Most Uganda trips are planned around one hour: the hour you spend with a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Everything else gets fitted in around it. That makes sense, but it often leaves long driving days between Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park with nothing to do on the way.
If you like being outdoors and don’t mind getting wet, you can use that stretch better. The Birira River runs through the hills near Rukungiri, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Bwindi and from the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. You can trek gorillas one day and raft Class II to IV white water through the jungle the next, without crossing the country.
Below: the route, some sample itineraries, what a rafting day with us looks like, what it costs and what to pack.
Why gorilla trekking and rafting fit together
Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth are the two big parks in southwest Uganda, and most itineraries visit both. Rukungiri sits between them, so a rafting day takes the place of a day you would otherwise spend mostly in a car.
The two days also feel nothing alike. A gorilla trek is quiet and slow: you walk in a small group, keep your voice down, and then watch. Rafting is loud and wet, and you work hard with a paddle in your hands.
The planning is simple too. A gorilla permit is booked for one date in one sector of Bwindi, and the rest of the trip moves around it. A rafting day is easier to shift, so book the permit first and fit the river in before or after.
Where the Birira River is and how to get there
SANA Gorilla Rafting is based in Rukungiri town in Western Uganda. Every trip starts and ends at the SANA accommodation in Rukungiri, where you can leave your car and luggage. Transport to and from the river is included.
From Bwindi’s northern Buhoma sector, Rukungiri is about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, which makes Buhoma the easiest sector to combine with rafting. The southern sectors, Rushaga and Nkuringo, are further away, so plan an extra night between the trek and the river. The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is also about 1.5 to 2 hours away.
If you travel with a driver-guide, ask them to route via Rukungiri. If you drive yourself, message us and we’ll send directions and a map pin.
Sample itineraries
These are starting points. We plan every trip around your gorilla permit date.
3 days: Bwindi and the Birira River
- Day 1: Gorilla trek in Bwindi (Buhoma sector). Stay near the park.
- Day 2: Drive to Rukungiri in the morning, about 1.5 to 2 hours. Rest in the afternoon or do the 2 to 3 hour waterfall hike. Sleep at SANA Bed & Breakfast.
- Day 3: Full-day white water rafting on the Birira River, roughly 9 AM to 3 or 4 PM, with lunch. Carry on with your trip, or stay another night.
5 days: Queen Elizabeth, the river and the gorillas
- Day 1: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Day 2: The Ishasha sector, home of the tree-climbing lions, then drive on to Rukungiri in the afternoon.
- Day 3: Full day rafting the Birira River.
- Day 4: Drive to Bwindi.
- Day 5: Gorilla trek.
Overnight rafting to Ishasha
With two days to spare, our overnight rafting trip to Ishasha turns the river into your transfer. You raft and float for two days, camp by the river under the stars, and finish in Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It suits any itinerary that is heading from Bwindi towards Queen Elizabeth anyway.
If you’d like us to plan the whole trip, our 10-day itinerary Discover Uganda by its waters puts the gorillas, the waterfall hike, overnight rafting and Queen Elizabeth together.
Rafting first or gorillas first?
Either order works. Gorillas first is the usual choice because the permit date is fixed, and the river becomes your reward after the trek. Rafting first is handy if you’re coming from Queen Elizabeth and heading south to Bwindi afterwards.
Don’t put them on the same day. A gorilla trek can take two hours or most of the day, depending on where the gorilla family is that morning.
Bwindi trails can be steep and muddy. If your legs are tired after the trek, rafting the next day leans much more on your arms and core.
What a rafting day with SANA looks like
We raft the bridge-to-bridge section of the Birira River.
The day starts at the SANA accommodation in Rukungiri, and from there we drive to the river. On the bank you get a full safety briefing, then a helmet, life jacket and paddle. The guides go through the paddle commands and what to do if you end up in the water.
On the river you get big Class II to IV rapids with calm stretches in between, where you can float and look at the forest. Safety kayakers stay with the raft. Lunch is a freshly cooked Ugandan-style meal next to one of the Birira’s waterfalls, and after more rapids in the afternoon you’re back in Rukungiri around 3 or 4 PM.
SANA was started by Sadat, a Ugandan freestyle kayak champion who grew up rafting, and Nathalie, a Dutch medical doctor. You can meet them and the guides on our About page.
What it costs
SANA prices per person:
| Activity | Price |
|---|---|
| Full-day white water rafting, non-residents | $145 |
| Full-day white water rafting, residents | $125 |
| Full-day white water rafting, Ugandans | $95 (UGX 360,000) |
| 2-day overnight rafting to Ishasha | from $380 |
| Waterfall hike, 2 to 3 hours | $25 |
| SANA Bed & Breakfast, double or twin room | $50 per room, breakfast included |
| SANA Bed & Breakfast, single room | $30, breakfast included |
Rafting needs at least 2 people. Lunch and transport between Rukungiri and the river are included.
The gorilla permit is the biggest cost of the trip. Under the Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff for 2024 to 2026, a standard Bwindi gorilla permit for foreign non-residents was $800. Permits sell out in busy months, so book early through UWA or your tour operator and check the current price when you do.
Who can join
You don’t need any rafting experience. White water rafting and the overnight trip to Ishasha are for ages 12 and up. Family rafting and floating, on gentler water, and the waterfall hike start at age 6.
Gorilla trekking has its own rule: the Uganda Wildlife Authority sets the minimum age at 15. With younger children, one parent can trek while the others do the family float or the hike, and if the kids are 12 or older you can all raft together.
What to pack for both
Much of the same kit works for both days:
- Quick-dry clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and a dry set for afterwards
- Sandals or shoes that strap on firmly for the river, and broken-in hiking boots for Bwindi
- Sunscreen and a hat for the boat
- Long sleeves, long trousers and gardening gloves for the trek, because the plants scratch
- A rain jacket
- A small dry bag or ziplock for your phone (leave other valuables at the B&B on rafting day)
- A strap for your glasses, or contact lenses for the river
Tell us about any dietary needs before the day so we can plan lunch.
When to go
Gorilla trekking runs all year. The drier months, roughly June to August and December to February, are popular because the forest trails are less muddy, and permits sell faster then. A rafting day is easier to book at short notice than a permit, so lock in the trek first. Ask us about the river for your dates and we’ll tell you what to expect.
Common questions
Is rafting in Uganda safe for beginners?
Yes, with a good team. On the Birira you get a full safety briefing, a helmet and life jacket, guides in the raft and safety kayakers on the water. You don’t need any experience.
Can I raft the day after a gorilla trek?
Yes. Just keep the trek and the river on separate days.
How far is the Birira River from Bwindi?
Rukungiri, where every trip starts, is about 1.5 to 2 hours from Bwindi’s northern Buhoma sector.
What if I can’t swim?
Tell us when you book. You wear a life jacket the whole time, the guides explain what to do if you fall in, and we’ll help you choose the trip that suits you.
Is there somewhere to stay near the river?
Yes. Trips start and end at SANA Bed & Breakfast in Rukungiri, so you can stay the night before and step straight into the transport in the morning.
Plan your gorilla and rafting trip
Send us your gorilla trekking date, the number of people, the ages of any children and where you’re staying. We’ll suggest the best day for the river and how to reach us.
- WhatsApp or call: +256 754 944 695
- Email: info@sanagorillarafting.com
- Contact page
More on rafting in Uganda is in our complete guide to white water rafting in Uganda. For other ideas near the parks, see things to do near Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth.
