4-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
$3,400 / personPrivate · lowest rate, US$, subject to availability
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Uganda
4-Day Fly-in Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
A private, high-comfort journey into Uganda's mist-shrouded gorilla country, built to make the most of a short stay.
Duration4 days3 nights
From$5,921per person, US$. Estimate, subject to availability
Trip overview
A private, high-comfort journey into Uganda’s mist-shrouded gorilla country, designed to make the most of a short stay without compromising the experience. The route flies from Entebbe toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, includes a Batwa cultural encounter, and treks into the forest in search of mountain gorillas.
A gorilla permit, park fees, domestic flights, private 4WD transport, an English-speaking guide and full-board accommodation are all built into the rate. The itinerary is private and tailored around the availability of the gorilla tracking permit.
Departures run on any day subject to availability. Solo travellers are welcome, and every traveller must be at least 18 years old.
CountryUgandaBwindi Impenetrable National Park
Duration4 days3 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsEntebbe
From$5,921Per person in US dollars, at the published rate. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Map route
The route, stop by stop
1
Entebbe
Day 1 · Departs Entebbe
2
Bwindi
Days 2 to 4 · 2 nights
3
Entebbe
Day 4 · Ends here
What you are likely to see
Mountain gorilla
Forest elephant
Chimpanzee
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
Day by day
4 days, in order
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Ask us for the expected driving time on any day.
01
Entebbe
Arrival in Entebbe
Arrival in Entebbe is followed by a short transfer along the shore of Lake Victoria to Hemingways Hotel Entebbe, where lush gardens and calm water set an easy tone. The evening is quiet, with dinner at the hotel, before the flight into Uganda's gorilla country in the morning.
Easy arrivalBreakfast and dinner
Accommodation
One night
8 photos
Hemingways Hotel Entebbe
Mugwanya Road, Entebbe, on Lake Victoria Hotel · 8 photos
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Hemingways Hotel Entebbe is a boutique hotel on Mugwanya Road in Entebbe, a short drive of under three kilometres from Entebbe International Airport. It looks out over Lake Victoria and is framed by indigenous trees, giving it a calm, green setting that feels far removed from the bustle of Kampala. The architecture is contemporary, softened […]
02
Entebbe to Bwindi
Fly to Bwindi and Batwa experience
The flight from Entebbe crosses Uganda's western highlands and descends toward Bwindi, the forest closing in as the plane drops toward the airstrip. It is one of the quickest ways into gorilla country, and a striking arrival in its own right.
The afternoon is given to a Batwa cultural encounter. The Batwa are the forest's original people, displaced when Bwindi became a protected park, and they share their songs, hunting techniques and forest knowledge, built up over generations. Dinner is at Bwindi Lodge, on the unfenced edge of the park at Buhoma.
Flight to gorilla countryBatwa cultural encounterAll meals
Day 21 photo
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
8 photos
Bwindi Lodge
Buhoma, northern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Lodge · 8 photos
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Bwindi Lodge, run by Volcanoes Safaris, stands at Buhoma in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is the closest lodge to the starting point for gorilla tracking in this sector. The lodge grounds act as a buffer between the village of Nkwenda and the forest, and the views from its veranda look […]
03
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
This is the day the whole trip is built around. It begins early, with a briefing at the park headquarters, and then the walk into Bwindi's tangled, ancient forest behind an armed ranger and a tracker. Reaching a gorilla family can take anywhere from one to several hours, through steep and thickly vegetated ground, depending on where the family last nested.
Once they are found, an hour is spent with them, at a close but respectful distance, watching the family feed, rest, play and move through the forest. A silverback's calm gaze, a youngster tumbling down a slope: very few experiences in travel compare. Then comes the trek back out, and dinner at the lodge.
Guided gorilla trekAll meals
Day 31 photo
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
8 photos
Bwindi Lodge
Buhoma, northern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Lodge · 8 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Bwindi Lodge, run by Volcanoes Safaris, stands at Buhoma in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is the closest lodge to the starting point for gorilla tracking in this sector. The lodge grounds act as a buffer between the village of Nkwenda and the forest, and the views from its veranda look […]
04
Bwindi to Entebbe
Return to Entebbe
After breakfast, the journey returns to Entebbe, closing the safari. No accommodation is included for the final night.
Breakfast
The price
The price, in full
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- Game drives, gorilla trekking and walking safaris with an armed guide
- A gorilla tracking permit
- Domestic flights within the itinerary
- Airport transfers to and from the airport
- Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before or after the tour
- Any amount above the fixed flight budget built into the rate
Rates by travel date
| Rate | Per person |
|---|---|
| Published rate | $5,921 |
Rates are per person in US dollars and exclude international flights. Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.
Before you book
Questions, answered
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies within one business day.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Is the gorilla permit included, and what does it cost?
If the permit is part of this safari it is listed under The price, in full, above. Permits are sold by the national park authorities, at the time of writing US$800 per person in Uganda per trek, and they cannot be refunded once issued, which is why they are charged in full whenever a booking is cancelled.
How fit do we need to be for gorilla trekking?
A trek can take anything from an hour to most of the day, on steep and often muddy forest trails at altitude. A reasonable level of fitness helps, the pace is set by the group, and porters can be hired at the start of the trail to carry your bag and give you a hand on the steep sections.
Is there a minimum age, and how far ahead should we book?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, in both Uganda and Rwanda. Each gorilla family can be visited by only eight people a day, so permits for the busiest months, June to September and December to February, can sell out months ahead. Six months or more in advance is safest.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Light aircraft on safari routes usually allow about 15 kg per person, hand luggage included, in a soft-sided bag without wheels or a frame. We confirm the exact allowance for your flights, and anything you do not need on safari can usually be stored until you return.
Do we need a visa?
Uganda: apply for an eVisa at visas.immigration.go.ug. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Which vaccinations and health precautions do we need?
See a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. Malaria is present in most safari areas of East Africa, so ask about antimalarials, insect repellent and cover-up clothing for the evenings. A yellow fever certificate can be required depending on your route and where you arrive from. Uganda asks all visitors for one.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies within one business day with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip
Availability
4-Day Fly-in Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$5,921
Per person in US dollars, at the published rate. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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