3-Day Nkuringo Gorilla Safari
$2,900 / personPrivate
View itinerary
Uganda
4-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
A short, fly-in gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with a free day for optional cultural or forest experiences.
Trip overview
A scheduled flight from Entebbe reaches Kihihi airstrip in a little over an hour, avoiding the long road transfer most Bwindi itineraries require. Three nights at the forest edge include a full day of gorilla trekking and a free day for optional activities.
CountryUgandaUganda
Duration4 days3 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsEntebbe
Best timeJun – Aug
From$3,400per person, estimated
How this price works. Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote. Payment and cancellation terms
Map route
Route overview
1
Entebbe
Day 1 · Starts here
2
Bwindi
Days 1 to 4 · 3 nights
3
Entebbe
Day 4 · Ends here
Wildlife you are likely to see
Mountain gorilla
L'Hoest's monkey
Forest elephant
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.
Best months to travel
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best
Quieter
Green season
Itinerary
Day by day itinerary
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Lodges are as proposed for your dates and are confirmed by name in your written confirmation.
Main transfers on this trip
- Day 1: Entebbe to Bwindi
- Scheduled flight, as set out in the day below
- Day 4: Bwindi to Entebbe
- Scheduled flight, as set out in the day below
Road times are estimates without game drives or stops. Traffic, weather, road works and border queues can add time, and your guide plans comfort breaks along the way. Flight times depend on the airline schedule for your date.
Entebbe to Bwindi
Day 1: Arrival in Bwindi
A scheduled flight from Entebbe crosses Uganda in a little over an hour, the land below turning greener and steeper as it heads south west, and lands at the airstrip at Kihihi. From there the road climbs to the lodge on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the trees start almost at the door.
The afternoon is left free, to settle in, listen to the forest and rest before the trek.
Scheduled flight to KihihiAfternoon at leisure
Day 12 photos
The forest canopy of Bwindi
A mountain gorilla in BwindiAccommodation
Night 1 of 3
6 photos
Mahogany Springs Lodge
Buhoma, northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Lodge · 6 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Mahogany Springs Lodge is set near the village of Buhoma on the northern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the place where gorilla trekking in Bwindi first began. Buhoma is the most accessible of Bwindi’s trailheads, and one of the habituated gorilla families often ranges close to the village, so a stay here keeps the […]
Night 1 of 3 near Bwindi, at a property such as Mahogany Springs Lodge. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
The day starts with a briefing at the park office, while trackers who set out at dawn locate the gorilla family. Then the trek begins, through steep, dense forest that holds close to half the world's remaining mountain gorillas. It can be short or it can take many hours: that depends entirely on where the family chose to spend the night.
Once they are found, the hour with them begins. A silverback feeding a few metres away, youngsters tumbling through the undergrowth, a mother watching over an infant: very few hours in African travel come close to it. The permit is included.
Full day trekPermit included
Day 22 photos
The forest canopy of Bwindi
A mountain gorilla in BwindiAccommodation
Night 2 of 3Same lodge as Day 1: Mahogany Springs Lodge. See photos and details on Day 1.
A second night at the same property near Bwindi.
Bwindi
Day 3: Optional Activities
A free day, built around optional experiences, each arranged and priced separately. The Batwa were the original forest people of Bwindi, and a cultural encounter with them tells the story of life in the forest before it became a national park. A community walk visits the villages and farms along the park edge, and a forest nature walk follows the trails in search of birds and primates.
Or nothing at all, which after the trek is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Batwa experience, village walk or forest walkOptional, extra cost
Day 32 photos
The forest canopy of Bwindi
A mountain gorilla in BwindiAccommodation
Night 3 of 3Same lodge as Day 1: Mahogany Springs Lodge. See photos and details on Day 1.
A third night at the same property near Bwindi.
Bwindi to Entebbe
Day 4: Departure
A morning flight from Kihihi returns to Entebbe, the forested hills giving way to the shores of Lake Victoria on the approach, and connects with the onward or international departure.
Flight to EntebbeOnward connection
Accommodation
No overnightNo overnight. Departure timed to the onward connection.
Price
Price and what is included
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.
- Domestic flights and transfers
- Accommodation as specified
- All meals and beverages as indicated
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Optional activities (additional cost)
- Park entry fees
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, including tips
- Drinks and meals not mentioned
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies during office hours, Monday to Saturday.
What happens on the free day?
A Batwa cultural experience, a community walk, or a nature walk through the forest are the usual options, each arranged and priced separately from the package rate.
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.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies during Nairobi office hours, Monday to Saturday, 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 Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$3,400
Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, 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.
Enquire first for questions and a written quote, with no commitment. Book this safari asks us to hold your dates for 72 hours without payment. Your booking is confirmed only when we confirm it in writing and your deposit is received under our booking terms.
More ideas
Similar safaris
Gorilla trekking4-Day Fly-in Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda
$5,921 / personPrivate
View itinerary
Luxury3-Day Luxury Murchison Falls Safari
$2,090 / personPrivate
View itinerary
All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
