Bwindi, Uganda · 4 days · from US$1,290 pp

4-day budget gorilla safari

the permit is fixed; nothing else has to be

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Starts & ends: Kampala, Entebbe or Kigali
Trekking: Rushaga or Buhoma, Bwindi
Permit: US$800, included
Travel: Shared 4x4, maximum 6 travellers
Departures: Twice monthly, min. 4 travellers

The US$800 permit is fixed and nobody can discount it. What we can change is the vehicle, the lodging and the season — a shared 4x4 on set departure dates, community-run accommodation near the trailhead, and travel in the green season where your dates allow.

Be wary of anything much cheaper than this. Check whether the permit is genuinely included, whether the vehicle is a 4x4, and whether the operator is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board.

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Day by day

The 4 days

Day 1
West to Mbarara
A long driving day from Kampala or Entebbe with a stop at the equator and lunch on the road. Travellers starting in Kigali join at the Cyanika border.
Day 2
Into Bwindi
The last stretch on murram roads, arriving by lunchtime. Afternoon community walk or a village visit — both cost very little and are worth doing.
Day 3
Gorilla trekking
Briefing at 07:00 and your trek. Porters at US$20 are the one thing we ask you not to skip; it is the most direct way your money reaches the villages here.
Day 4
Return
The drive back with a stop at Lake Bunyonyi or the Igongo cultural centre, depending on your route.

US$1,290per person sharing, from US$1,290 per person sharing on a green-season shared departure. US$1,450 high season, US$1,690 with a private vehicle.

What's included

Uganda gorilla permit (US$800) and park entry
Shared 4x4 with driver-guide
Three nights in budget or community accommodation, full board
Transfers from Kampala, Entebbe or the Cyanika border
Bottled water and taxes

Not included

International flights
Visas
Travel insurance
Porters and tips
Single rooms (supplement applies)
Drinks

Who it suits. First-time visitors on a budget, solo travellers, and anyone happy to trade a view for a fair price.

Questions about this trip

Are cheap gorilla permits real?

No. All three countries publish fixed permit prices and every operator pays the same. A discounted permit means it has been excluded from the quote, or the operator is not licensed.

Is budget accommodation near Bwindi decent?

At the places we use, yes — simple rooms, hot water, mosquito nets and good local food. Several are community-owned and fund the local health centre directly.

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