2 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour Starting from Kigali

DESTINATION

Uganda: Bwindi Forest National Park

DURATION

2 Days | 1 Night

COST

From $1,200 Per Person

DESCRIPTION

This is the gentler cousin of our 1-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali — same idea, twice the breathing room. Instead of squeezing a 3,000-metre forest trek and two border crossings into a single very long day, you’ll cross from Rwanda into Uganda at the Cyanika border on day one, settle into a lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, rest properly overnight, and wake up fresh for your gorilla trek on day two.

Bwindi’s Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors sit just a few kilometres inside Uganda from the Cyanika crossing, making them the natural choice for a Kigali-based itinerary — Rushaga in particular has the greatest number of habituated gorilla families in Bwindi, which generally means a wider choice of trekking groups and a good chance of a shorter approach walk. After your trek, you’ll head straight back across the border to Kigali the same evening.

Looking for other options? Our 1-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali covers Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as a tighter single-day trip, while our 5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari combines gorillas with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest for a fuller primate circuit. For anything in between, browse our Uganda & Rwanda Safaris or contact our travel experts and we’ll build something around your dates.

Safari Highlights

One mountain gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Rushaga or Nkuringo sector), issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority
One night’s accommodation near the park, so you arrive at the trailhead rested rather than straight off a long drive
A full hour with a habituated gorilla family in one of the world’s most biodiverse rainforests
Round-trip private 4×4 transport from Kigali, with an experienced driver-guide who knows both sides of the border
A relaxed first afternoon to settle in, with time for an optional nature walk, village visit, or simply enjoying the forest views from your lodge
Flexible pickup from your Kigali hotel or Kigali International Airport

TRAVEL PLAN

Day 1: Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After an early to mid-morning pickup from your hotel or Kigali International Airport, your driver-guide will take you on the scenic 4 to 4.5-hour drive northwest to the Uganda border, crossing at Cyanika before continuing a short distance to the Rushaga or Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

You should arrive at your lodge by early to mid-afternoon, with plenty of daylight left to settle in, enjoy lunch, and unwind on a forest-edge veranda. If you’re feeling energetic, optional activities such as a guided community walk or a visit to a local village can often be arranged for the late afternoon — just let your driver-guide know on arrival. Dinner and overnight at a lodge bordering the forest.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Return to Kigali

After an early breakfast, head to the sector headquarters for your 7:00 am briefing with Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, who will outline trekking etiquette, safety guidelines, and the day’s gorilla family assignments. From there, you’ll set off into Bwindi’s steep, beautiful forest in search of one of Rushaga or Nkuringo’s habituated gorilla families.

Trekking times vary depending on where the gorillas were last located — anywhere from one to several hours — but once found, you’ll spend a full hour watching them feed, rest, and interact at remarkably close range. After descending and receiving your trekking certificate, enjoy a packed lunch before beginning the journey back across the Cyanika border to Kigali, arriving in the evening in time for dinner or a connecting flight home.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

COST INCLUSIONS

- - Cost Inclusions
    - 1 Gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Rushaga or Nkuringo sector)
    - 1 night’s accommodation on a mid-range basis near the park
    - Round-trip private 4×4 transport from Kigali to Bwindi and back, with English-speaking driver-guide
    - Fuel and all ground transport costs
    - Meals as indicated in the itinerary (Day 1: Lunch, Dinner; Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch)
    - Bottled drinking water during the journey
    - All applicable government taxes
    Cost Exclusions
    - Rwanda and/or Uganda entry visas (see notes below)
    - Travel insurance
    - Tips and gratuities for your driver-guide, lodge staff, and park rangers
    - Personal expenses, souvenirs, and drinks not specified above
    - Porter fees at the park (optional, paid locally — recommended to support the local community)
    - Optional activities such as village walks, golden monkey tracking, or the Gorilla Habituation Experience upgrade
    Good to Know Before You Go
    - Minimum age: Gorilla trekking is open to travelers aged 15 and above.
    - Fitness: Bwindi’s terrain is steep and can be muddy, especially in the wet season. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended, and trekking poles are useful — hiring a porter to carry your bag is an affordable way to make the day easier while directly supporting local communities.
    - What to pack: Sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and sleeves, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a camera without flash.
    - Permits: Bwindi gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are limited per sector each day — we recommend booking as early as possible, especially during the June to September and December to February peak seasons.
    - Visas: Many nationalities can use the East Africa Tourist Visa, a single multiple-entry visa covering Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, which is ideal for this kind of cross-border itinerary. Official guidance is available on the Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control website. We always recommend confirming your specific visa requirements before travel.
    - Add-ons: Because Rushaga and Nkuringo sit close to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, golden monkey tracking can sometimes be added as an extra activity on day one or two — ask us when booking if you’d like a quote.
    Why This Beats a Single-Day Trip
    A second day changes the whole feel of the experience. Instead of an overnight drive squeezed either side of a few hours’ sleep, you arrive at the forest with time to spare, sleep properly before your trek, and don’t have to rush back to the vehicle the moment your hour with the gorillas is over. It’s a small change in itinerary that makes a big difference to how the day of trekking actually feels — and it leaves a little room for the forest, the lodge, and the journey itself to become part of the memory, not just the gorillas.
    Why Travel With Pick and Transfer Safaris
    At Pick and Transfer Safaris, we handle the cross-border logistics — permits, lodge bookings, transport, and timing — so your short Uganda detour from Kigali runs smoothly from the first pickup to the final drop-off. We’re based close to the Uganda–Rwanda border ourselves, giving us first-hand knowledge of road conditions, border timings, and the best lodges near Rushaga and Nkuringo. A share of our proceeds also supports community projects through the Kigezi Foundation.
    Browse more of our Primate Safaris and Short Safaris, or explore all our East African destinations.
    Ready to Book?
    Gorilla permits for Bwindi’s Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are limited and sell out quickly in peak season. Contact our travel experts with your preferred dates, group size, and pickup point in Kigali, and we’ll confirm permit and lodge availability and send you a free, no-obligation quote.