3 Day Fly-In Gorilla Trekking Safari in Bwindi, Uganda
A 3 Day Fly-In Gorilla Trekking Safari is the fastest and most comfortable way to experience mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Instead of spending 8 to 9 hours on the road, you fly from Entebbe to the Bwindi region in about 1 hour, giving you more time to relax and prepare for your trek. Bwindi is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and offers one of Africa’s most intimate wildlife encounters. During your guided trek, you will spend a full hour observing a habituated gorilla family in their natural forest habitat, accompanied by professional park rangers. This short safari is ideal for travellers who want to maximise a limited holiday schedule while enjoying a seamless, well-organised gorilla experience with flights, lodge transfers, accommodation, and permit handling arranged for you.
Safari highlights
Return flights to Bwindi airstrip
Start and end point, Entebbe
Flight options, Kihihi and Kisoro
One hour gorilla encounter
Optional community visit after the trek
- Best for luxury and short holiday schedules
Accommodation
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Rushaga Haven Lodge for the budget option
- Buhoma Haven Lodge for a mid-range option
- Mahogany Springs Lodge/4 Gorilla lodge for luxury option
What is Included and Excluded
INCLUDED
Return scheduled domestic flights between Entebbe and Bwindi region, Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip
All airport and lodge transfers in a private 4×4 safari vehicle
2 nights accommodation at selected lodge level, budget, midrange, or luxury
All meals as specified in the itinerary, usually breakfast, lunch, and dinner
One Uganda gorilla trekking permit per person
Professional English speaking safari guide or lodge-based transfer guide
All park entry fees and ranger guide fees
Bottled drinking water during transfers
Full logistical support before and during the safari
INCLUDED
International flights to and from Uganda
Uganda tourist visa fees
Travel insurance is strongly recommended
Optional activities such as community visits or cultural experiences
Alcoholic and premium beverages at the lodge
Laundry services
Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, lodge staff
Personal expenses such as souvenirs and personal purchases
Additional gorilla permits if upgrading to the habituation experience
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Bwindi, lodge transfer, relax
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, depending on your location in Entebbe. Connect to check in for your flight to the Park. Aero-link Uganda is the only domestic flight company that offers flights to all the Uganda national parks. Aero-link Uganda operates daily flights twice a day to and from Bwindi impenetrable national park that is the 7:00 am and 12:00 pm flying to Kihihi airstrip, and only one flight at 7:00 am flying to Kisoro airstrip.
Upon arrival at either Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip, you will meet our safari driver to drive you to your booked lodge. Check in at your lodge, have lunch, and spend your afternoon at leisure while preparing for the next day’s activity and dinner.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking, optional village experience
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides, and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking takes 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely, and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day.
On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs, meet your driver/guide, and transfer back to your lodge. The time after trekking can be spent on a village tour or lazing off at the lodge as you share the memories of your trek and prepare for the next day
Day 3: Fly back to Entebbe, onward travel support
Wake up early for breakfast, check out of the lodge to transfer to Kisoro/Kihihi airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe airport. Your safari guide will drop you off at the airstrip on time, then proceed to Entebbe airport.
