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3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

4.4/5  –  482 Uganda Reviews

Uganda is one of only two countries in the world where you can reliably go gorilla trekking with an excellent chance of seeing critically endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. Yes, permits are expensive (although permits are significantly cheaper in Uganda than they are in Rwanda) and much sought-after. But any encounter you have with these soulful creatures is sure to provide you with memories to last a lifetime. Uganda also has the advantage of having two parks where gorilla trekking is possible, compared with just one in Rwanda.

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7 Questions About 3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

1. Which parks can I visit on a 3-day Uganda gorilla-trekking tour?
2. How will I spend each day on a 3-day gorilla trekking tour?
3. Is 3 days enough for a gorilla trekking trip?
4. What are the chances of seeing mountain gorillas?
5. Can I combine a 3-day gorilla trekking tour with other safari or cultural tours?
6. Can the 3-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour start and end in Kigali (Rwanda)?
7. Are porters or walking sticks available during the trek?
 
 

7 Questions About 3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

Answered by Anthony Ham

Which parks can I visit on a 3-day Uganda gorilla-trekking tour?

“Two Ugandan national parks are home to habituated families of mountain gorillas: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi is the more popular park, and with good reason: it has nearly half of Africa’s mountain gorillas, with (at last count) around 25 habituated gorilla families covering about 300 individuals. Mgahinga, on the other hand, has only one habituated family of gorillas, although to reach them usually requires less challenging treks through more open country, compared to Bwindi’s steep, dense rainforest. Both Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are in the Virunga Mountains in the far southwest of Uganda, close to the country’s borders with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.”

1

How will I spend each day on a 3-day gorilla trekking tour?

“If you are visiting both Bwindi and Mgahinga to see gorillas, then your tour will probably spend one day in each park, with the third day taking in the short drive between the two parks. On the days when you are actually looking for the gorillas, trekking usually begins early to avoid the worst of the heat. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the gorillas early in your trek. On other days when the gorillas are more difficult to find, or located deeper into the forest, it can take up to five hours of difficult walking to find them. Once you find the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them, before trekking back to your starting point. If you are willing and able to pay around double the price of a gorilla trekking permit, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a gorilla habituation experience, which allows you to spend four hours with the great apes. Remember that you cannot just turn up at either park and hope to go looking for gorillas – you must apply for your gorilla-trekking permit well in advance of your visit.”

2

Is 3 days enough for a gorilla trekking trip?

“Yes, three days is a good amount of time to dedicate for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Because of the high cost of gorilla trekking, most travelers only go on one gorilla trek. And once you find the gorillas, your permit only allows you to spend one hour with them one time (or four hours if you pay for Bwindi’s ‘Gorilla Habituation Experience’). If you want to repeat the activity, you will need another permit for a different day, but you will only be able to spend another hour with the gorillas. If you decide to obtain a gorilla trekking permit for both Bwindi and Mgahinga, three days allows you to have enough time to travel between the parks. Despite the limitations on gorilla trekking, you can, of course, spend longer in each of the parks. Bwindi is notable for its birdlife, including 14 species not found elsewhere in Uganda. Mgahinga also offers excellent bird watching, along with golden monkey trekking and some good day hikes.”

3

What are the chances of seeing mountain gorillas?

“Mountain gorillas are wild animals, which means that there can be no guarantees of success, but it is extremely rare for visitors not to see gorillas on their trek. This is because expert park rangers and guides go looking for the gorillas well before tourists set out on their trek. Once they locate the gorilla families, they advise the guides who are with the travelers where the gorillas are located that day. If the gorillas move, the advance teams keep track of them and radio back their new locations, making it much easier for the trekking groups to find them.”

4

Can I combine a 3-day gorilla trekking tour with other safari or cultural tours?

“Yes, it is quite easy to combine gorilla trekking with other kinds of tours in Uganda or even elsewhere. Many tours and safari packages combine a 3-day gorilla trekking component with tours to other parks and safari experiences around Uganda, including to Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Parks. Imagine seeing mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and then four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo, but no rhino) – including the world-famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha – at Queen Elizabeth National Park, all on one fantastic safari. This is just one example of what’s possible – talk to your tour operator to see what other safari or cultural tours can be arranged. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also has a Batwa Cultural Trail that could be an excellent add-on to your tour.”

5

Can the 3-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour start and end in Kigali (Rwanda)?

“This is, in theory, possible, although you would spend a significant proportion of your three days travelling from Kigali to Kampala or Entebbe, and then from there to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda’s far southwest. It would be a much better use of your time to begin the 3-day trip in Uganda itself, in order to maximize the amount of time you can spend in the national parks. But there are tours that begin in Kigali and make them work, so if this works best for you, it is an option.”

6

Are porters or walking sticks available during the trek?

“Yes, you can hire a porter and a walking stick for your gorilla trek. Although they will involve an additional cost, both are considered by many experts to be essential add-ons for your trek. This is because of the strenuous nature of most gorilla treks. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, particularly, you will need to hike through dense rainforest and up and down quite steep terrain, often in hot, humid conditions. In such a landscape and under such conditions, having a walking stick to steady you and a porter carry your backpack (which might contain water, camera, wet-weather gear, binoculars etc.) can be a great help, and allow you to gain the maximum enjoyment from your trek. Hiring both porter and walking stick also has the benefit of providing much-needed income and employment for members of local communities.”

7

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 482 Reviews
Expert
Charlotte Beauvoisin  –  
Uganda UG

Charlotte lives in Uganda and is a writer, blogger, volunteer and promoter of birding, conservation and responsible tourism. She writes for Fodor’s, Horizon Guides and Bradt, and runs an award-winning blog.

Africa 101: Uganda’s Winning Blend of Nature, Climate and People
5/5

When I moved to Uganda 15 years ago, the country seemed quite small. In my first year, I covered a lot of the country: I climbed Mount Elgon, I went on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, I spent Easter on an island on Lake Bunyonyi,...

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Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Great Apes, Great Landscapes, Great Adventures
4/5

Most people understandably come to Uganda for its gorillas. Almost half of the world’s population of around 1,060 mountain gorillas lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks, and spending that precious...

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Gabriella Murgia  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026
Extraordinary country and authentic people, but still facing many major challenges
5/5

My trip to Uganda was truly an unforgettable experience. It is a country that surprises you at every moment, with spectacular landscapes, unspoiled nature, and genuine encounters with local people. From the safaris, where we had the...

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Latonya  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2026
Unbelievable Uganda - Just book it!
5/5

I’ve been on many safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa etc however Uganda was by far my favourite. With the exception of rhino’s it has all the other big five with the added bonus of wild mountain gorillas and also chimps. I am a...

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Emma Pettitt  –  
Italy IT
Reviewed: Sep 16, 2026
A lovely surprise
5/5

I didn’t have any preconceptions about Uganda - I hadn’t visited sub-Saharan Africa before. I had a vague idea of savannah landscapes, dry and dusty at the end of the dry season, and chaotic cities. While Kampala is indeed chaotic,...

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Annette  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Sep 6, 2026
Beautiful country with diverse wildlife and friendly people.
5/5

The most outstanding aspect of the wildlife in Uganda is the primate tracking. We have three wonderful experiences with chimps, gorillas and golden monkeys. The weather was good in July and the scenery incredible. We travelled with Kajie...

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All 482 Uganda Reviews