Trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi from South Africa begins in South Africa, continues to Uganda, and ends in South Africa. Bwindi is located in southwestern Uganda, which means that travelers must fly to their preferred airport and then go to Bwindi by road or plane.
Bwindi, located in the Kabale, Kanungu, and Kisoro districts, has the world’s largest population of mountain gorillas. Travelers from South Africa must select a sector of the park where they can trek mountain gorillas, or a local tour company will arrange the best experience for them. Bwindi has four trekking sectors: Nkuringo, Ruhija Rushaga, and Buhoma.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes place on 19 habituated and ready-to-track gorilla families in Bwindi Forest Park. The families can be located in several regions of the park, and trekking any of them requires a gorilla trekking permit granted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which can be obtained for the same cost from a reputable local tour operator.
How can I purchase gorilla permits for Bwindi from South Africa?
Purchase gorilla permits for Bwindi from South Africa through a local tour operator or directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Travelers from South Africa will need to find a reliable local tour operator to purchase the Bwindi permit. They will use the message in your email to check for the availability of trekking permits, and once they are available, they will send you an email with the various banking details. You will send the money for the permission, and after they get it, they will purchase a trekking permit for you. Travelers from South Africa and other areas of the world should book their gorilla permits 3-4 months in advance to avoid last-minute booking regrets.
How much do gorilla permits to Bwindi cost from South Africa?
The fee of a gorilla permit is the same regardless of the nation you are from. Travelers from South Africa can obtain gorilla permits in Bwindi for $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for East African citizens. Travelers from South Africa who wish to spend more time with the mountain gorillas can purchase licenses for $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for East African citizens.
Trek gorillas in Bwindi, South Africa
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park, South Africa, can be done in four sectors: Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Rushaga. To trek mountain gorillas, trekkers must first get gorilla trekking permits, which they will give to park wardens.
When the briefing is completed, trekkers are divided into groups of no more than eight, and armed ranger guides lead them into the bush to find the designated mountain gorilla family. Searching for a gorilla family in Bwindi National Park might take 2-7 hours, but during that time, hikers can witness a variety of species, primates, birds, and plants. When hikers find the gorilla family they are looking for, they are allowed an hour to observe the apes doing everyday activities, learn about their behaviors, and snap photographs.
When to visit Bwindi from South Africa?
Tourists from South Africa can visit Bwindi at any time of year, however certain months are better than others. The dry months of June to September and December to February are ideal for visiting Bwindi from South Africa because they have little to no rainfall. During the dry season, the trekking routes are dry, the vegetation is thin, providing good views of the park’s animals, and the roads leading into the park are in good condition.
South African tourists can trek gorillas in Bwindi Park during the rainy season and save a lot of money on accommodations. The rainy season in Bwindi lasts from March to May and October to November, and it is characterized by excessive rainfall, which makes the trekking paths muddy and slippery, tall and dense vegetation that obscures views of the park’s wildlife, and poor road conditions.
Accessing Bwindi Gorilla Park from South Africa.
Travelers from South Africa who want to hike gorillas in Bwindi must first fly to Entebbe International Airport or Kigali International Airport. From Kigali, visitors can reach the national park by driving to the Katuna border in Kabale or the Cyanika border in Kisoro, where they can cross into Uganda and drive to any of the gorilla-tracking districts.
South African travelers that use Entebbe International Airport can fly to Bwindi Gorilla Park. Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation, and Uganda Airlines provide flights to Kisoro airfield for visitors to the Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga regions, while those traveling to Buahoma land at Kihihi airstrip.
Travelers who enjoy long distances or cannot afford air travel can reach the park’s many sections by driving from Entebbe/Kampala through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, or Kisoro. The voyage lasts 9-10 hours and includes wonderful views of the surroundings, meeting new people, and stops at destinations like the Equator, the Igongo Cultural Centre, and much more.
Where can I stay in Bwindi from South Africa?
Bwindi gorilla park has four sectors from which mountain gorilla trekking may be done, thus you must choose your lodging based on which sector you visit. The sectors have housing amenities ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury, which are listed below.
Accommodation options in the Buhoma sector include Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Haven Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.
Accommodation options in Rushaga include Four Gorillas Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge Nsongi Camp.
Accommodation options in the Nkuringo sector include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Center, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite.
Accommodation options in Ruhija include Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern Chameleon Hill Lodge.