Gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali, also called Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking, saves both time and money. If you’re mapping out this route, start planning in Uganda.
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, sit just a few kilometers from the Uganda-Rwanda border. Since this route naturally spans both countries, take a look at our East Africa safaris.
This proximity makes it easier to trek gorillas in Uganda while starting from Kigali, Rwanda, and also helps travelers save more on gorilla trekking costs.
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, an option that helps travelers save both time and money.
The main reason most visitors choose to fly into Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda comes down to permit costs. Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1,500 per person, while Uganda’s cost $800, making Uganda the better option for budget conscious travelers.
Travelers who don’t want to face an 8 to 11 hour drive from Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga, and who may not be able to afford domestic flights, can fly to Rwanda and drive to Uganda instead.
Uganda’s gorilla permit costs $800 for standard trekking and $1,500 for gorilla habituation. Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1,500, while Congo’s costs $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 should book permits in advance through a trusted tour operator.
All gorilla parks fall within 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 more challenging, with muddy and slippery trails. If you’d rather compare full itineraries first, you can browse all itineraries covering this route.
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. If you’re beginning your trip here, you may start planning in Rwanda too.
The Twa people were the first inhabitants, living in the area 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, bringing farming and cattle keeping traditions.
Today, Kigali offers many activities, including golfing at Kigali Golf Club, swimming at 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 sits on the Rwandan side, and Katuna on the Ugandan side.
This is Rwanda’s busiest border and is used mainly for trade between the two countries. It is open 24 hours a day.
Katuna is located in Kamuganguzi, Ndorwa County, 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 bird species, 220 butterfly species, 120 mammal species, 10 fern species, 163 tree species, and over 1,000 species of flowering plants.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes place across four sectors: Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. Each sector has its own gorilla families and distinct landscape.
Nkuringo Sector: Located in the western part of Bwindi, home to the Nkuringo, Bushaho, and Christmas gorilla families. Good lodges here include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and Gorilla Heights Lodge. Visitors can also stay in Rushaga and trek in Nkuringo, or vice versa.
Rushaga Sector: Located in the south, with the most habituated gorilla families in Bwindi. It sits very close to Rwanda, making it ideal for Kigali to Bwindi tours, with the drive from Kigali taking about four hours.
Ruhija Sector: Located in the eastern part of Bwindi, home to several gorilla groups, including Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Bitukura.
Buhoma Sector: Located in the northwest, this was the first area opened for tourism in Bwindi and is home to the oldest known gorilla family in the park.
Trekking Gorillas in Mgahinga from Kigali
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 National Park in Congo.
The name “Mgahinga” comes from Mount Gahinga, meaning “piles of stones,” a name given by locals based on how they cleared their farmland.
The park was first established as 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, with roughly half of the world’s population found in Bwindi.
Mgahinga has one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi group, which used to move between Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda but has stayed in Uganda since 2012.
One unique feature of this group is that the older silverback, Bugingo, still lives with them, which is rare, since a new dominant silverback usually causes the older one to leave or join another group.
Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to meet this distinctive gorilla family.
