The 3 Days Uganda Gorilla tour to Bwindi can begin and end in either Entebbe, Uganda or Kigali, Rwanda. For visitors interested in taking photographs at the Uganda Equator crossing can begin this trip from Entebbe airport. This is an 8 to 9 hours drive through Mbarara town. There are scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro for guests who would not like long drives.
In south-western Uganda lies the Bwindi Impenetrable national park. This montane rainforest occupies 32,000 hectares with a unique biodiversity harboring more than 160 tree and 100 ferns species. This is where half of the world’s mountain gorillas live.
Highlights – 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour:-
- Photography at Uganda Equator crossing
- Gorilla trekking or Gorilla Habituation Experience
- Community walk
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi NP.
Day 2: Gorilla tracking and community walk.
Day 3: Transfer back to Entebbe.
Detailed – 3 Days Uganda Gorilla tour
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi NP
After breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you southwards to Bwindi National park, with en route stops for photography at the equator and lunch in Mbarara or Kabale depending on the day’s schedule. Arrive in Bwindi NP in the evening and relax at the lodge.
Dinner and overnight at Trekkers’ Tavern Cottages (budget)/ Bakiga Lodge / Ichumbi Gorilla lodge (deluxe)/ Mahogany Springs/ Four Gorillas lodge / Gorilla heights lodge (luxury)
Day 2: Gorilla tracking and community walk
In the morning assemble at the park headquarters for briefing from the senior park ranger on the day’s gorilla trekking activity. Proceed for the memorable adventure in the forest, an activity that may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the animals.
Guests are allowed an hour in the presence of mountain gorillas. In the evening, you may go for a community tour to the Batwa village or take a canoe ride on any of the nearby lakes depending on the lodge you will sleep in. Overnight stay at the lodge you stayed in the previous night.
Day 3: Transfer back to Entebbe
Today’s drive back to Entebbe airport for your return flight is relatively long. You will need some good breakfast. Make a stop over at the Igongo cultural center for lunch and if time permits, visit the museum just to learn about the history and culture of the Ankole kingdom. Alternatively, a side trip to L. Mburo NP for a short safari may spice up your day on this long journey. Proceed for drop off at the airport or hotel.
For travel inquiries and bookings, contact our travel consultants through +256-705487517 or +256-776107004. Alternatively, send us an email at info@gorillatrekafrica.com
Inclusions in the 3 days Uganda gorilla trip
• Gorilla Permits
• Park Entrance Fees
• Relevant Government Taxes
• Full Board Accommodation
• Full-time English speaking Driver/Guide
• Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions – 3 days Uganda gorilla tour
• Airfares
• Visa Fees
• Personal Insurance
• Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
Optional routes – 3 days Uganda safari
The 3 days gorilla safari to Bwindi national park in Uganda can be done either through Cyanika or Gatuna boarder posts
Kigali to Bwindi through Gatuna
The drive distance between Kigali and Gatuna border post is 80 Km / 50 Mi. Rwanda government is very strict on speed limit. So, it takes a minimum of 1.30 hours to arrive at the border post. Immigration clearance may take approximately an hour. From Gatuna border you may access Bwindi national park from different directions depending on the availability of gorilla permits:-
- Gatuna to Buhoma
The drive distance on an approximately 117 Km / 73 Mi marrum road from Kabale town to Buhoma takes 3 to 4 hours. Most visitors would love to track the Mubale gorilla group, the oldest family to be habituated. - Gatuna to Nkuringo
This is also a 3 to 4 hours drive on a similar nature of the road as above. It is 106 Km from Kabale. The nature of road is relatively slippery on a rainy day. Thus one needs to have a 4*4 Wheel drive land cruiser to comfortably go through it. - Gatuna to Ruhija
This is the most 3 hours comfortable and convenient drive route. This sector is referred to as Rushaga. Both gorilla tracking and habituation take place in this part of Bwindi.
Kigali to Bwindi via Cyanika border post
For gorilla trekking and habituation, Cyanika is the closest border point to Bwindi impenetrable national park. It is approximately 119km/74 miles between Kigali and Cyanika ( about 2hr drive).
The 3 routes from Cyanika to Bwindi
- Cyanika to Nkuringo – 43km/27 miles
This is an hour’s drive on quite a picturesque road. Slippery on a rainy day and a 4×4 vehicle is the most ideal.
- Cyanika to Rushaga – 43km/27 miles
This is a similar route to Cyanika to Nkuringo in terms of distance and driving time and it is up to the driver to choose between these two.
- Cyanika to Buhoma – 128km/90 miles (4-5 hours drive)
Tourists prefer tracking mountain gorillas from Buhoma owing to the sector’s gorilla tracking history dating from 1993. Mubare group, the first gorilla family to be habituated in Bwindi lived in Buhoma.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a UNESCO site located in southwest Uganda. The park protects a variety of wildlife species including mammals, birds as well a variety of flora species. Bwindi is mostly known for protecting the endangered mountain gorillas with about 500 of their population living in this park. This is almost half of their global population which is estimated to be around 1,064 animals.
Over 20 gorilla groups/families have been habituated in Bwindi impenetrable national park and these are the ones that are visited by trekkers everyday. Each habituated gorilla group in the park has a name and they include Rushegura, Kyaguriro, Bitukura, Habinyanja, Mubare, Orugonzo, Nkuringo, Mishaya, among others.
There are four sectors in the park that were demarcated to facilitate gorilla tracking and these include Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga. Each sector has got a good number of habituated gorilla families which are allocated to visitors to track accordingly. Each habituated gorilla group is visited once per day by a group of 8 trekkers who are permitted to spend one hour in their presence. There are different rates for travelers who want to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Foreign nonresidents pay $700 per person, foreign residents in East Africa pay $600 per person while East African residents pay UGX250,000 per person. Children below the age of 15 are not allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
Related gorilla safaris
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla tour
The Rwanda 3 days gorilla tour starts and ends in Kigali. Gorilla trekking, here, takes place in the northern part of Rwanda – the Volcanoes national park. On this tour additional activities include golden monkeys trekking, Dian Fossey graveyard hike, Ib’iwachu Cultural tour or a boat cruise on the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
3 Days Mgahinga Gorilla safari
The 3 days Mgahinga gorilla tour starts and ends in Kigali.
This safari has several options besides gorilla trekking:- golden Monkeys tracking, Gahinga mountain hike, Batwa (Pygmy Community) cultural tour, etc.
