Fred is incredibly knowledgable about Ugandan and Rwandan cultures and traditions so the long drive was also a good opportunity to learn lots of interesting facts about the two countries. The vehicle (Land cruiser 4X4) is super comfortable and well sturdy which makes a big difference on “Africa’s massage roads” ie unpaved, full of holes and with landslides during the rainy season. Overall I’ve had a great experience with Bamboo Ecotours and would certainly recommend them to anyone interested in the gorilla trek.
3-Day Uganda Gorillas and Chimp Trek at Kalinzu Forest
A Full Day of Gorilla Tracking
Learn About & Visit Local Communities
Chimp Trekking at Kalinzu Forest
Combine mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with a visit to the Kalinzu Forest Reserve for chimpanzee trekking! Given the Kalinzu forest’s proximity to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest is a recommended area to trek chimpanzees, especially for clients who want to add a chimp trek to a short gorilla trip.
Tour Highlights
Glimpse these rare creatures in the wild and observe their human-like interactions up close
Learn the meaning of adventure on this Uganda trekking tour through the rainforest with experienced local guides
Trek mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s smallest national park
Track chimpanzees in Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve
Learn about the local community with visits to their villages and the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Museum
Join a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Click the Tabs to Find out More
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Adults (15-80): $2,480
Please inquire for the budget accommodation price, this is our midrange/comfortable accommodation tour
2 persons or more: $1,975 per person
3 persons or more: $1,880 per person
4 persons or more: $1,750 per person
Departure Time
7:00 am (Kigali, Rwanda timezone)
Meeting Point
We offer pick-up from the following places for this experience:
- Kigali International Airport (on day 1), Rwanda
- Your guesthouse in downtown Kigali, Rwanda
- Please inquire for information on a custom pick up
Availability
Monday to Sunday, year-round
Duration
3 days
Difficulty Level
Moderate – uphill trekking
Group size
1 to 4 persons
Included
- Meals: 2 x breakfasts, 2 x dinners, 2 x lunches
- Accommodation for two nights in a mid-range lodge
- One gorilla trekking permit per person (value of $800 USD)
- Kalinzu Forest Reserve chimp trekking permit (value of $130 USD)
- Transport in a 4×4 vehicle and fuel
- Admission to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Not Included
- Optional activities (see tab 4)
- Visas and other costs of personal nature
- Porter fees, gratuities, travel insurance, and medical expenses
- Any other costs not listed in the itinerary
What to Bring
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
Participation Requirements
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Good to Know
Depending on the availability of gorilla permits, we may propose trekking gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
What You’ll Do
We will pick you up at Kigali International Airport or downtown Kigali and drive you to Bwindi National Park. The scenic drive to Uganda will go through western Rwanda via the Gatuna-Kigali highway. We will cross over into Uganda via the Gatuna/Katuna border post. The trip continues through the nearby towns of Kabale, a small town nestled into the luscious greenery at the feet of the Kigezi Highlands and the hills adjacent to Lake Bunyonyi. We will wind through the mountain roads through the towns of Ntugamo, Ishaka, ad Bushenyi to our final destination — Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving early afternoon. Spend the afternoon wildlife viewing along the Kazinga channel with a chance to see hippos, elephants, buffaloes, and a range of rare birds. After the Kazinga channel boat trip, we drive to the lodge for check-in, dinner & overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner
After early morning breakfast, we will drive to the Kalinzu Forest to trek the chimpanzees in their forest home. If you are lucky on the trek, you might encounter other species of monkeys in the Kalinzu forest. These include the colobus monkey, olive baboon, and red-tailed monkey. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is a haven for trekking chimps in Uganda. Given the Kalinzu forest’s proximity to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest is a recommended area to trek chimpanzees, especially for clients who want to fit chimp trekking into a short gorilla trek. After the Kalinzu chimp trek, we shall drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via the Ishaka-Kabale highway. If time permits, visit the Batwa Village at the Echuya Forest Reserve before continuing to Lake Mutanda/Lake Mulehe area for dinner/overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today is the main event, our Uganda gorilla trek! You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This national park is Uganda’s smallest national park, making it THE second destination for gorilla tracking after the more famous Bwindi National Park. The trek will begin with a short briefing on gorilla trekking rules to ensure guests’ safety and the protection of these animals in their natural habitat. You will then start the trek into the Mgahinga forest to encounter the gentle giants of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is a true adventure, and part of the excitement is finding the gorillas. Follow the guides as they make paths through the thick vegetation until the special moment that you encounter these majestic creatures. It is a truly unique experience and will surely be one of the standout moments of your trip. After the gorilla trek, head back downhill to the national park gate, and we drive to Kigali city. The drive to Kigali, which will go through the Cyanika (Kyanika) land border crossing, will take ~5hrs.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Lodges & Accommodation
- Buffalo Safari Lodge(opens in a new tab) at Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Mutanda Lake Resort(opens in a new tab) or Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge(opens in a new tab) at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
We will choose from one of these lodges according to the availability
Optional Activities
- Visit the Batwa Community at Echuya Forest Reserve – $30 USD
- Canoe Trekking at Lake Mutanda – $30 USD
- Coffee-Making Experience – $30 USD
- Mabungo Community Village Tour in Kisoro – $30 USD
See What Our Previous Guests Have Said...
The first trip was to Bwindi to see the mountain gorillas. Jackson was the driver for this and he was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area and was a joy to talk to during the journey and I highly recommend him. Edison and Bamboo Ecotours took care of the gorilla permit and everything was completely ready upon my arrival to Bwindi.
The trip organised by Bamboo Ecotours was seamless, from the correspondence with Edison before our trip to our lovely driver, Fred, during the visit. Fred was always friendly, punctual and ready to help us with any request. The gorillas themselves are magnificent and we were extremely happy with the accommodation options Edison suggested. It was an all-round unforgettable weekend!
