Swap two long road days for scenic flights. Fly from Entebbe to Kisoro, spend up to four hours with a gorilla family in Rushaga and have a free day before you fly back.
In short: Scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kisoro, three nights in Rushaga, one Gorilla Habituation Experience and a free day for a Batwa visit, a nature walk or a second gorilla trek.
Flying is the easiest way to reach Bwindi when time is short. Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Entebbe reach Kisoro airstrip in about 1.5 to 2 hours, with views over Lake Victoria, the savanna and the hills of the southwest. A road transfer then takes you to Rushaga.
With the travel days shortened, this itinerary has room for three nights in Rushaga: an arrival day, the habituation day and a free day to rest or add another experience before you fly back.
Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, typically around 15 kg per person in a soft bag. We can store extra luggage in Entebbe while you are in Bwindi.
A morning flight from Entebbe takes you to Kisoro airstrip, where your guide meets you for the drive past Lake Mutanda to your lodge in Rushaga. You have the afternoon to settle in and walk the lodge grounds.
Overnight: Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga · Meals: Lunch, dinner
Registration and briefing at the Rushaga park office, then into the forest with the trackers and researchers. Once the family is found you have up to four hours with them, with the research team working around you. You return to the lodge in the afternoon with your certificate.
Overnight: Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga · Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
A day to recover or add an experience: a Batwa cultural visit, a village and craft walk, a forest-edge birding walk, or a standard gorilla trek with a second Rushaga family if a permit is available. All are optional.
Overnight: Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Transfer to Kisoro airstrip for the flight back to Entebbe, landing in time to connect with an evening international flight or to stay on in Uganda.
Meals: Breakfast
Cottages and suites with fireplaces and private decks above the forest, a short drive from the Rushaga trailhead.
Lodges are chosen for location first. We can swap any of them for a different style or budget.
Priced per person and quoted for your dates, group size and lodge choice, always including the US$1,500 habituation permit. Groups of four are the most cost-effective, because four people fill a whole habituation group.
See our gorilla trip cost guide for typical flight, visa, insurance and tipping costs.
About 1.5 to 2 hours, sometimes with a stop. Your guide meets you at Kisoro for the road transfer to Rushaga.
Light aircraft typically allow around 15 kg per person in a soft bag. We can store extra luggage in Entebbe.
If your time is short, yes. Flying saves most of a day each way, which is what makes the free day possible on a 4-day trip.
Yes. Day 3 can be a standard trek with a different Rushaga family if a permit is available for that date.
No. Permits are non-refundable once issued, so we recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation.
Only eight habituation places open each day in Uganda. Send your dates and we will confirm availability and a price, usually within one working day.
+256 716 068 279Check Availability