Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park is arguably the most popular tourism activity in Uganda. The activity takes you for a special encounter with Mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas can be found in four national parks – the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DR Congo, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda. Uganda hosts half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas. Uganda is also the only country where mountain gorillas can be found in two different national parks.
Located in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park is arguably the best place to see mountain gorillas. A UNESCO World heritage site, the park is called impenetrable because of the thick tree canopies found in the park that prevent sunlight from penetrating to the ground. There are 17 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi which is the highest anywhere. Bwindi is a convenient park to visit 
because it is located close to some of the best tourist attractions in Uganda. These include Queen Elizabeth national park, Mgahinga National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Kibale National Park and more. It is therefore possible for visitors to combine a gorilla safari with spotting the big five. A gorilla permit in Bwindi costs $700 which is less than the $1500 charged in Rwanda. At $400, Congo gorilla permits are the cheapest but the instability in DR Congo has slowed the growth of gorilla tourism. It is important to note that the price of a gorilla permit doesn’t include expenses on accommodation, Visas, transport, food and flights. The overall price of a gorilla tour can go between $1150 to $5000. The cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi will also depend in the number of days and category of accommodation one is interested in.
Bwindi impenetrable forest park is not just about the gorillas. Visitors can also visit the Batwa pygmy community, take forest walks, spot birds and view other primates like Chimpanzees. Talking about chimpanzees, Bwindi is one of the few national parks in the world where mountain gorillas and chimpanzee live together. The chimps may be sighted while tracking the gorillas.
It is important to note that Bwindi impenetrable national Park is divided into four main sectors – Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Ruhija. Rushaga and Buhoma have more gorilla families than other sectors. They are also more popular for gorilla tracking. Visitors who are interested in a gorilla habituation experience can do it from Rushaga. Our 3 Days gorilla habituation experience package allows visitors to study a particular gorilla group more closely for four hours under the guidance of Researchers. There is currently only one gorilla group under habituation. Whereas a gorilla trekking permit costs $700, the gorilla habituation permit costs $ 1500. Only four permits are issued for the gorilla habituation experience each day but over 170 gorilla permits are available daily for normal trekking. Read an interesting article about Gorilla Trekking Vs Habituation in Uganda. If you are a senior, you might find our article about gorilla trekking for elderly people interesting.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Gorilla watching in Bwindi is done throughout the year but the dry/peak season is the best time to visit gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The peak season falls in the dry months of December to February and June to August. The wet season is in March to May and October to November. Tracking gorillas during the rainy season is more challenging because of the overgrown vegetation and muddy trails. However, visitors shouldn’t be discouraged from booking tour during the rainy season. The rainy /low season attracts discounts for gorilla permits. There are also less crowds in the park hence allowing visitors more valuable time with the gorillas. It is important to note that Bwindi is a rain forest. One should expect rain at any time regardless of season.
There is our popular 1 day gorilla safari to Bwindi but visitors can also choose the 2 or 3 Days packages . Our 1 day gorilla safari package in Bwindi is designed for those on a busy schedule and don’t have much time to spare. Those who have more time can choose the 3 or 2 days Bwindi gorilla tour package.
Getting to Bwindi Forest
Bwindi impenetrable forest national Park can be accessed by air through Kajjansi/Entebbe or by road from Kampala. The journey by road from Kampala takes about 8 hours while a flight takes at most 2 hours. Some travelers avoid the long journey by road from Kampala by arriving through Kigali. The route from Kigali in Rwanda to Bwindi takes 4 hours.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest starts with a briefing at the park headquarters at around 7:30am. Visitors should sleep early before the day of tracking and wake up by 5am to take breakfast before starting the journey to the park office. After the briefing at the park office, trekkers are separated into smaller groups of 8. Each group of eight track a particular gorilla family. Some gorilla families live near the park offices while others are found further away. The Park Guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, two armed rangers and porters move with each group. The Guides are very experienced, knowledgeable and well-trained. While leading tourists to the gorillas, they will share information about the gorilla family and other animals found in the forest.
The time taken tracking gorillas in Bwindi depends on the gorilla group one is assigned to. It can take only 30 minutes to locate some groups while others can take hours. A team of trackers normally go ahead of the group to identify the location of the gorilla family. They then inform the lead Guide by radio call of the exact location of the gorilla family. These advance trackers know where the gorilla group built their last sleeping nests and will head to that direction. There is no guarantee of seeing the gorillas but the chances of spotting the gorillas is over 98%.
Once you spot the family, you will be allowed only one hour with them – so that they don’t start getting uncomfortable. Watching gorillas can be an extremely emotional event as gorillas behave like humans and share about 98 percent of our DNA. Take your time to observe their behavior and different personalities while taking some great photos for your memories. Follow the rules and regulations for gorilla tracking such as not smoking or eating within sight of the primates. Do not run away when a gorilla charges at you – lie down with your heads down as a sign of submission.
Other activities in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park
As already mentioned earlier, Bwindi impenetrable forest park is a UNESCO world heritage site because of its great biodiversity. Visitors to Bwindi can get involved in several other activities which could include any of the following:-
Visiting the Batwa pygmies: To see the original people who lived in Bwindi forest for thousands of years. Unfortunately, they have now been evicted from the forest and forced to resettle outside the park. Visiting the Batwa pygmies is a great opportunity to learn about their culture and get involved in some of their cultural activities. Expect to see traditional dance performances while listening to stories about how they used to hunt and gather fruits in the forest.
Primates watching: Bwindi forest is one of the few forests in the world where one can see both Mountain gorillas and chimpanzee. During gorilla tours in Bwindi, tourists may be lucky to come across chimpanzees and baboons along the way. Other smaller primates that can be sighted in Bwindi include Bush babies, Blue Monkeys, Red-Tailed Monkeys, L’ Hoests Monkeys, Ververt monkeys and Colobus Monkeys.
Wildlife viewing: Gorilla tracking may be the top attraction in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park but other wild animals can be spotted including Forest elephants, Leopards, Bats, Jackals, Forest Duikers and Giant Forest Hogs.
Birding: Bwindi forest is one of the best birding destinations in Africa and is a birders paradise with over 330 bird species.
Cultural Activities: Such as Buniga Forest walk, village walks, visiting homes of locals and buying local handcrafts crafts.
Accommodation
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest park involve choosing the right accommodation. There are several luxury and budget accommodation options available. The final choice depends entirely on your personal choice, preference and budget. The luxury lodges can go as high as $1500 per night while the budget ones can go as low as $80. Lets briefly look at some of the major hotels and lodges:-
- Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort and Campsite: They provide budget, mid-range and luxury rooms in Ruhija Sector. There are standard rooms, tents and campsites. Travelers can walk directly from the lodge to the park offices for briefing.
- Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge: This Super Luxury lodge is located near the park offices in Buhoma sector. It takes just ten minutes to reach the park entrance while walking. They have one of the best services in Buhoma.
- Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge: Is a mid-luxury lodge located in Nkuringo Sector. Apart from gorillas, the area is excellent for birding.
- Buhoma Community Campsite: Ideal for the budget traveler who still requires spacious self-contained rooms.
- Buhoma Lodge: Is located in Buhoma sector and offers stunning views of the park.
- Silverback Lodge: This lodge is found in Buhoma sector of Bwindi. They have self-contained luxury and mid-range rooms. The lodge organizes outdoor activities like nature walks to nearby communities for interested visitors the day before or after tracking the gorillas.
- Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge: Is located in the southern part of the park with eight self-contained stone rooms. Each room is decorated with local artifacts and a fireplace.
- Gorilla Forest Camp: Very conveniently located next to the park entry. The Campsite has over 7 tents with individual bathrooms that are raised and supported by wooden platforms.
- Mahogany Springs: As the name suggests, is built out of Mahogany and offers luxury accommodation facilities including a presidential suit overlooking the beautiful Munyanga river.
What is the cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest?
Every traveler intending to go for a Bwindi gorilla trekking safari will at some point wonder about the cost. The bwindi gorilla trekking price includes the cost of a gorilla permit. Bwindi gorilla trekking permits cost $700 which is far less than the $1500 charged in Rwanda. Part of the money collected from gorilla permits is channeled to gorilla conservation programs and supporting local communities living near the park. By paying for the permits, you directly contribute to gorilla conservation and empowering local communities like the Batwa who were affected by their eviction from the forest.
It is important to note that apart from the gorilla permit, you need to budget for transportation, accommodation and VISA costs. Gorilla permits in Bwindi are on high demand and need to be in advance to be sure especially if you are intending to travel during the peak season. You also need to be aware of which sector you would like to visit. Gorilla permits can be acquired from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala. It is possible to organize your gorilla safari yourself and come to Bwindi driving your own car. However, based on our own experience, we recommend using the services of a good tour company to organize your trip. Experienced Tour operators can help you get permits even during the peak season. They will also help you select/book the right accommodation (near the park), arrange transportation and book other activities among others.
