2 Days 1 Night Uganda Gorilla Safari through Kigali
October 27, 2025
2 Days 1 Night Uganda Gorilla Safari through Kigali
This 2-day Uganda gorilla safari through Kigali is meant for those people interested in trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park starting from Kigali, This safari starts from Kigali and ends in Either Kigali at the airport or Hotel depending on your next program. This safari provides shorter driving time from Kigali to Bwindi which is about 4-5 hours drive compared driving from Entebbe to Bwindi. Our 2-day Bwindi gorilla safari through Kigali helps you to see mountain gorillas in Uganda in only two days at an affordable rate for gorilla permits at USD800.00 per person per trek. Do you have less time? You want to drive shorter distances to the gorillas? Look no further than our 2 day Uganda gorilla safari through Kigali.
Summary of 2 Days 1 Night Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali
Day 01: Pickup from Kigali City/Airport and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/ Mgahinga National Park via the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
Day 02: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park and drive back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary:
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- Day 1: Pick-up from Kigali (airport or hotel), a 4-5 hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, crossing the border at Katuna or Chanika. After arriving at the Lodge near Bwindi Park where you will be trekking the mountain gorillas, you will check in, have dinner and relax in preparation for the next day's gorilla trekking experience.
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- Day 2: Early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing at 7:00 AM, and then begin the gorilla trek. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend one hour with the gorillas observing and photographing them. After an hour with the gorillas, you trek back to the starting point, receive a certificate, and drive back to Kigali. You will arrive in the evening for drop off to end the tour.
Key Considerations
- Booking Permits: Gorilla permits must be booked well in advance, especially during peak season, as only a limited number are issued per day. We advise you to book your gorilla permits at least 6 months to a year in advance.
- Fitness: A moderate to good level of physical fitness is required as the trek involves hiking through potentially steep, muddy, and thick forest terrain. There is an option of hiring a sedan chair for the elderly or people with disabilities. A sedan chair costs from $300.
- What to bring: Waterproof hiking boots with ankle support, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, gloves, and a non-flash camera are essential items for a 2 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari through Kigali.
- Cost: Tour packages range from approximately $1,100 to over $2,000 USD per person, depending on the tour operator and accommodation style. This usually includes the Uganda gorilla permit, which costs $800 for Foreign non-residents, $700 for Foreign residents with a working permit, $500 for Rest of Africa and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
- Flights: If flying out on Day 2, book a late-evening flight (after 7:00 PM Rwanda time) to ensure enough time after the trek and transfer back to the airport.
- Documents: Ensure that you carry your passport, yellow fever card, visa and any other vaccination certificates.
- Addons/optional activities: On top of your gorilla trek, you can add on a forest walk, community/village walk or Batwa experience.
- Other: Snacks(usually offered at the lodge), a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat.
What to expect during the trek
- Starting time: Gorilla trekking in Uganda usually begins at 7:00 am with briefing at the park headquarters by your ranger guide before you proceed in search of the mountain gorillas.
- Gorilla trekking duration: Gorilla trekking experience usually lasts from 30 minutes to 3 quarters of the day depending on the location of the mountain gorillas. But once you find the gorillas, you are allowed only one hour of observation and photography with them.
- Sedan Chair: For the elderly or people with disabilities, sedan chairs are available for hire to assist you in accessing the allocated gorilla family. It costs between $300 to $500 to hire a sedan chair.
- Guidelines: Ensure to follow the guidelines/instructions given by your ranger guide and keep a distance of about 7 meters from the mountain gorillas.
- Porters: You can hire a porter at $30 to $50 to assist with carrying your backpacks and give you support during the trekking experience. Porters are hired from the local community and by hiring one of them, you are directly giving back to support the local community.
- Certificate: Each participant is given a certificate after the trek in recognition of completing the trek and observing the mountain gorillas.
Best time to Visit
- Dry seasons (peak season): Dry seasons of June to August and December to February are the best times to go for gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, as the trails are dry and less slippery. This is also the most sought after period, so you must book your gorilla permit way in advance.
- Wet seasons (off-peak): Wet seasons of March to May and September to November see higher downpour, making trails a bit challenging. However, this period usually has fewer crowds and potentially lower accommodation prices.
Contact our team for bookings and more information.
EARLY BIRD SAFARI DISCOUNTS FOR 2026-27
Take a budget gorilla trip into Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek mountain gorillas and stay in low-cost camps and gorilla lodges.
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