Uganda & Gorilla Trek Express — Self-Launched
6 days · Uganda
On The Go Tours charges £1,265
No-markup version: ~£955 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 6-day Uganda loop from Kampala covering chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura Gorge, lakeside downtime at Lake Bunyonyi, and the headline experience — mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Instead of a fully guided overland truck tour, you book your own gorilla and chimp permits directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), use public buses and shared/private 4x4 transfers, and stay in budget lodges, guesthouses and safari-bandas. The single biggest fixed cost is the gorilla permit (US$800, ~£630) — everything else is cheap by African standards. Costs below are approximate per-person estimates in GBP; they include the permit, chimp permits, transport, food, lodging and a buffer, but exclude international flights and travel insurance.
Day-by-day
Kampala to Queen Elizabeth area via the Equator
Kampala → Bushenyi/Kalinzu
Start early from Kampala. Uganda's long-distance buses leave from the central bus parks (Namayengo/Kisenyi area) — take a Link Bus or Bismarkan coach towards Kasese/Bushenyi (roughly 6–7 hours, ~£8–10). Break the journey at Kayabwe on the Equator for the classic photo stop (matatus pass the marker; just ask the conductor to drop you). Base yourself near Kalinzu Forest in a budget guesthouse or safari banda (Simba-style camps and local guesthouses run £12–20 for a twin/banda). In the afternoon, walk into the village or arrange a short community walk through your guesthouse (~£5). Eat dinner at the lodge — Ugandan staples like matoke, beans and tilapia are cheap (~£4–6).
🚌Link Bus/coach Kampala–Bushenyi ~£9; local matatu/boda hops ~£3
🛏Budget guesthouse or safari banda near Kalinzu Forest (£12–20/night)
- →Long-distance bus Kampala to Bushenyi/Kasese
- →Equator photo stop at Kayabwe
- →Village/community walk
Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Book your Kalinzu chimp trek directly with the reserve office (or via your guesthouse) — permits are around US$55–70 (~£45–55) for the morning session. Treks leave early and last 2–4 hours with a ranger guide; sightings of habituated chimps are good but not guaranteed. In the afternoon, continue south towards Kyambura/Queen Elizabeth National Park by shared taxi or a hired boda/boda-and-taxi combo (~£10–15). Overnight near Kyambura in a budget camp or guesthouse. If you want a second chimp experience, the Kyambura Gorge trek can be booked through UWA (extra ~£45) — or swap it for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel (~£22) which is arguably better value for wildlife.
🚌Shared taxi/hired car Kalinzu to Kyambura ~£12
🛏Budget camp/guesthouse near Kyambura (£15–22/night)
- →Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trek with UWA ranger
- →Transfer to Kyambura/Queen Elizabeth NP
- →Optional Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Kyambura Gorge (optional chimp trek) and drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Kyambura → Lake Bunyonyi
If you opted for Kyambura Gorge, trek early (book through UWA the day before, ~£45). Either way, get on the road south to Kabale by bus or shared taxi (~3–4 hours, ~£8–10), then take a matatu or boda the last stretch to Lake Bunyonyi (~£4). Check into a lakeside budget lodge — Bunyonyi Overland Resort-style places have dorms from ~£8 and simple doubles £15–25, many with lake-view terraces. Spend the afternoon swimming (bilharzia-free lake), kayaking or paddling a rented canoe (~£5–8), or just watching the terraced hills.
🚌Coach/shared taxi Kyambura–Kabale ~£9; matatu to lake ~£4
🛏Lakeside budget lodge/dorm or simple double at Lake Bunyonyi (£10–22)
- →Optional Kyambura Gorge chimp trek
- →Bus/shared taxi to Kabale and matatu to Lake Bunyonyi
- →Canoe hire and lake swimming
Lake Bunyonyi island boat trip and rest day
Lake Bunyonyi
A full day on the lake. Hire a local boatman for a tour of the islands — Punishment Island, the leper island and Bwama — negotiable at ~£15–20 for a half-day boat. Bird-watching is excellent (herons, cormorants, weavers). Visit a local village or the Batwa community project with a guide arranged by your lodge (~£8–10). Afternoon: paddle, read, and prepare for tomorrow's early gorilla start — confirm your permit slip, pack layers and waterproofs, and charge your camera batteries. Your permit will be for either Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo or Ruhija sector; arrange your transfer the night before.
🚌Local boat hire ~£17; boda transfers ~£3
🛏Lakeside budget lodge at Lake Bunyonyi (£10–22)
- →Lake Bunyonyi island boat tour
- →Village/Batwa community visit
- →Bird-watching, canoeing and prep for gorilla trek
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The big one. Gorilla permits must be booked ahead directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority (permits at bwindi.uwa.go.ug or via email) — US$800 (~£630) in high season. Transfer early to your assigned trailhead (shared taxi/hired 4x4 from Bunyonyi, ~£20–30 depending on sector). Registration and briefing at 7–8am, then trek with UWA rangers and trackers — hikes range from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the family is, through steep, humid forest. You get one hour with a habituated gorilla family. Trackers and porters are tipped separately (~£8–15, and hire a porter for ~£12 — worth it). Overnight at a budget lodge near the park gate; the trek is exhausting, so plan an early dinner.
🚌Shared/hired 4x4 to trailhead ~£25; park transfers ~£5
🛏Budget lodge/banda near Bwindi gate (£15–25)
- →Gorilla trekking in Bwindi with UWA ranger guides
- →One hour with a habituated gorilla family
- →Optional porter hire and community coffee/village visit
Bwindi back to Kampala
Bwindi → Kabale → Kampala
Long travel day back. Get an early shared taxi or boda to Kabale (~£6–8), then catch a coach to Kampala (~6–7 hours, ~£9–11). If you have time, break at Lake Mburo or the Equator for lunch. Arrive Kampala in the evening; overnight near the city centre (hostel dorms from ~£7, private rooms £15–25) or head to Entebbe for onward flights (~£3 by matatu/coaster). Book your onward travel in advance — buses fill up in the afternoon.
🚌Shared taxi to Kabale ~£7; coach Kabale–Kampala ~£10; matatu to Entebbe ~£3
🛏Kampala hostel/guesthouse (£7–25) or depart
- →Shared taxi to Kabale and coach to Kampala
- →Optional Equator/Kayabwe stop
- →Evening in Kampala or transfer to Entebbe
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£955 | £1,265 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £310 per person (25%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£955
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Uganda & Gorilla Trek Express — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £955 per person for 6 days in Uganda. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,265 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £955 — a saving of roughly £310 (25%) per person.
How long is the Uganda trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Uganda.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, backpacker trip through Uganda, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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