Gorilla Trekking Tours from Nairobi (Uganda and Rwanda)

Gorilla trekking from Nairobi is closer than most travelers think. Kenya has no gorillas of its own, but Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are both a short flight away, which is why so many Kenya safaris end with a few days tracking mountain gorillas.

We run gorilla trekking from Nairobi as an add on to a Kenya safari or as a standalone trip, handling your permit, transfers and lodge in Bwindi or Volcanoes so you only have to book one flight from Wilson or JKIA.

This page compares Uganda and Rwanda, sets out honest 2026 prices including the permit, and answers the questions we get most on WhatsApp about fitness, safety and how the trek itself actually works.

Highlights

• A face to face encounter with a wild mountain gorilla family, up to one hour with them
• Direct flights from Nairobi to Entebbe (Uganda) or Kigali (Rwanda)
• Permit, park fees, transfers and lodge handled for you
• Choice of Uganda’s Bwindi or Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
• Add on chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest for a longer trip
• Combine with any Kenya safari for one simple invoice and itinerary

Day by day plan

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to Entebbe or Kigali

   You fly from Nairobi to Entebbe for Uganda or to Kigali for Rwanda, a flight of about 1.5 to 2 hours. A driver guide meets you at arrivals and takes you to your first night’s lodge, with time to rest after the journey.

2. Day 2

   Transfer to the Gorilla Park

   You drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (about 8 to 9 hours from Entebbe, often split with a stop, or flown in about 1.5 hours) or to Volcanoes National Park (about 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali). You settle into your lodge and get a full briefing on the next day’s trek.

3. Day 3

   Gorilla Trekking Day

   An early breakfast is followed by a park briefing at 7.30 am, where rangers assign you to a gorilla family based on fitness and interest. The trek itself runs from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the family has moved, through thick forest and steep, muddy terrain. Once you find them you get up to one hour in their company, a moment most travelers describe as the highlight of their whole Africa trip.

4. Day 4

   Return to Nairobi

   After breakfast you transfer back to the airport and fly home to Nairobi, or connect onward to a Kenya safari if you have booked one. Longer itineraries add chimpanzee tracking or extra gorilla permits on this day instead.

Gorilla Trekking from Nairobi, From Prices (USD per person)

• Uganda price includes an USD 800 gorilla permit, Rwanda includes a USD 1,500 permit
• Prices are per person sharing, land only from Entebbe or Kigali, flights from Nairobi quoted separately
• Permit availability is limited and books out months ahead in Jun to Sep and Dec to Jan, confirm early

Get my exact price on WhatsApp

Are There Gorillas in Kenya?

No. Kenya has excellent Big Five safaris but no wild mountain gorillas, which live only in the forests of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. That is why every gorilla trekking from Nairobi trip involves a short flight out of the country first.

The good news is that Nairobi sits closer to both gorilla destinations than most people expect, which is why so many visitors combine a Masai Mara safari packages and prices trip with a few days trekking before flying home. Booking gorilla trekking from Nairobi through one operator also means one set of transfers and one person to call if a flight changes.

Why Book Gorilla Trekking from Nairobi Rather Than Locally?

Booking gorilla trekking from Nairobi with a Kenyan operator means your permit, flights and safari all sit on one itinerary, which is simpler than juggling a separate Uganda or Rwanda agent for a two or three day add on.

It also means local knowledge of what actually connects well, since we run gorilla trekking from Nairobi alongside Kenya safaris every month and know which flight times leave enough buffer for delays without wasting a day of your trip. See our Kenya fly in safaris page for how we handle similar regional flight connections.

Most travelers booking gorilla trekking from Nairobi are already deep into planning a Kenya safari and simply want the gorilla leg added cleanly to the end, so we quote both together from the start rather than as two separate bookings that need to be reconciled later.

How Do I Get from Nairobi to Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park?

For Uganda, you fly Nairobi to Entebbe, then either drive 8 to 9 hours to Bwindi or take a short domestic flight of about 1.5 hours, which most travelers prefer on a short trip.

For Rwanda, you fly Nairobi to Kigali, then drive about 2.5 to 3 hours to Volcanoes National Park, a much shorter and easier road transfer than the Uganda drive option.

Uganda or Rwanda: Which Is Better from Nairobi?

Uganda is cheaper overall thanks to its lower permit fee, and Bwindi holds more gorilla families, which usually means easier permit availability at short notice.

Rwanda is quicker to reach once you land, with a short paved drive to the park, and its lodges lean more upmarket. If budget matters most, choose Uganda. If you have less time and want a smoother road transfer, choose Rwanda. Read our full Uganda vs Rwanda gorilla trekking guide for a longer comparison.

How Much Does Gorilla Trekking from Nairobi Cost?

Gorilla trekking from Nairobi starts from about USD 1,650 per person for a 4 day Uganda trip, and from about USD 2,400 per person for a 3 day Rwanda trip, both land only from Entebbe or Kigali.

The permit is the biggest single cost, USD 800 in Uganda and USD 1,500 in Rwanda, and it is non refundable once booked. See the Rwanda gorilla permit cost guide for a full breakdown, and confirm every price with us in writing on WhatsApp before you pay a deposit.

Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?

Yes. Gorilla trekking from Nairobi runs through well managed national parks with armed rangers, trained trackers and strict group sizes of 8 visitors per gorilla family, which keeps both you and the gorillas safe.

The main physical risk is the terrain itself, not the animals. Trails are steep, muddy and sometimes thick with nettles, so sturdy boots and a walking stick, provided free at the park gate, make a real difference.

How Fit Do I Need to Be?

You need moderate fitness, not athletic fitness. Treks range from 1 to 6 hours of walking on uneven forest ground, sometimes steep, at altitudes up to about 2,500 metres.

• Rangers can assign easier walking families to less fit or older visitors on request
• Porters are available to carry your bag and help you over difficult sections
• A walking stick from the park gate takes real pressure off your knees
• Build in a rest day before trekking if you are coming straight off a long flight
• Tell us about any joint or heart conditions when you book so we can plan accordingly

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking from Nairobi

Pack as if you are hiking, not on a game drive. Waterproof layers matter more here than anywhere else on a Kenya or Uganda trip, since the forest is wet most of the year.

• Waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support
• Long trousers and long sleeves tucked in, against nettles and biting ants
• Gardening gloves for gripping vegetation on steep sections
• A rain jacket and a dry bag to keep your camera and phone dry

Combining Gorilla Trekking with a Kenya Safari

Most of our clients do not book gorilla trekking from Nairobi on its own, they add it to a Kenya safari already in the diary. It fits neatly onto the end of a Masai Mara trip, since you are already flying through Nairobi.

Our 10 day Kenya safari and Uganda gorilla trek combines both into one itinerary and one invoice, so you only deal with a single operator for the whole trip. A shorter 4 day Uganda gorilla trek works well as a standalone add on too.

Chimpanzee Tracking as an Add On

Uganda’s Kibale Forest holds one of Africa’s largest chimpanzee populations and pairs naturally with a gorilla trek, since it sits on the same side of the country. Tracking runs a similar format to gorillas, a briefing, a walk, then up to an hour with a chimp family.

Our Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee habituation itinerary is the fullest version of this, giving you a full morning with a chimp family being habituated to human contact rather than the shorter standard trek.

Booking Your Gorilla Trekking from Nairobi Trip

Permits are limited and sell out months ahead in peak months, so message us on WhatsApp as early as possible once your dates firm up. We hold no allocation ourselves, so early booking genuinely matters here.

We will confirm your permit, lodge and flights in writing before any payment, and can build gorilla trekking from Nairobi into any existing safari itinerary you are already planning with us.

If you are still deciding, tell us your travel window and we will tell you honestly whether gorilla trekking from Nairobi fits your dates, or whether you should shift a few days to catch better permit availability. There is no charge for this advice and no obligation to book with us afterward, and most people write to us weeks or months before they actually travel.

How to book your gorilla trekking from Nairobi

Booking your gorilla trekking from Nairobi with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.

1. Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
2. Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
3. Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
4. Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
5. Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.

What every trip with us includes

Every gorilla trekking from Nairobi plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box, and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.

We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.

Paying safely

We share payment details in writing only, and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.

Why book with a Nairobi team

We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos, and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good gorilla trekking from Nairobi into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews, and we plan to keep it that way.

Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.

Questions people ask

Official information: Uganda Wildlife Authority.

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