3 days Uganda gorilla tracking trip to Bwindi National Park

This 3 day gorilla tracking trip in Uganda takes you to Bwindi National Park which is the number one destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Bwindi National Park has the highest population of mountain gorillas in Uganda with 459 individuals, and about 19 families of gorillas have been habituated for the gorilla tracking adventure.

You will track down a family of gorillas by penetrating through the dense jungles of Bwindi forest and go up and down the rugged highlands, and on finding the gorillas you shall spend one hour with them. Coming face to face with these massive yet gentle giants is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters!

The 3 day Bwindi gorilla trip itinerary:

Day 1 – Travel to Bwindi National Park

You will be picked up from your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe at 7am and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. The drive from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi is about 8 hours long. You will make a stopover along the way for a lunch break.

Bwindi National Park is divided into four gorilla tracking regions, namely; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Each of these regions has a different number of habituated gorilla families and the gorilla permits are issued basing on these four regions in Bwindi National Park. You therefore base from a particular region and track the gorillas in that region, and the accommodation is booked depending on which gorilla tracking region still has permits available.

Journey time: 8 hours

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation options:

Luxury: Bwindi Lodge

Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 2 – Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park

Today you shall transfer to the park office at 7am to meet the park guides/rangers for briefing about the dos and don’ts while in the park, followed by allocating of gorilla families to the tourists before heading off into the dense Bwindi jungle for the gorilla trekking adventure. The time you shall take to find the gorillas varies from a few minutes to several hours depending on the location and movements of your assigned gorillas. If you prefer a nearer group you can request our driver guide to put in a word for you with the park guides. There are advance park trackers who go out into Bwindi early in the morning to locate the gorilla families before they arise from their nests and then inform the park offices about their initial location. So the park guides have an idea of the location of the different gorilla groups, however note that the gorillas will start moving upon arising to feed, hence a shorter distance could turn out into a longer trek and vice versa. Porters will be available for hire at $15 to carry your daypack and may support you with a push or pull in challenging spots along the trek.

After finding the gorillas you shall be allowed 1 hour with them. You shall then return to the lodge and relax away the rest of the day.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Travel back to Kampala/Entebbe

After breakfast you shall check out and travel back to Kampala/Entebbe. You shall stop over at the Uganda Equator line for pictures and curio purchases.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch

What to carry for the Gorilla trip to Bwindi

Good hiking shoes
Gaiters
Long trousers and long sleeved shirt to protect the skin from stinging nettles and thorny plants
Rain jacket
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Hat