Short gorilla trekking trips to Bwindi, Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park

Short gorilla trekking trips provide a better way to see or trek the rare mountain gorillas in the great highlands of Africa. Many a time, people don’t have enough time at their disposal so short gorilla trips organized by Encounter Africa safaris can be ideal when it comes to visiting Africa for gorilla viewing experiences. There four National Parks where short mountain gorilla tours can be done and these include Bwindi impenetrable national Park and Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Democratic republic of Congo. For security reasons, Encounter Africa safaris majorly operates in two main countries of Uganda and Rwanda and only offers Congo gorilla tours after monitoring the situation in that central African country. Here are some of our selected Rwanda gorilla tours as well Uganda gorilla safaris. For those interested in Congo mountain gorilla safaris please click here.

Where to take a short gorilla trekking trip to Africa

Africa is the only continent on the whole planet where mountain gorillas have a home. To see these rare and beautiful great apes, one has to fly to Africa and specifically to Uganda, Rwanda or Democratic Republic of Congo. These three countries are in the eastern part of Africa where these great creatures call home. In the Virunga mountain ranges lie thousands of these primates of which some families have been habituated for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo. Encounter Africa safaris organizes both short gorilla excursions to trek gorillas in either countries mentioned. The choice of any country will depend on your budget, time and interest.

Short gorilla trekking trips to Volcanoes National Park

As earlier noted, mountain gorillas are found in three African countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo. In Rwanda, gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park where 10 gorilla families have been habituated and ready for visitors who prefer Rwanda as their gorilla trekking destination. Its only in Rwanda where a one day or two-day gorilla trekking trip can be possible. This is because the distance from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is manageable and one can drive for 2-3 hours and he/she will be at his or her destination.  Those interested in a one-day gorilla trekking tour from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park should prepare to drive very early from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park intime for briefing and then gorilla trekking in the forest. After your gorilla trek, you can then drive back to Kigali arriving late in the evening. For those with 2 days, you can drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, stay a night, trek mountain gorillas in volcanoes and then drive back to Kigali after your trek. Please note that short gorilla trekking holidays are rushed and should be planned taking all these details in consideration.

Short gorilla trekking holidays to Bwindi impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best national parks in the world where one can go gorilla trekking in the wild. Minimum days required to arrange a short gorilla trip to Bwindi is three when coming from Entebbe and 2 when coming from Kigali. Encounter Africa Safaris organizes 3 day gorilla trekking short trips from Entebbe and 2 day gorilla tour starting and ending in Kigali. Driving from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 8-10 hours while driving from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 4-5 hours excluding border crossing between Uganda and Rwanda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park unlike other parks has four regions of Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. Each of these regions have got groups of habituated mountain gorillas that can be trekked anytime of the day, month and year. Visit our website for more information about gorilla tours

Those interested in short gorilla trekking tours in Africa but don’t want to do it in Volcanoes and Bwindi impenetrable National Park should try to book this in Mgahinga National Park. This small but beautiful park shares its boarders with Volcanoes National park and gorilla families from either parks tend to move from one park to the other since they don’t know boarders. Mgahinga National Park has one resident and habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi. Those who have trekked Nyakagezi have testified that it is one of the best gorilla family for photography.

Challenges of organizing short gorilla trekking safaris during Covid 19

Challenges of organzing short gorilla trips to Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National park and Mgahinga National Park is that, there always rushed to ensure that no activity is missed. For example, if it is a one-day gorilla tour from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, one has two drive very early from Kigali and rush to volcanoes to arrive intime for briefing and then gorilla trekking. Fears and rush in order not to miss your trek can cause tension and anxiety. To avoid this, one should opt for a medium tour where one has enough time to drive to the park, do the trek and then spend at the park after the trek. Encounter Africa safaris encourages medium or long safaris in order to reduce risks of missing out on your gorilla trek which is an expensive venture.

Another challenge most especially to do with a 2 day gorilla trekking to Bwindi starting and ending in Kigali is that, one needs to go through boarder crossing issues which end up consuming more time. This is done when coming and returning back. In this era of covid, it has become even worse since Covid 19 protocals defer from one countries to the other. Infact Rwanda has her land boarders still closed making it hard to drive from Kigali and cross to Uganda. Those interested in short gorilla trips starting and ending in Kigali may have to wait a bit longer.

Booking your gorilla trekking permit for your short excursion

Gorilla permits are permissions that allow you to visit mountain gorillas in either Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park gorilla permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and can be secured by paying cash to their head office. Encounter Africa Safaris arranges gorilla permits to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and mgahinga as long as you send us the date, months, and passport details. Upon payment, we will pay and secure your gorilla permits as well as all tour services for your holiday. For more information about booking Uganda gorilla permits, kindly contact us.

Rwanda gorilla permits to visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda( Volcanoes National Park) can easily be booked through Rwanda Development Board and the procedure is the same as above in Uganda. Once the dates and number of people are communicated to us, we will go ahead and secure your gorilla permits. For more information about short and long gorilla trekking safaris to Rwanda, please feel free to contact us.

How to get to Uganda and Rwanda for gorilla trekking

The main entry to Uganda is by air and Entebbe international Airport is the biggest Airport. From here, you are free to drive 9-10 hours to Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park or take a scheduled or charter flight to the same national parks. For those driving to Bwindi or Mgahinga, you must depart early in the morning to avoid arriving late at your lodge. For those preferring to fly, two daily flights are available both in the afternoon and morning. Kindly checkout our fly-in safaris to Bwindi and or Mgahinga National Park.

For the case of Rwanda, Kigali is the main airport where you will have to land and then drive to Volcanoes National Park. The drive is about 2-3 hours on good roads. In Rwanda both one and two days gorilla treks are possible. Please contact us for details on this.

Booking your short gorilla trekking trips through Encounter Africa safaris

Encounter Africa safaris is one of the few well-organized safari outfits in Uganda offering gorilla and wildlife safaris to Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Our office can be contacted on email and telephone or WhatsApp.  Once contacted, we will provide you with information that you can rely on to organize your short trip to Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and or Volcanoes National Park in Uganda and Rwanda respectively.  Encounter Africa safaris is highly reviewed on trip advisor as well as Safari bookings.