HOW TO TREK MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF BUHOMA REGION OF BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
July 1, 2021
HOW TO TREK MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF BUHOMA REGION OF BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Buhoma region is located in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma sector was the first region where gorilla trekking started in 1993 just after the park was declared a UNESCO Heritage. Buhoma is the most famous and most visited part of the park. The oldest gorilla family is Mubare (Mubare) and three other families from the gorilla family habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe. Are you interested in trekking mountain gorillas of Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, yes this is very possible with Encounter Africa Safaris.
Trekking mountain gorillas of Buhoma region of Bwindi impenetrable National Park will give you an opportunity to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi that is a given travel group alone or as an individual. You need a gorilla permit to hike the mountain gorilla from the impenetrable Buhoma area to Bwindi. You need a gorilla permit which costs USD800 for Foreign non residents, USD700 for Foreign residents and 300,000 Uganda Shillings for East Africa Citizens and this gives an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Mountain Gorillas in Buhome.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING TO TREK MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF BUHOMA REGION OF BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
BOOKING AND SECURING YOUR GORILLA PERMIT FOR BUHOMA IN ADVANCE
Buhoma sector has 32 gorilla permits available for sell every day. For you to trek Buhoma gorillas you will need to book your permit in advance so that you are assured of your spot for trekking the gorillas in this region. For you to block these permits you can either pay 100%, 70% or 30% in advance the total of each permit. Each gorilla permit costs USD800 for Foreign non residents, USD700 for Foreign residents and 300,000 Uganda Shillings for East Africa Citizens and this gives an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Mountain Gorillas of this family. We recommend you block the gorilla permits atleast 3 to 4 month prior your gorilla safari date.This is because permits are sold out in advance on a first-come, first-served basis during peak seasons. Contact us here for more details on how to book all gorilla permits for tracking Buhoma gorillas in advance to enable you trek gorillas in this region.
BOOKING YOUR ACCOMMODATION/WHERE TO STAY IN BUHOMA IN ADVANCE
This is very important to consider when organizing to trek mountain gorillas of Buhoma region of Bwindi impenetrable National Park, for you to have a great experience and comfort during your safari it is great to stay in luxury accommodations but based on your budget you can opt to stay in budget accommodation options.
Buhoma offers a variety of luxurious accommodations, including the Bwindi Lodge, the only two Lodges inside the Bwindi Forest.and Gorilla Sanctuary Forest Camp other luxury lodges in Buhoma include Bwindi Lodge, Mahogany springs and Silverback Lodge among others.
Budget lodges and camps include Buhoma Camp, Buhoma community rest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge among others.When you book Encounter Africa Safaris Safari and guarantee full board, all these hotels offer three meal plans.
CONFORTABLE TRAVEL TO BUHOMA REGION OF BWINDI
You should consider travelling in 4x4 Land cruisers this will give you comfort on the road to Buhoma.You can also fly to the Kihihi airstrip near Bukhoma to shorten long-distance travel.from Entebbe/Kampala which is normally 8-9 hours drives to only 1 hour drive that you spend from Kihihi to your lodge in Buhoma.
WHAT TO WEAR DURING GORILLA TREKKING IN BUHOMA
You may want to know what to wear when trekking mountain gorillas in Buhom. Below is a list of what to wear.
- • A long armed sweater since the park gets cold
- • 2 pairs of long trousers
- • Water proof hiking boots
- • A hat and sun glasses depending on the weather though this is optional
- • Cameras and long lasting batteries since photography are very important to keep your memories alive.Always remember to turn off our flash.
- • A pair of Binoculars.This will help you see giant birds that exist among other primates in the impenetrable Bwindi forest.
- • Gardening Gloves; these will help you when you a holding onto trees are branches through the trek.
- • Raincoat; as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a tropical rain forest, the rain is unpredictable, so please bring a jacket just in case.
- • A mosquito Repellent; since it is a forest, it has different dangerous insects so its advisable to carry it along or wear it
- • A sun screen; Well this is optional but depending on the season, it might get too hot and you Your skin will get sunburned, so you need sunscreen to avoid it.• Do not use very bright colors, as this will scare the gorillas.
- • Black and blue are also not recommended because they attract tsetse flies, so we recommend neutral colors.
HOW TO GO TO BUHOMA SECTOR FOR A GORILLA TREK
By plane: You can reach Buhoma by plane, which is faster and less tiresome.Aero Link is a national airline that provides regular and charter flights to Kihihi Airport, from where you will be picked and transfer to Buhoma by road.There is no direct flight to Buhoma, but you can get off at Kihihi, where our professional guide will pick you up and take you to the Lodge.The drive from Kihiha to your Lodge in Buhoma region of Bwindi impenetrable National Park is approximately 1 hour.Passengers must always check in 90 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Another thing to note is that the luggage at the airport is 15 kg per person, and the excess weight is charged at USD 3 per kg. For customers with different time requirements and different itineraries, there are also private charter flights.You can also travel with your children, and children under 2 are free.The fare for children over 15 years old is 70% of the adult fare.
By car: Buhoma can be reached via the main Entebbe/Kampala highway. The journey takes approximately 89 hours. You will pass through Kihihi town and proceed to Buhoma.The park can also be reached from Kigali in Rwanda, which takes approximately 45 hours.
BEST TIME TO TREK MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF BUHOMA REGION IN BWINDI
Buhoma is located in the impenetrable Bwindi Forest. Visiting mountain gorillas is possible throughout the year, but it is also important. Remember, the forest is a tropical rain forest and it may rain at any time. The best months to track gorillas are June to August and December to February, because there is less rainfall and the forests are less slippery. On the other hand, if you travel from March to May and November, when the chance of rain is high, you can take advantage of some hotel discounts. Why plan and book with us to trek mountain gorillas of Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
WHY CONTACT ENCOUNTER AFRICA SAFARIS
Encounter Africa Safaris was founded in 3003 and prides itself on providing customized safaris. We have a committed, hardworking and reliable team. Our team of professional travel consultants will answer your questions within 20 minutes. These consultants will make you a travel plan for you, answer to all your questions and make sure to book all your services in advance to avoid any inconvenience. We also provide a knowledgeable safari guide based on your language preference. There some Luxury Gorilla safaris and these include; the 2-day Gorilla safari, the 3-day Gorilla Safari, 4 days of gorilla flying in Safari, it all depends on your preferences. Welcome to contact us.
EARLY BIRD SAFARI DISCOUNTS FOR 2026-27
Take a budget gorilla trip into Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek mountain gorillas and stay in low-cost camps and gorilla lodges.
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