3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari from Kampala or Entebbe

This 3-day Bwindi gorilla safari is designed for travellers who want one full mountain gorilla trek in Uganda without adding a long multi-park itinerary. We collect you from Kampala or Entebbe and travel southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering about 32,000 hectares. The journey is long, but 2 nights near the forest give you enough time to arrive, rest and begin the trek early the next morning.

After the morning briefing at the park headquarters, you enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers. The walk can last from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location, the terrain and forest conditions. Once your assigned family is found, you spend one hour watching the gorillas in their natural habitat. Your lodge is selected around the trekking sector confirmed on the permit, either Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo. The safari ends with a private road transfer back to Kampala or Entebbe.

3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari Highlights

• Guided mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• One hour observing a habituated mountain gorilla family in the forest
• Private road transfers from Kampala or Entebbe
• Uganda Equator stop at Kayabwe for photographs and refreshments
• Scenic drive through the hills and farming communities of southwestern Uganda
• 2 Nights near Bwindi’s rainforest and the confirmed trekking sector
• Support from experienced trackers during the gorilla trek
• Optional porter assistance along steep and muddy forest trails
• Optional Batwa or local community experience when trekking time allows
• Accommodation choices ranging from budget to luxury

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1, Transfer from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your 3-day Bwindi gorilla safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. After meeting your driver-guide, you travel southwest through Uganda’s countryside, passing small towns, farmland, cattle country and the rolling hills that lead towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

You will stop at the Uganda Equator in Kayabwe, where you can take photographs, visit the craft shops and watch the water demonstration before continuing towards Mbarara. Lunch is served along the way, followed by an afternoon drive through the greener and more mountainous landscapes of southwestern Uganda.

The entire journey takes approximately 8 to 10 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions, scheduled stops and the Bwindi trekking sector allocated on your gorilla permit. You arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon or early evening, check in and settle into the forest surroundings. Dinner is served at the lodge as your driver-guide briefs you about the following morning’s gorilla trek.

Accommodation

Luxury
Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp or Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Mid-range
Engagi Lodge, Silverback Lodge or Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Budget
Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ride 4 a Woman Guesthouse or Broadbill Forest Camp

Meals
Lunch and dinner

Day 2, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

After an early breakfast, your lodge provides a packed lunch before you transfer to the Uganda Wildlife Authority briefing point. The exact briefing station will be in Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo, depending on the trekking sector confirmed on your gorilla permit.

The ranger guides explain the trekking rules, how to behave around the gorillas and what to expect inside the forest. You are then placed in a small trekking group and assigned to a habituated mountain gorilla family. Accompanied by rangers and trackers, you enter Bwindi’s dense rainforest in search of the gorillas.

The trek can take between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family, the terrain and the pace of the group. Some sections of the forest can be steep, muddy and slippery, so waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, gardening gloves and a rain jacket are valuable. We recommend hiring a porter. Porters carry your daypack and provide support along difficult sections of the trail.

Once the gorillas are located, you spend one unforgettable hour watching them feed, rest, groom one another and move through the vegetation. Your ranger helps you understand the behaviour of the family while ensuring that everyone follows the required viewing distance and photography rules.

After the encounter, you walk back through the forest and receive a gorilla trekking certificate at the park office. You then return to the lodge for lunch or a late afternoon meal, depending on the time the trek finishes. The rest of the day is left free for relaxation. A community walk or Batwa cultural experience can be arranged when the trek ends early enough.

Day 3, Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before checking out and beginning the return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. The drive gives you another chance to enjoy the terraced hills, farmland and rural communities of southwestern Uganda.

You will stop for lunch along the way. When time permits, you can also make a second stop at the Uganda Equator to purchase souvenirs, stretch your legs or take any photographs missed on the first day.

Arrival in Kampala or Entebbe is expected in the evening, depending on traffic, weather conditions and your final drop-off location. You will be transferred to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport. An international departure should be scheduled late at night or on the following day to allow enough time for the long road journey from Bwindi.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Included

• Private safari vehicle and fuel
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Kampala or Entebbe pickup and drop-off
• Two nights’ accommodation
• Meals stated in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water during transfers
• Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
• Park and activity fees
• Equator stop
• Permit reservation assistance

Not Included

• International flights
• Uganda entry visa
• Travel insurance
• Porter fees
• Tips for guides, rangers and lodge staff
• Alcoholic and premium drinks
• Laundry and personal purchases
• Optional community activities
• Additional accommodation before or after the safari