Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Location, Prices & Lodges

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Safari take you on a hike through the thick jungles of Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park to see the last remaining Mountain Gorillas in the World. Our Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Tours are inclusive of Gorilla Trekking tickets and excursions and they start from 1 day to 80 days when combined with other Uganda safari tour activities and the rest of East Africa safari activities.

How to Reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tours and excursions can depart by air through Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport or by road from Kampala/Entebbe or Kigali. The road journey from Kampala takes about 10 hours while a flight takes at most 2 hours. Some travelers avoid the long journey by road from Kampala/Entebbe by arriving from Kigali which is only 4 hours to Bwindi.

Cost of Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Permit/Ticket

A Bwindi gorilla trekking permit costs 800$ per person above 12 years of age for one ordinary gorilla trekking encounter and 1500$ per person for Habituation Permit. The overall price or cost of a gorilla trekking safari tour starts from 1000$ per person.

Guide to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Location, Prices & Lodges — Gorilla Family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Where can Tourists see Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi.

Tourists can see Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national Park which is divided into four main sectors namely; Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Ruhija. Gorillas can also be seen in Mgahinga National Park. The Rushaga and Buhoma sectors are the most popular areas for gorilla trekking in bwindi and they have the most number of gorilla groups. Visitors with limited timed time but interested in encountering the gorillas can book our 3 days gorilla trekking bwindi safari starting in Kigali.

Other Activities to do after Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Apart from Gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga, tourists can also take part in visiting the communities specifically the Batwa pygmy community, take forest walks, bird watching and doing voluntary work. Tourists can also combine Gorilla Trekking with Big Five animals safari in the major savannah parks, Chimpanzee tracking and White water rafting or with a Tanzania Safari to Serengeti National Park and a Kenya Safari in Masai Mara.

Bwindi Gorilla trekking Tours Best time

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi is the peak season during the dry Months of December to January and June-September. However primates’ lovers should note that gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest National Park can be done throughout the calendar year though trekking gorillas in the wet seasons of March-May and October to November can be challenging due to the muddy trails and overgrown vegetation.

Note that the rainy /low season attracts discounts for accommodation and the park attracts less crowds giving visitors a more intimate time with the gorillas.

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Process

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi starts with a briefing at the sector park headquarters at around 7am and here trekkers are separated into smaller groups of 8 with each group following a different gorilla family. The park guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, two armed rangers and porters move with each group while sharing information about each of the gorilla group members and Bwindi forest in general.

It takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour to locate the gorilla family with a help of trackers who normally go ahead of the group to identify the location of the family and inform the lead guide by radio call of the location. Trackers know where the gorilla group last built their sleeping nests and will head to that direction. Once the gorilla family is located or spotted, trackers will be allowed a maximum of 1 hour with them to avoid making them uncomfortable. The event is an emotional one as trackers watch gorillas behave like humans and take as many photos as they can. There is no guarantee of seeing the gorillas but the chances of spotting the gorillas is very high and there have been a few and rare cases where the gorilla family heads too far into the forest that the trekking is cancelled to allow visitors return to their lodges before it gets dark.

Always follow the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking such as not smoking or eating within sight of the gorillas and do not run away when a gorilla charges at you; Just lie down with your heads down as a sign of submission.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Accommodation

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi involves choosing the right accommodation depending on your budget preferences and the desired experience. The luxury lodges can go up to 1000 $ while the budget ones can go as low as 50$. Engabi Tours and Travel will help to organize for you affordable and quality accommodation in Bwindi

Guess you now know it all about Gorilla trekking Uganda !

Contact us to secure your gorilla permits and organize your Bwindi gorilla trekking tour. With us be assured of potential discounts, information about available permits for no shows, right accommodation, comfortable transportation and safari routing among other benefits.