
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Adventure
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Adventure: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the top gorilla trekking destinations in the world, situated in southern Uganda within the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area. The tangled, lush forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provide shelter to a diverse range of fauna, including half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Besides the Bwindi gorilla trekking adventure, the park is a favourite destination for birdwatching with over 23 Albertine rift endemics. Other tourist attractions include hiking, nature walks, Batwa community encounters, and many others.
There are more mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park than anywhere else in the world, and they are spread over the park’s four sectors. In the regions of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, mountain gorillas can be found. Two gorilla families are semi-habituated, and there are 19 completely habituated gorilla families in the park. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the most popular activity is mountain gorilla trekking, which gives visitors the chance to spend an hour with endangered mountain gorillas in their natural surroundings. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues legitimate gorilla permits to anyone who treks gorillas in Bwindi Gorilla Park.
Using a local tour operator will help you arrange for permits, lodging, and transportation if you want to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Gorilla Park. You can trek these mountain gorillas in Bwindi at any time of year, and you can get to the park in a single day by either air or road transportation.
Bwindi gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The most popular activity in Bwindi is gorilla trekking, which is conducted by armed ranger guides. Four areas of the park—Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga—are used for the activity. In every sector of the park, gorilla trekking begins early in the morning. Before being taken to the sector offices, trekkers must get up early and eat breakfast at their accommodation. The sector headquarters is where the trekkers are grouped, given armed ranger guides to take them through the forest, and informed of the rules and regulations of the trekking activity.
At the beginning of the hike, hikers receive walking sticks, and those who have too much stuff can hire porters for a reasonable price. The trekkers are led by armed ranger escorts over various trekking trails in search of the designated mountain gorilla family. Travelling through many routes and encountering various park creatures, including big forest hogs, forest elephants, buffalos, duikers, side-striped jackals, bushpigs, birds, and much more, takes two to seven hours in order to find mountain gorillas.
Trekkers are allowed to spend an hour with mountain gorillas after they are located, observing them as they go about their everyday lives—travelling, nesting, climbing, hunting, eating, and much more. The guidelines provided by the park officials must be followed by the hikers. After leaving the bush, the hikers receive their trekking certifications and meet the drivers who will take them to the lodge or their next stop.
The cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi gorilla park
Only individuals with valid gorilla trekking permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority are permitted to gorilla trek in Bwindi Gorilla Park. East African citizens must pay Shs300,000 for gorilla trekking licenses in Bwindi, while foreign non-residents must pay $800 and foreign residents must pay $700. For the same amount, you can get gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Gorilla Park via the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable local tour operator. It is recommended that visitors planning to visit Bwindi Gorilla Park reserve their permits in advance to prevent last-minute cancellations.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi gorilla park
Although it is possible to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park throughout the year, some months are better than others. The best time of year to go on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi is during the dry months of June through September and December through February. This is because the roads leading to the park are passable, the vegetation is sparse and allows for clear views of the mountain gorillas, and there is little to no rainfall, which leaves the trekking trails dry.
The wet seasons of March through May and October through November nevertheless offer visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park significant savings on lodging. However, excessive rainfall during the rainy season causes the hiking routes to become muddy and slick, the vegetation to be dense, making it difficult to see the park animals, and the roads leading to the park to be in good shape.
Things to carry for Bwindi gorilla trekking experience
A light backpack, a warm rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts and pants, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first aid kit, a camera, binoculars, a drinking water bottle, waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, cotton stocks, gardening gloves and energy-boosting snacks are all necessary items to bring when gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Accommodation options during Bwindi gorilla trekking adventure
Accommodation in Buhoma sector
Bwindi View Bandas, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, and Ride 4 Women Guest House, among others.
Accommodation in Rushaga sector
Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Resort.
Accommodation in Ruhija sector
Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, and Bakiga Lodge.
Accommodation in Nkuringo sector
Virunga Campsite, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and Bwindi Backpackers Lodge