Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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.