This 3-day gorilla trekking safari is designed for travelers who want a rich wildlife experience without needing an extended vacation. Starting from either Kigali, Rwanda, or Entebbe, Uganda, the itinerary takes you through scenic countryside to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the last strongholds of the endangered mountain gorilla, for a face-to-face encounter with these gentle giants before returning home.
Day 01
Pick up from Kigali City or Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Your adventure begins with an early morning departure from Kigali or Entebbe, depending on your point of entry. If traveling from Kigali, the drive to Bwindi takes approximately 4 to 5 hours through the rolling hills of Rwanda, crossing the border into Uganda at Cyanika. If departing from Entebbe, the journey is longer, typically 8 to 9 hours by road through Kampala and Mbarara, though a domestic flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip can cut this down significantly for those short on time. Along the way, you’ll pass through lush tea plantations, terraced hillsides, and small rural villages that offer a glimpse into everyday life in this part of East Africa. Many travelers choose to break up the journey with a stop at Lake Mburo or Mbarara town for lunch and a stretch. You’ll arrive in Bwindi in the late afternoon or early evening, in time to settle into your lodge, enjoy dinner, and rest up for the trek ahead. Your guide or lodge staff will typically brief you on what to expect the next day, including appropriate gear and what time to be ready.
Meal Plan: Lunch and DinnerStay: Gorilla Valley LodgeDrive: 4-5 or 9-10 hours
Day 02
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
This is the heart of the safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing session, where park rangers assign trekking groups based on gorilla family locations and trekker fitness levels. Armed with your gorilla trekking permit, walking stick, and a packed lunch, you’ll set off into the forest accompanied by armed rangers, trackers, and guides. The trek itself can range from a relatively easy one to two hours to a more strenuous five to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved to that day, as Bwindi’s terrain is steep, dense, and often muddy. Porters are available to carry bags and offer a helping hand on difficult sections, and many travelers choose to hire one both for support and to contribute to the local community. Once your group locates the gorillas, you’ll have a magical, closely regulated one hour in their presence, watching them feed, play, and interact as a family unit just a few meters away. Afterward, you’ll trek back out of the forest, return to your lodge for a well-earned hot meal and rest, and perhaps spend the evening reflecting on the experience or enjoying the lodge’s surroundings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.Stay: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day 03
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi and transfer back to Kigali for your flight or at your hotel.
This is the heart of the safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing session, where park rangers assign trekking groups based on gorilla family locations and trekker fitness levels. Armed with your gorilla trekking permit, walking stick, and a packed lunch, you’ll set off into the forest accompanied by armed rangers, trackers, and guides. The trek itself can range from a relatively easy one to two hours to a more strenuous five to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved to that day, as Bwindi’s terrain is steep, dense, and often muddy. Porters are available to carry bags and offer a helping hand on difficult sections, and many travelers choose to hire one both for support and to contribute to the local community. Once your group locates the gorillas, you’ll have a magical, closely regulated one hour in their presence, watching them feed, play, and interact as a family unit just a few meters away. Afterward, you’ll trek back out of the forest, return to your lodge for a well-earned hot meal and rest, and perhaps spend the evening reflecting on the experience or enjoying the lodge’s surroundings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.Stay: NoneDrive: 4-5 or 9-10 hrs
Start date
1 Pax
2 Pax
3 Pax
4 Px
5 Pax
6 Pax
Any date
$1960
$1545
$1420
$1360
$1320
$1285
Includes
Airport transfers
Transport in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle
Fuel for the round-trip
A gorilla permit of USD800 per person
Services of an English-speaking driver guide
All park entry fees
Drinking water in the vehicle
Excludes
East African Visa fees of USD100.00 per person.
All expenses of personal nature such as drinks and tips
All other Activities not indicated in the itinerary
Day 01
Pick up from Kigali City or Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Your adventure begins with an early morning departure from Kigali or Entebbe, depending on your point of entry. If traveling from Kigali, the drive to Bwindi takes approximately 4 to 5 hours through the rolling hills of Rwanda, crossing the border into Uganda at Cyanika. If departing from Entebbe, the journey is longer, typically 8 to 9 hours by road through Kampala and Mbarara, though a domestic flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip can cut this down significantly for those short on time. Along the way, you’ll pass through lush tea plantations, terraced hillsides, and small rural villages that offer a glimpse into everyday life in this part of East Africa. Many travelers choose to break up the journey with a stop at Lake Mburo or Mbarara town for lunch and a stretch. You’ll arrive in Bwindi in the late afternoon or early evening, in time to settle into your lodge, enjoy dinner, and rest up for the trek ahead. Your guide or lodge staff will typically brief you on what to expect the next day, including appropriate gear and what time to be ready.
Meal Plan: Lunch and DinnerStay: Gorilla Valley LodgeDrive: 4-5 or 9-10 hours
Day 02
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
This is the heart of the safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing session, where park rangers assign trekking groups based on gorilla family locations and trekker fitness levels. Armed with your gorilla trekking permit, walking stick, and a packed lunch, you’ll set off into the forest accompanied by armed rangers, trackers, and guides. The trek itself can range from a relatively easy one to two hours to a more strenuous five to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved to that day, as Bwindi’s terrain is steep, dense, and often muddy. Porters are available to carry bags and offer a helping hand on difficult sections, and many travelers choose to hire one both for support and to contribute to the local community. Once your group locates the gorillas, you’ll have a magical, closely regulated one hour in their presence, watching them feed, play, and interact as a family unit just a few meters away. Afterward, you’ll trek back out of the forest, return to your lodge for a well-earned hot meal and rest, and perhaps spend the evening reflecting on the experience or enjoying the lodge’s surroundings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.Stay: Gorilla Valley Lodge
Day 03
Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi and transfer back to Kigali for your flight or at your hotel.
This is the heart of the safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing session, where park rangers assign trekking groups based on gorilla family locations and trekker fitness levels. Armed with your gorilla trekking permit, walking stick, and a packed lunch, you’ll set off into the forest accompanied by armed rangers, trackers, and guides. The trek itself can range from a relatively easy one to two hours to a more strenuous five to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family has moved to that day, as Bwindi’s terrain is steep, dense, and often muddy. Porters are available to carry bags and offer a helping hand on difficult sections, and many travelers choose to hire one both for support and to contribute to the local community. Once your group locates the gorillas, you’ll have a magical, closely regulated one hour in their presence, watching them feed, play, and interact as a family unit just a few meters away. Afterward, you’ll trek back out of the forest, return to your lodge for a well-earned hot meal and rest, and perhaps spend the evening reflecting on the experience or enjoying the lodge’s surroundings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.Stay: NoneDrive: 4-5 or 9-10 hrs
Start date
1 Pax
2 Pax
3 Pax
4 Pax
5 Pax
6 Pax
Any date
$1960
$1545
$1420
$1360
$1320
$1285
Includes
Airport transfers
Transport in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle
Fuel for the round-trip
A gorilla permit of USD800 per person
Services of an English-speaking driver guide
All park entry fees
Drinking water in the vehicle
Excludes
East African Visa fees of USD100.00 per person.
All expenses of personal nature such as drinks and tips
All other Activities not indicated in the itinerary
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