Uganda · Primate Tours

4-Day Bwindi Gorilla Tracking Safari with Lake Bunyonyi Canoe Trip

4 Days Round trip from Kampala Moderate pace

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Spot Gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
02 Stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photographs and souvenirs
03 Take a canoe trip on Lake Bunyonyi, the "lake of small birds," with views of its islands
04 Enjoy bird sightings at Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa's deepest lakes
05 Walk through local communities including the Batwa around Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi

Sign up for this 4-day Bwindi Gorilla Tracking and Lake Bunyonyi Safari, which takes you to see mountain gorillas in their home at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and concludes with time to relax and enjoy the cool breeze of Lake Bunyonyi. Found in southwestern Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi natively means "lake of small birds" and, with its 29 islands, offers stunning views and a perfect haven for bird lovers. You will also take a walk in Buhoma Village and interact with local communities such as the Batwa, or Pygmies.

Sign up for this 4-day Bwindi Gorilla Tracking and Lake Bunyonyi Safari, which takes you to see mountain gorillas in their home at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and concludes with time to relax and enjoy the cool breeze of Lake Bunyonyi.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Kampala, Entebbe, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, you will be picked up by our guide from your accommodation and drive to the southwestern part of Uganda via Masaka. Along the way, you will have two stopovers: at the Equator in Kayabwe for photographs and souvenir shopping, and in Mbarara for lunch.
Continue through the rolling hills with banana plantations and the stunning terraced Kigezi Highlands. It will be an incredible journey with great views of the varied landscapes. Upon reaching the park, check in, have dinner, and stay overnight.

Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 02

Gorilla trekking and Batwa community walk in Bwindi

After an early breakfast, leave the lodge with a packed lunch and report to the park headquarters for a 7:30 am briefing on the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking. From there, begin your trek to see the mountain gorillas, guided by an experienced and knowledgeable park ranger who will lead you to these gentle giants. Gorilla tracking depends on their location, so the trek can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. You will spend a great time with them before returning to your lodge.
Refresh at the lodge, and later in the evening take a community walk to engage with and see how people live around this area, especially the Batwa, an indigenous group of people. Have dinner and stay overnight.

Accommodation Options: Buhoma Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 03

Travel to Lake Bunyonyi and explore by canoe

After breakfast, start your journey to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale, the second deepest lake in Africa and a great place for birders. You will be welcomed by the sweet sounds of birds, and the word Bunyonyi means "small birds" in the local language.
Upon arrival, go for a canoe trip on the lake, where you will see various birds, local communities, and landforms such as the islands. Take as many photographs as you can. After the canoe trip, have lunch, and in the evening go for a community and nature walk through the Batwa and Abaheesi communities.

Accommodation Options: Bunyonyi Safari Resort (Moderate)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 04

Return drive to Kampala

Enjoy breakfast, check out from the lodge, and drive back to Kampala, with lunch en route.
You will arrive in Kampala in the evening with great memories from Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Where this trip takes you

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Equator in Kayabwe, Buhoma Village

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kampala 7 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

All airport transfers
Gorilla permits
Accommodation and lodging
Meals throughout the itinerary
English-speaking guides/drivers
4WD safari vehicles
Domestic flights
Park fees
Emergency evacuations (AMREF)
Masks and sanitizers

What's Not Included

International flights
Visa and customs fees or charges
Travel insurance
Cigarettes and alcohol
Gratuity
Souvenirs

What to bring

Rain jacket/coat
Shoes with good traction
Binoculars
Travel plug adapter with USB port
Mask and antibacterial hand cleaning gel
Good camera with a fully charged battery and sufficient memory card storage
First aid kit
Small backpack
Sun block hat
Sunglasses
Hiking boots
Mosquito repellent

Know before you go

Staying healthy while you travel is vital; it is not all about vaccinations and medicine. Most problems you could face are easily preventable. Drinking bottled, boiled, or treated water, washing your hands properly before eating, and carefully avoiding insect bites could save your life, money, and time.
Please endeavour to get your yellow fever/Covid-19 vaccines as a crucial requirement, especially in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Please be sure to visit the Centres for Disease Control or check with a physician for more information.
Our tour director is committed to executing the tour activities as detailed in the itinerary provided. We only request our clients to be understanding, remain calm, and stay flexible on a few isolated occasions where local events may inconvenience the activities on the itinerary. Clients should also note that the first day of the trip is simply for the drive or flight to the destination as shown on the itinerary and has only a few activities planned. We advise that you be conversant with our representative, who will take you through the pre-departure briefings.
Entebbe International Airport is your gateway to and from Uganda. To avoid inconveniences caused by rushing at the time of departure, we advise that you book international flights departing from Entebbe after 8 pm. We will need you to furnish us with the following information:
- Airline
- Flight number
- Arrival and departure date
- Flight times/flight changes
Each traveller is responsible for obtaining the required visa, as visa requirements vary by country. We advise our clients to consult the US State Department and local embassies for non-US citizens for visa information.
A visa can be obtained at Entebbe International Airport on arrival at a fee of $50 per person. Visas for all other East African countries can also be obtained on arrival at the international airport or border points.
Leave a copy of your itinerary, travel insurance, and passport with a family member for reference purposes in case of an emergency. Travel insurance is also compulsory on all trips.
Some of our tours have a strict age limit. Children 13 years and below are not allowed to visit the gorillas or participate in certain activities like canoeing. For adults above 65 years of age, a medical report may be required.
We prioritise the safety of our tours; however, travel is susceptible to risks. It is important to be prepared and approach all arrangements with utmost caution. It is advisable to research your destination to equip yourself with tips to ensure safety. Register your trip and also avail a copy of your emergency contact details to your government travel advisory service (or diplomatic mission) in the country you are visiting so that they can contact you in case of emergency. This process can be done online, and it is also advisable to get the contacts of the American Embassy in Uganda, your final destination. Depending on the itinerary you have booked, some activities may carry greater risks of personal injury; we therefore advise that you take great care and strictly adhere to the established precautions before participating. These activities include white water rafting, canoe and boat rides, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, mountaineering, bungee jumping, culture walks or community visits, and game drives. For safety, the following must also be given due consideration:
Avoid expensive jewellery.
Hide your cash and monitor your ATM/credit card transactions.
Avoid all demonstrations and protests, given their potential to turn violent.
Monitor the media for information about any possible security risks and pay close attention to your personal security.
Carry a copy of your passport and avoid moving around alone without the advice of the tour guide. Avoid voluntary helpers who are not among your group, and be wary of any assistance from seemingly helpful strangers, however polite or well dressed. Safeguard your items and report any lost or blocked bank card to your bank.
Prices for a twin/double shared room are per person, and rates for single or triple travellers are available on request.
This tour requires that all travellers have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and all personal emergencies, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We therefore recommend Travel Guard, Allianz, and Nomads Travel Insurance for your insurance needs.
We understand and respect the value and importance of your privacy. Be assured, therefore, that protection of privacy is given the highest priority. All personal information that you avail to us is strictly used for purposes of safari tour booking. We will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to secure any personal information about the guest. However, aware of the rampant hacking cases involving data on the internet, it becomes difficult to guarantee 100% security for data shared through online sources. We therefore will not be held liable if the breach or hacking of your personal information is by unauthorised international individuals.
It is with regret that our office cannot compensate where an impediment to the proper performance of duty is the result of an event above and beyond our own making, control, and anticipation, nor is it due to the supplier of the service in question. Such events may include unexpected government quarantines, travel bans, riots, civil strife, natural disasters, terrorist acts, border closures, fire, road closures, industrial disputes, extreme weather conditions, and other incidents beyond our control.
In some unfortunate circumstances, getting a park or gorilla permit may not guarantee seeing wildlife in their habitats, as unfavourable local conditions may sometimes hinder access to the wildlife. This can happen without prior notice or at short notice. We therefore accept no liability in circumstances where gorilla or wildlife viewing is cancelled by the authorities. If the loss is due to the absence of gorillas, closure of borders, national parks, or security changes, refunding is at the discretion of the responsible offices. However, we shall use all means necessary to obtain the refunds and pass them on to the client.