UGANDA // GORILLA TREK
4 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek
One hour with a mountain gorilla family in Bwindi, and the drive through the Ugandan highlands to reach them.
4 Days / 3 Nights
DURATION
$1,560
FROM, PER PERSON
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
DESTINATIONS
2 to 8
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 4 Day Uganda Gorilla Trek
This Uganda gorilla trek is the shortest sensible way to see mountain gorillas from Entebbe. You break the long drive south west with a night at Lake Mburo, spend two nights on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and have a full day for the trek itself.
Bwindi is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, with more habituated families than anywhere else. Once your ranger team finds the family you spend one hour with them, close enough to hear them feed. Most guests call it the most moving wildlife encounter of their lives.
Your gorilla permit is included. Uganda Wildlife Authority sets the price, currently $800 per person, and permits sell out months ahead in the dry seasons, so we book yours as soon as you confirm. You travel in a private 4×4 with an English speaking driver guide, on full board. See more of the country on our Uganda page.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 1,560 per person |
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Safari style | Gorilla Trekking |
| Countries | Uganda |
| Parks visited | Lake Mburo and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
| Starts | Entebbe |
| Ends | Entebbe |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jun to Aug and Dec to Feb, when forest trails are driest |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entebbe to Lake Mburo | Lodge, Lake Mburo | L, D |
| 2 | Lake Mburo to Bwindi | Lodge, Bwindi | B, L, D |
| 3 | Gorilla trekking | Lodge, Bwindi | B, L, D |
| 4 | Bwindi to Entebbe | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
Your driver guide meets you in Entebbe after breakfast for the drive south west, with a photo stop at the equator, about five hours to Lake Mburo National Park.
An afternoon game drive looks for zebra, eland, buffalo and topi. Lake Mburo is the only park in Uganda with impala.
Activities: Drive to Lake Mburo with an equator stop, afternoon game drive
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Mburo
An early start for the drive through the terraced hills of south west Uganda to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, about five to six hours, arriving in the afternoon.
Your guide runs through the trek briefing and what to pack, ready for an early night.
Activities: Scenic drive to Bwindi, trek briefing
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Bwindi
You report to the park office at about 7:30 for the ranger briefing and your allocation to a gorilla family. Groups are kept to eight trekkers.
The trek can take from one hour to most of the day through steep, dense forest, depending on where the family has moved. Once you find them you spend one hour in their company. Porters can be hired at the start and are well worth it.
Activities: Gorilla trek with rangers, one hour with a gorilla family
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Bwindi
After breakfast you drive back to Entebbe, about nine to ten hours with a lunch stop, arriving in the evening for your flight or a hotel night.
To save the long drive, a scheduled flight from Kihihi or Kisoro to Entebbe can be added at an extra cost.
Activities: Drive back to Entebbe, optional domestic flight
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure day
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Entebbe → Lake Mburo → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest → Entebbe. Long driving days, worth it for the trek.
How To Get There
This trip starts and ends in Entebbe. Fly into Entebbe International Airport (EBB), about 40 km from Kampala. If you land late, spend the night before in Entebbe and we can arrange the transfer and hotel.
All travel is by road in a private 4×4: Entebbe to Lake Mburo about five hours, Lake Mburo to Bwindi five to six hours and Bwindi back to Entebbe nine to ten hours. Domestic flights from Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips cut the return to about two hours.
Most visitors need a Uganda e-visa applied for online before travel, and Uganda asks every arriving traveller for a yellow fever certificate. See our visa requirements page or ask in your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- Gorilla permit, currently around 800 US dollars
- All park entrance fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 vehicle throughout
- Full board accommodation
- Bottled drinking water
- Entebbe airport transfers
Not included
- International flights and Uganda visa
- Travel insurance including evacuation cover
- Porter fees, around 20 US dollars
- Drinks and personal items
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
Uganda Gorilla Trek FAQs
Uganda Wildlife Authority charges $800 per person for foreign visitors, and the permit is included in this trip. UWA has announced lower rates for some low season months, so ask us when you enquire. Prices are set by UWA and can change.
Reasonably fit. Trails are steep, muddy and at altitude, and a trek can last from one hour to most of the day. Porters and walking sticks help a great deal, and rangers set the pace to the group.
Yes. Trekkers must be 15 or older on the day of the trek.
June to August and December to February are the driest months, with easier trails. Gorillas can be tracked all year, and the wetter months are quieter with fresh green forest.
This trip starts from $1,560 per person, including the gorilla permit. The price depends on the lodges and your group size. Request a free quote for your dates.
Yes. Kibale National Park is the best place in Uganda for chimpanzee tracking. See the 6 Days Gorillas and Chimpanzees safari or read about Kibale.
NO OBLIGATION
Enquire About This Safari
Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a firm price within 24 hours.
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TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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