Gorilla trekking from Nairobi
Nairobi is the hinge of this trip. You cannot trek gorillas in Kenya, but you can reach them from Nairobi inside a single travel day.
The two routes out of Nairobi
There is no gorilla trekking in Kenya, so every route from Nairobi crosses a border. There are two, and they behave quite differently.
Nairobi to Uganda
Fly Nairobi to Entebbe — roughly an hour and twenty minutes, on frequent scheduled services. From Entebbe you have a choice:
- Charter to Kihihi or Kisoro — about 45 minutes in the air, then a short road transfer to your lodge. Kihihi serves the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors of Bwindi; Kisoro serves Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga.
- Road — six to eight hours. Best broken with a night at Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth National Park, which turns the transfer into part of the trip.
Flown, Nairobi to a Bwindi lodge is comfortably a single day. Driven, it is two.
Nairobi to Rwanda
Fly Nairobi to Kigali — about an hour and a half. From Kigali it is a two to three hour drive on good road to Kinigi, the park headquarters for Volcanoes National Park. No charter needed, and no second travel day.
This is Rwanda's real advantage, and it is why travellers on short trips often choose it despite the higher permit price.
Which country suits you
Permit cost, transfer time, trek difficulty and what pairs with each, compared factor by factor.
How many days from Nairobi
If you are flying in specifically to trek and doing nothing else, four days is workable: arrive, transfer, trek, return. It is tight and leaves no margin for a delayed flight.
Most people arriving in Nairobi are there for the safari as well, in which case ten days is the realistic minimum for both halves and twelve is more comfortable.
Border and entry practicalities
Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorisation stays valid for re-entry after a temporary trip to another East African Community country. So Nairobi, then Uganda, then back through Nairobi for your outbound flight needs only one Kenyan application at USD 30.
Uganda and Rwanda both run e-visa systems, and an East Africa Tourist Visa covering all three countries on one multiple-entry document exists. Which is most economical depends on your exact routing, and we confirm it with your quotation.
The mistake to avoid
Do not schedule your international departure for the evening of your trek day. A Bwindi trek can run eight hours, weather delays light aircraft, and the drive from the park to the airstrip is not always quick. Build a night in between. Travellers who skip it are the ones who spend the trek watching the clock instead of the gorillas.
Plan your Kenya and gorilla safari
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and how long you have. We will send a written itinerary and a quotation.