3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga from Kigali

3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga

This 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga begins and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. It takes you across the border into Uganda for an unforgettable mountain gorilla encounter in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The itinerary combines scenic transfers, comfortable accommodation, beautiful Virunga landscapes, and a guided gorilla trek through Mgahinga’s mountain forest.

Safari Highlights of 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga

 

  • Private return transfer from Kigali to Mgahinga
  • Scenic journey through Rwanda’s countryside
  • Border crossing into southwestern Uganda
  • Mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Two nights near Mgahinga National Park
  • Optional cultural or nature experience
  • Private transfer back to Kigali

 

Day 1: Kigali to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After breakfast, your Rwanda Gorilla Tours driver-guide will collect you from Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Kigali. You will then begin the scenic drive north through Rwanda’s rolling hills, rural communities, and cultivated highlands.

The journey continues towards the Rwanda–Uganda border. After completing the required immigration procedures, you will cross into southwestern Uganda and travel towards Kisoro and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Along the way, you will enjoy beautiful views of the Virunga volcanoes and the surrounding countryside.

After arriving at your lodge, you will check in and have time to relax. Your guide will also explain the following day’s gorilla trekking programme and help you prepare the necessary clothing and equipment.

Optional activity: If time permits, you may add a short community visit, nature walk, or Batwa cultural experience.

Accommodation: Budget, midrange or luxury lodge near Mgahinga
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park headquarters. You should arrive in good time for registration and a safety briefing from the park rangers.

After the briefing, you will enter the forest with experienced trackers and an armed ranger escort. The trek passes through bamboo forest, thick vegetation, and beautiful mountain scenery. Its duration depends on the gorillas’ location, movements, weather and trail conditions.

Once you find the gorilla family, you will enjoy the permitted viewing time while following the ranger’s instructions. This special encounter allows you to observe mountain gorillas as they feed, rest, move through the forest and interact with one another.

After the trek, you will return to the park headquarters and meet your driver-guide. You will then transfer to the lodge for lunch and a well-earned rest. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent relaxing and enjoying views of the Virunga Mountains.

Accommodation: Same lodge near Mgahinga
Meal plan: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Day 3: Mgahinga to Kigali and Departure

After breakfast, you will check out and begin your journey back to Kigali. The route takes you through Kisoro before crossing the border into Rwanda. You can stop along the way for photographs, refreshments and views of the volcanic countryside.

Depending on your departure schedule, Rwanda Gorilla Tours can drop you off at your hotel in Kigali or Kigali International Airport. This marks the end of your 3-day Uganda gorilla trek in Mgahinga from Kigali.

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch

 

3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga Safari Inclusions

  • Uganda gorilla trekking permit
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Kigali–Mgahinga–Kigali transfers
  • Two nights’ accommodation
  • Meals indicated in the itinerary
  • Bottled drinking water during transfers
  • National park entrance fees related to the gorilla trek
  • Ranger and guide services during trekking
  • Border-crossing assistance
  • Airport or Kigali hotel pickup and drop-off

3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga Safari Exclusions

  • International flights
  • Rwanda and Uganda visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Porter services
  • Personal expenses
  • Laundry services
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Alcoholic and additional soft drinks
  • Services not listed under the inclusions

Important Gorilla Trekking Information

Travellers should carry a valid passport and meet the current entry requirements for Rwanda and Uganda. We recommend packing strong walking shoes, long trousers, long socks, gardening gloves, insect repellent, a waterproof jacket and a small daypack. Gorilla permits are limited and remain subject to availability. Therefore, early booking is strongly recommended.

Book with Rwanda Gorilla Tours

Rwanda Gorilla Tours can customise this itinerary with budget, midrange or luxury accommodation. We can also add golden monkey tracking, a Batwa cultural experience, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Call or WhatsApp: +250 781 441 853
Email: info@rwandagorillatours.rw

    What Our Clients Say

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    Aucun regret Nous avons passé une journée incroyable avec Félix, pick-up très tôt pour arriver a l'heure du lever du soleil a Akagera. Et franchement l'excursion a duré bien plus longtemps que ce que j'imaginais par rapport au prix. Je recommande a 200% !
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    Virginie D profile picture
    Virginie D
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    Experience of a lifetime with fantastic operator The day began at 4:30 AM when Dodos picked us up from our hotel in Kegali, we arrived at the briefing at about 7 AM where we had a nice cup of tea and were assigned our guide and group of 8 people for the day. The hike itself was more strenuous than I expected, and unfortunately, my daughter was sick so they ended up asking the local village to provide a stretcher to carry her with a rotating group of about 9 guys. It was an extra $200 but well worth it given how challenging it was to navigate the trails. A couple of guys lead with machetes, making space for us to travel about 3 miles uphill. Seeing the gorilla was incredible, it was beyond words to experience them in their natural setting for an hour. I know there are several different operators who organize these tours but I would highly recommend Universal Ventures due to their personal attention and going above and beyond when my daughter was sick. We ended up getting back to the hotel at about 8 PM, so a very long day, but one that we will never forget.
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    erg2222 profile picture
    erg2222
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    Perfect Rwanda tour that worked around our flight issues We had a fantastic experience in Rwanda with Dodos our guide and Emmanuel from the office! We had to deal with 2 cancelled flights and delayed baggage, and Emmanuel helped us reconfigure our itinerary so that we were still able to see the Genocide Memorial and go gorilla trekking. Dodos patiently waited for us at the airport even until 3am and helped us shop for clothes due to our baggage delay. He saved us quite a bit of money by bargaining with the locals. The arranged accommodations were very nice. Gorilla trekking is a lengthy hike but gratifying with the hour we had to hang out beside the family. Overall, Dodos and Emmanuel made Rwanda one of our most favorite countries we visited, even though our 5-day tour became 3 days. We highly recommend doing a tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda.
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    DK Travels the World profile picture
    DK Travels the World
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    Magical experience and lovely tour operator I would definitely recommend this experience in general and this operator specifically. They contacted me quickly to discuss arranging for the permit to see the gorillas (and extra fee paid directly to the Rwandan authorities). They also advised on how to prepare and answered my questions. On the day of, a really lovely driver picked me up from my hotel in Kigali on time in a luxurious jeep. He was friendly and encouraging as I was a bit anxious about the hiking which can be intense but my one wasn't that strenuous. It depends what the gorillas are up to and the park guides try to sort people loosely on fitness levels, I think. I hired a porter to carry my bag, and they also helped with uneven ground, which was not needed in this case but could have been very very essential if we had to walk through a steeper part of the park. The park staff then led my small group of tourists to see the gorillas, which was one of the most magical things I have experienced! The family of gorillas were very tolerant of us and we spent the full hour allotted with them (longer can stress them). After the walk back, Dodos, my driver, greeted me with a fancy drink and flip flops so I could get out of my hiking boots. We then had lunch at a restaurant o. The way back to Kigali. Overall, I felt very safe as a single female traveller and there were no unexpected costs.
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    Rosie H profile picture
    Rosie H
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    An Amazing Holidays in Rwanda and Uganda We took a wonderful 19-day trip through Rwanda and Uganda with the travel agency Universal Ventures—a trip tailored specifically to our family. We started planning the entire trip about three months in advance, and communication with the agency was excellent from the very beginning. It was a trip full of powerful experiences, beautiful nature, encounters with local people, and moments we’ll remember for a long time. The agency’s owner, Emmanuel, was very helpful, communicative, and patient from the very beginning, and he always helped us choose the best options for activities and accommodations based on what was most suitable for our family. The agency arranged a car with a driver and guide for us, as well as some of the activity bookings during the trip. We visited Akagera, Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Nyungwe National Parks, as well as Lake Kivu. Our driver (guide) was John Bosco, whom we can highly recommend. He was not only a great driver but also an excellent guide, thanks to whom we experienced the trip much more intensely. He has a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and his knowledge of local birds was truly impressive. We were equally fascinated by his excellent knowledge of the local area—he was able to drive to any location or hotel without using a map or a GPS on his phone. We also greatly appreciated his punctuality: the car was always ready even before the agreed-upon time. The car remained tidy and clean throughout the entire trip, even after driving on dusty roads. John also provided us with valuable information about the duration of each leg of the journey, helped us plan our itinerary better, and thanks to him, we felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. The agreement with the agency was clear and easy to understand. We had the option to choose from several pricing options, and the one we selected was the final price—we weren’t charged any additional fees. The deposit we paid to Universal Ventures in advance was properly accounted for. Any minor issues that arose during our long trip were quickly resolved. We definitely recommend booking a car with a driver for a vacation in Rwanda and Uganda: finding your way around isn’t always easy, the quality of the roads is often very poor—especially in Uganda—and it’s also better to cross the Rwanda/Uganda land border with someone who knows the local conditions. In addition, the driver can help you organize visits to local cultural centers, which will allow you to get to know the country much better. This vacation was unforgettable for us, and we feel that it was thanks to Emmanuel, John Bosco, and the entire Universal Ventures agency that we were able to experience Rwanda and Uganda in such a beautiful, safe, and in-depth way. Thank you so much for the excellent organization, care, and all the experiences that will stay with us for a long time to come. We can wholeheartedly and with great pleasure recommend this agency for a trip through Rwanda and Uganda.
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    Lenka N profile picture
    Lenka N
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    Amazing time seeing Gorillas We had the best time with Mupenzi and Dodos! They made the whole trip unforgettable! There is nothing like seeing Gorillas up close in the wild!
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    Joel S profile picture
    Joel S
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    Majestic Experience Today was such an amazing day of adventure! Volcanoes National Park is an amazing and ethical way to see these beautiful creatures. Our trekking guide Mupenzi was so kind, fun, and knowledgeable. And our driver, Dodos was phenomenal. He is such a lovely person and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommended!
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    Sami M profile picture
    Sami M
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    Absolutely breathtaking experience! My experience was seamless from the coordination of my pick up and drop off, to the actual excursion! Hands down one of the best experiences of my life! Christian was extremely helpful and welcoming throughout our entire trip, it would not have been the same without him. Seeing the gorillas after the trekking through the thick brush, was absolutely breathtaking! I will definitely be recommending this trip to all my friends and family!
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    Greg V profile picture
    Greg V
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    100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.
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    patty e profile picture
    patty e
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    Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.
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    Juliet K profile picture
    Juliet K
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