Trekking mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Kigali: Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda and one of the places where tourists start their gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi. The fact that Rwanda is close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has attracted lots of tourists who hate traveling long distances from Entebbe and Kampala. Kigali to Bwindi especially the southern sector of the park is about 4 hours compared to the 9/10 hours from Entebbe/Kampala.
Trekking mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Kigali
Rwanda receives a lot of tourists who are interested in mountain gorilla trekking of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. This is because gorilla trekking in Uganda is cheaper than that in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda has the most expensive gorilla trekking permits in the world and this has helped Bwindi to get more clients who are looking for cheap options.
Trekking gorillas of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Kigali takes tourists through the border crossing points in Kisoro and Kabale. These tourists normally trek the southern sectors Rushaga and Nkuringo of the park because they are the closest sectors to Kigali.
Tourists from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park tourists must have gorilla trekking permits if they are to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. These permits are purchased by the local tour operators from Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee which is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 citizens of East African member states.
The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
The gorilla trekking day starts very early in the morning with breakfast and later tourists are given a packed lunch in case they take too long to locate the mountain gorillas they can have from the jungle. Driver guides, drive tourists to the trekking points of the sector in the trekking permits.
At the meeting points of the trekking sectors, trekkers gather and armed ranger guides teach the rules and regulations of trekking. After the trekkers are given mountain gorilla families to trek with and armed ranger guides to lead them in the jungle. Trekkers who need porters get them at the briefing point and the driver guides transfer them to the starting points of the trekking.
The search for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park goes through different trekking trails already constructed in the jungle by armed ranger guides. It’s a 2 to 6 hour activity of searching for where the mountain gorillas could be. This time comes with an opportunity to meet different wildlife species that are said to be living within the park.
After hours of searching and locating mountain gorillas, 1 hour is usually given to the trekkers to be around these apes and watch them as they carry out daily activities. Mountain gorillas can be spotted hunting, nesting, mating, breast feeding, and feeding to mention but a few. After having a good time around mountain gorillas, tourists trek out of the jungle leaving them to continue with their daily activities.
Why trek mountain gorillas of Bwindi from Kigali
Cheap gorilla trekking permits: It’s true gorilla trekking permits of Uganda are cheaper than that of Rwanda and this has attracted a lot of tourists interested in seeing mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1500 while that in Uganda costs $800.
Distance: Kigali is close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for it takes about 4 hours by road transport. Some tourists fly to Kigali and drive to Bwindi avoiding the 9 to 10 hour journey from Entebbe/Kampala.
When to trek mountain gorillas of Bwindi from Kigali
Tourists can trek mountain gorillas of Bwindi from Kigali all throughout the year but the good weather is during the dry season and this makes it the best time. June to September and December to February are the best times to go gorilla trekking within Bwindi. There is little rainfall during the dry season and this keeps the roads to the park and trekking trails in the forest dry and passable. The vegetation is also short enabling trekkers to have a good view of the mountain gorillas.
How to travel from Kigali to Bwindi for mountain gorilla trekking?
From Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park tourists can only use road transport. It’s about a 4 hours drive from Kigali city to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where tourists mainly visit the southern sector Rushaga and Nkuringo for they are the closest. Tourists from Kigali drive to Bwindi via Katuna and Kyanika borders to different sectors of the park.
Where to stay on your mountain gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi from Kigali
Tourists who trek mountain gorillas of Bwindi from Kigali and would like to spend a night before or after mountain gorilla trekking have a lot of accommodation options to use. Kigali is close to the southern sectors of the park which means tourists stay in Rushaga or Nkuringo sectors of the park which have lodges like Gorila Leisure Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, and Gorilla Heights Lodge to mention but a few.