Gorilla trekking safari in bwindi national park
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is located in southwestern Uganda in Kanungu district along the border of Democratic Republic of Congo at the edge of the western rift valley. The park was gazetted in 1991 mainly to conserve and protect the endangered mountain gorillas and in 1994 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its ecological importance and covers a total area of 327 square kilometers. Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors over 420 mountain gorillas which is about half of the world’s mountain gorillas and 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in various sectors namely Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the east, Buhoma sector in the north and Rushaga sector in the south. Apart from Bwindi impenetrable national park, gorillas are also found in other destinations like Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity done in the park which involves visitors moving into the dense tropical rain forests in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Bwindi impenetrable national park is the home of 19 habituated gorilla families namely Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe in Buhoma sector, Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas in Nkuringo sector, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, Mukiza in Ruhija, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Bikyingi, Rwigi and Mucunguzi in Rushaga sector. Gorilla trekking in the park starts early in the morning at around 8:00am with a briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing visitors will be grouped into 8 individuals depending on their physical fitness or age and then enter the jungle with a park guide who will be sharing information about the mountain gorillas during trekking. gorilla trekking in the park takes about 2 to 7 hours or sometimes less depending on the location of the gorilla family and once found you will spend one hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat learning about their lifestyle, behaviors, habits, taking plenty of photos with a flash less camera and recording the moments to show people back home.
Bwindi impenetrable national park also offers gorilla habituation experience a process where the mountain gorillas are trained to get used to the human presence. The process takes a period of two years and involves a team of researchers, guides, park rangers and visitors. Gorilla habituation is currently done in Rushaga sector in the southern part of the park and the process allows a maximum of 4 individuals and during the process visitors will spend four hours with the gorillas under habituation unlike gorilla trekking which allows a maximum of 8 individuals who spend one hour with the gorillas.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable forest
A single gorilla trekking permit in the park costs $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. The permit was however increased by $100 for foreign non-residents and foreign resident effective 1st July 2020 therefore you should book early before the deadline.
A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens. A gorilla trekking permit in can be booked either directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda by contacting them through phone or email or you can book through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. Booking for a gorilla trekking permit should be done 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because the permits are competitive and usually get sold out especially during the peak season.
When to go for a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking in the park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season there is less rainfall therefore there will be short shrubs in the forest which gives you clear viewing of the mountain gorillas, access roads to Bwindi impenetrable forest and gorilla trekking trails in the jungle will be passable. Due to the fact that Bwindi impenetrable national park is a tropical rainforest it can rain anytime regardless of the season.
Gorilla trekking can also be done in the wet season during the months of March to May and October to November. Though the wet season has heavy rainfall which makes access roads to the park impassable and gorilla trekking trails wet, muddy and slippery gorilla trekking activity continues after the rain. There is less competition for gorilla trekking permits in the low season, the park is less crowded and luxury accommodations offer discounts hence favoring budget travellers.
Where to stay on your gorilla trekking safari
Bwindi impenetrable national park has a wide range of luxury, midrange, budget and campsites where visitors on a safari can stay such as Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp, Engage Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Bwindi Guest House, Bwindi View Bandas, Mahogany Camp, Gorilla Friends Lodge, Jungle View Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Resort, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Trekkers Tavern Cottages among others. The lodges offers comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, siting lounge, free Wi-Fi, restaurants which serve local and international dishes, bar area, swimming pool, gardens for relaxation after gorilla trekking and beautiful views of the park, surrounding communities, wildlife among others.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari
Due to unpredictable weather in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, it’s advisable to pack essential equipment’s for your gorilla trekking safari such as hiking shoes, waterproof rain jacket, garden gloves, insect repellent, long sleeved shirt and trouser, energy snacks, hat and sunglasses, backpack, warm sweater, camera and extra batteries, walking stick, pair of binoculars to view distant species such as birds and hiring a porter who will be carrying your backpack and also give you a push and a pull in steep and slippery grounds.
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Bwindi impenetrable forest is located in southwestern Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means
Air transport, there are domestic companies such as Aerolink Uganda limited which offer scheduled and chartered flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip and the aircraft operates 2 daily schedules where it departs Entebbe airport at 7:00am and arrives at 8:45 am and when returning from the park the aircraft departs from Kihihi airstrip at 9:45am and arrives in Entebbe at 11:25am. On arrival at the airport you will be picked by your driver guide and connect to your lodge or park headquarters.
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda in that you can fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Bwindi forest via Katuna or Cyanika border which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
Road transport, when travelling by road to the park you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park and the journey takes about 8 to 9 hours’ drive. Though it’s a long distance it’s filled with spectacular views of the landscape, Kigezi hills, equator, traditional homesteads, local people, markets along the roadsides among others.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth national park where you will drive from Mweya via Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the tree climbing lions lying up in the acacia/fig tree branches and then continue to the park headquarters which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
You can also use public means of transport where by you will board a bus from Kampala to Kabale and then hire a private taxi at a cheaper price to the park.
On your gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park you will have unforgettable and lifetime experiences as you spend time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat as you take plenty of photos, record the moments among others. You can therefore book gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi forest such as 3 days Gorilla trekking from Kampala, 4 days Uganda double gorilla trekking, 4 days flying gorilla safari Uganda, 4 days Bwindi gorilla and Lake Bunyonyi, 3 days gorilla habituation experience among others with Achieve Global Safaris.
