One-Day Gorilla Trek in Uganda: Possible?

Table of Contents

• Is it possible to do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda?
• Gorilla trekking in Uganda: Two options
• Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Mgahinga National Park
• How much does a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda cost?
• Is one day enough time to trek gorillas in Uganda?
• How to book a gorilla trek in Uganda?
• Other considerations before booking your trip
• Recap: 1-day gorilla trekking in Uganda

Thousands of people visit Uganda every year to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. If you’re planning to be one of these people, you might be wondering – can you do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda?   

Here, I explain what you need to know if you’re planning to see these magnificent creatures in a 24-hour window.  

Is it possible to do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda?

Yes, it is possible to do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda. In fact, one day is all you need to see the gorillas in their natural habitat, as you arrive at the entrance to the national park early in the morning and trek the gorillas from there for several hours. Read on to learn more about how to arrange a one-day gorilla trek in the Pearl of Africa.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda: Two options

There are two national parks in Uganda that are home to mountain gorillas – Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park, as I explain below.  

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (sometimes called Buhoma) is the best place to arrange a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda. There are lots of exclusive lodges in the area and several budget options, too, which is ideal for budget and high-end travelers alike.   

There are approximately 460 mountain gorillas in Bwindi, and you can trek to visit fourteen of the habituated groups in the park. You will also have the chance to see a raft of other wildlife during your time in the Bwindi forest, including 120 other mammal species and more than 350 bird species.   

Bwindi is situated in the extreme southwest corner of Uganda, practically a day’s drive from the capital city, Kampala. You can fly to Bwindi via Kihihi to shorten the transit time, which is a good idea if you’re only in Uganda for a short period of time.  

Ultimately, if you’re looking to do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable forest is the best option.  

Mgahinga National Park

Photo credit: Jeremy Stewardson

Alternatively, you can arrange a one-day gorilla trek in Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga is actually close to Bwindi but is accessed via the town of Kisoro, also in the southwestern region of the country.   

In Mgahinga, there are approximately 30 mountain gorillas, though only one of the three groups is habituated, meaning you can only track one of the groups.   

The fact that Mgahinga is much smaller than Bwindi is an advantage to some people, as treks to see the gorillas here are often much shorter.   

If time is of the essence and you’re keen to see gorillas as quickly as possible due to constraints, Mgahinga is a good option to consider.   

How much does a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda cost?

The cost of a permit to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda is currently $700. This excludes things like travel, accommodation, and meals and is purely the cost of entering the park to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.   

Though it seems expensive for a one-day gorilla trek, it’s half the price of gorilla trekking in Rwanda! It’s also a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and in my opinion, it’s the best wildlife experience in the world!   

It’s certainly the most memorable thing I’ve ever done!   

For more information about the costs associated with gorilla trekking in Uganda and in neighboring East African countries, check out my recent article.   

Is one day enough time to trek gorillas in Uganda?

Yes, one day is definitely enough time for a gorilla trek. When you trek in Bwindi or Mgahinga, the day starts at sunrise (around 7 am), and you head into the forest to see the gorillas.   

Some treks take less than twenty minutes, while some take several hours to reach the current location of the gorillas.   

You then spend approximately one hour in the company of the gorillas before making your way back to the park entrance. From there, you can go and chill out at your lodge or hit the road if you’re on a tight schedule.  

When I did my gorilla trek in Bwindi back in 2012, I was in the park for about five hours, including the time we spent with the gorillas.  

The bottom line is that one day is more than enough time for a gorilla trek in Uganda, as the activity shouldn’t take more than half a day to complete.   

How to book a gorilla trek in Uganda?

If you’re keen to book a one-day gorilla trek for your upcoming visit to Uganda, you can do so via AJ Tours & Travel, the safari company I have partnered with.   

I have been on countless tours over the years with AJ Tours, and they arranged my gorilla trekking trip back in 2012.   

Drop Andrew a line and explain that you’re keen to arrange a permit to trek the gorillas in one day, and he will gladly help you out. Just make sure to tell him that I sent you!   

Other considerations before booking your trip

Although you can certainly do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda, you need to be mindful of the fact that you need to travel to the southwest of Uganda to do the activity.   

As mentioned, if you’re traveling by road, Bwindi NP is a day from Kampala/Entebbe. You can take a domestic flight to nearby Kihihi, which takes about 80-90 minutes. You can also fly to Kisoro, which is the gateway to Mgahinga.   

If you’re doing a safari while in Uganda, Bwindi is about 2 hours from the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Therefore, it’s a good idea to tie your one-day gorilla trek to the end of your safari.  

Check out my guide to booking domestic flights in Uganda for more information on how to get to the southwest for gorilla trekking.   

Recap: 1-day gorilla trekking in Uganda

Ultimately, one day is more than enough to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. After all, the activity itself takes no more than a day.   

But given the fact that gorilla trekking is an activity based in the extreme southwest of Uganda, you need to plan your travel accordingly, and if you’re on a tight schedule, a domestic flight is your best option!