Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at a glance
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwest Uganda on the Albertine Rift. The park covers 321 km², and its UNESCO World Heritage listing, from 1994, gives 32,092 ha. Altitude runs from 1,160 m up to roughly 2,600 to 2,700 m. The name fits: "impenetrable" is simply the English word for dense, hard-to-cross forest. UNESCO counts more than 160 tree species and more than 100 fern species here.
People come for gorilla trekking. This guide covers the permit and how to book it, the rules of a trek, the Habituation Experience, the four sectors, safaris from Entebbe, Kampala and Kigali, and the practical details that decide a trip: clothing, weather, lodging areas and roads. Prices are those of the UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026, in US dollars for foreign visitors. Check the current amount before you book.
Uganda tours and gorilla safaris
Trips to Bwindi differ in how you get there, how many nights they include and what the price covers.
A gorilla safari combines three separate things: the permit, the transport to the park and a place to sleep near your trekking sector. Some tours include all three, others only transport and lodging. Always check whether the permit and the park fees are part of the price. The page on gorilla safaris from 2 to 4 days explains how itineraries are put together, and the permit page lists the rates.
Our picks: Bwindi gorilla trips
Our take: the one-day trek from Lake Bunyonyi and the three-day trip with a Batwa visit both include the permit, which is the biggest cost. The Kigali and Land Cruiser trips look cheaper only because the permit is not in the price.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
5-day gorilla and chimpanzee safari
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Accommodation, full board
- Park entry fees
Five days that take in Kibale for chimpanzees, Bigodi and the Ndale crater lakes, then Bwindi for gorillas.
Check availability →
3-day gorilla trek with a Batwa visit
- Gorilla permit included
- Batwa experience
- Two nights, meals as per itinerary
A private 4x4 with a driver-guide takes you from Entebbe or Kampala, and park entry is included. The Batwa visit is a cultural programme within the itinerary.
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1-day gorilla trek from Lake Bunyonyi
- Gorilla permit included
- Park entry fees
- 4x4 safari van transfers
A single day from Lake Bunyonyi in a small group of up to eight. The Bwindi sector is not fixed in advance, so do not plan around a particular trailhead.
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3-day Bwindi gorilla safari with Lake Bunyonyi
- Full board accommodation
- 4x4 Land Cruiser
- Park entry fees
Three days with time to rest at Lake Bunyonyi in the itinerary, picked up in Kampala or Entebbe. Gorilla permit extra.
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2-day Bwindi gorilla trek from Kigali
- One night, full board
- Park entry fees
- Driver-guide and safari vehicle
Day one is the drive from Kigali, the trek follows on day two. Gorilla permit extra.
Check availability →Gorilla trekking and Bwindi tours
Gorilla treks, safaris from Entebbe, Kampala and Kigali, and trips around Bwindi, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Bwindi trip
Start with the trek and the permit, then pick the pages you need.
Gorilla trekking
How a trek works, the rules and the fitness you need.
Gorilla permits
Rates, booking route and refund rules.
Gorilla safaris
How 2, 3 and 4 day trips are built.
From Kigali
Visas and the border route to the southern sectors.
From Entebbe and Kampala
Flights to Kisoro and Kihihi, and the road.
Habituation Experience
Up to four hours with a gorilla family in training.
Mountain gorillas
Silverbacks, families and population counts.
The four sectors
Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo compared.
People, places and practical pages
The Batwa, the lake, the neighbouring park and the planning basics.
The Batwa
History, eviction and cultural visits.
Lake Bunyonyi
Islands, canoes and a stay near Kabale.
Mgahinga
Golden monkeys, volcanoes and Kisoro.
What to wear
Clothing, porters and fitness.
Best time to visit
Rain and temperatures by month.
Lodges by sector
Where to sleep for your trekking sector.
Getting there
Kampala to Bwindi by road, airport taxis and car rental.
History
From forest reserve to World Heritage.
A few things to know before you go
The facts that change planning most.
Ten metres from the gorillas
Keep 10 m from the gorillas. There is no flash, and no visit if you have a cold or a contagious illness.
Permits go through licensed operators
For foreign non-residents and visitors from the rest of Africa, UWA names licensed tour operators as the booking route for gorilla permits. A payment portal exists, but it is not a self-service permit shop.
New seasonal and payment rules for 2026
Reduced trekking rates of $600 for foreign non-residents and $500 for foreign residents are announced for April, May and November. Check the current rates before you book. Such permits cannot be rebooked. Since 1 March 2026, full payment is due at booking instead of an unpaid 7 day hold. Details are on the permit page.
Population figures are counts, not a 2026 survey
The minimum count for Bwindi and Sarambwe is 459 gorillas, from 2018. UWA was still waiting for the results of a new count (2025/2026) on 23 September 2026. See mountain gorillas.
Yellow fever certificate
Since October 2026, Uganda no longer requires a yellow fever certificate for entry. If you continue to Rwanda, check Rwanda's own rules separately.
Travel advice
As of late October 2026, the German Foreign Office asks for particular caution in Bwindi, Mgahinga and near the volcanoes, advises against non-essential travel in the 20 km border area with the DR Congo, and says to check the local security situation. The UK advice describes a security escort on gorilla treks as usual. The US advisory of 4 June 2026 sits at Level 4. Read your own government's advice before you book.
Beyond Bwindi
Other places that have their own guides.
If you want to compare with gorilla trekking across the border, Rwanda has its own guide, and Rwanda lists $1,500 for foreign visitors. For chimpanzees you go to Kibale, covered at chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. Savannah game drives and the Ishasha sector are covered at Queen Elizabeth National Park. This site stays with Bwindi, Mgahinga, Lake Bunyonyi and the places you pass on the way.
More independent Uganda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Jinja
The source of the Nile, rafting, boat trips and Lake Victoria at Jinja.
Kalangala
The Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria: Bugala, Banda, ferries and quiet beaches.
Murchison Falls
Safaris, Nile boat cruises to the falls, shoebills and the Ziwa rhinos.
Queen Elizabeth
Game drives, the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha's tree climbing lions and the Rwenzori.
Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi, the crater lakes and Fort Portal.
Lake Mburo
Zebras, boat trips and horseback safaris between Kampala and Bwindi.
Kidepo Valley
Remote savanna safaris in the Narus Valley, cheetahs, ostriches and Karamoja in the far northeast.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: frequently asked questions
Where is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
In southwest Uganda, on the Albertine Rift. UWA names four trailheads: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The southern sectors are reached from Kisoro, the northern side from Kihihi. See the sectors page.
How much does a gorilla permit cost?
$800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for visitors from the rest of Africa and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens, in the UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026. The permit includes the guide, park entry on the day and a community contribution. Check the current amount before you book.
Will I see gorillas?
Chances are good, but no one can promise a sighting. Trackers and guides lead the group, and the walk can take from 2 to 7 hours in steep forest. The time with the gorillas is one hour.
Can children go gorilla trekking?
The minimum age is 15. Children aged 5 to 15 pay a reduced park entry fee, but that does not change the age limit for a gorilla permit.
Do I need a visa for Uganda?
The Uganda eVisa for a single entry costs $50 and is valid for up to 3 months. The East Africa Tourist Visa for Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya costs $100 and is valid for 90 days, with the first entry through the country that issues it. Apply online, and carry the approval with you.
Is this website official?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority or any authority, and it has no connection to safari operators, airlines, lodges or camps.