3-Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Bwindi An Expert’s Guide

• Day #1: Transfer early morning from Kampala to the equator line for photography.
• Day #2: Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest lasts about 2-6 hours with a maximum of 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas.
• Day #3: Transfer back to Kampala 

Day 1: Transfer early morning from Kampala to the equator line for photography. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning your driver-guide will be at your place of residence, hotel, or lodge in Kampala for transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. After a drive time of about 2 hours, you make the first stop at the equator line for photography and a few geographical experiences on the world’s center. You continue with the drive towards western Uganda having lunch en route and arriving in the evening. On arrival, you check in, relax, have dinner and spend the night at a prior booked accommodation facility.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest lasts about 2-6 hours with a maximum of 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas.

Following an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the rules and regulations for Uganda gorilla safaris. During the briefing, a total of 8 tourists are allocated a single gorilla family depending on their hiking ability. The trek starts with each group being accompanied by a park ranger talking for about 2-6 hours depending on where the gorillas spent their previous night.

Upon seeing the gorillas a maximum of 1 hour is allocated in the presence of these gentle giants for photography and amazing moments. After the trek, you return to the park headquarters where you receive a gorilla trekking certificate. Your driver-guide then ensures a safe transfer to your lodge for refreshment and relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer back to Kampala

On the last day of your Luxury 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi, have breakfast and get back to the road for a drive back to Kampala. The drive takes you past very scenic areas from the Kigezi highlands to the plains of Buganda. Lunch is taken en route to arriving in the evening.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of the 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Itinerary 

3-Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Experience

Simply perfect, flawlessly executed

There are so many good things I want to say about our trip, Sharon, and our guide Richard that I’m worried this will be a book. To keep myself in check, I’ll use bullet points where I can.

Wilderness trips are my passion and I have traveled all over the world. I did a safari in Uganda in 2009 and told my now husband that he needed to see the gorillas. He had also never been to Africa.

I randomly found Kabira Safaris’ company by doing Google searches (should have come to TripAdvisor to begin with). One of the many things I love about Kabira Safari company are the various choices a traveler has, e.g. mid/upscale accommodations, internal flights, etc.

I knew exactly the itinerary I wanted (having been in 2009). I chose mid-range because I didn’t want to feel like I was staying at the Ritz when I’m in Africa. I wanted a more “rustic” feel. The mid-range options turned out to be so nice, I wondered if I should have gone budget. 🙂 Kidding, but mid-range was amazing.

I also knew that my husband would not like to do long drives so we took 4 internal flights to several of the villages we stayed.

Sharon arranged everything down to the smallest detail. And when one of our flights decided not to fly us to our next location (full plane), Ivan quickly found a back up flight. Ivan is on it…every detail!

Highlights
– We saw everything! After we landed in Murchison on way to lodge, there were road blocks of giraffes and elephants (my husband was thrilled)

– I wanted 2 gorilla excursions and Ivan asked if we wanted to do gorilla habituation (more time w gorillas, less tourists). We did one of each visit: “normal” gorilla visit and habituation. We liked habituation more.

– Our guide Richard was perfect. He is incredibly smart and well-read and has a progressive mindset (we’re from California). He is such a kind and gentle person and we had amazing chats about so many topics. Richard also appreciated my husband’s sense of humor (my husband is very funny) and the three of us laughed our way through 10 days together. It was like a 10-day comedy show through Uganda.

– We did not have a bad meal ever. In fact, the food was so good and healthy, we both lost weight (in a good way). If anything, there was too much food and by the 3rd day, I was asking for 1/2 portions for every meal.

– Days are packed with adventure: morning safaris, lunch, afternoon excursion (bat cave, swamp walk, nature walk, boat rides), late afternoon safari, dinner, bed.

Things we’d skip or change next time:
– Boat cruise in Murchison is best done in one of the “speed” boats (vs 2 story cruiser). We, and many others, got bored on the 2 story cruiser. Some people took naps or read books. LOL The falls are a must see from a boat! Just do it in the faster boats.

– Semliki can be skipped due to lack of animals to see. I’m a bit sad to say that because I want to keep supporting everyone and every village in Uganda. I think the area is in the process of trying to get the animals to come back. We did see a lot of baboons and the forest elephant. But when compared to Murchison, it doesn’t feel like much.

The Semliki lodge, however, is stunning. I wish my house in America looked like the common area of the lodge. And they have a pool (which we didn’t use unfortunately). We wished we were there for 2 nights instead of one just to take advantage of the gorgeous lodge, luxurious tent accommodations, scenery, and pool. Plus the staff was awesome. As we were the only guests there that particular night, we bought all the staff a drink and hung out around a bonfire with the manager and our pilot talking for hours. It made an unforgettable memory that I will cherish forever.

– In Kibale, we will opt for chimp habituation vs the regular chimp visit next time. We did the “normal” chimp visit of one hour. We had an amazing guide and took incredible photos and videos of the chimps. But the pushing by others in our group was a drag. We are not like that (always pushing to be in front) and found this experience uncomfortable.

– Take note that trekking for gorillas can be difficult. When we did habituation, the trackers were blazing a trail using machetes. (I was in heaven). During our “normal” gorilla trek, although we were in a “moderate” group (vs easy or difficult), the roundtrip hike was ~ 5 miles (7 km) with the majority down then up a very steep hill. One person in our group had to get the African Helicopter (basket stretcher) because they couldn’t do it.

If you’re not super fit, you can still see the gorillas. Just ask to go in an easy group.

– I think most people end with gorillas and if flying, depart from Kisoro. Apparently, Kisoro doesn’t have the best weather and often flights are changed. Instead of flying out around 9-10am, our flight left at 7am. That meant a 3:30am wakeup due to 2 hour drive from lodge to Kisoro. Be prepared for your flight time to change and an early wakeup.

I am already planning our return trip in 2024 with Sharon and Kabira Safaris Agency. I need to see Kidepo National Park, as well as the gorillas (for the 4th time). It’s that magical. 🙂

Date of experience: Reviewed Jun 2023 • Couples
Client: Krysten_SF From San Francisco, California