What are the chances of encountering gorillas in Bwindi?
What are the chances of encountering gorillas in Bwindi? One of the most common queries from visitors planning to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi is, “What are the possibilities or chances of encountering mountain gorillas in Bwindi?” Given that the national park is home to the largest number of mountain gorillas, there is a very good chance of seeing them in Bwindi. Since Bwindi is home to mountain gorillas there is a 99% chance of spotting them in Bwindi. Over 650 mountain gorillas wander the four sectors of the national park, which is just 331 square kilometres in size. These sectors include Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma.
Considering the chances of encountering gorillas in Bwindi, every visitor to Bwindi has had the opportunity to see the mountain gorillas. This clarifies why Bwindi Gorilla Park is known as Africa’s top gorilla trekking destination. Other mountain gorillas can be found in the national parks of Mgahinga, Virunga, and Volcanoes, but the combined population of these areas is not as large as that of Bwindi.
In addition to 19 mountain gorilla families and two semi-habituated mountain gorilla families, the Bwindi National Park also has unhabituated wild mountain gorillas. To ensure that trekkers have a successful mountain gorilla trekking experience, the gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi is well-organised and conducted with the assistance of armed ranger guides.
The chances of encountering mountain gorillas in Bwindi are 99% if you have armed ranger guides. This is because, by the time the guides lead you into the jungle, there are trackers who use radio calls to let them know where the mountain gorillas are, and they then use the actual routes to connect you with the family. By getting up early and traveling to the jungle to find out where the mountain gorillas spent the night before, the trackers play a crucial part.
In Bwindi Gorilla Park, the gorilla trekking activity begins at the briefing centres for the several park sectors fairly early in the morning. The park wardens examine the hikers for permits and indications of communicable diseases. After educating the trekkers about the activity’s laws and regulations, they divide them into groups. Armed ranger rangers lead the parties and show them how to safely approach the mountain gorillas while also keeping them safe from potentially harmful wild animals.
While looking for the designated mountain gorilla family, the trekkers have the opportunity to witness a variety of park species, including buffaloes, elephants, duikers, bushpigs, gigantic forest hogs, and birds. Trekkers would have located the mountain gorillas within two to seven hours, and the time it takes to meet them typically varies depending on the trekkers’ speed and the location of the mountain gorilla family.
A group of 8 trekkers is assigned a mountain gorilla family accompanied by park ranger guides. As soon as the mountain gorilla family is spotted, trekkers must abide by the guidelines of the offices. Trekkers observe the gorillas’ everyday routines, including nesting, pairing, hunting, eating, patrolling, and grooming, take pictures and videos; and learn about their behaviours.
When it is their turn to trek, visitors to Bwindi Gorilla Park will undoubtedly see mountain gorillas, so they should not worry about the likelihood of seeing them. Those who exhibit symptoms of contagious illnesses like the flu or cough cannot observe the mountain gorillas during their tour. Because they can easily spread the disease to mountain gorillas, who share 98% of human DNA, such individuals are prohibited from trekking with gorillas.
Travellers must reserve their gorilla permit in advance to guarantee a place, which will boost their chances of spotting gorillas in Bwindi. You can properly organise your safari, pack all the necessities, and work out to ensure that you are healthy enough on the day of trekking if you book your gorilla permits in advance. When you are healthy enough to navigate the rough terrain, dense vegetation, and muddy trails until you find the gorilla family, gorilla trekking is a success.
Conclusively, travellers are assured that there is a very high likelihood of spotting gorillas in Bwindi. Due to varying gorilla encounter times, you can observe mountain gorillas at any time of day when you go on a safari in the park. You will always be escorted around the park by armed ranger guides who play an instrumental role in guiding you as you traverse around the park until you see mountain gorillas.
What is the cost of seeing mountain gorillas?
To participate in the trekking activity where they have the opportunity to see gorillas in Bwindi, a visitor needs a gorilla trekking permit. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sells gorilla permits, which are also available via a reputable travel operator. The cost of a gorilla habituation permit is UGX750,000 for East African citizens, $1500 for foreign non-residents, and $1000 for foreign residents. A typical gorilla trekking permit is UGX300,000 for East African citizens, $700 for foreign residents, and $800 for foreign non-residents.
Best time to see gorillas in Bwindi
For those who wish to see mountain gorillas, Bwindi is open year-round, although some months are better than others. The best time to visit Bwindi and see gorillas is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. This is because there is little to no rainfall, the park’s pathways are dry, the foliage is sparse, the roads leading to the park are practicable, and there are good views of mountain gorillas.
The park is open from March to May and October to November, the wet seasons when visitors can visit Bwindi and see gorillas. Because fewer people visit the park during the rainy season, lodging options are more affordable to draw in visitors. Budget travellers benefit from the rainy season, which is marked by an abundance of rainfall that muddies and slickens trekking trails, short and dense vegetation that obscures views of the mountain gorillas, and inaccessible roads leading to the park.