Select Page

4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari

from $800

*price p.p. incl. guide, safari-jeep, hotel and park entrance fees, excl. international flight (Based on 6 persons)

Note: We have discounts for kids 12 years old or younger.

4 Days

Private or Group

Safari

At Friendly Gorillas, we recommend this tour for fit travelers, hikers, photographers, adventure-focused couples, and guests who want gorilla trekking plus a physical challenge. It is not suitable for guests with limited mobility, travelers who dislike steep hikes, or visitors who only want relaxed wildlife viewing from a safari vehicle.

couple_gorilla_trekking__
gorilla-trekking-porters
sleeping gorilla in the nest

DURATION

4 Days

TOUR TYPE

Lodge Safaris, Private Safaris, Fly In Safari

ACTIVITIES

TRANSPORT

Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle

Overview

The 4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari is a short but adventurous Uganda safari for travelers who want mountain gorillas and a serious Virunga hiking experience in one trip. It starts and ends in Kigali, making it a practical route for guests who want faster access to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

This itinerary focuses on Uganda’s southwestern highlands rather than rushing across many parks. Guests trek mountain gorillas, hike Mount Sabyinyo, enjoy Virunga volcano views, and experience the beauty of Kisoro’s highland scenery. It is a strong option for travelers who want a more active safari than the usual gorilla-only package.

Travel with us on a route planned around permits, border timing, fitness level, and guest comfort.

4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari

BUDGET Accommodation

2 Persons

4 Persons

6+ Persons

$ 1657
$ 1245
$ 978

STANDARD Accommodation

2 Persons

4 Persons

6+ Persons

$ 2156
$ 1768
$ 1256

LUXURY Accommodation

2 Persons

4 Persons

6 Persons

$ 2768
$ 2349
$ 1890

* Indicative costs per person, excluding international airline tickets

Price includes

  • Gorilla trekking permit, if included in the quoted package
  • Mount Sabyinyo hiking fees, if included in the package
  • Private safari vehicle and fuel
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Airport or hotel pickup in Kigali
  • Airport or hotel drop-off in Kigali
  • Accommodation during the safari
  • Meals as agreed in the confirmed itinerary
  • Park entrance fees where applicable
  • Border-crossing assistance
  • Bottled drinking water during travel
  • Gorilla trekking arrangement and briefing support
  • Mount Sabyinyo hiking arrangement and briefing support
  • All planned transfers between Kigali, Kisoro, Mgahinga, and return
  • Government taxes included in the package

Price Excludes

  • International flights
  • Uganda visa fees
  • Rwanda visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
  • Laundry services
  • Optional Kigali city activities unless included
  • Optional Batwa cultural experience unless included
  • Porter fees during gorilla trekking unless included
  • Porter fees during Mount Sabyinyo hiking unless included
  • Extra accommodation before or after the safari
  • Any activity not listed in the confirmed itinerary
  • Additional Pricing and Optional Activities
  • Porter Support During Gorilla Trekking

Where you shall visit

.

Highlights

  • Track mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or nearby Bwindi depending on permit allocation.
  • Spend one hour with a habituated gorilla family after finding them.
  • Hike Mount Sabyinyo, one of the Virunga volcanoes.
  • Enjoy dramatic views across the Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo border region on a clear day.
  • Experience Kisoro’s highlands, volcanic scenery, rural landscapes, and forest trails.
  • Start and end in Kigali for easier access to Uganda’s gorilla region.
  • Add an optional Batwa cultural experience or Lake Bunyonyi extension if time allows.

Detailed Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Kisoro, Uganda

    Your guide from Friendly Gorillas welcomes you at Kigali International Airport or picks you up from your hotel in Kigali. After a short briefing, you begin the drive toward southwestern Uganda.

    If your arrival time allows, you may include a short Kigali city experience before leaving Rwanda. This can include the Kigali Genocide Memorial, craft shops, local markets, or a selected viewpoint depending on timing.

    You then drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills toward the Uganda border. After immigration formalities, continue to Kisoro, the main gateway to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

    This route gives you a scenic and practical start. Kigali is closer to Mgahinga than Kampala or Entebbe, so you spend less time reaching the gorilla and hiking region.

    Arrive at your lodge, check in, have dinner, and rest before the first major activity.

    Accommodation options in Mgahinga area:

    • Budget: Travellers Rest, Kisoro
    • Standard: Ichumbi Hotel
    • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

    Wake up early, have breakfast, and transfer to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking briefing. This is one of the two main highlights of the safari.

    The ranger guides explain the trekking rules, forest safety, gorilla behavior, and how you should behave once they meet the gorilla family. After the briefing, you enter the forest with ranger guides and trackers.

    The trek length depends on where the gorilla family moved overnight. Mgahinga’s scenery includes forest, bamboo, and volcanic slopes, which gives the experience a strong highland feel.

    When you find the gorillas, you spend up to one hour with them. You may watch a silverback resting, mothers feeding, young gorillas playing, or the family moving through the forest. This hour gives the trip its emotional value. Mount Sabyinyo adds adventure, but the gorilla encounter gives you the rare wildlife moment many people travel to Uganda for.

    After the trek, return to the park offices and receive your gorilla trekking certificate. Your guide transfers you back to the lodge for lunch and rest.

    If the Mgahinga gorilla permit is unavailable, the trek may be arranged in nearby Bwindi, with lodge and route adjustments made before travel.

    Accommodation options in Mgahinga area:

    • Budget: Travellers Rest, Kisoro
    • Standard: Ichumbi Hotel
    • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge

    Alternative Bwindi accommodation, if the permit is confirmed in Bwindi:
    Budget: Rafiki Gorilla Lodge or Ride 4 a Woman
    Standard: Buhoma Gorilla Camp or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
    Luxury: Mahogany Springs or similar luxury lodge

  • Day 3: Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Adventure

    After an early breakfast, transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for your Mount Sabyinyo hiking briefing. This is the main adventure day of the safari.

    Your ranger guide explains the trail conditions, safety rules, pacing, and what to expect during the hike. Mount Sabyinyo is a serious climb, so you should start prepared and listen carefully to the guide.

    The trail can include steep sections, forest paths, ridges, and ladder-assisted areas. The hike rewards effort with powerful views of the Virunga landscape. On clear days, you can enjoy views across Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.

    This activity gives the itinerary a different kind of value from gorilla trekking. You do not only watch wildlife. You test themselves, enjoy mountain scenery, and experience the volcanic character of Mgahinga.

    After completing the hike, return to your lodge for rest, dinner, and overnight stay.
    At Friendly Gorillas, we recommend keeping this evening simple. Guests usually appreciate rest after the hike, rather than adding another activity.

    Accommodation options in Mgahinga area:

    • Budget: Travellers Rest, Kisoro
    • Standard: Ichumbi Hotel
    • Luxury: Mount Gahinga Lodge
  • Day 4: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure

    After breakfast, begin the return journey to Kigali. The drive takes you through Kisoro’s highland scenery, the Uganda Rwanda border, and Rwanda’s rolling hills.

    This final day should be planned carefully around flight timing. We recommend an afternoon or evening departure from Kigali, or an extra night in Kigali if your flight schedule is tight.

    Depending on timing, you may add a short Kigali stop for lunch, craft shopping, or a brief city visit before airport drop-off.
    Your guide drops you at Kigali International Airport or your Kigali hotel.

    This marks the end of your 4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari with Friendly Gorillas Safaris.

    Lake Bunyonyi

Why book this 4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari

FLEXIBLE CANCELATION

Cancel up to 60 days before departure.

EXPERT LOCAL GUIDES

Only guides with 10+ years of Guiding experience.

NO HIDDEN FEES

All prices are final. No suprises at all.

24/7 SUPPORT

We're always available throughout and after the trip.

Don’t wait,
book this adventure safari today

Let’s Start planning your adventure. Request a quote for this 4 Days Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking and Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Safari and let us get your permit, lodge category, route, and travel dates ready.

Low season
Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, may

Peak season
Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Dec

Similar experiences ….

6 Days Weismann Peak Rwenzori Hiking Tour
from
$ 800
per adult
6 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Batwa Culture and Queen Elizabeth Safari
from
$ 800
per adult
14 Days Uganda, Serengeti and Zanzibar Safari
from
$ 2000
per adult
4 Day Murchison Falls & Chimpanzee Tracking Safari
from
$ 1260
per adult

Got any questions
about traveling to Uganda?
Get in touch.

Get inspired
with our sample itineraries or Start customizing.