbe or Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route which may take you about 8-10 hours to drive. En-route, you have a chance to make a stopover at the Uganda equator (at Kayabwe) for photo taking and a bit of chilling. After, proceed to Mbarara to have lunch at Igongo cultural center or Agip Hotel.
Later, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishaka-Bushenyi while enjoying the best view of extensive tea plantations at Igara. Connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s second-largest savanna national park after Murchison Falls National Park and then drive via the Ishasha sector in the southern side which comes with possibility for you to catch a glimpse at the rare tree-climbing lions as they are relaxed on tree branches as well as several elephants, buffaloes, and many others. Proceed to southwestern Uganda to Bwindi National Park while enjoying the breathtaking sceneries and rolling hills of the Kigezi area. From Kanungu, drive to the Buhoma area of Bwindi National Park on the northern side.
Dinner and Overnight
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp or Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Budget: Bakiga Lodge or Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp
Enjoy your breakfast at your preferred safari lodge in Bwindi National Park and after, gather at your respective trailhead as per your gorilla permit to have a briefing at 6:30 am on the set gorilla trekking. During briefing time, you will be assigned to only one habituated gorilla family to trek in a group of 8 visitors and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 20 gorilla families that have been habituated and set for tourism. At 8:00 am, you will embark on an actual trek with an armed park ranger guide. Note, gorilla treks in Bwindi National Park start from the 4 main gorilla trekking regions; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga sector, each of which consists of habituated gorilla groups.
Buhoma sector comprises of Mubare gorilla group, Habinyanja family, Katwe and Rushegura gorilla group; Ruhija region has Kyaguriro, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and Bitukura; Nkuringo area in the southern Bwindi National Park comprises of Nkuringo gorilla group, Bushaho, and Christmas while Rushaga area in the south has Kutu gorilla family, Mucunguzi, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bweza, Rwigi, and Bikingi group. Mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi National Park may take you about 2-6 hours depending on your physical wellness, nature of the habitat and where gorillas are found. The 2-6 hours rewards you not only with magical encounters with gorillas but also other wildlife species including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, birds, butterflies, unique plants and many others. Upon finding your gorilla family, you have only an hour to have a face to face encounter, take photos and explore behaviors and body gestures of mountain gorillas. After the one hour of magical encounter, return to the lodge to have rest and in the evening, you will embark on a community visit to the Batwa community. You will have a chance to interact with the Batwa pygmies the renowned forest dwellers who lived in the forest as hunters and gatherers for over 500000 years. On community or cultural visit in the Batwa community, enjoy the thrilling cultural dances, music performances; explore the ancient hunting and gathering techniques, traditions, cultures and many others.
Dinner and Overnight
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge or Buhoma Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp or Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Budget: Bakiga Lodge or Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp
Early in the morning, you have breakfast and after, check out from your safari lodge ready to embark on a return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. You will have lunch at Igongo Cultural Center and make a stopover at Uganda Equator for the last photo taking and at Mpambire drum makers to purchase some items.
