Can I combine Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tours?

Yes. Many guests trek in both countries. We plan the border crossing and permits.

How long should a Uganda gorilla tour be?

Four days at the shortest. Seven to ten days allows chimpanzees and a savanna park.

What is included in a Uganda gorilla tour?

Permit, accommodation, transfers, driver guide, park fees and meals as agreed, plus optional extras. We confirm everything in writing.

Which Bwindi sector is best?

It depends on your route, fitness and lodge preference. See our sectors guide or ask us.

Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?

Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.

How many days do I need in Uganda?

A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.

How many national parks does Uganda have?

Uganda protects its landscapes and wildlife across ten national parks, ranging from the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (home to mountain gorillas) to the savanna of Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, Uganda's largest park.

How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda?

Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and priced separately from your safari cost. Permit prices and availability change periodically, so we confirm the current official rate and secure your permit as part of planning your safari: book several months ahead where possible, since permits for popular dates sell out.

Offmap Safaris

Gorilla Tours Uganda: Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tours

Name: Offmap Safaris
Address: Mk Book House, Kampala, UG
Telephone: +256 701 243 304

Gorilla tours in Uganda take you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, home to roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas. Uganda is a favourite for gorilla tours because you can choose between several sectors, pair your trek with chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions and the Nile, and travel at a range of budgets. This page explains how a Uganda gorilla tour works, how to pick the sector and tour length, what to add and how Offmap Safaris plans it for you.

How a Uganda gorilla tour works

Your tour is built around a single permit date. A typical day starts with a briefing at the park headquarters, then a trek of one to several hours to a habituated gorilla family, an hour with them, and a return to the trailhead. Around this, we arrange pickup from Entebbe, a driver guide, lodges close to your trailhead and any extras. Because Uganda is large, travel time is part of planning, and we balance road days with flights where it helps.

Choosing your Bwindi sector

Bwindi has four main trekking sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. They differ in terrain, access and lodge choice, and gorilla families move over time. Read our Bwindi sectors guide and Bwindi national park page. For a short trip from Kigali, the southern sectors are closest to the border. For a classic route through Queen Elizabeth, the Ishasha road leads to the south.

Mgahinga and gorilla habituation

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, part of the Virunga volcanoes, is a smaller, quieter option and lets you combine gorilla trekking with golden monkeys. See our Mgahinga guide and golden monkey page. In Bwindi, the gorilla habituation experience lets you spend longer with a family still being accustomed to humans, which suits keen photographers and enthusiasts.

Popular Uganda gorilla tour lengths

A short tour of four or five days flies from Entebbe to the park and back, which saves road time. A seven or eight day tour adds Queen Elizabeth or Kibale, and a ten to twelve day tour covers Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, bringing together chimpanzees, big game and gorillas. We also build tours that continue into Rwanda or Kenya.

Lodges for a Uganda gorilla tour

Our accommodation guides cover the options: luxury, mid-range and budget. The right choice depends on your sector and your budget. We book your lodge together with your permit. See also our budget gorilla safaris, mid-range gorilla safaris and luxury gorilla safaris.

Permits and when to go

Permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, are limited per day and are non-refundable. Book early for June to September and December to February. Gorillas can be tracked all year, and the rainy months bring fewer visitors and greener forest. Read our gorilla permits page and permit checklist.

Preparing for your trek

Bring waterproofs, sturdy boots, gloves, long sleeves and trousers, insect repellent and a day pack. Hire a porter. Follow your ranger's rules, keep seven metres from the gorillas, do not trek if you are unwell and wear a mask when asked. Read our health and safety page and visa guide.

Why book your Uganda gorilla tour with us

Offmap Safaris is based in Kampala, so we are on the ground in Uganda. We know the sectors, the lodges and the roads, we handle permits and logistics and we give you one clear total price. You can reach our team on WhatsApp at any time. Read our gorilla trekking in Uganda page and Uganda safaris to explore more.

Sample Uganda gorilla tour routes

A five day route: Entebbe, fly to Kihihi or Kisoro, trek, rest day, fly back. An eight day route: Entebbe, Kibale for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi trek, return. A ten day route: Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, with a Kampala finish. A twelve day route: add Mgahinga for golden monkeys or Lake Mburo. Each can be done at budget, mid-range or luxury level, and we adjust the sector to your route.

If you are coming from Rwanda, the southern sectors are about three to four hours from Kigali by road.

Questions we are asked most

Guests ask if the roads are long and rough, which is why we offer fly-in options. They ask about the trek difficulty, which varies from one hour to half a day. They ask about porters, who are recommended and who earn income from your tip. They ask about children, and the minimum age is fifteen. They ask about the weather, and the answer is that rain is possible in any month, so waterproofs matter.

Our team answers on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304 or by email at [email protected].

Uganda gorilla tours with other countries

Uganda is easy to combine with Rwanda for a second trek, with Kenya for the Mara and with Tanzania for the Serengeti. We plan cross-border routes, handle the paperwork and make sure that your permits, flights and lodging line up. See our gorilla tours in Rwanda and Great Migration page for more.

Responsible gorilla tourism in Uganda

Permit revenue in Uganda supports the Uganda Wildlife Authority and a share goes to communities near Bwindi and Mgahinga. Many lodges employ local people, support schools and work with the Batwa, the forest's first people. Read about the Batwa cultural experience, which we can add to your tour.

What to book first

Book your permit, then your lodge, then your flights. Keep passport details exact, allow a buffer night before the trek and a free day after, and consider travel insurance that covers non-refundable permits.

At a glance

Bwindi sectors and Mgahinga
4 to 12 day tours
Combine with chimpanzees and big game
Short fly-in tours available
Permits and lodges booked together

Keep exploring

Plan a safari around Gorilla Tours Uganda: Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Tours

Tell us your dates and what you most want to see, and we’ll time your safari to match it as closely as nature allows. Talk to us, or browse our safari packages to see how a migration-timed itinerary is put together.