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Affordable Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour and Price - 3 Days

2024 Gorilla Tour Price: From $496 (plus $700 for gorilla permit)


Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris - 2020 Travellers' Choice AwardGorillas and Wildlfe Safaris Hall of Fame Trip Advisor Recommended
Book and make big savings with this affordable 3 day Uganda gorilla trek tour into the afro-montane jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. I have meticulously developed this Uganda gorilla trek tour with considerations from hundreds of past clients' reviews so that you have the most affordable gorilla tour package without compromises to the level of service.

On the gorilla safari, you also get to see a great deal about the beauty of Uganda - the equator, the Virunga ranges, the cultures. While going on with the gorillas trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park you also have the opportunity to see over 10 other primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, etc.

We normally want to start the Uganda gorilla trek tour from your hotel of stay in Kampala or Entebbe at 07:00 A.M. on any day you best prefer to start. If you are arriving a day before, we can assist book your hotel in Entebbe but otherwise, you only need to let us know where you are staying in Entebbe or Kampala and we pick you up from there.
Tour prices for the 3-day Uganda gorilla trek tour if you are two persons typically range from $1200 (including gorilla permits) but this might be lower or higher depending on the month of travel. The gorilla tour prices include your transportation, accommodation, and meals during the safari.
Bwindi is a UNESCO Heritage site. It is here that you have your lifetime experience with the rare mountain gorillas (only 1067 remain and 50% of these are with us in Bwindi!). Your Uganda gorilla trek tour will allow for two nights in Bwindi before going back to Entebbe or Kampala. On the last day of the gorilla trek tour, if you are proceeding to the airport, we can drop you there as well. We usually arrive back at about 17:00hrs.

Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour  - 3 Days Gorilla Safari

Save money as you get the best experience for your Uganda gorilla trek tour!

Ours is a uniquely delivered Uganda gorilla trek experience with select award-winning tour guides in Uganda.  On this Uganda 3-day gorilla trek tour, our teams will not only ensure you are allocated the most exciting mountain gorilla families for your indelible lifetime experience, but we also ensure that the entire 3 days you are with us are packed with memories all through.

This is a private gorilla safari experience, so your safari guide gets to be more creative, doing many things outside our standard itinerary to enhance your enjoyment. And we shall provide a customized safari vehicle for your comfort and safety on the road.

Tour Brief for the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour

  • Day 1: Start your Uganda gorilla trek tour from Entebbe or Kampala at 7 A.M. (or Kigali between 8 A.M. to 2 P.M.) with a road transfer to Uganda's gorilla sanctuary, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi, together with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the only two parks in Uganda where you can safely track the mountain gorillas. There are just about 1067 mountain gorillas still surviving on earth and Bwindi alone has slightly over 50% of all the gorilla families living in the wild.  
    Along the way, photographs of beautiful African tropical landscapes, the equator, Lake Mburo National Park among others. Lunch will be at a nice restaurant in Mbarara. This gorilla safari can also start/ end in Kigali upon request. 
    Before your Bwindi gorilla trek experience, you need to have a comfortable night's rest and we ensure that the best hotel/ lodge or camp is reserved for you, just as per your budget preference.  
  • Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi - Early morning breakfast at your accommodation before setting off, trekking into the deep jungles of Bwindi. Enjoy a splendid and memorable day when you track in the footsteps of the surviving mountain gorillas; have a full 1 hour with them after finding them. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the other 11 primates species of Bwindi and over 350 bird species as you trek on the freshly made tracks. The evening is spent enjoying and sharing memories of your gorilla trek experience but if you are not so tired, you can engage in the optional community walks in the nearby villages. 
  • Day 3: Final day of your gorilla trek tour. We end the gorilla tour by driving back to the airport or to your hotel in Kampala/Entebbe or Kigali. If you prefer not to drive back to Entebbe, we can have a flight arranged from Bwindi to Entebbe. Flight costs range between $250-370 depending on the location of the gorilla trek or season but we shall be happy to assist you to book this on request.

Note:

For the Affordable Uganda Gorilla Safari version, the 2024 tour prices (including gorilla permit of $700) are: $1690 for 1 person, $1263 per person if 2 persons, $1150 per person if 3 persons, $1093 per person if 4 persons

3 Days Uganda Gorilla trek tour detailed itinerary

The affordable but thrilling experience-packed 3 days Uganda gorilla trek tour is designed for you who wants to get the cream best of Uganda but limited by time and budget. We demand from ourselves to put up the best for you despite the few days you have in Uganda. Your tour guide will be outdoing themselves to show you all the most remarkable sights along the routes and whenever the opportunity is available, suggest the exciting tour experiences in the region. We have been conducting this trip for over a decade and a half going with thousands of guests to track the gorillas in Bwindi. All our guests have been able to see the gorillas in the wild and we are very hopeful that you won't be the unlucky one to miss them. Following here is the detailed trip itinerary for the Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour:

Day 1: Start your Uganda Gorilla trek tour by driving to Bwindi impenetrable N. Park (the mountain gorillas' home)

Your gorilla tour or safari guide will be making their way to meet with you at the place you shall have spent the previous night in Entebbe/ Kampala or Kigali. Our usual Uganda gorilla trek start time is 07:00 AM if you are in Uganda. If you plan to start the tour from Kigali, we can start anywhere between 8 am to 2 pm. We can also have the gorilla tour guide pick you from the Entebbe or Kigali Airport if you are arriving today at no extra cost. Your flight should be arriving at Entebbe not later than 11 am or Kigali not later than 1 pm.

The guide will give a brief about the tour before setting off to drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive to Bwindi is marked by expanses of diverse landscapes, traditional farmlands, mountains, and valleys. There are several beautiful spots along the way and your tour guide shall not be hesitating to briefly stop over to allow you to enjoy and take photographs. Just about 75 km from Kampala is the Equator line crossing point from where the whole earth is divided into two halves. It is one beautiful scenery in Africa and we definitely have a brief stopover here as well.

If you started from Entebbe or Kampala, you shall be having a lunch break at a restaurant in Mbarara city which should be about 1 hour. After this, we continue with the remaining 3 hours of our journey, traversing mountains, tropical rainforests, and bamboo forests.

Your lodge/ camp for the night before the gorilla trek is located at the park boundary, convenient enough for you to reach the Bwindi Park headquarters in a few minutes on the day you do your gorilla tracking. Dinner will be served there as well.

The drive to the mountain gorilla sanctuary is over 7 hours from Entebbe or Kampala, most of the time on the smooth-surfaced road with about 45 minutes of dusty murram. You could choose to fly to Bwindi if you don't feel like driving. One-way flights range from 280$-360$ pp.

Uganda Gorilla Trek Accommodation options  (all on a full board basis)

Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Four Gorillas Lodge | Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge 

Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort

Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga  |  Gorilla Conservation Camp

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi. For most visitors, this is the highlight of the Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour.

It is recommended that you have your breakfast very early (before 7 am) so that we can make it to the Bwindi Park headquarters in good time for the pre-gorilla trek briefing. Your tour guide shall of course be waiting for you as you have breakfast at the lodge. Most of the lodges we book are located quite close to the park offices and the tour guide shall be waiting to lead you there.

At the park office, you shall need to present your passport (or its copy) for accrediting. You shall then have the briefing which mostly highlights what to expect in the forest when you meet the mountain gorillas, the ecology of the gorilla and their conservation status, and the other wildlife in Bwindi. Normally, there is a cultural music performance for the guests by a women's group from the local community. Next, you will be allocated to a gorilla group that you will be tracking. Gorilla group allocation can depend on the location of the gorillas, the age and physical status of the guests, and also on request you could have your preferred gorilla group allocated to you. As of today August 2023, Bwindi has 23 habituated gorilla families from which you can track one on your booked day.

In some cases, you might need to drive for a few minutes before hitting the trailhead to the gorillas but most tracks start from the park offices. We trek the gorillas through the rainforest and bamboo-covered slopes, accompanied by a guide and gorilla trackers, in search of our allocated mountain gorilla family. Many times, we trek along freshly made footpaths deep into the impenetrable jungles of Bwindi. Being an Afromontane rainforest, there are higher chances of rain during the day and it is important to prepare well. 

Trekking to the gorillas in Bwindi might sometimes be tougher than expected and could often go on for as long as 6 hours. The park guides are very sensitive to accommodating all types of visitors and there are numerous stops along the trek. Also, they plan out the most comfortable routes for all guests so that even those who are physically challenged shall feel the list challenge when trekking the gorillas in Bwindi.

When you finally catch a glimpse of the magnificent silverback mountain gorillas, any discomforts will be quickly forgotten. To ensure safety for the mountain gorillas and yourself, the rangers will be guiding you to stand not less than 6 meters from the gorillas. It is also advisable that you wear a face mask in order to limit any disease transmission between humans and the mountain gorillas. Enjoy your one hour with the mountain gorillas, sit around them while gazing into their big round eyes, and take all the photos (and yes - selfies as well!).

After the gorilla viewing experience, you shall start trekking back. A few minutes along, the park guides shall locate a safe spot for you to have your packed lunch in the jungle. As you trek back, there will be time to take notice of the other wildlife in the forest. Keep a sharp eye out for the chimpanzees, L'Hoest's, red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colobus, and olive baboons. Bwindi is also a prime birding destination with over 350 bird species,  seven of which are IUCN red data listed, and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics, species that are difficult or impossible to see in any other parts of East Africa. There are also many forest elephants, buffalo, bushbucks, and serval cats among the other mammals you can find in Bwindi.

Uganda Gorilla Trek Accommodation options available (all on a full board basis)

Up-market: Mahogany Springs Lodge | Buhoma Lodge | Four Gorillas Lodge | Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge 

Moderate: Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge| Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge | Mutanda Lake Resort

Low Budget: Gorilla Haven Lodge Rushaga  |  Gorilla Conservation Camp

Day 3: Departure to Kampala/Kigali/Entebbe (Daily flights to Entebbe can be booked as well)

We shall be ending the 3 days Uganda gorilla trek with our drive back to Kampala/ Entebbe or Kigali. You will be traversing the grassed and terraced escarpments of southwestern Uganda while taking in the breathtaking sights of the hills of the region dubbed the little Switzerland of Africa’.

This area is a highly fertile, mountainous region with steep-sided hills covered from top to bottom in neatly terraced cultivated rows. Not to miss as we traverse Mbarara are the impressing longhorn Ankole cattle. A remarkable highlight of this journey is the Equator line and surely you will cross it as we have a brief stop here.

We will be in Kampala in the evening before your flight back home. 

Note:

For the Affordable Uganda Gorilla Safari version, the 2024 tour prices (including gorilla permit of $700) are: $1690 for 1 person, $1263 per person if 2 persons, $1150 per person if 3 persons, $1093 per person if 4 persons

Information about some of the accommodation used for the 3 Days  Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour

Mahogany Springs

Mahogany Springs offers privacy and serenity blended with optimal comfort in a spectacular setting.

At Mahogany Springs it is the little touches that make the big difference, from the tiny details in the design of the lodge through to the unrivalled service levels provided by the highly trained staff.

Spend the day tracking for Gorillas through the forest, sitting on the terrace of your room or even down by the Munyanga River listening to the flowing waters as time slowly passes by.

The Rooms

All the rooms at Mahogany Springs are suites. The Superior Suites can be Twin, Double or Triple. These suites are spacious with large double doors and

beautiful windows. Each suite has its own private exquisitely designed terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest area.

All suites have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower. For added comfort and peace of mind all the suites have an advanced mosquito net system that wraps around the entire area of the beds.

There are power points in the living room and bedrooms as well as 2 desks/dressing tables.

Buhoma Lodge

We highly recommend Buhoma Lodge for our 3 days Uganda gorilla trek tour for its comfort, ambiance, and eco-blended layout.

Buhoma Lodge is situated in Uganda in the idyllic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, well known for being home to the rare and elusive mountain gorilla. From the private veranda of each cottage, guests can enjoy views overlooking the forest whilst relaxing and taking in the stunning natural surrounds. Buhoma is an ideal accommodation for guests interested in gorilla trekking, being closely located to the meeting point for the treks.

There are ten comfortable cottages at Buhoma Lodge, each complete with a private veranda offering superb views of the forest. Cottages are traditionally decorated with wooden furnishings, but each is comfortable and spacious. Each cottage has en-suite facilities, and some provide bathtubs.

Meals are taken in the main, elevated lounge area, and are prepared using local ingredients to create an international cuisine. Located in the lounge, the bar is the perfect place to relax after the day's activities or enjoy a drink around the fireplace.

Chameleon Hill Lodge

Chameleon Hill’s biggest leverage are the best views imaginable – from up the lush highlands, to the magical Lake Mutanda & its lush islands below and the sprawling highlands all around it, and to crown it off with a perfect backdrop of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. The most visible of the volcanoes are Muhabura, Gahinga & Sabinyo whose peaks are cloudy most of the time. On clearer days, other Virunga volcanoes from Rwanda & D.R Congo can be sighted. At night, there is a good chance of spotting magma spilling in the air from the active volcano Nyiragongo, its epic!

The lodge has a unique style of multiple colors; each building painted a different color of the rainbow, which makes it so colorful and stand out beautifully.

Facilities and Services

  • The Lobby – housed by the main castle, is comfy with colorful cushions. On arrival, it is here the lodge manager warmly welcomes you, served a glass of juice to refresh, & briefed before proceeding to check in to your room.
  • The Restaurant – serves 3 meals a day, that is, breakfast, lunch & dinner, of both local & international delicacies. Lunch and dinner are served 3 courses (starter, main course & dessert). A daily menu for the main meal course is displayed. Visitors that require special consideration for meals or an alternative from the day’s menu make prior communication with the manager.
  • Tea/Coffee is available in the Restaurant throughout the day.
  • A Bar – located right next to the restaurant, has a good collection of renowned international wines & spirits in addition to the local beer brands.
  • The Lounge, offers comfort on quality seats, sofas with cushions, and magnificent vistas of Lake Mutanda & the impressive landscape. Even better it has a fireplace to make your evenings cozy.
  • A Library – placed in the lounge, has a good collection of travel information & books including field guides of birds, Trees & Shrubs, etc.
  • A large deck, extending from the main house (that houses the Restaurant, Bar, & Lounge) overlooks the magnificent scenery – Lake Mutanda, the lush highlands, & cloudy Volcanoes.
  • Evenings are kept entertained with traditional folklore by the local dancing group
  • Electricity is provided by a generator, switched on from 7.00pm to 10.30pm.
  • Laundry services are available at small cost.

Accommodation at Chameleon Hill Lodge

The lodge has a total of 10 chalets that include 5 doubles and 5 twins. Odd numbers are doubles while even numbers are twins.

Each chalet comprises of 1 large bed for the doubles, 2 beds (not as large as those in the doubles) for the twins. In the twins, beds can be pushed together to form a double. An extra bed can be added in the double room on request, for instance to accommodate a child. Mosquito nets over the bed, in spite of this being a mosquito-free area/zone.

Other extras in the room include extra-thick blanket for the colder nights; bottle of drinking water per day; wardrobe;  a Safe; Umbrella, a patio with excellent views over Lake Mutanda, highlands & Volcanoes

In the en-suite bathroom you will find, Linen and bath towels, a toilet, shower, and a wash bowl. Hot shower are available 24/7.

In between chalets is a fencing to ensure maximum privacy.

Gorilla Mist Camp Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable N.Park

This is a small camp with 4 thatched roof cottages with balconies overlooking the valley, forest and volcanoes. Located about 5 minutes from Bwindi/ Ruhija park offices from where gorilla tracking for either of the three families Oruzogo, Bitukula, and Kyaguliro starts.

Accommodation at the Gorilla Mist Camp is provided in clean well-maintained rooms. All the accommodation has electric lighting installed. There are several leveled terraces for those with their own equipment to camp. Cold beers and sodas are available with local produce used to provide visitors meals.

Engagi Lodge

Engagi Lodge can easily pass for a luxury lodge for the 3 days Uganda gorilla trek tour. Engagi Lodge is a small and exclusive property on the edge of the Impenetrable Forest, close to the park headquarters. The lodge is open-ended at the front allowing a dramatic view of the Bwindi National Park from every corner inside the building.

The accommodation consists of eight en-suite cottages that are evenly spaced out and hidden in the foliage. Each cottage has either double or twin beds, a bathroom with flushing toilets and hot and cold running water. All units have private verandahs where guests can enjoy their early morning tea or coffee.

The kitchen, which has been built a distance away from the lodge to ensure privacy for the clients, prepares a variety of three-course meals and all requirements such as vegetarians and vegans are catered for by our team of experienced Kampala-trained chefs. The main lodge comprises a rock bar, a restaurant, and a large wooden verandah with a separate outdoor viewing platform. The lodge building is large enough to cater to sizeable groups needing banqueting tables but still allows smaller individual groups to spread out in the various different areas for privacy.

Gorilla Valley Lodge consists of 12 en-suite rooms, built on a steep slope, ensuring the best views on Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

All rooms have a private terrace from where to experience the splendor of the forest. Tastefully decorated and equipped with solar water heaters and comfortable beds our rooms ensure a peaceful sleep.

 

2024 Indicative Prices for Uganda Gorilla trek and price for the 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari 

Note: Prices are in US Dollars and based on each sharing a double room, twin or triple bedroom. If you are a solo traveler, you will sleep in your own single room but if you are more but prefer not to share a room, you top-up with a single room supplement. 

 

Budget - Rushaga Gorilla Havens, Gorilla Conservation Camp

Midrange -

Mulehe Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Upscale -

Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge

Gorilla Forest Camp

1 person  USD1,690  USD1,925  USD2,385  USD4,100
2 persons  USD1,263  USD1,394  USD1,848  USD2,985
3 persons  USD1,150  USD1,280  USD1,735  USD2,883
4 persons  USD1,093  USD1,224  USD1,678  USD2,833
5 persons  USD1,060  USD1,190  USD1,644  USD2,800
6 persons  USD1,037  USD1,167  USD1,622  USD2,782
7 persons  USD1,021  USD1,151  USD1,605  USD2,767
Single Room Supplement  USD80  USD 175  USD200  USD746


These gorilla tour costs are inclusive of accommodation and all meals during the tour, private transportation using a safari land-cruiser, services of a good English-speaking tour guide/driver, all tour activities, cost of the gorilla permits, and bottled drinking water on the vehicle.

Affordable Gorilla Safari Prices (including gorilla permit of $700): $1690 for 1 person, $1263 per person if 2 persons, $1150 per person if 3 persons, $1093 per person if 4 persons

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Testimonials about the Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour and other Safaris

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Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour - The Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

Trekking mountain gorillas is one dreamlike tour experience you will never forget. Trekking in the jungles of the impenetrable Bwindi along freshly made tracks, interfacing with the gentle giants, being surrounded by several giant primates in the quietest of the world's remote jungles are some of those memories many dearly crave for when they sign up for the Uganda gorilla trek tour.

Of course, because mountain gorillas are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, for the last 14 years, no one on this Uganda gorilla trek tours has trekked the gorillas and failed to see them in Uganda or Rwanda. Certainly, you won't be the one with bad luck! On the gorilla trek, once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed an hour with the gorillas and you can only go not more than 6 meters from them.  As the gorilla tracking can sometimes take a full day, you will need to go with your packed lunch and lots of drinking water when trekking to the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking timings and conditions vary tremendously as the gorillas move continuously through the rain forest. It is good to be prepared and remember the weather can change with very little warning. The terrain is often steep and through areas where there are no marked paths.

Tips for the best trekking experience on your Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour

  1. Secure Gorilla Trekking permits early

Gorilla Trekking is the most popular foreign tourist activity for Uganda. On every single day, only 128 tourists can trek the gorillas in Bwindi. Uganda has the cheapest gorilla permits prices at USD700. This means the competition is quite high for the few gorilla permits in Uganda and it becomes hard to secure gorilla trekking permits a few days to your Uganda gorilla tour (although it is often possible with luck more so in the green season months of October, November, April and May).  It is best to have your gorilla trek permit fully confirmed at least 4 months in advance.

  1. Assess your fitness levels before trekking the gorilla

There is a likelihood you could walk for 3-6 hours on a gorilla trek. Gorillas are located deep in Bwindi forest with thick undergrowth over several steep volcanic slopes. Gorilla groups keep roaming this forest looking for their favorite food. They are never stationed in the same place over days. Your gorilla trek will follow this same trend and it is quite unpredictable knowing how long or tough your gorilla trekking shall be. The longer trek is not necessarily a problem, just something to be prepared for.  A bit of moderate physical fitness is needed for gorilla trekking in Uganda.

  1. Guides & Porters for the gorilla trek

You will be guided through the forest on your gorilla tracking by a Uganda Wildlife Authority guide whom you will meet at the departure point in the morning of your trek. Your guide can help you book a porter (or two!) so that you can track without having to carry the few essential items listed below in a day pack which you should bring with you. The porters are from the local community and very used to the local conditions and can assist in pushing, pulling and supporting you during your trek to the gorillas. They are usually an additional fee, over and above your safari cost, and you should budget on approximately USD15-20 per porter per day as a fee with additional tipping being optional.

As the porters do not have tracking permits they will be stopped a short distance from the point you will be viewing the mountain Gorillas. Please remember to take whatever you may need from your bag to view the gorillas and rather leave valuables at the lodge/camp.

You will be allowed up to one hour for viewing of the gorillas from when they are sighted by your group. This is to ensure that the wild animals are not overexposed to human presence. Whilst in their presence you will also be required to keep minimum distances from them – generally between 5-7 meters and your guides will ensure this is enforced.

  1. What to pack for your Uganda Gorilla Trek Tour when trekking into the jungle

    • Plenty of water – 1-2 liters per person (most lodges provide the water, but we also have it in the car). Please pack along a reusable travel water bottle if you can.
    • High energy snacks in addition to your packed lunch provided by the lodge/camp
    • Spare film and batteries for videos and cameras
    • Gloves (gardening type are good)
    • Waterproof bag to protect photographic equipment
    • Hiking gaiters
    • A hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and band-aids might be useful
    • A lightweight waterproof jacket/poncho
    • Walking sticks are made available at the start of the trek for some of the steeper and more slippery tracks and may prove to be very handy.

Gorilla Trekking Age Limits

The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years and the authorities are very strict on this! With special written permission, however, a 14yr old might pass.

 

Note for the Uganda Camping Gorilla Safari version

This Uganda safari can be affordably done as a camping safari. We shall provide you with a nice safari tent, a camping mattress, and a sleeping bag or you can also bring your own. We book safe and secure camping grounds with good facilities in Bwindi for the best memories on this gorilla trekking adventure.

The 2024 Uganda gorilla camping  tour prices (including gorilla permit of $700) are: $1470 for 1 person, $1130 per person if 2 persons, $1019 per person if 3 persons, $962 per person if 4 persons

For the cost-effective Uganda budget camping safari, we provide you with a free tent, sleeping mattress, and sleeping bag. Breakfast is included as well as all the transportation. Gorilla camping fees are included as well. You only think about your lunch and dinner for this affordable gorilla camping safari camping with a tent in Bwindi Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

We do this 3 days Uganda gorilla trek tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, covering parts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale Districts. It is situated in a hilly countryside that, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary constitutes an important water catchment area for many rivers, supplying the agricultural land of the surrounding region.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a true equatorial jungle, inhabited by four gorilla groups. Amongst the dense vegetation, the colobus monkey jumps from branch to branch, chattering its warning to its fellows hidden by the foliage. Chimpanzees, in families of 20 or 30, make the rounds, searching for fruit and edible plants.

It is situated in a hilly countryside that, together with some remnant lowland forest outside the boundary constitutes an important water catchment area for many rivers, supplying the agricultural land of the surrounding region.

The best time to visit Uganda is late December to late February, and from June to September, as the weather at this time of year is generally dry, and warm. Temperatures average at around 25 degrees Celsius.

Top 5 Tourist Things to Do In Bwindi

  1. Gorilla Trekking

The Uganda gorilla trek tour can only be done in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi alone has at least 480 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked. In Bwindi, gorilla trekking is done at either Buhoma or Ruhija or Nkuringo or Rushaga area (also known as sectors). These sectors currently have 23 mountain gorilla families that have been habituated for gorilla trekking in Uganda. You will need a gorilla trekking permit to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi. A gorilla permit costs  $700 per person per visit.

You need to plan your gorilla tracking tour well in advance, at least 90 days in advance because the gorilla trek permits usually sell out faster. Also, be sure to have dull colored clothes for your gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi.

Bwindi is probably the best place to trek the mountain gorillas because the gorilla permit is cheaper at $700 and also the park is very safe for tourist activity.

  1. Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience (with 4 hours with the gorillas)

Gorilla habituation experience is only done in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is conducted with the Bikingi mountain gorilla family in the Rushaga area of Bwindi. the gorilla habituation experience permit costs USD1500 per person and you have the chance to trek the gorillas and be in their presence for 4 hours. It gives you the chance to be with the gorillas longer and also learn about the gorilla habituation exercise in Bwindi. The maximum number of participants for this activity is 4 persons per day. The gorilla family has at least 25 gorilla members and you have lots of time to enjoy the gorillas and take photographs as you wish.

  1. Viewing the other 11 Primates, monkeys in Bwindi

Although Bwindi forest is largely known for gorilla trekking tours, it also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes,  L’Hoest’s Monkeys, De Brazza Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys as you trek through the forest.

While in Bwindi, you can visit the park office and arrange a guided forest walk into the park to spot any of these primates. You will need to pay a park entrance fee of USD40 per person as well as a nature walk fee of $30. A ranger guide/escort is a must for all those who intend to do a nature walk in the forest.

For security reasons, guided night walks in Bwindi haven't yet been implemented but there are nocturnal species like the Potto and the various Galago Species that are residents in Bwindi.

  1. Local Community experiences, Batwa Pygmies experience

The Batwa are a pygmies tribe of Uganda who were originally living in Bwindi before it was gazetted as a park. The Batwa have lived their lives to current generations by hunting and gathering in the forest. The visit to the Batwa invariably involves songs and a dance demonstration, and once the music begins you can’t help but notice that they project a genuine pride in themselves.

The Batwa experience fee is USD80 for the full day or $30 for a 3 hours experience.  In the Batwa experience, members of the Batwa Community lead tourists through the forest in the shadows and teach the visitors about their ancient ways of hunting and gathering and the Batwa Guides get to return to the Rainforest and keep their traditions alive, at least in spirit.  The Batwa communities also receive half of the Batwa Trail Fees.

  1. Birdwatching in Bwindi

The varied habitats of Uganda’s oldest forest mean it is the ideal habitat for a variety of birds, with 350 species recorded, including 23 endemics (90% of all Albertine Rift endemics) such as the Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species.

The varied habitats of Uganda’s oldest forest mean it is the ideal habitat for a variety of birds, with 350 species recorded, including 23 endemics (90% of all Albertine Rift endemics) such as the Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species. Easy to see are the African Emerald Cuckoo, Common Bulbul, African Blue and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, and Red-headed Bluebill.

Birding takes place along the main trail, the Buhoma Waterfall Trail, and along the bamboo zone and Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija.