Adventure Gorilla Tours – Gorilla Trekking Safari – Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
Book gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi & Mgahinga. Tailor-made itineraries, expert guides, and mid-range lodges from $600. Gorilla safaris in Rwanda and Uganda attract thousands of visitors year-round from every corner of the world. We organise unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure packages for your next African wildlife encounter. Our mission is simple: to ensure that everyone who joins us on this remarkable adventure leaves with memories that last a lifetime. We don’t just organise affordable safari packages — we make certain you enjoy every moment with us, staying at comfortable safari lodges nestled at the edges of the national parks in a genuinely eco-friendly environment.
Gorilla trekking adventures require careful planning months in advance, so we strongly recommend booking early. Gorilla trekking Safaris are limited to just 8 people per gorilla family per day in every National park, which means permits are extremely limited — the sooner you book, the better your chances of securing a spot. We organise trips from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. For travellers seeking a shorter itinerary, Mgahinga National Park offers a budget-friendly gorilla trekking experience with shorter trips from Kigali and Entebbe.
Gorilla Trekking Safaris — Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
We organise bespoke gorilla trekking safaris to Volcanoes National Park, nestled in the Virunga Mountains of northern Rwanda. Home to roughly a dozen habituated gorilla families, the park offers visitors a rare opportunity to observe these gentle giants in their natural bamboo and rainforest habitat. Our itineraries range from single-day gorilla tours departing from and returning to Kigali, to extended multi-day safaris that combine gorilla trekking with other premier destinations across Rwanda.
The Trekking Experience
Treks begin early in the morning at park headquarters, where guides brief each group and assign them to a specific gorilla family based on fitness level and experience. The hike itself can range from thirty minutes to several hours, traversing dense vegetation and volcanic slopes at altitude — a physically demanding but deeply rewarding pursuit. Once a family is located, visitors are granted a magical hour in their presence, observing gorillas feed, play, and interact: silverbacks at rest, juveniles at play, and mothers cradling their infants.
Conservation Impact
Gorilla permits are priced at approximately $1,500 and play a vital role in funding the conservation efforts that have helped bring mountain gorilla populations back from the brink of extinction.
Beyond Gorilla Trekking; Volcanoes National Park also offers golden monkey tracking, summit hikes up Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi, and visits to the grave site of renowned primatologist Dian Fossey. Nearby Kinigi village offers immersive cultural encounters with local communities, rounding out an unforgettable Rwandan experience.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in southwestern Uganda, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering ancient rainforest that shelters roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Treks here range from moderate to strenuous, winding through dense, misty forest across four sectors—Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo—each home to habituated gorilla families. Hikes can last anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on where the gorillas are feeding that day, culminating in an hour spent observing a family up close: watching juveniles play, silverbacks patrol, and mothers groom their young.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s smallest park, sits further south in the Virunga volcanic range bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It usually hosts a single habituated gorilla group, the Nyakagezi family, making trekking here quieter and less crowded than in Bwindi. Mgahinga also offers volcano hikes (Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo) and golden monkey tracking, giving visitors a broader Virunga experience alongside gorillas.
Why some safaris start from Kigali, Rwanda; Geography is the main driver. Both Bwindi’s southern sectors (Rushaga and Nkuringo) and Mgahinga sit close to the Rwandan border, only a two-to-four-hour drive from Kigali via the Cyanika or Katuna border posts. Kigali International Airport also has excellent international connections and a reputation for efficiency. We organise safari routes through Rwanda for convenience, especially those combining gorilla trekking with Rwanda’s own Volcanoes National Park or a Rwanda safari circuit. This route suits travellers with limited time who want to minimise road transit.
Why do others start from Entebbe, Uganda
Entebbe International Airport is Uganda’s main gateway and sits much closer to Bwindi’s northern sectors (Buhoma and Ruhija), as well as to other Ugandan attractions like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest (chimpanzee trekking), and Murchison Falls. Safaris starting in Entebbe suit travellers focusing primarily on Uganda, wanting to combine gorilla trekking with a broader Ugandan wildlife circuit, or preferring domestic flights (Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips) to cut down the roughly 8-10-hour road journey to Bwindi.
In short, the choice of starting point depends on which park sector you’re visiting, whether you’re combining the trek with a Rwandan or Ugandan itinerary, and personal preferences around flight connections and travel time. Both routes lead to the same extraordinary experience: face-to-face encounters with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, an encounter that leaves most travellers profoundly moved.
Double Gorilla Trekking” – Volcanoes and Bwindi NP
We offer double gorilla trekking safaris, format that combines mountain gorilla treks in two countries — Rwanda and Uganda — within a single trip. Instead of choosing between Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, packages are designed to cross the border between the two countries and track a different habituated gorilla family in each location. The two parks sit close enough together, on opposite sides of the Virunga volcanic range, that the crossing is straightforward by road, usually through the Cyanika or Katuna border posts. We draft these trips around Double Gorilla safaris Rwanda and Uganda as a single combined itinerary, and it has become one of the signature ways for Gorilla Adventure Safaris enthusiasts to experience gorilla tourism in East Africa.
The appeal is simple: mountain gorillas exist in only three countries on Earth — Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — and fewer than 1000 individuals survive in the wild. Doing two separate treks in two different ecosystems, with different terrain, different gorilla families, and different supporting wildlife, gives travellers two distinct wildlife encounters instead of one, while also letting them experience two contrasting countries, cultures, and landscapes on a single itinerary.
Midrange Lodging for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
We curate midrange lodges that strike the ideal balance between comfort and value, offering a comfortable, well-appointed experience for gorilla trekking without the premium price tag of luxury properties.
Rwanda; Near Volcanoes National Park in the Musanze/Kinigi area, our recommended properties include Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Davinci Gorilla Lodge, Lebambou, and Tiloreza Eco Lodge. Most are located just 10–20 minutes from park headquarters and feature comfortable rooms, scenic volcano views, and home-style dining.
Uganda; Around Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, midrange travelers can expect comfortable accommodations, hot showers, quality meals, and attentive staff, often complemented by panoramic views of Bwindi’s misty mountains. Uganda also offers a distinct advantage: lower gorilla permit fees, making it an especially appealing choice for value-conscious travelers.
Beyond gorilla trekking, each destination offers additional highlights. Uganda features wildlife-rich experiences such as Murchison Falls and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, while Rwanda pairs gorilla trekking with golden monkey excursions. Both countries deliver an unforgettable, moderately priced safari experience.
Gorilla Trekking Packing List.
Clothing & Footwear
- 2–3 quick-dry trousers (nylon/poly blend, earth tones, no denim) for nettle/thorn protection
- 3 t-shirts + 1 shorts for lodge/warmer days
- 1–2 long-sleeved shirts for the trek itself (arm protection, less repellent needed)
- 1 fleece/sweater — mornings at altitude can approach 10°C
- Waterproof rain jacket with hood, sealed seams, packable
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots (Gore-Tex, deep lugs, broken in) — trail runners inadequate
- 3–4 pairs wool/merino socks (tall, moisture-wicking)
- Sandals or camp shoes for evenings/game drives
- Wide-brimmed hat (high UV at altitude)
- Gardening gloves — often overlooked, protects hands from nettles/thorns
Health & Safety
- DEET-based repellent (30–50%), spray + lotion
- SPF 50+ sunscreen
- Personal first aid kit (plasters, antiseptic, blister care, antihistamines, meds); discuss anti-malarials with a GP beforehand
Photography & Electronics
- Camera with versatile zoom lens (24–105mm or 70–200mm); waterproof cover
- 2+ spare batteries, extra memory cards (charging not always reliable)
- Head torch/flashlight for pre-dawn starts and power outages
- Binoculars for wildlife/birds and game drives
- UV sunglasses (polarised good for water activities)
Best Gorilla Safari Packages
Mountain gorillas exist in only two isolated populations, found nowhere else on the planet. Here are the best Gorilla trekking safari packages to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda.
- 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla trekking
- 1 Day Bwindi Gorilla safari
- 2 Days Volcanoes Gorilla Tour
- 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Adventure
- 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking
- 5 Days Safari to Bwindi NP
- 7 Days Rwanda & Uganda
- 8 Days best of Rwanda Safari
Combined Safari Packages
These gorilla trekking safari packages take travellers to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda. Each itinerary can be paired with wildlife viewing and chimpanzee tracking experiences for a more comprehensive safari.
- 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla trekking
- 1 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
- 2 Days Volcanoes Gorilla Tour
- 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Adventure
- 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking
- 5-Day Safari to Bwindi NP
- 7 Days Rwanda & Uganda
- 8 Days Best of Rwanda Safari
Gorilla permits (in Uganda, Rwanda, or the DRC) are fixed-cost, government-set fees that everyone pays regardless of budget. Since that cost is constant, the accommodation category chosen becomes the main lever that pushes a package from “budget” to “midrange” to “luxury.” We offer apealing quotes because we havs special deals on accommodations leaving your package under your budget.
- Budget/community lodges — simple rooms, shared facilities, basic meals
- Midrange lodges — en-suite rooms, decent service, set menus
- Luxury lodges/camps — private cottages, personalized service, premium dining, sometimes even private guides or viewing decks
Adventure Gorilla Safaris
From exclusive one-day gorilla trekking excursions in Rwanda and Uganda to comprehensive safari experiences across East Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, we specialize in crafting unforgettable African journeys tailored to your needs.
Every itinerary we design reflects careful attention to our clients’ unique preferences and travel goals. Reach out to our team today, and let us create a bespoke travel experience designed exclusively around what matters most to you.
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