Gorilla Trek in Uganda - 3 Days
Highlights
- Visit the UNESCO site Bwindi Impenetrable Park
- See mountain gorillas in their natural habitat
- Enjoy some of Africa's best bird-watching
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Kigali & Transfer to Park | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 2 | Gorilla Trekking | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
| Day 3 | Return to Kigali, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali & Transfer to Park
Meet your guide in Kigali this morning to embark on your gorilla adventure. After meeting at your hotel or another designated meeting point, your guide will take you up to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This UNESCO Natural World Heritage site is one of the richest biological and botanical regions in the world.
The forest covers an area of about 206 square miles (331 square km) at the southwestern edge of the western Rift Valley. Bwindi's most revered residents are the approximately 350 wild mountain gorillas—just over half of the total world population of these gentle apes. Don't miss the park's other occupants as well; the African Bird Club highly recommends bird watching.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking
Get an early start on your gorilla tracking and report in the morning to the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station for a pre-trek briefing. The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the forest, escorting you through the bush and occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search for the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24-hour monitoring for their own safety, so you're almost guaranteed to see them.
The gorilla population is slowly increasing, but the species is still critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material, so coming into contact with human diseases, even via our food, is extremely hazardous to their health. To reduce the transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you'll need to keep a distance of 23 feet (7 meters) from the gorillas.
Once you locate the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side and approach the gentle giants with only your camera. The guides will interpret the animals' behavior and advise on what you are watching. You may see females and their young, young males, or even a dominant Silverback feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping. The trek usually takes roughly three to six hours, after which you'll return to camp.
Day 3: Return to Kigali, Depart
Enjoy breakfast in the camp before your driver takes you back to Kigali.
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