Bwindi gorilla trekking Uganda

Bwindi gorilla trekking Uganda is a once in a lifetime experience that gives tourists an opportunity to get close to mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates popular for being close relatives to human beings, sharing more than 98% DNA with human beings. It’s always a dream come true for most travelers to see their close relatives in thick forests.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the few places where tourists can meet mountain gorillas. The forest has the highest number of these apes, with most of them being habituated and used to human presence around them. Bwindi gorilla trekking gives one an opportunity to search for these apes, and being around them for 1 hour in their natural habitat. 

Why Bwindi gorilla trekking?

Bwindi has the highest population of mountain gorillas in the world. The thick, impenetrable forest hosts more than half of the mountain gorilla species left in the world. Mountain gorillas of Bwindi stay in four sectors of the park, namely Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. This gives tourists an opportunity to trek sectors of their choice, subjected to availability. 

Tourists also need to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park because of the high number of gorilla trekking permits available on the day. As Mgahinga National Park has 8 permits, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has over 142 permits. Even though lots of trekkers can trek mountain gorillas of Bwindi, we strongly advise early permit booking when there is permit availability. 

Bwindi gorilla trekking permits

For anyone to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, they need a gorilla trekking permit or a gorilla habituation permit. There are documents that are given to tourists to provide at the park headquarters before being allowed to trek mountain gorillas. Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these permits to only tour operators that are licensed by Uganda Tourism Board.

The gorilla trekking or habituation permits costs depend on someone’s origin and residence. Gorilla trekking permits cost $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, 500$ for Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 for citizens of East African member states. To prove your category, you will need to present a passport or national identity card. 

Gorilla habituation costs $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents and the rest of Africa, while citizens of East African member states pay UGX750,000. Tourists who purchase gorilla habituation permits get to have 4 hours around semi-habituated gorillas as they get them used to human presence around them. 

Bwindi gorilla trekking

Bwindi gorilla trekking is carried out in 4 sectors of the park, namely Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Buhoma. This activity is carried out every morning at the different park headquarters, starting with a briefing. The rangers teach the trekkers the rules and regulations of the activity for the safety of gorillas and the trekkers while in the jungle. The armed ranger guides are assigned to lead each group of trekkers in the jungle and show them the right trails to use as they look for where the mountain gorillas could be. 

From the briefing point, trekkers are driven to the starting point near the forest, where they are left to head into the jungle with the armed ranger guides. As different trekking trails are used, trekkers get an opportunity to encounter some of the forest mammals, primates, and birds. Locating the mountain gorilla families might take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the nature of the trails and the location of the gorillas. 

The moment the mountain gorillas are spotted, the trekkers are given 1 hour to be around them. This enables them to learn about their habits, watch them carry out activities like nesting, hunting, mating, breastfeeding, and playing, to mention but a few. Trekkers are allowed to take photos and capture videos of mountain gorillas for future memories. 

After spending hours with the mountain gorillas, trekkers are asked to move away from the mountain gorillas and let them continue with their daily activities. As trekkers get out of the jungle, they still get an opportunity to encounter different attractions of the park. Trekkers are all given trekking certificates, an indicator that they have participated in gorilla trekking and contributed to their conservation. 

Things to pack for Bwindi gorilla trekking

To enjoy gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you need to pack the right essentials for the park. The packing list for gorilla trekking should include waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long sleeved cloths, a face mask, a hat, sun glasses, trekking poles, insect repellents, sun screen, a camera, a pair of binoculars, a rain jacket, a drinking water bottle, and energy giving snacks to mention but a few. 

Where to stay on Bwindi gorilla trekking Uganda safari

While on a gorilla trekking safari Uganda, there are lots of accommodation facilities to stay at. These range from budget to mid-range to luxury options, and tourists stay in lodges according to their budget. Bwindi has different sectors. Tourists intending to book accommodation by themselves should always book lodges in the sectors they are trekking in.

Bwindi lodges include Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ride 4 a Woman, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Forest Lodge, and Bwindi Neck View, to mention but a few. 

Getting to Bwindi for gorilla trekking 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by either air transport or road transport. Air transport is the quickest way to get to Bwindi, which has 2 airstrips: Kihihi and Kisoro airstrip. Airline companies such as Aerolink Uganda have flights to and from Bwindi for luxury travelers and those who hate traveling for long distances. 

Road transport is the most common means of transport used to access Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. From Entebbe/Kampala, it’s a long journey of 9 to 10 hours that comes with a number of stopovers and great views along the way. From Entebbe/Kampala tourists go through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Kabale, or Kisoro to any of the sectors of the park. 

Best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi

The driest months of the year, June to September and December to February, are the best times of the year to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. These months have little or no rainfall, which keeps the trekking trails dry and easier to walk through. The vegetation is short and dry, which gives a clear view of the mountain gorillas, and the best photography. Tourists may still travel in the rainy season, but there is plenty of rainfall and little sunshine, keeping the trails muddy.