Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most amazing activity that any tourist visiting Uganda can engage in. the activity marks the highlight of most visits to the national park. Bwindi National Park is one of the only four national parks in the world that is a haven for the endangered species of mountain gorillas. The national park has about 459 mountain gorillas, which is almost half of the world’s total population.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the 10 national parks in Uganda and it is one of the most visited national parks in the country. The national park covers an area of 321 square kilometers and lies at an altitude between 1,160m and 2,607m above sea level. Bwindi was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park is indeed one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters in the national park. There are 19 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi national park, and 15 gorilla groups are available for tourists to track. In addition to this, the national park is also home to over 120 mammal species, 220 butterfly species and more than 348 bird species.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park takes place from four major sectors, which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is carried out in groups of a maximum of eight members per gorilla group. Each gorilla trekking group is given strictly an hour to spend in the midst of the gorillas. Trekking commences at exactly 8am; however trekkers are advised to be at the park’s headquarters at exactly 7am for a briefing by the park’s head ranger.

Trekkers are placed in tracking groups depending on which gorilla group the visitors are going to track. Each group of gorilla trekkers has an experienced guide, armed ranger and porters to carry your luggage in case you hired one.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda involves a lot of vigorous hiking through the renowned Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The activity requires trekkers to be in a perfect physical and mental condition since the hiking trails can be steep, slippery and muddy. Trekkers in Bwindi national park have to walk through the thick forest vegetation while tracking a group of gorillas using their fresh poop, left over fruits, broken bamboo shoots, and fresh footprints among others.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can take between 4-8 hours of tracking the gorilla families and once a gorilla group has been located, trekkers are given only an hour to spend in their midst. This marks the highlight of any gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and visitors can use the opportunity to take pictures of the gorillas as well as record videos. However, it is important to note that flash photography is not accepted while in the presence of the gorillas. Always endeavor to make sure that the flash light on your phone and camera is off.

Gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 19 habituated mountain gorilla families; with 8 habituated gorilla groups in Rushaga sector which are; Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahunge, Busingye, Bweza, Bikyingi, Mucunguzi and Rwigi gorilla families.

The Buhoma sector in Bwindi national park has 4 habituated gorilla families namely; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe gorilla families.

Further south of the national park is the Nkuringo sector which has 3 habituated gorilla families which are; Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas families.

In the Ruhija sector which is located in the eastern part of the park, there are 4 habituated mountain gorilla families and these include; Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro and the Mukiza family.

How much is a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Bwindi National Park?

Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park cost 600 USD per person and tourists are advised to acquire gorilla trekking permits 4-6 months in advance because of the high demand by tourists to do gorilla trekking in Uganda over Rwanda and Congo. The advantage that most tourists have here is that the cost of the permit covers entrance fees to the park, guide fees and a contribution towards the development of the neighboring communities.

However, starting from 1^st July 2020 to 1^st June 2022, the price of a gorilla trekking permit is going to increase from USD 600 to USD 700 dollars per person for Foreign Non-Residents, and from USD 500 to USD 600 dollars for Foreign Residents.

The park also offers gorilla habituation experience at a fee of 1500 USD. This activity gives visitors an opportunity to take part in gorilla habituation projects in the park; where along with a team of highly trained and experience park staff, visitors can help in integrating the gorillas with humans. This activity also involves observing the gorillas in their natural habitat, monitoring their behaviors and way of feeding as well.

The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi national parks allows visitors to spend up to 4 hours with the gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience is done in the Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and starts at 7:30am in the morning.

What to pack when going Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

It is recommended that tourists visiting Bwindi national park on a gorilla trekking safari, pack light clothing for warm weather when temperatures in the park are high. However, also pack with you a raincoat for emergency purposes, as you will be in a forest where it can rain at any given time. Also pack with you a good pair of hiking boots, sunscreen cream and a water bottle/mineral water to keep hydrated as you trek.

Best Time to do Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda can be done throughout the year. However, the activity is best done in the months between June- September and December-February when it is the dry season. During this time of the year, it is much easier for visitors to trek through the forest while locating the gorilla groups.

Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

There are plenty of accommodation facilities for tourists visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These accommodation facilities range from luxury to mid-range and budget lodging, depending on the preferences of the guest. Some of these facilities include; Bwindi Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Resort Bwindi, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mantana Camp and Rushaga Gorilla Camp among others.

Rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.

Trekkers are usually given a set of rules and regulations to follow when trekking gorillas, and here are some of them;

• Gorilla trekking can be done ONLY by visitors aged 15 years and above.
• Senior citizens who wish to take part in gorilla trekking activities should be both physically and mentally healthy. In cases where a visitor has a health condition e.g. heart conditions, asthma, or acute/high blood pressure; one will have to sign a Release of Liability taking full responsibility for any accident that he/she may get while trekking gorillas.
• Do not trek gorillas in case your have a cold, cough or any air-bone diseases.
• Gorilla trekking activities take place in groups of a maximum of 8 members only.
• Visitors must have a valid passport (at least 6 months valid) and East African tourist visa.
• Visitors should wash their hands before and after gorilla trekking.
• Gorilla trekkers should always stick to your groups. Do not wondered away from your trekking group.
• Keep your voice down throughout your trekking activities.
• Do not litter the national park.
• Once the gorillas have been located, maintain a safe distance of 7 meters between you and the gorilla group.
• Do not maintain eye contact with the gorillas especially a Silverback.
• Visitors should not eat, drink or even smoke when in the presence of the gorillas.
• Visitors should avoid unnecessary movement when in the midst of gorillas.
• Always stay calm in case a gorilla charges at you, and carefully listen to the instructions given to you by your guide.
• Flash photography is prohibited especially when you are with a gorilla group. Visitors should always ensure that your camera’s flash is disabled.

How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed by road and air. The main entry point to Uganda is Entebbe International Airport which is about 8-10 hours’ drive to Bwindi national park. Alternatively, one can choose to charter a flight to Kihihi or Kisoro at an extra fee and then drive to Bwindi. It takes about a 1½ hours’ drive from Kihihi to the park’s headquarters in Buhoma and approximately 3½ hours from Kisoro to Buhoma in Bwindi.

For those travelling from Kampala, it takes approximately 8½ hours driving via Kabale- Mbarara road to get to Buhoma in Bwindi. In case you are using the Masaka- Mbarara highway, it will take you about 9-10 hours to reach the park’s headquarters in Buhoma.

Travelers can also connect to Bwindi from Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector. This drive will take you approximately 2-4 hours to reach Buhoma.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, is such an awesome activity to do and a memorable experience that any tourist in Africa can have. The one hour that you get to spend in the midst of the gorillas is totally amazing and makes the entire experience of gorilla trekking worth every penny!