2 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable forest for an amazing time observing wild mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south-western part of Uganda along the edge of the great Albertine rift. Bwindi forest is thought to be a remnant of a vast forest that once covered most of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bwindi is blessed with incredible biodiversity. The park has 160 tree species, 100 of ferns and countless butterflies.
Bwindi is home to chimpanzees, forest elephants, antelopes, Colobus and l’Hoest’s monkeys. Among the bird species are the African green broadbill, the Chapin’s flycatcher, the Grauer’s swamp warbler, Shelley’s crimson-wings and Turner’s Eremomela. Of all the amazing things that the park has to offer, mountain gorillas seem to have stolen all the show. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is special among the mountain gorilla parks because it is the only place where one can also see chimpanzees. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). UWA has had to deal with challenges of forest encroachment and small scale poaching of forest creatures by communities living close to the national park. This is one of the reasons why the Batwa pygmies were evicted from the forest.
Gorilla trekking is the main activity in the park and attracts thousands of tourists to the park. Bwindi is the best place to go for gorilla trekking because it has more gorillas and the permits are reasonably priced. A gorilla permit in Bwindi costs $700 while in Rwanda it is $1500. Bwindi has 17 habituated gorilla groups but over 50 others have been left undisturbed wild. It is only in Bwindi that primate lovers can take part in a 3 day gorilla habituation experience. Gorillas in Bwindi can be tracked in four sectors – Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma and Nkuringo. If you are interested in a longer gorilla tour, check out the 3 days Uganda gorilla safari package.
Tour Overview
This 2 days Uganda gorilla tour starting from Kigali is designed for visitors who prefer to use the shorter route to Bwindi from Kigali Rwanda instead of the 9 hours journey from Entebbe international airport in Uganda. The journey begins from Kigali in Rwanda to Bwindi though the Katuna border then to the beautiful Kigezi highlands in Uganda and finally to Ruhija in Bwindi.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali Rwanda to Bwindi Uganda
A company driver will pick you up from Kigali international airport or your hotel and brief you about your tour. Before your journey to Uganda, you will have an opportunity to tour the city of Kigali and 
important sites like the genocide war memorial centers. After touring the city, you will embark on a 4 hours drive to Bwindi through the Katuna (Uganda – Rwanda border). After Katuna you will head to Ruhija in Bwindi. This journey will give you an opportunity to see the beautiful countryside and landscapes in Rwanda and Uganda. Rwanda has eye-catching rolling hills and plantations while Uganda has dense green forest around the Bwindi area.
Dinner and overnight will be at Bakiga Lodge (Budget), Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge (Mid-range) or Mahogany Springs (Luxury).
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Departure
You will wake up very early to take breakfast. Our guide will pick you and take you to the park offices where you will be briefed and given information regarding tracking gorillas in Bwindi. 
You will be assigned a gorilla group and given an opportunity to hire a porter at a cost of 15USD. Your lodge should arrange for you packed lunch and drinking water. Gorilla trekking takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family that particular day. Once you spot the gorillas, take as many photos as you can and try to follow instructions from the wardens/guides. After completing the trek, come back to your hotel, freshen up, eat/drink something and checkout. Thereafter, our guide will take you back to Kigali international airport or your hotel.
End of Tour
What is Included and Excluded
Tour Includes:
- Gorilla permit (700USD)
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Lunch
- Bottled drinking water
- An experienced English speaking tour driver/guide
- Park entry fees
- Park ranger and guiding
- Fuel
Tour Excludes:
Personal expenses such as beverages, crafts, cigars, souvenirs and tips.
Accommodation Facilities
Gorilla Mist Camp: Gorilla mist camp is one of the best budget lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The lodge has also built higher end rooms for the mid-range travelers with even better and more spacious rooms. Gorilla Mist is locally owned and managed by very experienced local staff. The lodge is located in the Ruhija sector of the park with great views of the Virunga volcanoes. Ruhija is home to three popular gorilla families – Kyaguliro, Bitukura and Oruzogo.
The rooms at Gorilla Mist camp are self-contained with free Wi-Fi, a mosquito net, a working table, hot and cold showers. The facility also has a restaurant, a fully stocked bar and a large space for parking. The lodge has beautifully mowed gardens that are excellent for relaxation. The local staff in Gorilla Mist Camp are very friendly and will attend to all your needs once you make a request. Book with this hotel if you value a simple but clean and quality accommodation facility in Bwindi. The environment is so friendly with beautiful sounds of birds once you step out of your room. Mountain gorillas and Colobus monkeys are frequent visitors to the lodge premises and don’t be surprised to wake to a beautiful surprise – One of the gorilla families right at the hotel facilities.
Bakiga Lodge: Bakiga Lodge is arguably the best mid-range lodge in Bwindi forest national park. The lodge was built at the Ruhija sector on top of a valley facing the magnificent Bwindi forest. What makes Bakiga Lodge special is that it is a true Eco-lodge that reaches out to the community through several development projects. It is only a few minutes’ walk from the gorilla trekking starting point. The lodge’s 8 cabin rooms are self-contained, spacious, comfortable with each having its own balcony. The furniture used is locally made with the high quality wood while the beddings are of the finest modern materials. Evenings are for relaxation at the bar or around a camp fire. The hotel has free Wi-Fi and parking space. They organize birding tours, nature/forest walks, community visits and cultural performances within the lodge premises. During these community visits you can evaluate the progress made by their Bakiga Community Project. This project helps enhance local capacities for self-reliance through community outreach activities and constructing piped water sources/tanks for the people. Bakiga Lodge is also perfect for conferences, retreats and meetings.
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp: This is the best Luxury lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. The lodge is owned by Sanctuary Retreats which has established itself for building high-end luxury hotels in different parts of Africa. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp has 8 high-end and self-contained tents. The lodge is a favorite hangout place for gorilla groups in the sector. The camp offers several facilities including a gym, spa/massage room, bar, dining area and an evening campfire.
The meals served are equivalent to those of a 5-star hotel and consists of international cuisines and local foods like Kalo, matooke and peanut sauce. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp organizes amazing activities for residents. You can choose to visit the local Batwa pygmies for a unique cultural experience or go for birding and guided nature walks deep in the forest. Sanctuary retreats is an excellent choice for elderly travelers because they have custom-made sedan chairs which can be lifted by porters to take tourists to see the gorillas. The hotel supports Bwindi Community hospital and schools materially and financially. Book with Sanctuary retreats if you value quality and attention to detail and are ready to pay for it
