3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari – Student Package

Student Package – 6 Adults

Tour Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

Safari Overview

This 3-day student safari offers an affordable yet life-changing encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Designed specifically for student groups, this package delivers the ultimate primate experience without compromising on quality or adventure. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas—just over 450 individuals spread across 23 habituated families. This is your chance to trek through dense rainforest, stand metres away from these gentle giants, and spend one unforgettable hour watching them interact, feed, and care for their young. Beyond the gorillas, you’ll explore the local community, learn about conservation efforts, and experience the warm hospitality of Uganda’s southwestern highlands. This is the adventure of a lifetime, made accessible for students.

Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Community visit

• Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi – One hour with the gorillas

• Day 3: Return to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Community Visit

Your gorilla adventure begins with an early morning pickup from Kampala, where your professional safari guide will greet you. After a brief introduction and orientation about the journey ahead, you’ll depart for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.

The drive takes approximately 7–8 hours, passing through Uganda’s lush countryside rolling hills, terraced farmlands, and vibrant villages. As you approach Bwindi, the landscape transforms dramatically. The open savannah gives way to steep, forested hillsides, and the air becomes cool and misty. You’ve entered the realm of the mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity and dense tropical rainforest. The park protects nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, making it one of the most important conservation areas on the planet. Beyond gorillas, the park is home to:

• Rwenzori colobus monkeys

• L’Hoest’s monkeys

• Forest elephants

• Over 350 bird species

• Rare reptiles and amphibians

• Hundreds of butterfly species

After arriving in the Buhoma sector of the park, you’ll check in at your lodge and later enjoy a community visit. This cultural experience allows you to interact with local residents, learn about traditional lifestyles, and understand the conservation initiatives that have made gorilla protection possible. The community around Bwindi has transformed from poachers to protectors, and their stories are deeply moving. In the evening, you’ll relax at your lodge while preparing for the exciting gorilla trekking experience the following day.

Activities:

• Early morning pickup in Kampala

• Scenic transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Community visit near Buhoma

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience

Today is the most exciting day of your safari. Wake early for breakfast before heading to the Bwindi park headquarters for a briefing by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. During this session, visitors are informed about gorilla trekking guidelines, safety rules, and conservation practices. You’ll be assigned to a habituated gorilla family group, each named and carefully monitored by researchers and trackers.

The trek through Bwindi’s dense rainforest is challenging but deeply rewarding. The terrain is steep, the vegetation thick, and the paths often muddy. Expert trackers lead the way, following signs of the gorillas’ overnight nests, feeding trails, and vocalisations. The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours or longer depending on the location of the gorilla family.

As you move through the forest, you may encounter other wildlife monkeys, birds, and forest elephants alongside the incredible biodiversity of medicinal plants and ancient trees that make Bwindi a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then it happens. The trackers stop. They point ahead. And there they are mountain gorillas, just metres away.

Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watch the silverback the dominant male survey his family with quiet authority. Mothers cradle their infants. Juveniles tumble and play in the undergrowth. The gorillas feed, groom, and interact, seemingly unaware of your presence. This is intimacy with nature at its most profound a moment that often brings tears and silence. After the trek, you will return to the lodge, tired but exhilarated. Spend the afternoon relaxing and reflecting on the day’s incredible encounter.

Activities:

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• One hour with the mountain gorillas

• Relaxation at the lodge after the trek

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Return to Kampala

After breakfast, you will begin the journey back to Kampala, passing through Uganda’s beautiful countryside. The drive offers one last chance to appreciate the scenic beauty of southwestern Uganda terraced hills, winding rivers, and vibrant villages.

Your guide will ensure a comfortable drive with stops along the way if necessary. Upon arrival in Kampala, you will be dropped off at your hotel or preferred location, marking the end of your memorable gorilla trekking safari.

Activities:

• Scenic transfer from Bwindi to Kampala

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Important Information for Students

Gorilla Trekking Permits

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost $800 per person (for foreign non-residents) and must be booked well in advance. We strongly recommend booking permits at least 3–6 months before your intended travel date, especially during peak seasons (June–September and December–February).

Physical Fitness

Gorilla trekking requires a reasonable level of fitness. The forest is steep, muddy, and often wet. We recommend preparing with light walking or hiking in the months leading up to your safari. Porters are available for hire at the park headquarters (approximately $15–$20 per day) and are highly recommended.

What to Pack

• Long pants and long-sleeved shirts (to protect against nettles and insects)

• Sturdy, comfortable hiking boots (waterproof recommended)

• Rain jacket (the forest is often wet)

• Sunscreen and insect repellent

• Binoculars

• Camera with extra batteries (gorilla trekking permits allow photography, but no flash)

• Layered clothing (mornings are cool, afternoons can be warm)

Age Limit

Gorilla trekking is permitted for individuals aged 15 and above. Please ensure all participants meet this requirement.

Health

Consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis, yellow fever vaccination, and other recommended travel vaccinations before your trip.

Safari Inclusions

• All activities mentioned in the itinerary

• All park entry fees

• Gorilla trekking permit ($800 per person)

• Accommodation for the duration of the safari

• Meals as specified in the itinerary

• Professional English-speaking safari guide

• 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel

• All ground transportation

• Community visit experience

• Drinking water during the trip

• Government taxes and park fees

Safari Exclusions

• International flights

• Visa fees

• Travel insurance (mandatory)

• Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, drinks)

• Tips and gratuities (recommended $10–$15 per person per day)

• Porter fees during the gorilla trek (recommended)

• Accommodation in Kampala before and after the safari

 Email us at : usokeexplorer@gmail.com or visit our  Website: usokeexplorers.com  For Booking please contact us