Bwindi, Uganda — from Kigali · 3 days · from US$1,690 pp

3-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari

the shortest way to trek on an US$800 permit

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Starts & ends: Kigali International Airport
Trekking: Rushaga or Nkuringo, Bwindi
Permit: US$800, included
Travel: Private 4x4 throughout
Best months: June–September, December–February

Flying into Kigali rather than Entebbe removes two long driving days from a Uganda gorilla trip. Bwindi's southern sectors are four to five hours from Kigali airport through the Cyanika border, and you still trek on an US$800 Ugandan permit rather than Rwanda's US$1,500.

Three days is enough for the trek and very little else. It suits travellers adding gorillas to a longer East African trip, or anyone whose leave is measured in days rather than weeks.

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Day by day

The 3 days

Day 1
Kigali to Bwindi
Met at the airport and driven north-west through Musanze and across the border into Uganda. Four to five hours with stops, arriving at your lodge near the Rushaga briefing point by mid-afternoon.
Day 2
Gorilla trekking
Breakfast at 05:30, briefing at 07:00, into the forest by 08:00. Two to six hours of walking, then one hour with a gorilla family. Back at the lodge by mid-afternoon with a signed certificate and ruined boots.
Day 3
Bwindi to Kigali
A slower drive back with time for Lake Mutanda or the Rubuguri market, and an evening flight out of Kigali.

US$1,690per person sharing, from US$1,690 per person sharing in mid-range lodges. US$1,350 budget, US$3,400 top-end. Single supplements apply.

What's included

Uganda gorilla permit (US$800) and park entry
Private 4x4 and driver-guide throughout
Two nights' accommodation, full board
Kigali airport transfers and border assistance
Bottled water and all taxes

Not included

International flights
Uganda and Rwanda visas, or the East Africa Tourist Visa (US$100)
Travel and cancellation insurance
Porters (US$20–25) and tips
Drinks and personal items

Who it suits. Travellers with three days and no appetite for a nine-hour drive from Entebbe.

Questions about this trip

Can you really see gorillas in three days?

Yes, from Kigali. Day one travels, day two treks, day three returns. From Entebbe you need four days minimum unless you fly to Kisoro.

Why trek in Uganda if I'm flying to Rwanda?

The permit saves US$700 per person, which more than covers both visas and the extra driving. You also get a choice of gorilla families rather than a single park.

You might also consider

Three more journeys

Bwindi, Uganda — by air

3-day fly-in gorilla safari, Bwindi

The drive from Entebbe to Bwindi takes nine hours. The flight takes seventy-five minutes. This is the trip that makes a Uganda gorilla trek work on a short schedule.

3 daysfrom US$2,750 pp