Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National
Park is undoubtedly Uganda’s most popular tourist activity. The experience
takes you on a unique interaction with mountain gorillas
Mountain
gorillas can be found in four national parks:
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda,
Virunga National Park in DR Congo, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla
population lives in Uganda. Uganda is also the only country where mountain
gorillas may be found in two distinct national parks.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National
Park, in southwestern Uganda, is often regarded, as the greatest spot to watch
mountain gorillas.The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known as
impenetrable due to its dense tree canopies, which prevent sunlight from
penetrating to the ground. Bwindi has the most habituated gorilla groups
anywhere, with 17 in total. Bwindi is a suitable park to visit for gorilla
tracking because it is adjacent to some of Uganda’s greatest tourist sites.
These include Queen Elizabeth National
Park, Mgahinga National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Kibale National Park, and others.
Visitors may therefore combine a gorilla safari with spotting the big five. A
gorilla permit in Bwindi costs $700, less than the $1500 charged in Rwanda
Congo gorilla permits are the cheapest at $400, but the instability in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo has hindered gorilla tourism growth. It is vital
to note that the cost of a gorilla permit does not include expenditures for
lodging, visas, transportation, meals, or flights.
A gorilla trip might cost anything
from $1150 and $5000. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is about more than just
gorillas. Visitors can also visit the Batwa pygmy community, go on forest
hikes, watch birds, and see other primates such as chimps. Speaking about
chimps, Bwindi is one of the only national parks in the world where mountain
gorillas and chimps coexist.
The chimps may be seen while tracking
the gorillas.It is vital to note that the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is
separated into four major sectors: Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija.
Rushaga and Buhoma have more gorilla families than the other regions. They are
also more widely used for gorilla tracking. Visitors interested in gorilla
habituation can do so from Rushaga.
Currently, only one gorilla troop is
being habituated. A gorilla trekking permit costs $700, whereas a gorilla
habituation permit costs $1500. Only four permits are provided per day for the
gorilla habituation experience, while over 170 gorilla permits are available
for conventional trekking.
Read an intriguing story regarding
gorilla trekking versus habitat in Uganda. If you are a senior, you may find
our post on gorilla trekking for the elderly intriguing.
Gorilla Trekking in
Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Gorilla watching in Bwindi takes place
all year, but the dry/peak season is the greatest time to see gorillas in
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The peak season occurs between December and
February, and June and August. The wet season runs from March to May and
October to November. Tracking gorillas during the rainy season is more
difficult due of the overgrown vegetation and muddy pathways. However,
travelers should not be discouraged from scheduling tours during the rainy
season. Gorilla permits are more affordable during the rainy/low season.
The
park is also less crowded, allowing visitors to spend more time with the
gorillas. It is vital to understand that Bwindi is a rain forest. Rain can come
at any time regardless of the season.
Getting to Bwindi Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National
Park is accessible by air via Kajjansi/Entebbe or by car from Kampala. The
travel by road from Kampala takes approximately 8 hours, whereas a flight takes
no more than 2 hours. Some people escape the long road trip from Kampala by
arriving in Kigali.
The
journey from Kigali, Rwanda, to Bwindi takes four hours.
Gorilla
trekking in Bwindi Forest begins with a briefing at the park headquarters at
7:30 a.m. Visitors should sleep early on the day of tracking and rise up at 5
a.m. to eat breakfast before beginning the drive to the park office. After the
briefing at the park office, hikers are divided into small groups of eight.
Each group of eight follows a specific gorilla family. Some gorilla families
dwell near the park offices, while others are located further away.
Park
Guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, two armed rangers, and porters
accompany each tour. The Guides are highly experienced, informed, and properly
trained. While guiding people to the gorillas, they will provide information
about the gorilla family and other species found in the jungle.
Tracking gorillas in Bwindi.
The gorilla group assigned to the
individual determines the amount of time spent monitoring gorillas in Bwindi.
Some groups can be located in as little as 30 minutes, while others can take
hours. Normally, a team of trackers leads the group to locate the gorilla
family. They then radio the lead Guide to advise him of the gorilla family’s
exact location.
These advanced trackers know where the
gorillas built their last sleeping nests and will proceed in that route. There
is no guarantee of sighting gorillas, although the odds are more than 98%.Once
you find the family, you will only have one hour with them so that they do not
become uncomfortable. Watching gorillas may be an incredibly emotional
experience because they behave like humans and share approximately 98 percent
of our DNA.
Take your time observing their
behavior and personalities, and get some beautiful images for your memory.
Follow the norms and regulations for gorilla tracking, such as avoiding smoking
or eating in front of the primates. When a gorilla charges at you, do not run
away; instead, lie down with your heads bowed in surrender.
Other activities in Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest Park
As previously stated, Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its rich
biodiversity. Visitors to Bwindi can participate in various more activities,
which may include any of the following: –
Visiting the Batwa pygmies:
To visit the indigenous people who
have lived in the Bwindi jungle for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, they have been expelled
from the forest and forced to move outside of the park. Visiting the Batwa
pygmies provides an excellent opportunity to learn about their culture and
participate in some of their cultural events. Expect to see traditional dance
performances and hear stories about how they used to hunt and pick fruit in the
jungle.
Primates watching:
Bwindi Forest is one of the few places in the
world where you can view both mountain gorillas and chimps. Tourists taking
gorilla tours in Bwindi may be lucky enough to see chimps and baboons along the
route. Bush infants, Blue Monkeys, Red-Tailed Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Ververt
Monkeys, and Colobus Monkeys are some of the smaller primates that can be seen
in Bwindi.
Wildlife viewing:
While gorilla tracking is, the main attraction
at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, visitors can also see forest
elephants, leopards, bats, jackals, forest duikers, and giant forest hogs.
Birding:
Bwindi Forest is one of Africa’s top
birding locations, with over 330 different bird species.
Cultural activities:
Include Buniga Forest tours, village
walks, visits to local houses, and the purchase of local handcrafted items.
Accommodation
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park necessitates selecting the
appropriate lodging.
There are numerous luxury and cheap
accommodations available. The ultimate decision is totally up to your unique
preferences, budget, and needs. Luxury lodges can cost up to $1500 per night,
while budget lodges can start at $80.
Let
us take a brief glance at some of the biggest hotels and lodges:
Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort and
Campsite offers economy, mid-range, and luxury rooms in Ruhija Sector. There
are conventional rooms, tents, and campgrounds.Travelers can stroll directly
from the lodge to the park office for a briefing.
Volcanoes Safaris’ Bwindi Lodge:
This Super Luxury Lodge is located in
the Buhoma district, near the park offices.
Walking
to the park entrance takes only ten minutes. They offer some of the greatest
services in Buhoma. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla resort is a mid-luxury resort
located in the Nkuringo Sector.
Aside
from gorillas, the area is ideal for birding. Buhoma Community Campsite is
ideal for budget travelers who seek roomy, self-contained rooms. Buhoma Lodge
is located in the Buhoma area and provides spectacular views of the park.
Silverback
Lodge:
This lodge is located in the Buhoma
sector of Bwindi. They offer self-contained luxury and midrange accommodations.
The lodge arranges outdoor activities for interested visitors, like as nature
tours to surrounding settlements, the day before or after gorilla tracking.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Is located in the park’s southern area
and has eight self-contained stone rooms. Each room is furnished with local
items and a fireplace.
Gorilla Forest Camp:
Conveniently
placed near to the park entrance. The campsite comprises over seven tents, each
with its own bathroom, raised and supported by wooden platforms.
Mahogany Springs:
As the name implies, it is made of
mahogany and provides luxurious accommodations, including a presidential suite
overlooking the gorgeous Munyanga River.
What is the cost of gorilla
trekking in Bwindi forest?
Every traveler planning a Bwindi
gorilla trekking safari would eventually wonder about the expense. The price of
Bwindi gorilla trekking includes a gorilla permit. Bwindi gorilla trekking
licenses cost $700, which is far cheaper than the $1500 charged in Rwanda. A
portion of the money collected from gorilla permits is used to fund gorilla
conservation activities and local residents living around the park.
Paying for the licenses directly
contributes to gorilla conservation and empowers local people such as the
Batwa, who were evicted from the forest. It is vital to note that, in addition
to the gorilla permit, you will need to pay for transportation, lodging, and
VISA fees.
Gorilla permits in Bwindi are in high
demand and must be purchased in advance to ensure availability, especially if
traveling during the peak season. You should also know which sector you want to
visit. Gorilla permits can be obtained at the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s
offices in Kampala.
It is feasible to organize your own
gorilla safari and travel to Bwindi in your own automobile. However, based on
our personal experience, we recommend hiring the services of a reputable tour
company to plan your trip.
Experienced tour operators from Naleyo
tours and travels can assist you in obtaining permits, especially during busy
season. They will also assist you with selecting/booking the appropriate
accommodation (near the park), arranging transportation, and booking other
activities, among others.