4 Days Gorilla Safari to Bwindi Uganda
4 Days / 3 Days Days
Entebbe International Airport, Uganda → Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
Wildlife
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
If gorillas are the one thing you want from Uganda, this is the shortest way to get there. You land at Entebbe, spend a night in Kampala and wake up ready for a trip west to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that shelters around half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. You can take the road and see the country change as you go, stopping at the Uganda Equator and having lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, or you can fly in about 1 hour 15 minutes and spend the time at the lodge instead. Two nights at Four Gorillas Lodge give you a full trekking day, with an hour in the company of a gorilla family and time left to relax or take a village walk. Because the flying option saves a full day each way on the road, the safari fits easily into a short trip, or alongside a longer East Africa itinerary.
Safari Highlights
Cost In USD$ Per Person Sharing in Group of 2-6 Pax.
EXTRA PER PERSON IF FLYING: $542 RETURN (EBB-KISORO-EBB) OR $353 FOR ONEWAY
NOTE: you can extend this tour with Serengeti National Park or Maasai Mara Game Reserve or Zanzibar Beach Holiday
Destinations to Travel
Kampala · Uganda Equator · Mbarara · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park · Entebbe
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival at Entebbe Airport
When you land at Entebbe Airport, your guide gives you a warm welcome and takes you to your hotel in Kampala for the night, a transfer of about one hour. It’s a gentle first evening to rest before the journey west and your gorilla trek.
Day 2 — Kampala to Bwindi
After breakfast your driver-guide collects you from your hotel in Kampala for the journey to Bwindi, near the home of the mountain gorillas. Lunch is on the way in Mbarara at Igongo Cultural Centre, and you may make a few other stops along the road, such as at the Uganda Equator. If you’d rather fly, you’re transferred to Entebbe International Airport to catch a scheduled flight to Bwindi, a flight of only 1 hour 15 minutes with aerial views of the changing landscape. On landing at the airstrip, you’re met by our 4x4 vehicle and driven to your lodge. Dinner and overnight at Four Gorillas Lodge.
Day 3 — Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
After an early breakfast you drive to the park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger guides at 7:30am, then begin your gorilla trek at 8:00am through steeply forested, beautiful landscape along several animal trails. Some of the terrain is steep and strenuous, but watching gorillas undisturbed in their natural habitat is a reward that nothing else matches. No more than eight people may visit any gorilla family on any given day, so the encounter is intimate, and once you reach the gorillas you have an unforgettable hour to spend with them. Waterproof ankle shoes or good athletic shoes are recommended, along with thick long pants (not lightweight khakis) to protect your legs from the underbrush, heavy long socks pulled up over the pants to guard against stinging nettles and ants, sturdy gardening gloves and a rain cover for your camera (a plastic bag or shower cap can work). After the trek you return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, subject to time and interest, you can take a village walk, a great chance to meet the people who live around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and a unique way to support the local community, or you can simply relax at the lodge and trade stories with fellow adventurers. Dinner and overnight at Four Gorillas Lodge.
Day 4 — Drive or Fly from Bwindi to Entebbe, Departure
After an early breakfast you transfer by road to Entebbe, with lunch en route, and arrive in time to check in for your flight onward to your next destination or back home. The drive takes around 8 to 9 hours, so a late-evening international departure is best. If you prefer to fly, your guide takes you to the airstrip to catch your return flight from Bwindi/Kisoro to Entebbe, in time to connect with your onward international flight.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Accommodation as indicated in the Itinerary based on Twin/Double and single Rooms.
- All airport transfers
- 1 Gorilla permit per person in Bwindi
- Services of a professional English-Speaking Guide
- All Transfers between Bwindi-Kisoro Airstrip and to the tracking group in a safari vehicle (4x4) plus fuel- FOR Flying option
- Return flights for Entebbe Kisoro Entebbe-if selected as an option
- 4X4 Safari Land cruiser
- Mentioned Park/entrance fees
- Drinking water daily while on safari
- All government taxes and levies
- Amref Medical Evacuation Insurance Cover
Rate Excludes
- All items of personal expenditure such as
- Entry visas
- Personal Insurance
- Telephone Calls
- Laundry
- Airport Taxes
- All Alcoholic Beverages.
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and Uganda’s general seasonality. The drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, are usually the easiest for gorilla trails and for the long road days on either side of the trek. The wetter months of March to May and October to November can leave forest paths muddy and slippery, but they bring fewer visitors and lush, green scenery, and the trek goes ahead year-round. Gorilla permits are limited, so book well ahead whichever season you choose, and for the best overall conditions aim for June to September or December to February. You can read more on the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park page of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it take?
The safari starts and ends at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and runs for 4 days and 3 nights, with no border crossings. You spend the first night in Kampala, two nights at Four Gorillas Lodge in Bwindi and return to Entebbe on Day 4, which makes it one of the shortest ways to meet the gorillas.
Should I drive or fly to Bwindi?
The road journey takes around 8 to 9 hours each way, with lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara and an optional stop at the Uganda Equator. If you’d rather save the time, you can fly from Entebbe in about 1 hour 15 minutes, with a 4x4 transfer from the airstrip to the lodge. Flights are an optional extra, so ask us for the current cost.
What is gorilla trekking in Bwindi like, and what should I wear?
On Day 3, after a ranger briefing at 7:30am, you begin trekking at 8:00am through steep, forested terrain, and once you find the gorillas you spend one hour with them. No more than eight people visit any family each day. Wear waterproof ankle shoes or good athletic shoes, thick long pants and heavy socks pulled over them, and bring sturdy gardening gloves and a rain cover for your camera. You can read more on the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park page.
Is it difficult to trek to the gorillas?
Some of the terrain is steep and strenuous, and the paths run through dense, steeply forested landscape. The reward is watching gorillas undisturbed in their natural habitat, and the time you take to reach them varies each day, so a reasonable level of fitness and sturdy footwear help.
What time should my international flight leave on Day 4?
If you drive back to Entebbe, the journey takes around 8 to 9 hours, so a late-evening departure is the safest choice. If you take the flying option, the flight from the Bwindi/Kisoro airstrip lands you in Entebbe in good time to connect with your onward flight, and our team can confirm the best timings once you book.
Can I combine this with a longer trip?
Yes. This short itinerary works as a stand-alone gorilla experience or as an add-on to a longer East Africa safari. Contact our team and we can plan the extension around your dates and budget.