Best Gorilla Tours in Africa: Private & Luxury Gorilla Tours
Best Luxury gorilla tours in Africa involves staying at high-end lodges in Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda), accompanied by expert guides. Rwanda offers a premium experience with higher permit costs and lodges like Singita Kwitonda and Bisate Lodge, while Uganda provides an excellent all-around option, also with luxury lodges and a more affordable permit price.
The Best Gorilla Tours Africa: Africa is home to the three best countries in the world for gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Gorilla trek Africa
Gorilla tours in Africa allows you to encounter endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, primarily in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Treks involve hiking through steep, dense forests to find habituated gorilla families, a challenging but rewarding experience that contributes to conservation efforts. Key factors to consider include the higher cost and more accessible infrastructure of Rwanda versus Uganda’s generally more rugged terrain and lower permit prices.
Experience Ultimate Luxury on a Gorilla Tour Africa
For those who have had the honour of taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, seeing mountain gorillas in their natural environment is reported to be a life-altering and eye-opening event that has become an indelible memory.
Gorilla treks are a must-experience for animal lovers and ardent safari goers because they offer unrivalled up-close interactions. Here are our Best gorilla tours Africa:
Best Gorilla Tours in Africa
Don’t miss out on the chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity to go gorilla trekking in one of Africa’s premier safari destinations. Get in touch with one of our African Safari Experts to tailor-make your next holiday.
The Best Gorilla tours Africa provide a distinctive chance to observe mountain gorillas in their native environment, with Uganda and Rwanda being the foremost destinations. These excursions generally entail travelling through impenetrable forests to locate and watch gorilla families that have become accustomed to human presence. This encounter is a pinnacle for numerous wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, offering an opportunity to engage with these remarkable beings and aid in their preservation.
1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
A one-day gorilla trek in Rwanda is a possible but demanding experience, requiring a very early 4:00-4:30 AM pick-up from Kigali for the 2-3 hour drive to Volcanoes National Park, followed by a pre-briefing, the gorilla trek itself (2-8 hours depending on gorilla movements), and then the drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening. This intense schedule is best for visitors already in Rwanda or those with extremely limited time.
2-day Gorilla trekking from Kigali
A 2-day gorilla trekking tour from Kigali, Rwanda, involves a transfer to a Ugandan national park like Bwindi or Mgahinga, spending a day trekking the mountain gorillas, and returning to Kigali. The short duration is popular because it leverages the shorter drive time from Kigali to these parks compared to driving from Uganda’s capital, Entebbe. While a 1-hour encounter with the gorillas is guaranteed, the overall experience requires comfortable trekking gear, a rain jacket, and sufficient drinking water, with permit costs varying by the park.
3 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
A 3-day gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda typically starts with a journey from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla tracking on the second day, followed by a departure on the third day after another park activity, such as golden monkey tracking or a community visit, and a transfer back to Kigali. Key inclusions are often airport transfers, a gorilla permit (which costs $1,500), accommodation, and a professional driver-guide.
2 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
A 2-day gorilla trek in Rwanda involves starting in Kigali, transferring to the Virunga Mountains’ Volcanoes National Park (home to the gorillas), trekking to see the endangered mountain gorillas, and returning to Kigali by the end of Day 2. The trek, which takes 2-6 hours, allows for one hour of observation with the gorillas, but the trek duration varies. This itinerary includes a gorilla permit, transportation, a guide, and accommodations at a lodge.
3 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek & City Tour
A 3-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and city tour combines a Kigali city tour, the Kigali Genocide Memorial, and a trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The itinerary typically involves a Kigali city tour on Day 1, a full day of gorilla trekking and a cultural village visit on Day 2, and a golden monkey trek or more city sights on Day 3 before returning to Kigali for departure. The tour starts and ends in Kigali and includes a gorilla permit (costing $1500 in Rwanda) and ground transport.
3-day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking
A 3-day Mgahinga gorilla safari offers a short, but impactful encounter with mountain gorillas in southwestern Uganda, accessible by driving or flying to Kisoro. The itinerary typically includes travel to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a gorilla trek to see the Nyakagezi family, and a Batwa cultural experience, with options for volcano hikes or golden monkey tracking. You’ll need a gorilla permit, which can be obtained through licensed tour operators or the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
4 Days Gorilla Trek And Lake Bunyonyi
A 4 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari and Lake Bunyonyi tour is a short, rewarding trip combining the thrill of trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with relaxing scenery and activities at Lake Bunyonyi, Africa’s second-deepest lake. The trip starts and ends in Kampala, includes the ~$800 gorilla trekking permit, mid-range accommodation, a 4×4 vehicle with a driver-guide, meals, and a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi.
Four Day Double Gorilla Trekking
A “4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking” tour in Uganda involves two separate gorilla treks within the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, typically on consecutive days, allowing you to experience different gorilla families and sectors of the park. These tours often start with a transfer from Kampala, may include a flying-in option, and conclude with a return journey to Entebbe or Kampala, making it a compressed but immersive experience.
Rwanda Gorilla And Golden Monkey
A 4-day Rwanda gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari typically starts and ends in Kigali, involving a transfer to Volcanoes National Park for both activities. The itinerary includes a day dedicated to gorilla trekking and another for golden monkey trekking in the park’s bamboo forests, with a visit to Dian Fossey’s tomb sometimes included. The trip often concludes with a Kigali city tour, including the Genocide Memorial, and a transfer to the airport for departure.
Uganda Gorilla Trek And Masai Mara
A Uganda Gorilla Trek and Masai Mara itinerary combines two incredible East African experiences, typically requiring about 7-10 days or more to allow for travel between countries and activities. A common flow involves flying into Nairobi, Kenya, for a safari in the Masai Mara, then flying to Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (or a similar park), and finally departing from Entebbe. Logistics include internal flights between countries and transfers to national parks, with shorter trips focusing on the highlights and longer ones allowing for more exploration of parks like Kibale Forest.
3-Day Gorilla Flying Safari
A 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Flying Safari offers a swift and comfortable way to experience gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, eliminating long road drives by utilizing domestic charter flights from Entebbe or other domestic airstrips to Kihihi or Kisoro, followed by ground transfer to your lodge. The itinerary typically involves a flight to Bwindi, a full day dedicated to gorilla trekking and observing the gorillas for one magical hour, and then a return flight to Entebbe on the third day. This short-duration safari is ideal for those with limited time who still want to encounter Uganda’s majestic mountain gorillas.
Bwindi And Queen Elizabeth Fly-in Safari
A Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth fly-in safari is a Uganda tour that combines mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, utilizing domestic flights to save travel time. These packages typically involve a flight from Entebbe to Bwindi, followed by a short road transfer to Queen Elizabeth, and a return flight to Entebbe, with options to extend the stay. The safaris offer a chance to see endangered gorillas and unique tree-climbing lions, alongside other wildlife, in diverse habitats.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
The Gorilla Habituation Experience is a unique tourism activity in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where visitors join researchers to spend an extended four hours with a wild mountain gorilla group that is undergoing the process of becoming accustomed to human presence. Unlike typical gorilla trekking, this immersive adventure allows for a deeper understanding of gorilla behavior as participants observe and even contribute to the habituation process, making for a more intimate and personalized encounter.
Rwanda Flying safari
Flying safaris in Rwanda are a luxurious and time-saving way to explore the country’s national parks using helicopter flights from Kigali. These safaris connect destinations like Volcanoes National Park (for gorillas) and Nyungwe Forest (for chimpanzees) to Akagera National Park (for wildlife viewing), significantly reducing travel time from long road journeys to short helicopter flights. Companies like Akagera Aviation offer these services, providing breathtaking aerial views of Rwanda’s “land of a thousand hills” and maximizing exploration time.
Kigali to Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
To go on a gorilla trek in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kigali, Rwanda, you’ll need to arrange a tour that includes a 4–5 hour road transfer across the border to the park. Tours are available for as short as 2 days, offering a quicker and often more affordable option than starting from Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport. Once in Bwindi, you’ll participate in the gorilla trekking experience, which involves a trek into the forest and a 1-hour close encounter with mountain gorillas.
Best Gorilla Tours Africa
All three of the world’s top destinations for mountain gorilla safaris are located in Africa. In the safari sector, the countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo are well-known as the best places to undertake gorilla trekking through wild, unspoiled jungles.
Those fortunate enough to see mountain gorillas in their native environment report that it was an eye-opening and transformative experience that will stay with them forever.
Those who love animals and travel on safaris often should not miss a gorilla trek because of the unparalleled intimate interactions that participants have. Our top picks for African gorilla safaris are these:
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda (Unforgettable)