The 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour offers a relaxed and rewarding gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park. This gorilla tour is ideal for visitors with limited travel time and maybe a small budget for only gorilla trekking. There are basically two options for this tour; starting and ending in Entebbe/Kampala or in Kigali, Rwanda and we shall explore both options for you to choose one that suits your travel interests. The main difference is that the Entebbe/kampala route is longer (9-10 hours drive) but offers more scenic views along the way while the Kigali route is shorter (3-4 hours drive).
Trip highlights: Gorilla trekking and optional cultural tour
Option 1: 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour (Starting and ending in Entebbe/ Kampala)
Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Leave your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala early morning (06:00 – 07:00 AM) with your drive guide and head southwest Bwindi impenetrable national park (9-10 hours). Enjoy a scenic drive with a stopover at the Equator for photography and a small break. Enjoy lunch en-route at Mbarara town. Arrive and check in at your booked lodge where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and optional cultural experience
Early morning breakfast and transfer to the headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national park for a briefing about gorilla trekking. You will also get to know the gorilla group you are supposed to track from here. Head into the forest searching for your gorilla group led by armed park rangers and guides. The trek can last anywhere from 1-6 hours depending on the location and movement of gorillas.
Once you locate gorillas, spend one hour in their presence while watching and photographing them. At the end of the experience, return to park headquarters and receive a gorilla tracking certificate. Return to your lodge and relax as you reflect on the breathtaking experience with the gorillas. In the afternoon or early evening you may choose to go for a community walk around the park or visit the Batwa pygmies for a cultural experience. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 3: Return to Entebbe/Kampala
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your lodge before embarking on a scenic drive back to Entebbe/Kampala. Have a stopover for lunch at Mbarara or any other town of your choice. You may choose to have a brief stop at the Igongo cultural centre near Mbarara town to learn more about the Ankole culture and see the beautiful Ankole long-horned cattle. Arrive at Entebbe/Kampala in the evening for your departure flight or overnight at your hotel.
Option 2: 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour (Starting and ending in Kigali, Rwanda)
This option offers a shorter drive to Bwindi (3-4 hours).
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali, optional city tour and transfer to Bwindi
Arrive at Kigali International Airport and meet your driver guide. You may have a brief city tour around Kigali if time permits. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial, markets before heading north towards the Rwanda-Uganda border. Enjoy a scenic drive along the way viewing rolling hills, communities and plantations. Arrive and check in at your lodge in Bwindi, enjoy dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking, optional cultural tour
Early morning breakfast and transfer to park headquarters for briefing on gorilla trekking. Enter the Bwindi jungle searching for your assigned gorilla group together with rangers and guides. Spend one hour in the presence of gorillas as you watch them play, feed and rest. Return to park headquarters and receive your gorilla tracking certificate.
In the afternoon or evening you may decide to stay and relax at the lodge or visit the Batwa pygmy community for a cultural tour at extra cost. A cultural tour is recommended as it enables you know to learn about the local cultures while the revenue obtained helps to sustain these communities and empower conservation efforts. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Return to Kigali
Have your breakfast and begin your drive back to Kigali. Arrive at Kigali for your departure flight or overnight at a hotel. If you have more time, you may go for souvenir shopping as you also explore the beauty of the city.
Important considerations for the 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour
As you plan for the 3 Days Uganda gorilla tour, ensure to book a gorilla permit at least 6-12 months in advance through a reputable tour operator. Uganda gorilla permit is sold at $800 per person. Transport, accommodation and guiding services will be organised by your tour operator.
The packing list for gorilla trekking include hiking boots, gloves, pair of khaki trousers or jeans, hat and a camera. Gorilla trekking also requires a relative level of fitness to enable you trek through the rugged montane jungle without much difficulty. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years.