3 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda safari

Your incredible 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda adventure begins today! Our tour driver guide will pick you up from your pre-tour accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe at 7:30 am. 

From there, you’ll embark on a scenic 8-9 hour drive of approximately 520km southwest to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The journey will take you via the Masaka-Mbarara Road. After about 2 hours (77km), you’ll stop at the Uganda Equator line in Kayabwe for a photo opportunity, a chance to stretch your legs, and enjoy some snacks. 

Continuing on, you’ll make another stop for lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, the largest urban center in western Uganda. Igongo features a range of amenities, including conference facilities, a five-star hotel, a top-notch restaurant, craft centers, and shops. It also boasts one of Uganda’s finest museums. After lunch, you’ll resume your journey to Bwindi.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge

Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma

Budget: Trekkers Tarven

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: Around 520km (8-9 hours)

Today, you’ll embark on a trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to observe the mountain gorillas. Each gorilla visit is limited to a maximum of 8 people, and only 192 trekking permits are issued each day. This strict control helps minimize the risk of disturbing the gorillas or transmitting diseases to them.

Gorilla trekking in this dense forest can be wet, muddy, and uncomfortable, with altitudes reaching nearly 2000 meters above sea level. The terrain is challenging, often humid, and strenuous, but the excitement of encountering a habituated gorilla family, led by a dominant silverback, makes it all worthwhile. 

Be prepared to hike for up to 4 hours, including uphill and downhill sections. You’ll usually get quite close to the gentle mountain gorillas, and observing their behaviors can feel like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Once you locate a gorilla family, you’ll spend one unforgettable hour with them before enjoying your packed lunch and heading back to your lodge to enjoy the stunning views.

In the evening, you have the chance to explore the traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Batwa people, who lived harmoniously with the gorillas for over 1000 years before being relocated to conserve the endangered species. Alternatively, you can visit local tea plantations or learn about the community’s remarkable hospital, which began as a small clinic under a tree.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge

Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp/ Haven Lodge Buhoma

Budget: Trekkers Tarven

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

On the last day of your 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda safari, you’ll start with an early breakfast before checking out and saying farewell to the lodge staff. You’ll then leave behind the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and head back to Kampala or Entebbe. As you journey through Uganda’s terraced hills and rural villages, you’ll reflect on the country’s remarkable wildlife and its warm, welcoming people. 

Despite Uganda’s tumultuous past, it has made significant progress in conservation, with ecotourism lodges playing a key role in supporting community efforts to protect the rainforest.

 You’ll stop for lunch at the Igongo Cultural Centre and visit the Mpambire drum makers, where you can purchase drums before continuing to Kampala or Entebbe, arriving in evening. Your tour driver guide will then take you to your hotel or Entebbe International Airport for your flight home. Safe travels!

Note: Alternatively, you can opt for a 2-hour flight transfer back to Entebbe International Airport.

Accommodation: Not Included

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch