3 day gorilla trekking tour in Uganda leads you to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in South western Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of those parks with a remarkable diversity, carpeting the margin of the Albertine rift valley for thousands of years. In the process it has accumulated a remarkable biodiversity, thanks also to an 1147m altitudinal range that accommodates habitats ranging from lowland forest at 1,160m to rare Afromontane vegetation above 2,600m. The park is part of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, a grandeur that act as home to the rare and endangered star of the impenetrable show: mountain gorillas. The park also hosts several other species with counts estimated at 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 moths, 120 mammals and 350 bird species. There also several other primates, among whom are chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys and others. With a total of about 21 families habituated for tourism as of December 2018, and with 5 tracking locations (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga,Nkuringo and Mgahinga), the impenetrable is the region’s primary gorilla tracking destination. Bwindi has an estimated 459 gorillas, (an increase from 400 basing on the 2018 census) living in 50 groups and 13 solitary individuals. The Mubare gorilla group at Buhoma was the first to be habituated for tourism in Bwindi in April 1993. A Gorilla trekking tour in Uganda is surreal and unlike any other experience on the continent. With each step, anticipation builds and the reward of seeing the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world is breath taking. The atmosphere of the trek through the impenetrable jungle mist is unreal. The setting, Bwindi impenetrable national park, is possibly one of the most mystical in the whole of Africa. 

On this 3 day gorilla trekking tour in Uganda, you will visit Bwindi impenetrable national park for a memorable mountain gorilla tracking safari. Trek through dense untouched forest rich in rare wildlife and get up close with the endangered mountain gorillas. Coming face to face with the silverback is one of the most intimate wildlife experiences. The 3 day gorilla trekking tour Uganda is altogether a perfect safari for those interested in adrenaline activities that are sandwiched with a taste of both fauna and flora.  

Planning your Gorilla trekking activity-Things to consider before doing your gorilla trek

Gorilla Trekking Permits

These permits should be secured several months before if possible to avoid missing out getting one for a desired date. Permits can be paid for up to two years in advance, although its highly recommended to book at least 2 to 5 months before your gorilla-tracking safari since there's usually a high demand on the permits, basing on the seasons. Gorilla Trekking permits should be under your own names and never allow to use permits that are not under your names. A gorilla permit in Uganda will cost US $700 from July 2020. The price has been increased from US$ 600 to 700 per permit for Foreign non residents, and US$500 to US$600 for Foreign residents. However, it is still at US$ 600 till July.

Consider Hours of Activity

Tracking the gorillas can last from a few hours to a whole day, depending on how far the gorilla group being tracked has moved since it was observed nesting up the previous evening. You will spend one hour with the gorillas after reaching them. However, due to a few inconveniences, your guide may allow you a few more minutes. Mountain gorillas prefer being in their own company doing their wild activities like eating, mating etc. rather than being surrounded by humans for a long time. This is why the time is restricted to one hour.

Consider the Season

You should know the best time to have Gorilla Safaris in Uganda if you are to have exceptional gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda. The best time to travel to Uganda is during the dry seasons of the year which are June to mid-September (the mini-dry season) and December to February (the main dry season). In Uganda, there are generally two rainy seasons; March to May, and mid-September to November. However, the temperatures are always high regardless of the seasons. Rains in March-May are short while they are heavier in September-November but can just be long hours of soft drizzle. Bwindi is chilly in the morning and at night with average temperatures ranging from 7⁰C - 20⁰C. Note. During the rainy seasons, the permits are sometimes offered at a discount.

Gorilla habituated groups and families in Bwindi to encounter on a gorilla trekking safari

The process of mountain gorilla habituation can take from two to three years to be completed. Habituation in Uganda is done by a group of researchers who operate under the Research and Monitoring department of the under Uganda Wildlife Authority. This exercised started in 1993 and Mubare group in Buhoma was the first to be opened for tourism. Currently, Bwindi has 50 gorilla groups but only 21 are habituated for tourism. 21 groups are an increase from 18, due to various factors ranging from one group splitting to give rise to new ones to new families emerging due to the habituation process coming to an end. These 21 groups are found within various trekking sectors.  Buhoma has 5 habituated groups; Rushegura, Mubaare, Muyambi, Katwe and Habiyanja.  Ruhija is considered the most remote sector of all the four and has 4 groups; Bitukura, Mukiza, Oruzogo and Kyaguliro. In Ruhija, there's also a three hour hike to visit the Mubwindi swamp. Rushaga has 10 groups namely; Kahungye, Mishaya, Bweeza, Nshongi-has 36 members including 5 silverbacks, Busingye, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Rwigi and Bikingyi. Nkulingo which is about 10km from Buhoma has 2 groups; Nkuringo and Christmas. You will have an opportunity to track one of these groups and families during this 3 day gorilla trekking tour Uganda.

Precautions & Advice for a gorilla trekking tour

Individual tracking is not allowed, rather the park authority assigns guides to each tracking group to help them locate the gorilla families and also to ensure that the trackers adhere to all the tracking rules and regulations. 

The recommended distance between trackers and the gorillas is 7meters, although gorillas can move closer to you. There is nothing to fear even in this case. You just have to follow the instructions of your guide. You are encouraged to maintain the distance are not allowed to touch them.

If you must sneeze or cough, cover your face and turn away from the gorillas, as they can catch cold and coughs from humans.

Even though Bwindi’s various trailheads can be reached by vehicle, there are no roads within the park itself, making exploration majorly possible on foot. Bwindi is aptly named the ‘impenetrable forest’; paths pass through dense vegetation and can be steep. You are thus advised to take advantage of walking sticks offered at the start of a walk. 

There are other activities one can do while in Bwindi. These include; a cultural experience with the Batwa community, nature walks, cycling and bird watching. For bird enthusiasts, the park is home to 23 Albertine Rift endemics such as the shorttailed warbler, Shelley’s crimson wing, African green broadbill and the blue-headed sunbird, and seven IUCN Red Data List species. Fourteen species, including the brown-necked parrot and the white-bellied robin chat, occur nowhere else in Uganda. Bwindi’s four trailheads all offer excellent birding opportunities with the prospect of checking off forest rarities. The River Ivi Trail between Buhoma and Nkuringo is recommended, as is Buhoma’s forest-edge Munyaga River Trail. Ruhija’s Bamboo Trail, leading to the 2607m Rwamunyoni peak, and Mubwindi Swamp Trail areMunyanga River Trail, in the valley below the Buhoma trailhead, provides a short walk to view birds and primates along the forest edge. Waterfall Trail leads through one of Uganda’s most pristine tracts of rainforest, passing beneath tree ferns, epiphytic ferns and orchids to visit three sparking crystal clear waterfalls. Rushura Hill Trail provides expansive views across the plains of the Albertine Rift Valley and (on clear days) to Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains to the north. 

We give you a range of accommodations to choose from, ranging from budget, moderate to luxury.

 

Activities

  1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

  • Journey time: 8 - 10 hours
  • Accommodation: Clouds Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs (Luxury), Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket), Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Ichumbi Lodge (Midrange), Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Budget)
  • Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

  • Have early breakfast and depart for Bwindi National Park at 7.00 am, driving southwards for at least 8 hours before arriving at your accommodation which is situated just outside of the park on the southern side. The most direct route from Kampala follows a surfaced road to Rukungiri via Mbarara and Ntungamo. A slow dirt road then winds through the highlands to Buhoma via Kihihi and Butogota. The main trailhead at Buhoma is about 460kms from Kampala and can be reached by road from several directions. Ruhija trailhead is best accessed from the Kampala-Kisoro road, turning north from the surfaced highway 18km beyond Kabale town. The southerly Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads can be reached using dirt roads leading west from Muko, midway on the surfaced Kabale -Kisoro road, and north from Kisoro town. You will see many things along the way, including the equator, plantations, rolling hills and a variety of Ugandans conducting business and other activities within their villages. We will have lunch en-route in Mbarara town at Ajip Motel. Relax in the evening whilst enjoying the magnificent vistas of the beautiful landscape. Have dinner and overnight at the lodge. Top hint: Keep your cameras near you and our driver will definitely stop if you need him to so that you can capture that beautiful moment.

Day 2

Gorilla Tracking

Leisure Time

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Rest of the Day at Leisure at the Lodge

  • Accommodation: Clouds Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge or Mahogany Springs (Luxury), Chameleon Hill Lodge (Upmarket), Rushaga Gorilla Camp or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Midrange), Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Budget)
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Today we will have the amazing opportunity to observe the gorgeous scenery of Uganda's tropical rainforest and experience a breathtaking encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas. Todays schedule will take us through the impenetrable Jungle of Bwindi National Park, which was gazetted as a National Park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Bwindi Impenetrable NP occupies the size of about 321 sq km between 1,160m and 2,607m above sea level and it's the home of the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is divided into 4 gorilla tracking sectors including Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. Within the park, there are 21 groups of gorillas habituated for tourism. Five of these groups are found in the vicinity of Buhoma in northwest Bwindi; four at Ruhija in the east; and ten at the park’s southern trailheads at Rushaga and two are found at Nkuringo. Have early breakfast, pick your packed lunch from the lodge, carry enough drinking water and transfer to the briefing point by 7.30am. While here, you will carry out registration and join others for a gorilla trekking briefing about the precautions and guidelines of the gorilla trekking activity. You will then be assigned a gorilla group, meet the ranger guide and start the trek into the forest. The forest is usually wet and muddy with steep slopes. However, the sounds and sights of different birds and butterfly species offer a variety of form and color that satisfy you with a rare sort of happiness! The gorillas are located in different places across the forest and therefore the time taken to find one group varies and can not be estimated before. Once you reached them, you are allowed to stay for one hour to observe these gentle giants, after which you return to meet the driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight. Top Hint: There is a lot of fauna and flora in the forest. Be ready to ask the guide any questions about endemic species in the park. Also ensure that you take photos during the gorilla trek.

Day 3

Uganda Equator

Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe with a Stopover at the Equator Line

  • Journey time: 9 - 10 hours
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

  • It is time to leave Bwindi Impenetrable NP and tranfer back to Kampala/Entebbe. It is a long but very interesting drive back to the central of Uganda, passing through many towns and villages. We will stopover at the Equator Line, where we have enough time to have our packed lunch, take some photos and do some souvenir shopping. After reaching Entebbe at the airport, that will mark the end of your 3 day Gorilla trekking tour Uganda.

General Tips:

  • Please note the age limit of 15 years and above for gorilla tracking.
  • Book your permits well in advance as only 8 permits are issued per gorilla group in a day. There are 21 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi.
  • You should be free from infectious diseases such as Flu which can be passed to the gorillas since humans share 98% DNA with gorillas. If you are found to carry an infectious disease you will not be allowed to track.
  • Every participant has the chance to hire a trekking assistance (porter) who will help carring the bags and support whenever it is needed. For the trekking assitant an additional fee of US$ 15 is charged. Even those who consider themselves very old and don’t think they are hikers or adventurous can also successfully visit the gorillas. This can be done through hiring personal assistants to carry your daypack also to assist you in difficult areas.
  • Do not use flash photography.
  • Littering in the forest is not allowed! 
  • You are required to maintain a distance of 7 metres when you rech the gorillas. In certain  instances the young gorillas may come closer to you out of curiosity to touch you. However, you are not expected to respond because the silverback could respond violently as it tries to protect the young one from you.

What to bring:

Gorilla trekking clothing is the same for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park as well as Volcanoes National Park so, the next question to be answered is what to pack for a gorilla trek.

  • Bring proper walking boots, long trousers and rain gears as you will be hiking through Bwindi Forest.
  • Insect repellant is recommended.
  • At least 1-2 liters of drinking water per person during the trekking.
  • Hiking boots, gloves, rain jacket.
  • Camera and extra batteries.
  • sunscreen and a sun hat, since the sun may be hot during the day.
  • waterproof bags to protect cameras and other equipment when hiking, just in case it rains.

 

Gorilla Trek Bwindi National Park Uganda Taken by Ellington Safaris
Misty Bwindi impenetrable forest Taken by Ellington Safaris
Mountain gorillas Taken by Ellington Safaris
Gorilla trek at bwindi Taken by Ellington Safaris