Affordable Uganda Fly in Gorilla Safari - 3 Days Gorilla Trek tour
This affordable Uganda Fly-in 3-day gorilla tour goes with a flight from Entebbe to your gorilla trek in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park thus avoiding the long 9-hour drive to Bwindi and back.
The fly-in gorilla trek tour is best for those who don't like long drives on Uganda's bumpy roads. The flight from Entebbe to Kihihi/ Kisoro airstrip (the landing near Bwindi) departs at 0745 and the return flight from Bwindi departs at 0945 arriving at Entebbe at 1125. With this, it means you may consider arriving at Entebbe either a day before the tour start day or, earlier than 7 AM on Day 1 of the tour.
The aim of designing this trip program is to have you safely reach the mountain gorillas in comfort. Instead of the long drives to trek the mountain gorillas, you will be flying to them. Flying to the gorillas also avails you more time for the other optional activities in Bwindi aside from the gorilla trekking - like the Batwa pygmies cultural experience, canoeing on Lake Mutanda, local community and farmland visits, or simply relaxing for the day.
With this 3 days Uganda fly in gorilla safari, you can fly to the gorillas from Entebbe instead of driving for 9 hours on partly rough roads.
Overview of Uganda Fly-in Gorilla Safari - 3 Days Costs
Uganda 3 day gorilla tracking tour‐ flying to Bwindi National Park from Entebbe.
This three-day Uganda fly-in gorilla safari goes with a flight from Entebbe to your gorilla trek in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park thus avoiding the long 9-hour drive to Bwindi and back.
The flight from Entebbe to Kihihi/Kisoro airstrip (the landing near Bwindi) departs at 07:45 and the return flight from Bwindi departs at 09:45 arriving at Entebbe International Airport at 11:25. With this, it means you may consider arriving at Entebbe either a day before the tour start day or, earlier than 7 AM on Day 1 of the tour.
- Day 1: Flying Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, dinner and overnight (Flight duration = 1 hour)
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, overnight and dinner
- Day 3: Transfer to the airstrip, flight from Bwindi to Entebbe.
Tour Prices for this 3 days fly-in Gorilla tour
If staying at Gorilla Forest Camp or Clouds Mountain Lodge or Bwindi Lodge
1 person = USD5167 for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4400 (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD3850 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
2 persons sharing room = USD4177 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4100 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD2690 per person for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
3 persons sharing room = USD4086 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4086 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD2580 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD4040 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD3950 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD3556 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
If staying at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
1 person = 2956USD for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2736 (Mar,, Oct); USD2605 for Apr, May, Nov.
2 persons sharing room = 2500USD per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2320 p/p (Mar, Oct); USD2230 p/p for Apr, May, Nov.
3 persons sharing room = USD2405 per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2230 (Mar, Oct); USD2140 for Apr, May, Nov.
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD2358 per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2186 (Mar, Oct); USD2098 for Apr, May, Nov.
If staying at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge
1 person = USD2373
2 persons sharing room = USD1941 per person
3 persons sharing room = USD1860 per person
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD1819 per person
If staying at Gorilla Conservation Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Camp
1 person = USD2225
2 persons sharing room = USD1830 per person
3 persons sharing room = USD1730 per person
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD1574 per person
Day 1: Fly-in to the gorillas' park Bwindi from Entebbe Airport
You start your fly-in gorilla safari from Entebbe International Airport where you fly to Bwindi. By this time we would have already handed over your Bwindi flight tickets to you. If you need transfers from your hotel in Entebbe, please let us know and we shall be happy to arrange that for you. At Entebbe airport, you just need to show your passport for checking-in to the flight to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip. We have our vehicle and driver awaiting your arrival at the airstrip from where they meet you and transfer you to your lodge in Bwindi. The drive from the airstrip to the lodge is about 45 minutes but the beauty of the landscape is so amazing that you could even take two hours on this journey. When you check-in at the lodge, you can choose to relax for the rest of the day or take a village walk through the communities, it is very safe even for a solo traveler. You could also ask from the lodge for a guided tour to the Batwa Pygmies (about $30-$50) or the canoe trekking on Lake Mutanda.
Your flight schedule is as follows:
Departure Entebbe: 07.00 am (check-in latest at 06.0 am, 1 hr before your flight departs)
Arrival Kihihi: 09.30 am Arrival Kisoro: 08:55 am
On arrival at Kihihi/ Kisoro airstrip, you will be picked up by the staff of the lodge you are staying at. You will be transferred in about 1 hour to the lodge.
Journey time: Flight in the morning or afternoon / Transfer to lodge 1½ hours
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Four Gorillas Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge |Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Lake Mulehe Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Today is the big day… Prepare yourself for an encounter with one of Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare mountain gorilla. For most people, this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees - the only forest in Africa which can make this claim in fact. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies, and 360 birds.
The gorillas you will track belong to one of nine habituated family groups that can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Your trek will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes, and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorilla’s habitat. En route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity, including dung, nests, and chewed bamboo shoots.
The time taken to track the gorillas can take as little as 2 hours to as much as 7 hours before one returns! Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a truly humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Uganda’s very own ‘Gorillas in the Mist'.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Four Gorillas Lodge | Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge |Chameleon Hill Lodge | Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge Bwindi
Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | Lake Mulehe Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort
Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga | Gorilla Conservation Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, boxed lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Flying Bwindi to Entebbe
Today ends your 3 days fly-in gorilla tour to Uganda sadly. Our representative will take care of your transfer to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. Today you will travel back to Entebbe International Airport.
Please let us know if you wish us to include one (or more) nights in Kampala /Entebbe or arrange your transport to and from Entebbe Airport with Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris.
Your flight schedule is as follows (please ask your sales consultant the exact time schedule on the date you are flying).
Journey Time for flights between Bwindi and Entebbe
45 min transfer to Kihihi/ Kisoro & 1h10 min flight
Morning flight option
Departure time from Kihihi: 09.45 AM
Departure time from Kisoro: 09.10 AM
Arrival time in Entebbe: 11.25 AM
Afternoon flight option
Departure time from Entebbe:
12.00 PM or 14.45 PM
Arrival time in Kihihi:
13.55 PM or 14.55 PM
Departure time from Kihihi: 14.05 PM or 15.05 PM
Arrival time in Entebbe: 15.55 PM or 16.15 PM
* Timings may vary depending on aircraft routing.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Tour prices of 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek (Uganda Fly-in Gorilla Safari 3 days), Rates are often lower in March, April, May, and November)
If staying at Gorilla Conservation Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Camp
1 person = USD2225
2 persons sharing room = USD1830 per person
3 persons sharing room = USD1730 per person
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD1574 per person
If staying at Engagi Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge
1 person = USD2373
2 persons sharing room = USD1941 per person
3 persons sharing room = USD1860 per person
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD1819 per person
If staying at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge
1 person = 2956USD for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2736 (Mar,, Oct); USD2605 for Apr, May, Nov.
2 persons sharing room = 2500USD per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2320 p/p (Mar, Oct); USD2230 p/p for Apr, May, Nov.
3 persons sharing room = USD2405 per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2230 (Mar, Oct); USD2140 for Apr, May, Nov.
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD2358 per person for June, July, Aug, Sept; USD2186 (Mar, Oct); USD2098 for Apr, May, Nov.
If staying at Gorilla Forest Camp or Clouds Mountain Lodge or Bwindi Lodge
1 person = USD5167 for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4400 (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD3850 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
2 persons sharing room = USD4177 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4100 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD2690 per person for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
3 persons sharing room = USD4086 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD4086 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD2580 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
4 persons sharing 2 rooms = USD4040 per person for Jul, Aug, 15 Dec -10 Jan; USD3950 pp (for 01-14 Dec, 11- 31 Jan, Feb, Jun, Sep); USD3556 for Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
Uganda Gorilla Flying Tour Prices include:
- Airport transfer to Entebbe on Day 1 (from Kampala or Entebbe)
- Transfer from Kihihi/Kisoro Airstrip to your lodge in Bwindi
- Transfer to and from the lodge to gorilla trekking start point
- Transfer from your lodge on Day 3 to the airstrip for the Entebbe return flight
- Local flight tickects to and from Kihihi/Kisoro Airstrip
- All accommodations while on tour
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Gorilla tracking/trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Tour Prices exclude:
- International flight (can be arranged if required)
- Visa and personal insurance
- Drinks, tips, and gratuities
- Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
- Any item or activity not mentioned in the tour package
Other Fly-in Safaris to Uganda with Gorilla Trekking Tours You Might Like
Extend this Uganda safari to Rwanda, Tanzania with the following tours:
Rwanda
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Cultural Village & Lake Kivu Tour – 5 Days
Rwanda Great Primate Expedition Safari – 9 Days
Rwanda Gorilla, Chimp, Primate & Cultural Tour – 8 Days
Best of Rwanda Safari- Rwanda Gorillas Chimps, Monkey Tour – 6 Days
Rwanda BIG APES: Gorilla Tracking and Chimps Trek Safari – 5 Days
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour – 3 Days
Tanzania
Tanzania Wildebeest Migration Safari – 9 Days
Tanzania Wildlife Safari & Zanzibar: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Lake Manyara Park – 10 Days
Tanzania Wildlife Safari: Serengeti – Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Lake Manyara Park – 9 Days
From Entebbe, Flying to gorillas - Flights to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda
You can do a tour flying to the gorillas in Bwindi from Entebbe international airport. You can either land at Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip. The airstrip you would fly into depends on your gorilla permit location. If you will be tracking the gorillas in Buhoma or Ruhija Sector of Bwindi, you need to fly to Kihihi Airstrip. If your accommodation is Mahogany springs, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, or any other lodge in the north of Bwindi, it makes more sense to fly into Kihihi Airstrip for your gorilla safari. From there, you will be picked by a vehicle to transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The distance from Bwindi to Kihihi Airstrip is about 60 kms and can be driven for about 1.5 hours if the weather is good.
If your gorilla trek is in the south of Bwindi (Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga) or if you are doing gorilla habituation experience, golden monkeys or hiking Mgahinga, your flights need to land at Kisoro Airstrip. Similarly, if your accommodation is in south Bwindi like Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Mt. Gahinga Lodge among others, Kisoro Airstrip is the best to fly into for your gorilla trek safari. Flights to Kisoro however only happen in the mornings and cost at least $80 more than those via Kihihi.
Flights to and From Entebbe - Kihihi Airstrip Timings by Aerolink
Entebbe to Kihihi 0700 arriving 0845
Kihihi to Entebbe 0945 arriving Entebbe 1125
Entebbe to Kihihi 1015 arriving 1125
Kihihi to Entebbe 1140 arriving Entebbe 1330
Entebbe to Kihihi 1200 arriving 1445
Kihihi to Entebbe 1455 arriving Entebbe 1555
Other flying safaris that can can be arranged from Kihihi to other Uganda National Parks
From Kihihi Airstrip you can connect to:-
- Mweya and Kasese airstrips (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
- Semiliki airstrip (Semuliki National Park)
Flying for your gorilla trek via Kisoro Airstrip
The flight is usually about 1 hour 10 minutes from Entebbe. Flights to Kisoro only go in the mornings. If you are flying to the gorillas via Kisoro you are most likely to enjoy great sceneries of Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga mountain ranges on your way.
The usual flight timings for Kisoro and Entebbe are as below:
Departing Entebbe to Kisoro 0700 arriving Kisoro 0810
Kisoro to Entebbe 0825 arriving Entebbe 1125
Kisoro flights are subject to prevailing weather conditions and strictly morning flights
Other flying safaris that can can be arranged from Kisoro to other Uganda National Parks
From Kisoro Airstrip passengers can connect to:-
- Mweya and Kasese airstrips (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
- Semiliki airstrip (Semuliki National Park)
Top Trip Report Photos from Uganda Fly in Gorillas Tours
