Tour Overview
1 Day Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali is a perfect short Uganda trip itinerary, especially if you have limited time or you are on tight budget yet want to be part of gorilla trekking adventure. Embarking on a one-day Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali allows you to engage in the active trek to see the rare mountain gorillas. The unique bit about this short gorilla tour in Uganda is that it will begin and end in Kigali. It takes you on a shortest route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to be part of exhilarating gorilla trekking experience instead of spending longer hours if you set off from Kampala/Entebbe.
Starting your Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali means you will be spending about 4-5 hours driving instead of 8-9 hours from Entebbe or Kampala. Gorilla trekking starts early with briefing and you will be expected to set off from Kigali early enough around 4-5 am.
Tour Details
Highlights of a captivating 1 Days Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali
- A thrilling mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
- An hour of up close encounter with the rare mountain gorillas in the natural habitat.
- A border crossing from Kigali via Katuna or Chanika border.
- Incredible photography moment
- Ground travel in a 4×4 tourist vehicle
- Full-time English-speaking guide or driver
Detailed Itinerary
1 Day Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali
The 1-day Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali will involve traveling from Rwanda to Uganda. A road trip from Kigali to Bwindi takes about 4-5 hours and expect to have an early breakfast in the lodge or en route in your 4WD vehicle. You will be expected to arrive at Bwindi National Park a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over 24 habituated gorilla group.
You will be required to report to your respective gorilla trekking region or area. Within Bwindi National Park alone, there are 4 sectors to begin the trek to see gorillas and include Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga.
In your respective gorilla sectors, the park official will be available to take you through the briefing about gorilla trekking rules. You will also be allocated a gorilla group and park ranger guide. Each gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will be visited by 8 guests with the park ranger taking lead on the entire trek.
The real gorilla trek in Bwindi begins at 8:00 am and expect to spend about 2 to 6 hours and includes an hour to enjoy a face-to-face interaction with a family of Bwindi mountain gorillas. The one-hour also covers taking pictures and observing how gorillas behave in their natural habitat.
Visitors will be led back to the gorilla trekking region in Bwindi National Park. You will again meet the park official who will give you a certificate for gorilla trekking. After, you will board your 4×4 safari vehicle and be transferred back to Kigali Capital. In Kigali, expect to be dropped at the hotel or direct to the airport to fly back home and marks the end of one-day gorilla tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
End of Gorilla Tour
Gorilla tour package includes
- Gorilla trek
- All activities excluding optional ones
- A valid gorilla permit (USD 800 per person)
- Travel on road using a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Service of a full time English-speaking guide
- Park entrance fees
- Photography
Gorilla tour package excludes
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Souvenirs
- Bills for telephone
- Cigarettes
- Extra activities/accommodation
- Visas
- Passport fees
Gorilla trekking regions and their families
Bwindi National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda and has 4 sectors each with their habituated gorilla groups. Here are detailed gorilla sectors with mountain gorilla families;
- Buhoma region/sector in northern Bwindi comprises of groups like Mubare, Habinyanja gorilla group, Katwe, Rushegura gorilla family group.
- Nkuringo in the southern end of Bwindi contains groups like Christmas, Bushaho, and Nkuringo.
- Ruhija sector in the east has groups such as Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and Kyaguriro.
- Rushaga gorilla region holds a habituated gorilla groups; Mucunguzi group, Kutu, Bikingi, Kahungye, Rwigi, Busingye, Bweza, Mishaya, and others.
What to take for the 1-day Bwindi gorilla tour from Kigali
The list of items to take for your gorilla tour in Bwindi National Park include long-sleeved shirt, waterproof daypack, waterproof hiking shoes or boots, long trousers, insect repellents, sun hat, snack, a camera free from the flashlight, first aid kit, a pack of energy giving snacks, rain jacket/poncho, a pair of socks, and others.
Gorilla trekking regulations to be respected
- Trekkers should maintain 7-8 meters away from gorillas.
- All trekkers visiting gorillas should be above 15 years.
- A maximum of 8 (eight) guests visit a single gorilla group.
- Smoking, drinking/eating in the presence of gorillas should be avoided at all times.
- Visits to see gorillas should be done if you are not sick or ill.
- Expect to spend a maximum of 1 hour in the presence of gorillas.
- Use a camera free of a flashlight to take pictures of gorillas.
The best time to go for Bwindi gorilla tour
Gorilla tours to Bwindi can be conducted at any time of the year. The dry season is notably the best time of the year that guarantees trekkers excellent gorilla trek. The peak dry season in Bwindi National Park often falls around June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. Even the off/low/wet season is also open for gorilla trekking adventures that is from March, April, May, October, and November.
The disadvantage about the wet or rainy season is characterized by heavy rains and the ground floor can be muddy while the steep slopes can be slippery. This often poses challenge for trekkers to have a round gorilla trek.
Safari Lodges and Camps in/around Bwindi National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla safari lodges and camps to expect to retire for overnight include Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge Bwindi, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
