Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda: The 15 Best Tours

1.3 Days gorilla trekking Safari tour in Uganda

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · from $2,600Our pick

Travel by private 4x4 from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a full day tracking mountain gorillas. The trip also includes a Batwa community visit, a canoe ride on Lake Bunyonyi, meals, two nights’ lodging, a gorilla permit, and an English-speaking guide. Guides may include Hudson, Joyous, Benjamin, or Richard.

“We are about to wrap up an incredible 3-day journey with Dav Safaris, and what an experience it has been! From the awe-inspiring Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi, to peaceful canoeing on the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, and finally a memorable lunRead more”

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2.8-Day Murchison Falls, Chimp and Epic Gorilla Trekking Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $3,598

This private Uganda safari links Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi in eight busy days. Your English-speaking guide drives you between parks, leads game drives and forest activities, and handles meals, lodging, transfers, and boat trips. Gorilla and chimp permits cost extra.

“From the very first communication with this tour company to the guide and the activities, everything was excellent. We did a 9 day custom tour and trekked to see the golden monkeys, Gorillas, chimps, and rhinos. The 2 boat trips we did werRead more”

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3.5-Day Pearl of Africa Chimps and Gorilla Trekking Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $2,171

Travel from Entebbe or Kampala through Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi national parks with a private English-speaking guide. Track chimps in Kyambura Gorge, cruise the Kazinga Channel, look for Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions, trek mountain gorillas, and finish beside Lake Bunyonyi. Guides may include Danny, Derrick, William, Karim, or Daniel.

“We had a great time. William was a great guide. Very knowledgeable was able to answer any questions we had he went above and beyond. We would definitely do this again.”

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4.3-Day Tour to Uganda – Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Forest

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $1,110

Travel from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a guided gorilla trek with up to one hour near a family of mountain gorillas. The trip includes private 4WD transport, meals, airport pickup and drop-off, an overnight at Lake Bunyonyi, and Equator stops at Kayabwe. The $700 gorilla permit is extra.

“Suppose you are still on the fence about deciding whether or not to participate in the 3-Day Tour to Uganda. I will recommend you do. I had a great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the presence of Gorillas in their natural habitat. LRead more”

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5.3 Day Gorilla Trek at Bwindi National Park via Kigali

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $1,940

Travel from Kigali through Musanze and across the Ugandan border to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Your permit, guide, transfers, full-board lodging, and meals are included. The gorilla hike may last several hours, and guides such as Fred, Herbert, Jackson, or Godfrey have led past trips. Golden monkey trekking is an optional extra.

“This is a few months overdue, but I wanted to share that my husband and I really enjoyed our 3-day Gorilla Uganda Trek tour with Bamboo Ecotours. Everything went smoothly from our emails with owner Edison who was very helpful is assistinRead more”

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6.1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $360

Leave Kigali at 4:30 am for Volcanoes National Park, where a ranger briefing leads into a 2 to 5 hour gorilla trek. Your private driver-guide handles the road, pickup, and return, while lunch and a possible visit to Iby’iwacu Culture Village round out the day. The gorilla permit is not included.

“I had the privilege of going on a Gorilla Trek today with John as my guide, and it was an absolutely flawless experience from start to finish!”

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7.From Kigali: 1-Day Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 24 reviews · 1 day · from $450

Leave Kigali at 3:00 AM for Uganda’s Mghahinga National Park, cross the border, and trek with an English-speaking ranger through Virunga mountain forest. You may spend up to one hour near a gorilla family. Private 4x4 transport, breakfast, lunch, water, and a walking stick are included, but the $800 gorilla permit is extra.

“That was an amazing experience!! I would recommend to everyone, especially to solo travelers. Super safe and comfortable trip! Special thanks to my guides/drivers Jefferson and Vincent!”

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8.Kigali: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · from $299Best value

Leave Kigali at 4:30 a.m. with driver-guide John for Volcanoes National Park. After a coffee stop, you reach Kinigi for a ranger briefing and gorilla group assignment. The trek can last 2 to 8 hours, followed by lunch in Musanze and the drive back. The international permit is included only with the correct booking option.

“Note that the Gorilla trekking itself is done by staff of the national park; this is about transport from Kigali to the park and back. My driver was called John, and he did a great job. He was on point on time, brought me safely to the park, organized everything for me there, and took me to the trekking starting point. Afterwards, he took me to a lunch place and back to Kigali. He happily answered all my questions and explained things on the way. He was very flexible to stop on the way for an ATM or to take pictures.”

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9.1 Day Gorilla trekking volcanoes national park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $2,699

Leave Kigali at 4:00 am for a private 4x4 trip to Volcanoes National Park. Your guide and driver handle the route, permit, lunch, water, snacks, and Gorilla Guardians Village visit. Expect about four hours with the gorillas, moderate physical effort, and a long 15-hour day.

“Extraordinary activity with a very competent team, including driver, guide, trackers, etc. A once in a lifetime experience.”

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10.From Kigali: 2-Day Gorilla Trek: Bwindi Nat Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 9 reviews · 2 days · from $560

Travel from Kigali into Uganda’s Mgahinga or Bwindi area, stay near the park, then spend up to an hour with a mountain gorilla family. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the border crossing and transfers. Past departures have been led by Jeff, Hassan, and Zidane. The $560 tour price excludes the $800 gorilla permit.

“Amazing experience and very well-planned tour! Hassan, our driver, was wonderful and explained many things along the way. The accommodation in Uganda was super lovely and provided delicious meals. Hanging out with the gorillas up close was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 10/10 would recommend!”

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11.From Kigali: 2-Day Gorilla Trek in Bwindi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 2 days · from $498

Travel from Kigali to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by private or small-group vehicle, spend one night with full board, then trek to a habituated gorilla family for one hour. English, German, and Spanish guides are available. The gorilla permit and several optional activities cost extra.

“The communication from the company and the driver were very good, nothing to complain about. The only thing to perhaps higglight is what you actually pay for in terms of activities, this is purely a package with a driver and then they organise the one night accomodation including lunch and dinner, everything else including the Gorilla trekking is excluded. I had to pay an extra 50 usd for the Batwa tribe visit which was really 5 min down the road from my lodge, and additional 100 usd for the lake cruise which i still paid full even though I only did 1 hour instead on 2 hour cruise. Nevermind, the…”

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12.From Kigali: 2 days chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $999

From Kigali, travel into Nyungwe National Park for a 70-meter canopy walk, tea plantation visit, chimpanzee trek, and hike to Ndambarare Waterfall. English-speaking guides, including Pacific and Paul, have led this route. The $999 price includes transport, accommodation, meals, drinks, and guided activities.

“Nyungwe was something else. These two days felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The park is so peaceful, full of green and wildlife. I did the canopy walk, the waterfall hike, chimp trekking, and even added the zipline once I got there. Every part of it was worth it. Pacific was my guide again and he made everything smooth and fun. If you are coming to Rwanda, do not miss Nyungwe.”

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13.From Kigali: Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 1 day · from $2,499

Leave Kigali at 4:30 am for Volcanoes National Park, where a ranger leads you through the forest to a mountain gorilla group. The trek can last one to eight hours, followed by one hour with the gorillas. A private English-speaking driver-guide, gorilla permit, transport, lunch, taxes, and emergency evacuation are included.

“Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitats. The trackers and guides worked tirelessly to give us the best experience.”

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14.Rwanda: 3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking, Canopy, and Lake Kivu …

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3 days · from $860

You travel privately from Kigali with an English-speaking guide such as Augustin or Jean Michel, combining Nyungwe’s canopy walk and chimpanzee trek with tea tasting and a Lake Kivu boat trip to Napoleon, Monkey, and Peace islands. The $860 price excludes hotels, meals, drinks, and park fees, so confirm the final cost before booking.

“Great few days. Highlight was long jungle trek finding a group of chimpanzees contentedly eating leaves (and ignoring us). Augustin was great organiser. The add-ons sure added up though.”

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15.Rwanda: 5-Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 5 days · from $3,940

Travel in a small group of up to six from Kigali to Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park. You will track chimpanzees, cross Nyungwe’s canopy, visit Lake Kivu, spend one hour with mountain gorillas, and tour the Ellen DeGeneres Campus. Driver Tiito is specifically praised, though the long road days require stamina.

“A lot of driving but Gorillas were amazing to watch.”

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