Gorilla Trekking & Nature Hiking Safari in Uganda

Your international flight will land you in Entebbe, a small town on the Lake Victoria Peninsula 30 kilometers outside the capital. Here you'll spend a night to begin the gorilla safari in Uganda the following morning.

If you arrive early and have a couple of free hours, you can do some activities around Entebbe to put you in the local scene mood.

Shoebill Tracking: is one of the most requested activities that will require an extra cost. The shoebill, a giant grotesque stork-like bird that looks like it flew out of Darwin's evolutionary stories, wades the mashes of Lake Victoria, preying on lungfish and frogs. It's quite a rare sighting that leaves many travellers in awe. You take a local fisherman's boat for about 2-3 hours in Mabamba Bay swamp, where hundreds of rare water bird species have been recorded.

Alternatively, you can take a walk or ride to the mall to buy a few things like trekking boots and exchange currency for tipping your service people.

Other activities include backroad biking with a local guide, leisurely walks in botanical gardens, visiting Ngamba Chimps Island, and brick oven Pizza evening at Goretti's.

Main Destination: Mabamba Bay, Lake Victoria

Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House
Mid-range guest house located near Entebbe Airport

Meals & Drinks: Meals at own expense
Drinks not included

Have your breakfast early and catch a scheduled morning flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airport, two hours outside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

A transfer vehicle will whisk you off to Kisoro town, where you will join a local walking safari guide on a 4-hour nature hike through the rural region. You’ll walk for about an hour through villages, communities, and cultivated mountain slopes to reach a serene volcano Lake Mutanda. Here, you’ll hop into a traditional dugout canoe with a local fisherman as your pilot to explore the calm lake’s gorgeous views on a 2-3 hour canoeing adventure.

You’ll have lunch at a lake resort and join your transfer driver for a short drive through the mountains to your booked lodge on the edge of the gorilla park. The views on this last drive are super charming, with the dying sunlight bouncing off the rugged landscape and the Virunga Mountains backdrop.

Main Destination: Kisoro, Lake Mutanda

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Mid-range to luxury forest lodge on the southern edge of Bwindi.

Meals & Drinks: Full Board (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Drinks included (soft and house wines)

Wake up early, have your breakfast, and be at the trailhead in time for the gorilla tracking briefing. The Nkuringo trailhead is about a 10-meter walk from Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge—our driver can drive you for that distance if you so choose.

The gorilla tracking briefing usually starts at 8:00 am. You’ll be assigned the gorilla group for tracking with six other trekkers and given the general observable rules in the jungle. You’ll be escorted into the African wilderness with two gun-baring rangers (for your security) and a tracker/guide with a machete to lead your way.

Once you have found the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend an hour with them. Keep your camera silent (no shutter sound of flash photography), observe a 10 meters distance from the gorillas, and keep your mask on. Your time in the forest cannot be pre-determined as every day differs from the previous.

There are great activities at the lodge to engage the rest of the day, or stay at your cottage, order-in and enjoy the enchanting views of the dreamy landscape.

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Meals & Drinks: Full Board (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Drinks included (soft and house wines)

This short gorilla safari in Uganda allows you to squeeze in a few more activities that involve walking with the natives on a cultural trail.

The 2-3-hour walk takes on a cultural experience with a Batwa tribal leader, a local interpreter, and several other tribal members showcasing their original stories when they lived in the now-gazetted gorilla forest park.

The Batwa lived in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, perfectly balanced with flora and fauna. They earn a living from this little pocket forest by re-enacting their historical cultures for visiting tourists.

The end of the day would be excellent for a sundowner experience at the top of the world with the sun setting on the stunning 360-degree views across southwestern Uganda’s rugged landscape.

Main Destination: Buniga Pocket Forest

Accommodation: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Meals & Drinks: Full Board (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Drinks included (soft and house wines)

The 4-6-hour ancient nature hiking trail across the impenetrable forest of Bwindi from the southern section in Nkuringo to the northern park section in Buhoma is famous, with locals trading good between the two villages. You’ll begin the walk from the Lodge through villages, into the misty jungle along the Kashasha River valley, and to the flatter trail leading out to Buhoma.

For 15 km, 4-6 hours, you’ll be immersed in the majestic beauties of the ancient jungle guided by a local expert who’ll furnish you with old tales and incredible forest knowledge and bring you close to being one with the forest trails. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet wild forest inhabitants like chimps, elephants, duikers, forest buffalo, and more.

Upon arrival at the park headquarters in Buhoma, continue to your lodge on the outskirts of the national park for some relaxation and to enjoy the “other” side of Bwindi. If interested, possibly, we can arrange a community walks directly with the guide for later in the evening (optional and to be paid locally).

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinks not included

After a leisurely breakfast, departure to Kihihi Airstrip (60km – 1 hour) for your morning flight to Entebbe.

In Entebbe, you can use our facilities at Papyrus guest house to freshen up for your international flight back home.

Accommodation for this day is not included, though. But your short trip to see mountain gorillas specialist can book you a room at your discretion.

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinks not included