3-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kampala: Bwindi Forest Trek
Three days in the forest with the gorillas, the birds, the hog and the elephants at the edge of Queen Elizabeth
A 3-day gorilla trekking tour from Kampala takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you trek through dense forest to encounter mountain gorillas in their habitat. The itinerary includes a long drive from Kampala on day one with a stop at the equator, an early-morning gorilla trek on day two, and a return journey to Kampala on day three, with overnight stays at lodges near the park and at the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A live guide leads the trek in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, and hotel pickup in Kampala is included.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Park
- Meet guide in Kampala
- Drive towards Bwindi Park
- Stop at equator for photos
- Have lunch in Masaka or Mbarara
- Continue to Bwindi mountain gorillas
- Optional walk with locals if early
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Park
- Have early breakfast
- Set off for gorilla trekking
- Observe gorillas and wildlife
- Return from trek
- Drive towards Queen Elizabeth park edge
- Overnight at lodge near park or Kabale
Day 3: Return transfer to Kampala
- Have breakfast
- Drive back to Kampala
- Have lunch en route
- Arrive in Kampala late afternoon
What’s included
- Hotel pickup in Kampala.
- transport to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- a live guide for the gorilla trek and the full 3-day journey.
- lodging at Rushaga Gorilla Camp and at the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- meals as described in the itinerary.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Ngoni Safaris Uganda
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
You start early from Kampala and spend most of day one in the car, heading southwest toward Bwindi. The route crosses the equator, a stop for photos, and passes through Masaka or Mbarara for lunch, depending on timing. The landscape shifts as you climb into the forest zone. If you arrive at the lodge before dark, your guide may take you on a short walk to meet locals in the area. You sleep at Rushaga Gorilla Camp, in the foothills of the park.
Day two is the gorilla trek. You have an early breakfast, then set out with your guide into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while the forest is still cool. The trek is the centerpiece. You are looking for one of the habituated gorilla families that live in the forest. The park is also home to forest elephants, forest hog, statungas, dikers, and hundreds of bird and butterfly species. After you return from trekking, your guide drives you back toward Kampala. Depending on how long the trek took, you either reach the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park for the night (where elephants sometimes appear near the lodge), or stay in Kabale if the day ran late.
Day three is the drive back to Kampala. You have breakfast, then head north on the main road, stopping for lunch along the way. You arrive in Kampala in the late afternoon or evening. The whole trip is built around the gorilla trek itself. The long drives compress the travel time before and after so the forest stays the focus.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving in Kampala and need gorilla trekking coordinated with your flights: the itinerary syncs transport, park permits, and lodging so nothing overlaps or gaps.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the actual gorilla trek on day two?
The gorilla trekking day in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park starts with an early breakfast and a trek into the forest to find the habituated gorilla families. The duration of the trek itself depends on where the gorillas are that day and the terrain you cover, but the itinerary is built around spending the morning and early afternoon in the forest before your guide drives you back toward Kampala.
What is the equator stop on the first day?
On the drive from Kampala to Bwindi, you stop at the equator for photos. It is a brief pause along the route to mark the crossing of the equator line before you continue on to the park.
Where do you sleep on each night of the tour?
Night one is at Rushaga Gorilla Camp, in the foothills near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Night two is at the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park if you finish trekking early enough, or in Kabale if the trek runs late. You return to Kampala on day three.
What animals besides gorillas might you see in Bwindi?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to forest elephants, forest hog, statungas, dikers, and hundreds of bird and butterfly species alongside the mountain gorillas. The forest itself is the habitat that supports all of them.
Is pickup from my Kampala hotel included?
Yes, hotel pickup in Kampala is included in the tour. Your guide meets you early on day one to begin the drive to Bwindi.
3-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kampala: Bwindi Forest Trek
3d · EN · ES · FR · DE · IT · at your hotel
from US$ 1,600 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.