Kabale and Kisoro districts are located in southwest Uganda, where gorilla treks to Bwindi take place. The renowned Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi, is a home to the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, where this thrilling activity of gorilla tracking takes place. Because mountain gorillas and humans share 98% of the same DNA, thousands of tourists from around the globe are drawn to watch these primates from the family of the great apes. You can get an up close with the endangered mountain gorillas that call the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park home by participating in Gorilla tracking. In Bwindi Forest, there are two semi-habituated gorilla groups whereas nineteen families are completely habituated and ready to trek
Bwindi is a mountain gorilla habitat that is situated in southwest Uganda, adjoining Mgahinga National Park. Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are two more mountain gorilla national parks. If you are considering going on a mountain gorilla trekking trip in Africa, Bwindi is the greatest national park to visit because it has the largest gorilla population, along with 350 bird species, 120 mammal species, and 10 primate species
planning for Bwindi gorilla trips in Uganda
Tourists from anywhere can take part in gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda. With the assistance of our team of professional and knowledgeable staff members at Alive Africa Adventures. Just provide us the dates, month and the year you wish to take part in a gorilla experience, and we will inquire with Uganda Wildlife Authority about the availability of Gorilla trekking or habituation permits depending on the client’s interests
We will email you our banking information as soon as we discover permits are available, and once you transfer money and we receive the notification, we will schedule the type of permit you like. A scanned copy will be sent to you later for your confirmation. The next step after obtaining a gorilla permit is to reserve accommodation depending on your travel budget and mode transport.
How much do Bwindi gorilla permits cost?
The cost of a Bwindi gorilla trekking permit is $700 for non-resident foreigners, $600 for inhabitants of other countries, and $250,000 for nationals of East Africa. The cost of the Bwindi gorilla habituation permits is $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $1000 for residents of other countries, and $750,000 for inhabitants of East Africa. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues gorilla permits on a first-come, first-served basis.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
You can trek mountain gorillas in any of the park’s four sectors to include Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija. As you take a Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park, early in the morning, armed ranger guides lead trekkers over various park trails in search of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking begins at the sector headquarters.
In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, gorilla trekking, and gorilla habituation, requires spending 2-7 hours hiking in several trekking trails as they encounter various park primates, mammals, and birds. Trekkers are required to follow to rules and regulations during the gorilla trekking experience until they leave the jungle.
When you go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest, you are entitled to one hour to spend with the apes as you take pictures and videos, observe the gorillas going about their everyday lives, and discover more about their behaviors as soon as they find the mountain gorilla family. When it comes to gorilla habituation, tourists will have 4 hours to spend with mountain gorillas, watch them closely as they get used to human presence, collect samples, participate in any naming ceremonies, learn about their habits, take pictures and videos for the experience
When to book a Bwindi gorilla trip in Uganda
Although gorilla tours to Bwindi, Uganda, can be undertaken throughout the year, certain months are more favorable than others. The greatest times to go on a gorilla tour in Bwindi are during the dry months, when there is little to no rainfall, which leaves the hiking routes dry, short foliage that allows for a clear view of the apes, and passable roads that lead to the park.
Travelers, especially those on a tight budget, can take advantage of significant savings on lodging by scheduling their Uganda gorilla excursions in Bwindi during the rainy season. But during the rainy season, there is an abundance of precipitation, which causes the hiking trails to become muddy and slippery, the tall, wet vegetation to obstruct views of the mountain gorillas, and the roads leading to the park to become impassable.
Accessing Bwindi Forest National Park for mountain gorilla safari
Flights to gorilla destination takes about 2 hours flying from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Bwindi. Daily flights are arranged by Aero Link Uganda to either Kisoro airfield, which is located inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, or Kihihi airstrip, where visitors are escorted by their safari guides to enter the park. If tourists plan to use chartered planes to visit Bwindi, they need to let their tour operators know ahead of time so they can reserve seats for them.
Road transportation is available to get tourists to Bwindi for gorilla tours.
The safari begins from Entebbe or Kampala capital city past Masaka, Kisoro, and Kabale to Bwindi. It takes nine to ten hours to travel by car to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with stops along the way and breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscape. Travelers can see some of the park’s wildlife at Lake Mburo, make a stop at the equator, and enjoy breathtaking vistas of hills and plantations the route to Bwindi.
Where to stay on a safari to Bwindi National Park
The following lodging options are available in the Buhoma sector: Bwindi Neckview Lodge Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, and Bwindi View Bandas.
The following lodging options are available in the Rushaga sector: Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Rushaga Gorilla Camp.
The following lodging options are available in the Nkuringo sector: Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Campsite, Mutanda Eco Community Center, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge.
The following lodging options are available in the Ruhija sector: Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.