Uganda · Primate Tours

4-Day Gorilla Tracking Tour in Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi

4 Days Round trip from Kampala Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Engage in gorilla tracking and cultural encounters in Bwindi Forest
02 Relax by the clear waters of Lake Bunyonyi and enjoy bird watching
03 Interact with local communities such as the Batwa and learn about their culture
04 Take a canoe trip on Lake Bunyonyi and see its many islands and birdlife

Sign up for this wildlife tour to Bwindi National Park and Lake Bunyonyi, where you will track mountain gorillas in their home, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Relax and enjoy the cool breeze of Lake Bunyonyi, whose name natively means "lake of small birds." Take a walk through the local communities and interact with groups such as the Batwa to better understand their lifestyle and culture.

Sign up for this wildlife tour to Bwindi National Park and Lake Bunyonyi, where you will track mountain gorillas in their home, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

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 Yes

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

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala after breakfast by your guide. After that, drive to the southwestern part of Uganda via Masaka.
Have stopovers at the Equator to take photographs and buy souvenirs, and also in Mbarara for lunch.
Later, continue driving through the rolling hills with banana plantations and the stunning terraced Kigezi Highlands. It will be an incredible journey, with great views of various landscapes.

On reaching the park, check in, have dinner, and stay overnight.

Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens

Meal Plan: Lunch - Dinner

Day 02

Gorilla Tracking and Batwa Community Walk

On this day, after your early breakfast, leave the lodge with a packed lunch and report to the park headquarters for a briefing at 7:30 am, which includes the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking.
From there, begin your trek to see the mountain gorillas. You will be guided by an experienced and knowledgeable park ranger guide who will take you to see these gentle giants.
After spending a great time with them, return to your lodge.
Refresh 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: Rushaga Gorilla Havens

Meal Plan: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

Day 03

Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi

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 be able to see various birds, communities, and landforms such as the islands. There are around 29 islands in the lake, so 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: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort

Meal Plan: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

Day 04

Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala

Enjoy your breakfast, check out from the lodge, and drive to Kampala, with lunch en route.
Arrive in Kampala in the evening with great memories from Lake Bunyonyi and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Where this trip takes you

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, terraced Kigezi Highlands, Lake Bunyonyi islands

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

Gorilla permits (one per person)
Accommodation
Transport
English-speaking tour guide
Drinking water
Canoeing fees on Lake Bunyonyi
Meals as mentioned in the package
Activities as stated in the itinerary

What's Not Included

Any personal items purchased and tips
Visas and international flights
Any other drinks taken while at the lodges
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary

What to bring

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots.
Bring sturdy gardening gloves.
Bring a rain jacket.
Wear a hat.
Bring enough insect repellent.
Bring a warm sweater.

Know before you go

The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda is worth all the money you will spend because once you sit a few meters from a four-hundred-pound silverback and his whole family, the world comes alive, and your view of the natural world is changed forever. You will then better relate with world creatures humans have feared for thousands of years. The experience will stay with you for a lifetime, and that is not the kind of thing you put a price tag on or buy at your favorite store.

Logistics