This 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi includes two days of road travel to and from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one day of trekking the Bwindi mountainous forest and tracking the gorillas that reside there. Although the mountain gorillas roam freely within the forest, meeting the gorillas in Bwindi is guaranteed, and you will have ample time to watch them.
Meeting Mountain Gorillas in the wild is a once in a lifetime experience, which is why selecting the right trekking location in Bwindi is the first step in ensuring your gorilla trekking safari is nothing short of a memorable experience. In our 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi, we take your age, fitness level, and travel experience into account when advising you on a suitable gorilla trekking location in Bwindi. These factors consequently determine the most suitable lodging for your stay in Bwindi. Whether you are a budget or a more delicate traveler, our 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi has an appropriate lodging option.
Last but not least, the kind of vehicle and guide you use can either enhance or tarnish your gorilla trekking experience. On our 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi, you are accompanied by a friendly and informative guide in a comfortable and well-maintained vehicle.
We recommend booking your gorilla trekking safari three months before your travel date to ensure the best experience.
Get picked up by our guide at 6 am from your accommodation in Kampala (Contact us, and we can arrange for a pick-up if you stay out of Kampala), then begin your 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi. It’s important to leave early to avoid the Kampala morning traffic and hence cutting down on your travel time. It’s a 9 to 10-hour drive with time included for a couple of rest stops for taking a bathroom break or buying a cup of coffee or snacks.
Although the journey is long, most of it is on paved roads, with only the last 2 hours on dirt roads. Along the way to Bwindi are numerous villages, bustling small towns, and colorful roadside fruit and vegetable markets, making for a fascinating drive. Be sure to stop and try the delicious finger bananas at one of the roadside markets. Arrive at your lodge late in the afternoon, in time for a cup of tea or coffee. With the assistance of your guide, you may take a stroll into the nearby village and learn about the local life and culture of the Batwa.
Return to your lodge in time for dinner and rest in anticipation of an exciting gorilla trekking experience the following day.
As part of your 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi, you can take a guided walk into the village close to your lodge. If you prefer resting, the village-walk can be done the following day after returning from your gorilla trekking expedition. The Batwa are an indigenous tribe who once lived in the Bwindi forest, and since relocated on the outskirts for preservation and protection of the endangered mountain gorillas. Get to meet them on the village-walk and learn about their history and way of life.
After breakfast, head to the Bwindi park offices at 8 am for a pre-trek briefing by the rangers. Get oriented about the Bwindi forest, the gorilla family you are tracking, it’s location, size, and behavior, as well as some helpful tips to keep in mind while on the trek. After that, begin your trek into the forest. The trek can take 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location and movement of the gorilla family that you will be tracking.
Once you find them, watch the whole family interact with each other. Adult gorillas spend most of their time feeding, while the infants and juvenile play and wrestle with each other. It’s a surreal experience getting to spend time with these magnificent creatures. Afterward, trek back and return to the lodge. In the evening you can take a walk to the village or have dinner and rest.
This 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi involves a one-time encounter with the mountain gorillas on the second day. If you would like to track the mountains gorillas more than once on your trip, check out our one day extension or contact us, and we can modify your safari to suit your needs. Trekking the Bwindi is quite strenuous and requires a moderate level of fitness.
If you have no previous hiking or trekking experience, we recommend practicing in the gym or power walking and hiking to prepare for your gorilla trekking safari. We also recommend bringing a trekking pole with you no matter your level of fitness. A porter is also provided to you at the start of the trek and will assist you by carrying your backpack or navigating tough terrain on the trek.
To learn more about what the trek is like and how to prepare for it, check out our gorilla trekking page.
After breakfast, set off at 8 am and begin your journey back to Kampala. Stop in Mbarara for lunch and also by a few towns along the road for souvenir shopping. One of the small towns along the way is known for making traditional African drums.
You can make a short stop to learn how the drums are made, or buy one for yourself. After that, embark on your journey back to Kampala or your preferred destination, marking the end of your 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi.
View our price plans for the available extensions.
Gorilla Safari Lodge is a private and secluded upmarket lodge with spectacular views of the Bwindi rainforest and located close to the Gorilla Trekking starting point. The lodge consists of spacious chalets, the main lodge area with a restaurant, and a bar overlooking the Bwindi rainforest and a gift shop. It also has free WIFI available at the main lodge area.
These are chalets, each consisting of a spacious room, a private terrace, and en-suite bathroom. They are beautifully decorated and nicely lit with great views of the Bwindi rainforest. Each room is fitted with large comfortable beds, plush linen, mosquito net wrapping around the bed, lounge furniture, and a fireplace. The bathrooms have flush toilets and showers with hot and cold running water.
Meals are all included; 2 breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. The restaurant offers 3-course meals of local and international specialties.
Spacious and nicely-decorated rooms
Great location
Spectacular views of Bwindi rainforest
Elaborate meals and variety of choices
Spacious restaurant
Free WIFI
No WIFI in the rooms
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $2,125 | $1,754 | $1,692 | $1,661 | $1,642 | $1,629 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $106 per person.
Rushaga Gorilla Camp is a mid-range mountain lodge located in the south-eastern part of the park near one of the four gorilla trekking starting points known as Rushaga. The lodge has excellent panoramic views of the Bwindi forest and is a 5 minutes' walk to the gorilla trekking starting point. It also has a restaurant that offers a full English breakfast, an a la carte lunch menu, and a choice of 3 set meals for dinner. You can also access free WIFI at the main lounge and restaurant area of the lodge.
These are spacious cottages with large comfortable beds and linen, lounge furniture, and a private terrace looking towards the Bwindi rainforest. All rooms have a spacious private bathroom with flush toilets, solar-powered hot showers, a sink, and a dressing countertop and mirror.
Your stay includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. The meals are all made from western or intercontinental cuisine.
Relatively good price
Great location
Spacious rooms
Views of the Bwindi rainforest
Free WIFI
Not nicely decorated
The linen is comfortable but not plush
Limited food items at the restaurant
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,834 | $1,448 | $1,385 | $1,354 | $1,335 | $1,323 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $146 per person.
Gorilla Valley Lodge is a small, low-budget lodge located in the south-eastern part of the park near one of the four gorilla trekking starting points known as Rushaga. The lodge has a small restaurant that offers a basic continental breakfast and a few options of international cuisine for lunch and dinner.
These are clean and modestly furnished brick and motor rooms consisting of a comfortable bed, linen, towels, and en-suite bathrooms. The bathrooms have solar-powered hot water showers and flush toilets. The rooms also have lighting, power plugs, and mosquito nets over the beds.
Only breakfast and dinner are included in the basic plan. You can order lunch daily at the restaurant.
Affordable and comfortable rooms
Good location
Basic facilities
Small rooms
Limited meal options
Limited views
No internet access
If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking. We will provide a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,438 | $1,187 | $1,125 | $1,094 | $1,075 | $1,062 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $89 per person.
Paraa Safari Lodge is an upmarket lodge with the refinements of a 3-star hotel, located in the center of the park looking over the Nile river. Facilities include spacious rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a pool with a bar, and a gift shop.
Paraa safari lodge boasts the best location in the park and offers the conveniences of being so close to the jetty for your boat safari on the Nile river, and close to the game viewing areas of the park. No lodge offers more conveniences for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari than Paraa Safari Lodge.
The rooms are nicely lit, decorated with plush linen, and towels. All rooms have a private bathroom with hot showers and a hairdryer. The rooms have a coffee bar, a reading table, refrigerator, complimentary bottled water, and a private balcony.
Meals are all included; two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. The restaurant offers three-course meals of local and international specialties.
Spacious and comfortable rooms
WIFI available in all rooms
Great location for game drives and boat safari
Elaborate meals and variety of choices
The standard rooms have a ceiling fan, but no air-conditioning. You can upgrade to a deluxe room for $35 per person per room.
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,241 | $902 | $825 | $786 | $763 | $748 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $106 per person.
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Pakuba Safari Lodge is a mid-range lodge, located on the northern side of the park facing the Albert Nile. The facilities include a restaurant, terraced room blocks and a swimming pool.
The lodge is in an excellent location for game drives and with nicely furnished rooms, offering you better value for your money compared to other mid-range accommodations, making Pakuba the ideal lodge for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari.
All rooms have a private bathroom with solar-powered hot showers, a reading table, a closet, and a private terrace. The rooms are all air-conditioned.
This plan is inclusive of all meals. The price includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners during your stay. The meals are all made from western or intercontinental cuisine.
Reasonably priced.
Excellent location for game drives
Comfortable rooms with air-conditioning
WIFI at the main lobby and at the restaurant
The lodge is a 45 mins drive from the Paraa jetty, where the boat safari begins and ends.
Rooms lack a coffee or tea bar and Hair dryer.
The linen is comfortable but not plush
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $1,141 | $763 | $685 | $647 | $624 | $608 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $146 per person.
Red Chilli Rest Camp is a low-budget camp located in the center of the park on the southern side of the Nile, only 500 meters from the ferry crossing point. You stay in brick and motor, African thatched houses locally known as bandas.
The camp also has a restaurant that offers an a la carte breakfast and lunch menu, and a choice of 3 set meals for dinner. The combination of a great location and a right level of comfort makes Red Chilli Rest Camp the ideal budget accommodation for your 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari.
The bandas all include a double bed or two twin beds with linen and a mosquito net. A few bandas have private bathrooms, but most uses shared bathrooms. All the bandas have lighting, power plugs, and a fan. There’s a limited number of Ensuite bandas. The camp has shared toilets and bathroom stalls with hot water available.
The basic plan includes breakfast. You can buy lunch and dinner every day at the restaurant.
It’s inexpensive and safe.
Even though Red Chilli Rest Camp’s location is better than other budget accommodations, it’s not the best for game viewing. It takes about 30 minutes, including crossing the Nile on a ferry to get to the wildlife. The ferry has set crossing times, and these can limit the amount of time you spend viewing the animals. All the other low-budget camps have the same challenge. None is close to the wildlife.
Electricity is only available at set times of the day, except lights are always on. The set times are from 7 am to 9 am, 11 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 10 pm. Outside these hours, guests charge appliances such as phones and camera batteries at the restaurant.
No WIFI
Note: If there are no rooms available at the time of your booking, we will recommend a suitable replacement.
| Pax | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Price per person | $918 | $597 | $520 | $481 | $458 | $442 |
Prices are based on double room occupancy. You can upgrade to a single room for $89 per person.
