3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali: Two Treks

Two gorilla encounters in one forest, each one different

A 3-day private gorilla trekking safari from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, with two separate treks of different gorilla families or sectors. You trek early each morning for up to six hours, spend one hour observing the gorillas in their habitat, then return to your lodge to rest. Two nights' accommodation, all meals, both permits and transport from Kigali are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Kigali to Bwindi Park

• Pick up from Kigali hotel or airport
• Drive through Rwanda to Cyanika border
• Cross border into Uganda
• Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Check in to lodge and relax

Day 2: First Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Transfer to park headquarters
• Register and attend briefing
• Begin first gorilla trek
• Observe gorillas for one hour
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Relax or take community walk

Day 3: Second Gorilla Trek and Return

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Begin second gorilla trek
• Observe gorillas for one hour
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Drive back to Kigali via border
• Drop off at Kigali hotel or airport

The experience

Why book two gorilla treks instead of one? The second encounter lets you watch a different family or the same family on another day, revealing their behavior, social dynamics and individual personalities in ways a single trek cannot. Each trek plays out differently: the terrain shifts, the gorillas move through the forest on their own schedule, and your guide's reading of their mood and location changes. The second experience deepens what the first one started.

The route from Kigali cuts through Rwanda's rolling hills to the Cyanika border, then drops into southern Uganda's terraced landscapes before reaching Bwindi in the afternoon. Staying inside or close to the park gives you early access to the trekking sectors and puts you in the forest rather than hours away from it. Day two starts before dawn: breakfast, then transfer to park headquarters for ranger briefing and family assignment. The trek itself runs two to six hours depending on where the gorillas have moved. Once you find them, you watch for one full hour. Afternoons are yours to rest, walk around the lodge or simply sit with what you've seen. Day three repeats the early start and the trek, then the drive back to Kigali in the afternoon, arriving in the evening.

The safari is private and tailored to your pace. If you need porter assistance or prefer a sedan chair for the forest sections, the operator arranges it. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of six other languages, and the route itself is built around efficiency: minimizing road time and maximizing hours in Bwindi where the gorillas actually are.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Kigali to Bwindi and back.
• both gorilla trekking permits for Uganda.
• two nights' accommodation at Bweza Gorilla Lodge.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• park entrance fees.
• all transfers between your hotel or airport and the lodge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 21:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Russian and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nextgen Safaris Africa

Is this one for you?This is a private, guided tour tailored to your pace and fitness level, with porter or sedan-chair assistance available if needed. Choose it if you want to see gorillas twice in one trip and have the flexibility to adapt the trek to how you move through the forest, rather than keeping up with a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Danish, Dutch and Turkish.

How long does each gorilla trek actually take?

Each trek runs between two and six hours depending on where the gorilla family has moved that day. Once the trackers locate them, you spend one full hour observing them in their natural habitat before returning to the lodge.

Will I see the same gorilla family twice, or different ones?

Bwindi holds multiple gorilla families across different sectors. Your second trek may visit a different family entirely, or the same family on a different day in a different part of the forest: either way, the experience and their behavior will be distinct.

What is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park actually like?

Bwindi is a dense, montane rainforest in southwestern Uganda where over half the world's remaining mountain gorillas live. The terrain is steep and thickly vegetated, which is why treks take several hours and why staying close to the park gives you better access to the trekking sectors than driving from a distant town.

Do I need to be very fit for this safari?

The operator asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness because the forest terrain is steep and the trek can run up to six hours. If you have concerns about fitness or mobility, the operator offers porter assistance or sedan-chair support through the forest sections to make the trek manageable.

Is the drive from Kigali to Bwindi difficult?

The route crosses the Cyanika border into Uganda and passes through rural, terraced landscapes. Border formalities are straightforward and your guide assists with them. You arrive at the lodge in the afternoon on day one, giving you time to rest before your first trek the following morning.