3-day Bwindi gorilla trek
In from Kigali, two nights by the forest, trek on day two. From US$1,690 pp.
Uganda is a small country with an unreasonable share of Africa's wildlife: mountain gorillas in the south-west, chimpanzees in the middle, lions and elephants on the savannah, and the Nile running through the top of it. It is also where our company, our vehicles and our guides are based.
Where the gorillas are
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A 331 km² block of Afromontane rainforest on the edge of the Albertine Rift, holding roughly half of all mountain gorillas. Bwindi has four trekking sectors — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo — which are hours apart by road and offer genuinely different treks. It is also the only place in the world to buy a four-hour gorilla habituation permit.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda's smallest national park, on the Rwandan and Congolese borders beneath three volcanoes. One habituated gorilla family, superb golden monkey tracking, volcano climbs and the Batwa Trail. Quiet, cheap to reach from Kisoro, and consistently underrated.
What else a Uganda safari includes
- Kibale Forest — the best chimpanzee tracking in Africa, with a 95% success rate and a US$250 permit. A four-hour habituation option exists here too.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park — the Kazinga Channel boat safari, thousands of hippo, and the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector, which is on the road to Bwindi.
- Murchison Falls — the Nile forced through a seven-metre gap, plus lion, elephant, giraffe and one of Africa's great boat trips.
- Lake Mburo — zebra, eland and walking safaris, three hours from Entebbe and a natural first or last night.
- Lake Bunyonyi — terraced islands and cool, bilharzia-free swimming. The right place to spend the day after your trek.
Getting there and getting around
| Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entebbe → Bwindi by road | 9–10 hrs | Best split over two days via Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth |
| Entebbe → Kihihi or Kisoro by air | 1 hr 15 | Then 1–2 hrs by road to the sector |
| Kigali → Rushaga / Nkuringo | 4–5 hrs | Via Cyanika border. The most efficient routing |
| Kigali → Buhoma | 6–7 hrs | Via Katuna border |
| Bwindi → Queen Elizabeth | 3–4 hrs | Through Ishasha |
Every Uganda itinerary we run uses a private 4x4 with a driver-guide. Roads into Ruhija and Nkuringo are murram and steep, and in the wet season a saloon car simply will not make it.
Practicalities
- Visa: US$50 single entry, applied for online in advance, or the US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa covering Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
- Yellow fever certificate: required for entry.
- Currency: Ugandan shilling; US dollars widely accepted for park fees and tips. Bring notes issued after 2013.
- Malaria: prophylaxis is advised for the whole country, though Bwindi's altitude makes risk low there.
- Language: English is an official language and universally used in tourism.
Uganda itineraries
5-day gorillas & chimpanzees
Bwindi and Kibale, with the Kazinga Channel in between. From US$2,690 pp.
10-day Uganda wildlife & gorillas
The full country: Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi. From US$4,380 pp.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why trek gorillas in Uganda rather than Rwanda?
Cost and choice. The Uganda permit is US$800 against Rwanda's US$1,500, Bwindi has around 20 habituated families across four sectors, and Uganda's wider safari — chimpanzees, savannah, boat safaris — is far stronger. Rwanda wins only on speed of access.
How do I get to Bwindi?
Three ways. Drive from Entebbe, 9–10 hours, usually broken with a night at Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth. Fly Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, about 1 hour 15 minutes, then transfer by road. Or fly into Kigali and drive 4–5 hours to the southern sectors — the fastest and most popular routing.
What else is worth seeing in Uganda?
Kibale for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth for the Kazinga Channel and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, Murchison Falls for the Nile and big game, Lake Mburo for zebra and walking safaris, and Lake Bunyonyi to decompress afterwards.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
Most nationalities need one. A single-entry Uganda visa costs US$50 online through the immigration portal. If you are combining Uganda with Rwanda or Kenya, the East Africa Tourist Visa at US$100 is better value. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on arrival.
Next
Keep planning
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — the four sectors compared
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park — volcanoes and golden monkeys
- Uganda vs Rwanda — which country to trek in
- Lodges near the gorillas — where to stay in each sector
Enquire
Start planning your gorilla trek
Tell us roughly when you would like to travel and how you like to travel. A trip specialist replies within one working day with a costed suggestion.
We check live permit availability before we reply. No deposit is needed to have a conversation.