1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali

This 1-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour is designed for travelers with limited time who want to experience one of Africa’s most unforgettable wildlife encounters. It offers the chance to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Despite being a short trip, this tour delivers a powerful and life-changing experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda, along the edge of the East African Rift Valley. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is renowned for its rich biodiversity, dense rainforest, and stunning landscapes. Believed to be over 25,000 years old, the forest shelters more than 324 tree species, including 10 found nowhere else in the world. The park is also home to over 120 mammal species, such as elephants, forest antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, chimpanzees, and giant forest hogs.

For bird enthusiasts, the park offers over 350 bird species and around 200 butterfly species. However, the true highlight of Bwindi is undoubtedly the mountain gorillas. Nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population resides here. The park supports 36 gorilla families, 19 of which are habituated and open to visitors. This makes Bwindi the premier destination for gorilla trekking in Africa, with more habituated families than Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Congo’s Virunga National Park.

This 1-day tour is ideal for visitors already in Kigali, Kabale, or Kisoro. If starting from Kigali, you will need to wake up very early—around 3:30 a.m.—for the approximately three-hour journey to the park. For those in Kisoro or Kabale, guides will pick you up between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. Be sure to ask your hotel staff to wake you up on time and to pack a lunch or snack for the day.

What to Expect on a 1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Upon arrival at the park, you will attend a briefing at around 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. This session explains the rules of gorilla trekking and how to behave in the presence of gorillas. Visitors are divided into small groups of up to eight people, and each group is assigned a different gorilla family based on fitness level and interest. The trek can last anywhere from two to six hours, depending on the gorilla family’s location that day.

Prepare for a challenging but rewarding hike. The forest terrain can be steep, muddy, and slippery—especially during the rainy season. Bring appropriate gear, including waterproof hiking boots, a raincoat, long trousers, stockings, a hat or cap, and rain-proof clothing. Park rangers provide walking sticks and accompany you throughout the trek. Additionally, porters are available for hire at around $15 to carry heavy bags or assist along the trail.

When you finally encounter the gorillas, you will spend one hour with them. During this time, take as many photos and videos as you wish. Observing these gentle giants up close is an experience that words cannot fully capture.

After the gorilla encounter, your guide will drive you back to your hotel in Kigali, Kabale, or Kisoro. Even in a single day, the memories created on this tour will last a lifetime.

Tour Includes:

• Gorilla permit ($800)
• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Packed lunch
• Bottled drinking water
• Experienced English-speaking driver/guide
• Park entry fees
• Park ranger and guiding services
• Fuel

Tour Excludes:

• Visa entry fee ($50)
• $15 for porters (optional)
• Personal expenses such as beverages, souvenirs, tips, and crafts
• Accommodation before or after the trek (available upon request)