Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali in Rwanda to Bwindi or Mgahinga
Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali in Rwanda to Bwindi forest or Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the tour options that are time saving and budget friendly. A prospective gorilla visitor may choose to fly into Kigali and trek gorillas in Uganda at either of the only two gorilla national parks in south western Uganda. Gorilla safaris in Uganda from Kigali save time and money as tourists can accomplish them in the shortest time possible like 1, 2 or 3 days unlike gorilla tours from Entebbe. The road transfer from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala City to the gorilla parks take about 8-10 hours’ drive. While from Kigali, it is very easy to access the southern sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park through Kisoro town.
Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali is conveniently done with the gorilla families in Rushaga and Nkuringo Sector both found in the south of the park plus Ruhija sector in the eastern segment of the impenetrable forest. However, it is not easy with Buhoma gorilla sector in the north of the Bwindi as connection from Rwanda would be longer and far. On the other hand, Buhoma gorilla trekking is enjoyably possible when one is coming from or going for safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park on a tour to or from Kampala City. From Kigali to southern Bwindi forest, it is possible also to do gorilla habituation experience in Uganda as well.
Why Choose Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga for Gorilla Trekking?
Many travelers often ask, “Why should I fly into Kigali, Rwanda, to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?” The answer is simple, it is faster, more affordable, and equally rewarding.
Save Time with a Shorter Travel Distance
When you fly into Kigali International Airport, the journey to Uganda’s gorilla parks is remarkably short and scenic. The drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on the gorilla trekking sector you are visiting (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo).
In contrast, traveling from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi can take an entire day, about 8 to 10 hours on the road. This means visitors arriving via Kigali can begin their gorilla trekking adventure sooner, avoid long road transfers, and spend more time relaxing or exploring the beautiful countryside of southwestern Uganda.
The distance from Kigali to the Uganda border and then to Bwindi is roughly 115 kilometers, while from Kampala it is around 457 kilometers. Choosing the Kigali route allows you to cross into Uganda through the Gatuna or Cyanika border posts, both of which offer breathtaking views of Rwanda’s “thousand hills” and Uganda’s lush highlands.
Save Money on Gorilla Permits
Another major reason travelers prefer the Kigali to Bwindi route is the significant cost savings. In Rwanda, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1,500 per person, while in Uganda the same permit costs USD 800. That means you save USD 700 per person, which can cover accommodation, meals, transportation, or even an additional wildlife experience in Uganda.
These savings make Uganda an ideal destination for budget-conscious travelers and those seeking longer safaris without compromising quality. Many visitors now fly into Kigali, enjoy a short scenic drive to Uganda, and trek gorillas at half the cost of a Rwandan permit.
Seamless Cross-Border Access and Scenic Views
The route from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga is not only convenient but also incredibly scenic. As you cross into Uganda, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of rolling hills, terraced farmlands, crater lakes, and the towering Virunga Volcanoes that define this region. The journey itself feels like part of the adventure.
Uganda and Rwanda maintain friendly tourism relations, and border crossings are smooth, especially with the East Africa Tourist Visa, which allows visitors to move freely between Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda on a single visa.
More Activities Beyond Gorilla Trekking
Starting your trip in Kigali and trekking gorillas in Uganda gives you the flexibility to add more activities to your itinerary. After your gorilla trek, you can enjoy:
- Nature walks and forest hikes in Bwindi or Mgahinga
- Cultural encounters with the Batwa communities, learning about their forest traditions
- Boat cruises and relaxation at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mutanda, both surrounded by rolling hills and islands
- Birdwatching, as this region is home to many Albertine Rift endemic species
- Hiking the Virunga Volcanoes, including Mount Sabinyo or Mount Gahinga
With the time and money saved by starting your safari in Kigali, you can extend your experience to explore more of southwestern Uganda’s hidden gems.
Convenient Flight Connections
Kigali International Airport is a growing regional hub, offering multiple international flights from Europe, Asia, and other parts of Africa. This makes it an excellent arrival point for travelers who wish to start their Uganda gorilla safari quickly and efficiently.
Many international visitors find it more convenient to arrive in Kigali, spend a night in the city, and then head out early the next morning toward Bwindi or Mgahinga for their trek.
In Summary, choosing to fly into Kigali and trek gorillas in Uganda is one of the smartest travel decisions you can make. You’ll save both time and money, experience the same magnificent gorillas, and enjoy the added bonus of exploring two of East Africa’s most beautiful countries in one trip.
Whether you are planning a short gorilla safari or a longer East African adventure, the Kigali to Bwindi route guarantees incredible scenery, comfort, and unforgettable encounters with the majestic mountain gorillas, the true treasures of Africa.
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safaris from Kigali
3 Days Gorilla Tour Uganda from Kigali
Fly into Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda by taking a 3 days gorilla safari to Bwindi. During the trip, you will have a Kigali City tour, gorilla adventure and nature and community walks in case time allows.
2 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Rwanda
Visit gorillas in Uganda by going through Kigali. You will transfer to Bwindi forest, the home to mountain gorillas in Uganda. Stay an overnight, trek gorillas and drive back to Rwanda.
1 Day Gorilla Tour in Uganda from Kigali
This short gorilla safari is among the cheapest ways to see gorillas in Uganda. You only need one day to transfer from Kigali early morning and arrive at the park in time. Trek gorillas and back to Kigali.
3 Day Gorilla Tour in Mgahinga National Park
The safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park may either begin from Kigali to Uganda or even Entebbe. The trip will take you through Cyanika border to Kisoro town from where you will transfer to the park.
How Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali started?
In the previous years, many tourists preferred Rwanda gorilla trekking to that of Uganda. This partly due to a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park as opposed to an 8-9 hour’s transfer from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi. When Rwanda increased a gorilla permit price in 2017 from $750 to $1500 each, it opened up gorilla trekking routes to Uganda. All guests looking to cheaper safari options started entering Uganda. With the 1 day and 2 days safari options to Uganda, gorilla safaris from Kigali became prominent. From 2017, people started to visit gorillas in Uganda from Kigali as a friendlier alternative in terms of time and enjoyment. Doing Uganda gorilla tours from Rwanda saves a guest $900 on just one gorilla permit he would have got in Rwanda at $1500. The Uganda gorilla permit is at $700.
Distance from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga
Transferring from Kigali to Bwindi is approximately $176.8 kms, about four hours drive. This journey could have taken less time if it wasn’t for Rwanda’s low driving speed limit. Please note that there are no direct flights from Kigali to Bwindi. You can only travel by road.
Reasons for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda through Kigali
Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are time, energy and money saving. This is because there is a shorter driving distance from Rwanda to South western Uganda where the gorilla parks are found.
Driving Short Distance: It is 177 kms from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. At a moderate speed of 60 kms per hour, the 177 kms are covered in 4 hours. This distance vary accordingly depending on the sector of the park where one is doing gorilla trekking. Bwindi is divided into 4 regions including Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Buhoma in the north of the park. Minus Buhoma sector, the remaining 3 region favor gorilla safaris from Rwanda. One cannot trek gorillas in Buhoma area if he only tracking to return to Rwanda.
Kigali to Bwindi Gorilla Trips Save Money: Since you can do a one or two days gorilla tour, such packages are among the affordable ways to see gorillas in Uganda. If you arrive in Kigali latest 3 or 4:00 pm, you can straight away transfer to Uganda, trek gorillas the next day and return to the city for a flight. From Kampala to Bwindi, it must be a minimum of 3 days tour, whether by road or flying to Bwindi or Kisoro. This means you spend more on accommodation and transport.
Savings on Flight Ticket to Rwanda: With Rwanda having its own airline, you may get a good discount on some direct flights from certain destinations to Kigali. Some flight routes are direct with no stopovers, meaning flying for lesser time is possible.
Kigali City Tour: when you choose to fly into Rwanda and visit gorillas in Uganda, you have a chance for a Kigali City tour. Among the major attractions in the city is the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a commemoration site for about 250000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. There are other attractions in Kigali as well. Apart from a 1 day gorilla trek, the rest of the safari packages from Rwanda to Uganda favor a Kigali City tour.
Uganda Gorilla Tours
In a nutshell, if you wish to do a gorilla safaris in Uganda from Kigali, just book an air ticket and a gorilla permit in time. We shall organize for you a safari that will be enjoyable and memorable. Contact us today gorilla trekking tour in Uganda from Kigali.
The increment still put the Pearl of Africa in the number one position as the best and most affordable gorilla safari destination in Africa. So, fly into Rwanda and take up a safari to go and see Uganda gorillas in the wild. Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali also saves time on the ground transfer as its only 4 hours from Rwanda to Bwindi.
Gorilla Trekking Uganda are adventure tours to Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga National Park. To see mountain gorillas in Uganda, you have to Book gorilla permits to confirm your trip. Uganda gorilla safaris will give you the best holiday experience in the Pearl of Africa. At Gorilla Trekking Services, we offer budget gorilla trekking tours as the cheapest ways to visit gorillas in Uganda without compromising quality. Apart from gorilla trips, book tours to visit some of the best holiday destinations in Uganda.
Gorillas in Uganda
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda live in the dense Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south western side of the country. There are about 1000 mountain gorillas in existence in the whole world. The endangered apes also dwell in the Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But Uganda and its Bwindi forest has the biggest number of Mountain gorillas in the wild. Bwindi boasts of around 19 gorilla families in Uganda whereas Mgahinga has one Nyakagezi gorilla group available for tracking. Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers a rare opportunity to visit and see the everyday interactions of these gentle primates.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda from Kigali
Gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda from Kigali is another alternative tour option for travelers interested in the trip to see these endangered primates. All gorilla tours to the Volcanoes National Park mainly start from Kigali where visitors fly into the country and trek gorillas within the country without crossing boarders. From Kigali, one can take a 1 day gorilla safari and return in the evening. For fear of getting so tried with this short tour, 2 and 3 days are the best safari options where you can trek gorillas and get a rest or relax well near the park before visiting the primates. A Rwanda gorilla permit is at USD 1500 per person per day. Rwanda’s Volcanoes park is also a home to golden monkeys whereby tracking them on another day is possible. Hiking mount Bisoke and Karisimbi, enjoy a nature walk to Musanze caves or a tour of Iby’wachu Cultural Village are all possible activities before or after gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
More About Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
All 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda
This is a collection of 3 day gorilla tours in Uganda including those starting from Kigali and others from Entebbe and Kampala. These safaris to Bwindi and Mgahinga are of budget, Midrange and Luxury tours categories. Look through the packages for both road transfers and flying from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airfield and make a choice based on your travel needs.
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Africa
Find out the best time of the year you can go for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo. The best time to go to Uganda or Rwanda runs from June to September plus December to February. Even though other months are ideal for mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. At times dry seasons begin early and this changes the climate patterns.
Bwindi Gorilla Habituation Experience
Get to know all about gorilla habituation experience, the habituation process, families for this adventure experience, the gorilla permit to enjoy it as well as the difference between gorilla habituation experience and gorilla trekking. This type of gorilla activity is only offer in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and unavailable in Rwanda and Congo.
Luxury Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda largely include first class gorilla safari lodges and state-of-the-art strong 4X4 WD safari vehicles. The luxury tours also entail taking charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airfield from where ground transfers are made to the accommodation facilities around the gorilla parks.