Uganda · Gorilla Trekking

4-Day Uganda Gorilla Tracking Safari in Bwindi with Batwa Visit

4 Days Round trip from 14 Kitaasa Rd Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Get up close with gorillas in Bwindi Forest
02 Meet the Batwa community of Bwindi and learn how they survive in the forest
03 Enjoy beautiful landscapes on your way to Bwindi Forest
04 Trek through dense jungle alive with birds, butterflies, and other primates

Embark on an exciting gorilla tracking expedition in Uganda's Bwindi Forest, where you can get up close with one of the world's most protected species. Trek through the dense jungle with an experienced ranger, spot other primates, antelopes, colourful butterflies, and birdlife, and learn about the gorillas' habitat, behaviour, and social skills. The journey also includes scenic flights over lush green landscapes and a Batwa community visit for insight into the lives of Bwindi's former forest inhabitants.

Embark on an exciting gorilla tracking expedition in Uganda's Bwindi Forest, where you can get up close with one of the world's most protected species.

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 Entebbe, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Entebbe

Upon your arrival at Entebbe airport, you will clear immigration and get tested for Covid-19.
After this, you will be welcomed by our driver-guide, who will brief you about the safari and then drive you to your booked accommodation for an overnight stay.

Meals on your arrival day will be at your own cost.

Accommodation: Protea Hotel (Luxury)

Papyrus Guest House (Mid-Range and budget)

Day 02

Flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will be transferred to the airstrip to take your morning flight to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Scenic views of lush green forests and beautifully contrasting landscapes will make this 1.5-hour flight a worthwhile experience.
Meet our company representative, who will be waiting for you at the airstrip to drive you to your booked accommodation.
Check in, have lunch, and relax as you enjoy the lodge facilities until dinner time.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (luxury)

Rushaga Gorilla Camp (mid-range)

Mutanda Lake Resort (budget)

Day 03

Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Community Visit

After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don'ts while with the gorillas.
After that, you will be taken to the starting point for tracking your allocated gorilla family in Bwindi Forest. Each gorilla family is assigned to a group of not more than eight trekkers, which is why it is recommended that you book your gorilla permit in advance. This trek starts at 8:00 am and may take from 40 minutes up to 6 hours, depending on how far the mountain gorillas have moved into the forest. Gorilla trekking can be strenuous, and as such, a certain level of fitness is required. Once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed one precious hour to observe them and take photos as well as audio and visual recordings.
In this dense jungle, expect to see a variety of bird species, other primate species, colourful butterflies, some antelopes, and other mammals during your gorilla trekking adventure.
Walk on steep and slippery terrain with prickly vegetation like stinging nettles as you listen to the sounds of nature. Therefore, remember to carry a rain jacket, drinking water, snacks or a lunchbox, jungle boots, gloves, and a walking stick with you.
Then, return to the park headquarters to be awarded a certificate in recognition of your effort toward the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Head back to the lodge for relaxation and later in the afternoon go for the Batwa community visit to gain insight into the life of these unique people. The Batwa are former inhabitants of the Bwindi forest, and so you will learn how they lived with the gorillas inside the dense Bwindi jungle.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (luxury)

Rushaga Gorilla Camp (mid-range)

Mutanda Lake Resort (budget)

Day 04

Return to Entebbe Airport

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airstrip by our company representative for your morning flight back to Entebbe. However, this only applies to Luxury and Mid-range safaris. For the budget safari, guests will travel back to Entebbe by road, and this will take not less than 8 hours.
Upon reaching Entebbe, you will go for your Covid-19 departure test (150 USD) and have lunch as you wait for the results. You may have to wait 2-3 hours for the results.
When the results are back, you will be driven to the airport for your onward flight. We recommend that your onward flight is late in the evening, from 7:00 pm onwards.

End of service.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from 14 Kitaasa Rd 2 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Airport transfers
Aero link flight to and from Bwindi except for budget safaris
Ground transportation by a 4WD Land Cruiser or super-custom
Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
One gorilla permit per person, to be secured and paid for in advance at US$ 700
Batwa community visit
All park fees
Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
All government taxes

What's Not Included

International flights
Covid-19 tests
Visa
Drinks
Laundry
Tips to local guides
Telephone
Porter fee while trekking
Personal insurance
Souvenirs
Tobacco

What to bring

Gorilla permits and passport: You will be required to show your gorilla permit and passport at the hotel and park offices just before beginning your trek. The gorilla permit will be handed to you by our company representative upon your arrival.
Valid travel documents and a visa: These are very important for any safari. Don't travel with a passport that is about to expire. Without the required travel documents, you will not be allowed into the country.
Yellow fever card: Ensure that you take the yellow fever shots and have the card.
Covid-19 test results: This should be 48 hours before you board your plane.
Sanitizer and face masks: To protect yourself and others from contracting Covid-19.
Hiking boots: High-quality hiking boots will ensure a better grip on the hilly and sometimes muddy, slippery terrain.
Clothing: Ensure you include waterproof trousers, jackets, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, long socks, and long trousers. Long-sleeved and waterproof clothes will help protect you from getting wet, sharp tree branches, the sun, and insects or ants. Other clothing to take into consideration while planning your gorilla tour includes a pair of shorts for relaxation while back at the lodge, simple sneakers, and pajamas for the cold nights. Also include long socks to cover your feet.
A rain jacket and sweater: This is an essential item for packing, especially during the wet season and also during the dry season because Bwindi, being a tropical rainforest, can receive rain at any time.
Gloves: Garden gloves will help protect your hands from prickly vegetation and insect bites when trying to hold on to trees, branches, and the ground for support during this quite challenging trek.
Toiletries: These are not only important during gorilla trekking but also for general safaris in other national parks. Toiletries include toilet paper in case you want to relieve yourself during a long gorilla trek. Most hotels do not provide toothbrushes and toothpaste. You also need to come with your own sanitary pads (ladies), favourite shampoos, deodorants, hand sanitizers, shavers, hair conditioners, lip balm, wipes, and lotions.
Headband and hair ties: Your hair could get caught in the branches if not properly tied.
A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen: These are essential to protect yourself from strong sun rays during the dry season. These items are also needed if you are planning to combine gorilla trekking with a visit to other national parks with hotter weather.
Snacks, packed lunch, and drinking water: Gorilla trekking is very unpredictable. It all depends on the location of the gorilla family you have been allocated to track. The activity can take between 30 minutes and 6 hours. Trekking for long distances could leave you tired and hungry. Your lodge should prepare a packed lunch for you, or you can choose to pack your own energy snacks. You also need to carry drinking water. Avoid littering the park with plastic bottles.
Walking stick: To help you manoeuvre through the thick vegetation and steep areas. The sticks are given out for free after the briefing. You can get a higher-quality one at a cost from your hotel or preferably through the park rangers.
Camera with strong battery and memory: To keep beautiful memories alive, carry a good camera ready to take photos of the gorillas, the beautiful park scenery, and spots along your journey. The camera may run out of battery - pack extra batteries. Do not use flash photography while with the gorillas, as they will get agitated.
Binoculars: During your trek, you may also encounter several species of birds, forest elephants, buffaloes, chimpanzees, and colobus monkeys, among many others. You can get good views of the birds and primates if you have a good pair of binoculars.
Phone SIM card: Try to acquire an international SIM card so that you can make calls to your family back home.
Porters: Porters help tourists carry any extra luggage or heavy cameras during gorilla trekking. They can also give you a helping hand when navigating through steep hills and valleys. A porter can help carry the elderly using special pouches when required. Porters will charge you an extra fee of about $15 and are normally residents of the surrounding areas. By paying for their services, you help the community, support their families, and encourage them to desist from poaching.
Other items: Other general items to consider are travel insurance, emergency telephone numbers, travel maps, directories, and the final itinerary from your tour operator. Having money in local currency is also important when you want to tip your guides or buy souvenirs in areas with no credit card machines or ATMs. To keep your money safe, acquire a money belt.
Swimming gear: Do not forget swimwear, especially during the dry season. Most of the hotels have large swimming pools overlooking beautiful African wilderness.
Personal health care: We recommend that visitors bring tablets for water purification, painkillers, and any personal medications for medical conditions and allergies. You might also need to bring medicine that reduces pain from insect bites, insect repellents, medicine for flu, diarrhea, other colds, and those that rehydrate the body. Bandages, scissors, tweezers, and eye drops may also be important during the trip.

Know before you go

The best time to do gorilla trekking in Uganda is during its two dry seasons: between December and February, and between June and August, when conditions are particularly good for trekking, i.e. the trails are not so slippery.

Logistics