Tour Overview
The 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour exclusively focuses on gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This tour can either start from Entebbe in Uganda or in Kigali, Rwanda depending on your travel preference. The tour focuses on the sole encounter of gorilla trekking though it can still be customised to include other experiences with more days. You can add an optional cultural and visit the Batwa community, where you will interact with the Batwa pygmies –the indigenous tribal group of people who lived in the forest.
Key Highlights of the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour
- Magical encounter with Bwindi mountain gorillas.
- En route photography experience at the Equator
- Gorilla trekking experience in the tropical rainforest
- A close interaction with the Batwa pygmies on a cultural tour.
The Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Bwindi National Park (Kanungu)
Day 2: Go gorilla trekking in the misty Bwindi Forest & Batwa experience
Day 3: Return by road to Entebbe or Kampala
The Detailed Itinerary – 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour
Day 1: Pick up & Transfer to Bwindi National Park –(Kanungu)
Enjoy a hefty breakfast in your respective hotels and after, meet a guide from Rivo Safaris to take you through the Uganda itinerary. Later, you will set off to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and en route, expect to have the Equator experience including taking pictures. Leave the Kayabwe Equator crossing for Mbarara or Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch break. After lunch, make your final journey up to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while observing the breathtaking hillside of the Kigezi region.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in Kanungu and accessing it takes about 8-9 hours from Entebbe/Kampala. Upon arrival, get a warm reception at your respective lodges and proceed to check in.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Trekkers Tavern Cottages/Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Engagi Lodge/Bakiga Lodge
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs/Luxury Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board offer (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 2: Go gorilla trekking in the misty Bwindi Forest & Batwa experience
Have a delicious breakfast, and after, meet the driver guide from Rivo Safaris who will transfer you to the reception for a pre-trek briefing. Get to learn about gorilla trekking regulations and also have a habituated gorilla family to visit as per today’s program. At around 8:00 am, you will set off with an experienced guide to look for mountain gorillas, and the session is likely to take 2-6 hours. The intense trekking adventure guarantees you a maximum of 1 hour, purposely dedicated to photography and observing the distinct gorilla behaviors.
After your encounter with the Bwindi gorillas in the jungle, you will be expected to return to the visitor center to get your gorilla trekking certificate. From the reception, continue to the lodge to relax, and later in the afternoon, catch up with the Batwa cultural experience. The sensational Batwa pygmy cultural tour allows you to learn in detail about the Batwa pygmies, plus their ancient techniques for hunting and fruit gathering. After the Batwa experience, expect to have the rest of the day in your respective luxurious lodges.
Accommodation Options
- Budget: Trekkers Tavern Cottages/Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge/Engagi Lodge/Bakiga Lodge
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs/Luxury Bwindi Lodge/Buhoma Lodge
Meal plan: Full-board offer (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3: Return by road to Entebbe or Kampala
Today, you have only an early morning breakfast and later, check out from the lodge. Our driver guide will be present to pick you up, ready to set off to Entebbe/Kampala. You will have en route lunch plus extra time at the Equator crossing, then you continue up to Entebbe/Kampala, thus marking the end of 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour.
End of 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour with Rivo Safaris
The Tour Inclusions
- Valid Uganda gorilla permits ($800pp)
- Full-time English-speaking driver from Rivo Safaris & park ranger guide services
- Transportation in a 4×4 car for the 3-days
- Any essential/relevant government taxes
- The park entrance fees (covered in the gorilla permit)
- All airport transfers (from Entebbe/Kampala-Bwindi)
- Accommodation with full-board offer (breakfast, lunch, & dinner)
- A bottle of drinking water given in the car
- All safari activities (including gorilla trekking & Batwa experience)
The Tour Exclusions
- International flight rates
- Visas
- Personal/health/travel Insurance
- Expenses incurred on cigarette purchase
- Extra lodging services and meals after the tour.
- Any optional safari experience
- Laundry services as you requested.
- Premium/imported alcoholic drinks.
- Tips –for guides, drivers, waitresses, waiters, community, & any service provider.
- Cost on the telephone calls made by you.
- expenses you incur in purchasing the passport.
Alternative for the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour
The 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour can also introduce you to Mgahinga National Park in Kisoro. This involves departing from Entebbe/Kampala to Mgahinga for about 9-10 hours, and while in the park, expect to visit the Nyakagezi group.
Alternative routes: visitors can opt to cross from Rwanda to Uganda to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga. This means you can depart from Kigali city to Katuna/Gatuna or Chanika border to one of the sectors in Bwindi –Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, & Rushaga. The same border crossing also offers easier access to Mgahinga National Park, and overall, you will take between 4 and 5 hours to reach any of Uganda’s leading mountain gorilla safari destinations.
What to carry for the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour
Choose only valuable items for your gorilla trekking adventure, including a valid gorilla permit, a camera without a flashlight, a safari hat, protection gear (rain jacket for rain, sunglasses, gardening gloves, & more), light-long sleeved shirts & trousers that can easily dry. You should also carry a tin of insect repellents, waterproof trekking boots, any extra camera battery to keep you on when the original battery dies when photographing gorillas, snacks, gaiters, a pair of binoculars, thick socks, and bottled drinking water.