3 Day Face to Face Safari with the Gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Gorilla Safari Trek in Uganda
Experience the magic of Uganda in just a few days on this unforgettable gorilla trekking safari, perfect for travelers with limited time. Travel across the equator, enjoy scenic countryside drives, and step deep into ancient rainforests for a once-in-a-lifetime face-to-face encounter with a gorilla family. Your adventure is enriched with a meaningful Batwa cultural experience, offering insight into the traditions of Bwindi’s original forest people. Expertly organized by Nkuruba Community Tours, this fully packaged safari includes accommodation, ground transport, and gorilla permits—delivering a seamless, authentic, and truly memorable African wildlife experience.
Key information
- Private or group safari
- Maximum group size: 21
- Minimum age: 15 years old
- Languages spoken: English
- Gorilla permits and park entrance fees included
Highlights
- Mountain gorilla tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Golden monkey experience or an adventurous Virunga Volcano hike (Mt. Sabinyo or Mt. Gahinga)
- Scenic road journey through lush countryside, terraced hills, and Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Explore Uganda’s most scenic park, set among dramatic volcanic landscapes
- Community and cultural visit supporting local livelihoods and conservation
- Conservation- and community-focused safari with meaningful local impact
- Guided throughout by a professional English-speaking safari guide
- 2 nights accommodation with meals in eco-friendly nature lodges, surrounded by volcanic peaks
Skill level
- Beginner
Types
3 activity days in English
Average daily hours of activity: 5
Accommodation
Accommodation can be tailored to budget, midrange, or comfort level, based on guest interest.
Guests on this tour stay in carefully selected eco-friendly nature lodges near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, designed to offer comfort while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding environment. These lodges are beautifully set against the backdrop of the Virunga Volcanoes, surrounded by fresh mountain air, lush vegetation, and sweeping scenic views.
The accommodations feature comfortable en-suite cottages or bandas, built using locally inspired architecture and natural materials that blend seamlessly with the landscape. Rooms are cozy and well-appointed, offering warm beds, private bathrooms with hot showers, and verandas where guests can relax and enjoy views of the forested hills or volcanic peaks.
Guests can expect excellent personalized service, freshly prepared meals using local ingredients, and inviting communal areas such as fireplaces, gardens, or terraces ideal for unwinding after a day of trekking. Sustainability is a key focus, with many lodges supporting conservation efforts and local communities.
Overall, the accommodations provide a peaceful, authentic, and comfortable retreat—perfect for resting and reflecting after unforgettable encounters with gorillas and golden monkeys.
Rooms
- Private room with private bathroom
- Private twin or double room with private bathroom
- Private triple room, perfect for friends
Program
1st day: Entebbe airport pick-up and transfer to your hotel
After breakfast, a driver/guide from Nkuruba Community Tours will pick you up from Entebbe and transfer you to Mgahinga National Park with a brief stopover at the equator, 72 kilometers from Kampala. Here, you can enjoy refreshments, shop for African handicrafts and souvenirs, and take memorable photos. At the equator, there is also a local water experiment demonstrating how the earth is divided into two hemispheres.
After this stop, you will continue your journey to Mgahinga National Park, passing through beautiful scenery. Along the way, you may see the long-horned Ankole cattle grazing, and occasionally zebras in Lake Mburo National Park. Another stopover will be at Igongo Cultural Centre for a traditional lunch to experience the local cuisine before proceeding to Mgahinga.
- Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
2nd day: Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park and visit to Batwa communities
After breakfast, you will receive a briefing from your ranger guide before the gorilla trekking begins. Although the mountain gorillas are the main highlight of the park, you may also encounter forest elephants, duikers, golden monkey, giant forest hogs, and more.
As these are wild animals, gorilla trekking can take between 2-8 hours, including a one-hour direct encounter with the silverback and its family. After this unforgettable experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch before preparing for an enriching Batwa cultural experience. Dinner and overnight.
- Accommodation: Buhoma Community Camp
3rd day: Drive back to Entebbe
After breakfast, you will embark on the return journey to Entebbe for your departure flight home. There will be a lunch stopover at the equator mark in Kayabwe, where you can purchase souvenirs and observe the local water experiment demonstrating how the earth is divided into two hemispheres. Later, continue to Entebbe via Kampala City.
Included excursions
- Golden monkey permit OR volcano hike: included in the tour price (your choice of activity on Day 3)
Location
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a truly special destination, set in the dramatic Virunga Volcanoes in southwestern Uganda, where nature, culture, and adventure meet. Though Uganda’s smallest national park, it is one of its most scenic and biologically rich.
The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkeys, making it one of the few places in the world where visitors can experience both. Its landscape of mist-covered volcanoes, bamboo forests, and alpine vegetation creates a breathtaking backdrop for wildlife encounters and hiking adventures.
Nearby, guests will find the welcoming Kisoro town, a vibrant local hub surrounded by rolling hills and volcanic peaks. The area offers colorful markets, craft shops, and cultural experiences with the Batwa community, whose traditions are deeply connected to the forest. Travelers can also explore scenic viewpoints, crater lakes, and walking trails, or hike volcanoes such as Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura.
The neighborhood around Mgahinga is peaceful, uncrowded, and rich in authentic rural life, making it ideal for travelers seeking immersive nature experiences, cultural connection, and tranquility—all within one of East Africa’s most remarkable landscapes.
Food
You will be served mostly continental dishes featuring simple, familiar, and internationally inspired meals prepared in a mild and balanced style. Menus typically include a variety of grilled or roasted meats, fish, pasta, rice dishes, fresh salads, soups, and seasonal vegetables. Breakfasts often offer eggs, toast, pastries, cereals, fruit, and hot beverages, while lunches and dinners may include dishes such as chicken or beef stews, grilled fish, pasta with light sauces, and baked potatoes. These meals are designed to be comforting, easy to enjoy, and suitable for a wide range of tastes, with vegetarian and vegan options commonly available.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Whole food
Things to do (optional)
- Batwa pygmy community tour
What's included
- Gorilla trekking
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey permit OR volcano hike
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Community visit and cultural experience
- Transport in a comfortable safari vehicle with driver-guide
- 2 nights accommodation
- All meals as indicated
- Bottled water throughout
What's not included
- Tips and personal expenses
- Other optional activities
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
Entebbe International Airport
334 km away from your destination
Arrival by airplane
You will be picked up from Entebbe International Airport or your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala on Day 1 and transferred according to the itinerary to Kisoro and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. All ground transportation is fully arranged and included.
On the final day, you will be transferred back and dropped off at Entebbe International Airport in time for your departure.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
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