Gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali, also called Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking, saves both time and money.
The drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
The Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi, along with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, are located just a few kilometers from the Uganda–Rwanda border.
This close location makes it easier to trek gorillas in Uganda while starting from Kigali.
You can book a 2-day or 3-day tour to Bwindi from Kigali. Gorilla habituation experiences are also available from Kigali.
How to Plan your Kigali to Bwindi Gorilla Trek
Tourists can fly into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and drive to Bwindi in about 4 hours.
This option helps travelers save time and money.
The main reason most visitors choose to fly into Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda is because of permit costs. Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1,500 per person, while Uganda’s permits cost $800.
This makes Uganda a better option for budget travelers.
Travelers who don’t want to drive 8 to 11 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga—and who may not afford domestic flights—can fly to Rwanda and drive to Uganda instead.
Uganda’s gorilla permit costs:
- $800 for trekking
- $1,500 for gorilla habituation
Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1,500, while Congo’s is $400 in peak season and $200 in low season.
Uganda is currently the only country offering gorilla habituation experiences.
All tourists planning to trek gorillas in Uganda from Kigali must book permits in advance through a trusted tour operator like us.
All gorilla parks are in the same climate zone. The best time for trekking is during the dry seasons: June to September and December to February. Other months can be challenging due to muddy and slippery trails.
About Kigali – The Starting Point of Your Tour
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda, a title it received after the country gained independence in 1962.
The Twa people were the first inhabitants, living between 8000 BC and 3000 BC as hunters and gatherers.
Between 700 BC and 1500 BC, the Hutu and Tutsi people migrated into the area with farming and cattle-keeping traditions.
Today, Kigali offers many activities like golfing at Kigali Golf Club, swimming in top hotels, bowling, skateboarding, and zip-lining.
Crossing to Uganda through the Cyanika Border
The Cyanika (or Kyanika) border connects southwestern Uganda to northeastern Rwanda.
It is about an hour’s drive from Volcanoes National Park and just 30 minutes from Mgahinga National Park.
On the Ugandan side, Cyanika is about 10 kilometers from Kisoro town, a common stop for tourists.
From Kigali, it takes around 3 hours to reach this border.
Crossing to Uganda through the Katuna Border
Katuna, known as Gatuna in Rwanda, is another main border crossing.
Gatuna is on the Rwandan side, and Katuna is on the Ugandan side.
This is Rwanda’s busiest border and is mainly used for trade between the two countries. It is open 24 hours a day.
Katuna is located in Kamuganguzi, Ndorwa County, and is about 15 minutes from Kabale town.
Historically, around 1600 AD, the Bakiga people migrated from Rwanda and discovered a shortcut through the plains, where they rested. They named the place “Gatuna,” meaning a resting place.
Gatuna town is in the Gicumbi District of Rwanda, about an hour’s drive from Kigali, with a population of around 41,000.
About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and covers 331 square kilometers.
It is home to:
- 348 species of birds
- 220 species of butterflies
- 120 species of mammals
- 10 species of ferns
- 163 species of trees
- Over 1,000 species of flowering plants
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes place in four sectors: Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. Each sector has its own gorilla families and unique landscape.
Map of Bwindi showing its four sectors
The gorilla trekking sectors and regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are as follows:
- Nkuringo Sector: Nkuringo is in the western part of Bwindi. Gorilla families here include Nkuringo, Bushaho, and Christmas. Good lodges here include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and Gorilla Heights Lodge. You can also stay in Rushaga and trek in Nkuringo, or the other way around.
- Rushaga Sector: Rushaga is in the south and has the most habituated gorilla families. It is very close to Rwanda, making it perfect for Kigali to Bwindi tours. The drive from Kigali takes about four hours.
- Ruhija Sector: Ruhija is in the eastern part of Bwindi and has several gorilla groups, including Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Bitukura.
- Buhoma Sector: Buhoma is in the northwest and was the first area opened for tourism in Bwindi. It is home to the oldest known gorilla family in the park.
How About Trekking Gorillas in Mgahinga?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, located in the far south. It covers 33.7 square kilometers and borders Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga in Congo.
The name “Mgahinga” comes from Mount Gahinga, which means “piles of stones”—a name given by locals based on how they cleared their farmland.
The park was first a game sanctuary in 1930 and became a national park in 1991.
Mgahinga has three volcanoes: Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Gahinga.
This area is one of the few places in the world where mountain gorillas live. Half of them are found in Bwindi.
Mgahinga has one habituated gorilla family: the Nyakagezi group. It used to move between Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda but has stayed in Uganda since 2012.
One unique thing about this group is that the older silverback, Bugingo, still lives with the group, which is rare. Usually, when another silverback takes over, the older one leaves or joins another group.
Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to meet this special gorilla family.
