Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. The hillsides which are mist-covered are sheltered by one of the ancient and very biologically varied rainforests in Uganda that dates back to more than 25,000 years, comprising of about 400 varied plant species. More notably, this “impenetrable forest” in addition protects an predictable 320 population of mountain gorillas – approximately half of the population in the world, among which are a number of habituated groups, that can be tracked by visitors. Bwindi is habitat to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas. actually there are over 300 mountain gorillas living here. Gorilla devotees for Uganda tours from different corners of the world to enjoy this Ultimate Safari in Uganda – Mountain Gorilla tours / tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The word “Bwindi” means “darkness” and taking a hike this magnificent forest will certainly unveil to you the reason why the forest was named so. You will as well be in position to fast tell why actually the forest is also regarded as Impenetrable. One requires to be realistically physically fit to take part in this mountain gorilla tracking / trekking adventure because it may involve climbing the steep terrain.

In addition to the endangered impressive mountain gorillas there are also 346 bird species and more than 200 butterfly species, about 324 species of trees, ten of which are only found in this areas in the whole of Uganda. This is really a destination to explore. Because there are few habituated Gorillas living here (gorillas that have been trained to withstand human presence and not likely to attack), actually the time offered to see them is limited and so are the permits which currently are offered at a cost of $500 per individual. No person ever complains after spending some time with these very fascinating Mountain Gorillas in Uganda within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is among the most stunning rainforest anyone will ever come across.

This biologically varied region as well offers shelter to a additional 120 mammals, among which are various primate species like the baboons plus chimpanzees, in addition to elephants as well as antelopes. Furthermore, there are about 350 bird species supported within this forest, among which are twenty three Albertine Rift endemics. The adjacent towns of Nkuringo as well as Buhoma offer an remarkable collection of luxury lodges, budget campsites, restaurants, rustic bandas and craft stalls in addition to guiding services.  A 3 day gorilla safari tour will cover plentiful Opportunities to discover the neighbouring Bakiga plus Batwa Pygmy people’s cultures which they well showcase in performances plus workshops as well as on guided village walks.

While in Uganda, besides visiting the mountain gorillas, you can take a safari to Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo National Park and other interesting tourist areas that are worth checking out. Check Uganda safari destinations here, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve was gazetted in the year of 1942 and later in 1992 it was upgraded to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and in 1994 it was recognised as a World Heritage Site in Uganda. In local language (Lukiga), Bwindi actually means ‘Impenetrable.’ This repeated warning is apt, for Bwindi is all however impenetrable; 327 km2 of tangled plant life draped over a deep fissured landscape of steep, slippery valleys & high, draughty ridges. However if the terrain is far from easy to manage, it’s well worthy the effort. A trek through this, is among Africa’s most ancient rainforests, in search of the vulnerable mountain gorilla, ranks among one of the world’s premier wildlife encounters. Most tourists on African trip combine Tanzania safari adventures with gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda in addition to a safari in Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking in Tanzania.

Where Else Can you see the Mountain Gorillas? After your gorilla tours in Uganda, a visit to Volcanoes National Park for  Rwanda safari tours is a great opportunity to see the other half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Visit the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda for packages to Rwanda. Besides the mountain gorillas, check this post on where to see gorillas in Africa.   You can combine your Rwanda or Congo gorilla tour with climbing mount Nyiragongo. Bwindi could be very cold especially in the morning & night. The annual mean temperatures range is 7°C to 20°C with the coldest months being June & July.Hence warm clothing are required, plus wet weather gear because Bwindi receives up to 2390mm of rain every year. This is centered on 2 wet seasons, short rains in March- May & heavy rainfall in the months of September-November.In Bwindi, rain often falls as long hours of soft drizzle, instead of short tropical deluge. A tour agent will help you prepare depending on the season. Most tourists who take on African safari holidays usually combine more countries in various destinations. If you would like to  visit other neighbouring countries to Uganda or Rwanda,  consider  Tanzania safari holidays for the great wildebeest migration safaris in Africa, Ngorongoro  crater ,Serengeti and so much more. Kenya safari vacation spots include Masai Mara, Amboseli and others. In The Southern part of Africa, you can visit Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe,South Africa and Madagascar and Ethiopia.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in featured in CCN, NewYork Times, African Safari Operators, Safari Geographic, Huffington Post, CNN traveler and so much more.

When To Go See The Mountain Gorillas In Uganda.

Gorilla trekking can be conducted all year around in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The best time to go gorilla trekking in during the months of June, July, August, September and December. This is because there are less rains and the parks are drier, making it simple to hike and see the gorillas .In Bwindi the average temperature throughout the year is 11°C/52°F in the morning and 23°C/73°F in the afternoon.

• January and February: Low season offering less huge crowds. Very little or on rain.
• March, April and May: Its rains a lot during these months. Most challenging during the trek, the slopes are slippery.
• June, July & August: Peak season, its important to buy your permits early since they run out. Best time for gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

Where To Stay ?

Choosing the best safari lodge or accommodation will depend on how much you can afford. Some lodges charge as high as, $2500 while the budget ones can pocket as low as $ 50 for a double room. Its all about the facilities, location, food, services and so much more.

Average Cost Of Lodges And Hotels

• $50 to 100 for budget accommodation
• $150 to $200 for mid range
• Luxury from $300 to $2500 per night.
• book close to the tracking point, ask your tour operator.

How Much Does A Gorilla Safari Cost In 2023?

• 1 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Costs About $1100
• 2 Days Gorilla Safari Costs About $ 1280
• 3 Day Gorilla Tour Costs About $ 1450

Of course, various tour operators will give you quotes, roughly the cheapest gorilla safari should have a price of about $ 1100 of course depending on the number of people. The super luxury should be cost you between $ 4000 to $ 6000 per person. Based on reviews of most gorilla tour operators in Uganda, most tourists prefer the mid-range, not so budget, but affordable.  Booking your safari during the low season should get those costs lowered!

You may wonder why a gorilla trekking safari is expensive and whether it is worth the money. Here is the breakdown.
A Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $ 700 and 75% of the money raised is to conserve the gorilla surviving population. The government pockets 15% while 10% is meant for the local communities around the parks. As you purchase the permit, note that the cost includes park entrance fees, gorilla watching for an hour, advance trackers and ranger fees.

Other Trekking Costs To Consider

Cost Of Food
Food and Drinks about $50 per day. Most Tour Operators include meals and soft drinks.

Transport Costs
Air ticket from your country should cost $ 500 to $ 2400.
Chartered flights from airport to close to gorilla trekking points, $ 600.
Hiring a car should cost you about $80 per day.

Cost of Items For Packing
insect repellents, sunscreen and more.

Visa and Border Crossing
East African tourist visa costs $100, which can take you on safaris in Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda.

Cost of Porters
$ 20 dollars, and  $500 to hire a Sedan chair for porters to carry you.

Tips On Cutting Costs

• Do not travel alone.
• Stay in best budget lodges.
• Choose Uganda over Rwanda.
• Avoid public transport buses do not leave on time.
• Avoid chartered flights.
• Book Your gorilla tour during low season.

Where To Go For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Uganda has 2 sections for gorilla safaris namely, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In total there are 18 gorilla groups or families and you can only track only one group a day.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has 17 gorilla group making it the best place or park where you can see the gorillas in the wild. Bwindi tours gives you access to  90 mammal species, 11 primates including the black and white colobus monkey.

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Groups

• Ruhija Trek : with gorilla families, Mukiza, Oruzogo, Bitukura and Kyaguliro
• Buhoma Trek: Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura
• Nkuringo Trek: Christmas, Nkuringo, Bushaho
• Rushaga Trek: Kutu, Bikingi, Mishaya, Bushigye, Kahungye, Rwigi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi

Mgahinga Gorilla Family
In Mgahinga Park, you can track the Nyakagezi group which is surrounded by the Slopes of Virunga Volcanoes, Mt. Muhavura(4,127m) Mt Gahinga (3474m) Mt. Sabinyo(3645m).

Packing List For Gorilla Tours In Africa

• Waterproof hiking boots.
• Day pack.
• Insect repellents.
• Light weight rain jacket.
• Poncho
• Camera.
• Binoculars,
• Bottled water
• Boots: hiking boots,
• Gloves, old pair of gardening gloves
• Long pants or trousers
• Energy snacks.

How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking?

Gorilla Trekking has a numerical rating of 50 to 100
Difficult Rating: Moderate Hike

There are many factors that influence the gorilla trekking difficulty and the commonest is your physical fitness. Others include weather conditions and your pack weight. It is possible to ask for a gorilla group that will march your fitness levels. A porter is important, Gorilla Trekking is not very hard, some people in their 60’s and 70’s have done it.

So how strenuous is the hike? To begin with 60% of Bwindi Impenetrable National park has an elevation of over 6,600ft. Elevation of the entire park is from 3,904 to 8,553 ft. It has steep slopes in some areas. The experience takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family.

Gorilla Tracking Rules For Post Covid Visitors

With these apes sharing 98% of our genes, its possible that gorillas can get corona virus. Gorillas can catch flu and other airborne diseases making Covid 19 a big threat to the survival of the gorillas.

• Observe a distance of 7 meters away from the gorillas.
• Age limit of 15 years or more stands.
• You are allowed only 1 hour to see the gorillas
• Wearing of masks is important
• Avoid sneezing.
• Sanitize and observe other SOP guidelines.

What To Expect On A Gorilla Safari

On the day of your trek, expect to leave your comfortable bed early enough, am move to the briefing point by 7:30am. After briefing, tourists will be allocated different tracking routes, each 8 tourists. Head to the forest accompanied by guides and rangers as you begin you search for gorillas.

In the forest, you may see monkey species, butterfly species, mammals and so much more. Sometimes the forest is challenging and a good level of fitness will be required. At the end of the day, expect to be muddy and sweaty.

Once you see the gorillas, its okay to take photos with your camera or iPhone but avoid flash or else the gorillas might charge. You will spend between 40 minutes and 1 hour in company of these gentle giants. It will be such a life changing experience. After the trek, head back to you accommodation or opt for a cultural village experience of the Batwa pygmies.

How About The Gorilla Habituation Experience?
Gorilla habituation is the training of wild gorillas to get used to humankind. Gorillas are trained by researchers and park rangers for a period of 3 years. Its during the training that that you can join the group of researchers and park rangers. Only 4 visitors are allowed. This makes it special. The cost of gorilla habituation is $1500 per person per day. The most exciting reality about this experience is that you actively engage in the gorilla habituation!

How To Get A Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda

Within Uganda, Gorilla trekking is conducted in Bwindi  Impenetrable National Park or in Mgahinga National Park. But because of the inconsistency of gorillas in Mgahinga, majority of the sold permits are for Bwindi NP. In Uganda, every gorilla permit goes for US $ 700. In the past years, April, May and November used to cost US $ 450.Please note that these offers no longer exist. On a single day, nearly 72 people travel into Bwindi to see gorillas and only 8 people are allowed to see  a gorilla family. We strongly encourage you to book your gorilla permit with a safari agent, the most prominent mistake is to book a gorilla family which is far away from your choice of accommodation! The routes to Bwindi and its various regions are often tricky; this is a remote area. If you would like to do the gorilla trek on your own so as to save costs, you might end up incurring more. Safari guides have been trained to help you with this.