Travel expert advise on gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Travel expert advise on gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For tourists to have a safe and successful gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you need to book for the gorilla permits in advance to ensure that your slot in gorilla trekking is secured, choose the right tour operator, pack appropriately, follow the trekking guidelines and instructions, be prepared for the weather changes and prepare for the hike both mentally and physically.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day Gorilla Trekking safari

8 day Uganda safari via Kigali

5 days gorillas and chimp safari

8 days gorilla tracking tour

19 day best of Uganda safari

15 days Uganda Rwanda safari

18 day Uganda Ultimate Safari

16 day primate game and culture

11 days gorilla tracking safari

5 days gorilla and Nile river source

A breakdown of expert advice for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park includes securing your gorilla permits in advance and through trusted tour operators, choosing the right time for travelling to Bwindi that is either during the dry season (June to September and December to February) or the rainy season (March to May and October to November).

Planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi

Planning a gorilla trek to Bwindi is easy when you have the right information, and below is a step-by-step guide on what to do when planning your Bwindi gorilla trek.

• Choosing a reputable and licensed tour operator

There are so many tour operators offering gorilla trekking packages to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but note that there are also many scammers. Carry out extensive research about the tour company and select one that has a good and strong track record of organising gorilla trekking in Bwindi and other safari activities across the country, research about their guides, tourism practices and the positive reviews.

Consider your budget and level of comfort when choosing the right package, and after setting your trek dates, get in touch with Encounter Africa Safaris to organise your gorilla safari to Bwindi.

• Purchasing the gorilla permits

Gorilla permits are essential when it comes to gorilla trekking in Bwindi and no one can have access to the primates without a permit. These are in high demand, especially during the peak/dry seasons (December-February and June-September), and you must always book them in advance.

Gorilla permits can be purchased through a tour operator and are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Send in your details from the dates you wish to trek the mountain gorillas to the tour operator so that they can check for the availability of the permits. When the permits are available, you will be notified, and then you have to make the necessary payments for the permits as soon as possible because they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon receipt of the payment, the permits will then be purchased on your behalf with a copy sent to your email for record purposes.

There are two types of gorilla permits available in Bwindi and these are the standard gorilla trek permit and the habituation permit. The cost of the standard trek permit in Bwindi is USD800 for foreign non-residents, USD700 for foreign residents, USD500 for African citizens and Ugx300,000 for East African citizens.

The cost of the gorilla habituation permit is USD1500 for foreign non-residents, USD1000 for foreign residents, USD1000 for African citizens and Ugx750,000 for East African citizens.

• The logistics

The gorilla trekking safari experience starts from Entebbe International Airport or Kigali, depending on your entry point, and transportation from these places has to be planned for in advance. The most used transportation to Bwindi is road and this offers some great views of the Uganda countryside and the rolling hills for those that are travelling from Rwanda. Road transport is an affordable way to travel to Bwindi, but you can also take a scheduled flight from Entebbe to either Kihihi or Kisoro airport, which are about an hour and a half drive to Bwindi. Discuss the best transport means to use depending on your budget.

• Accommodation options

After planning logistics, the next step is to search for the best accommodation facilities to use in Bwindi while on a gorilla trekking safari. We always advise our clients to book accommodation in advance, and it should be in the sector that you have been assigned. This allows for one to be able to get to the trek trail on time as opposed to when you get accommodation that is far off from the sector or in another sector.

Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi

The gorilla trekking experience starts early morning with a meeting at the park headquarters where a briefing is carried out. The briefing is to be attended by all trekkers and is led by the experienced guide. Here you will be told about the rules and regulations that need to be followed when trekking mountain gorillas in the natural habitat and you will also be assigned a gorilla family to trek for the day.

Depending on the location of the gorilla family you are trekking, the trek can last from one to eight hours as it involves navigating through the steep slopes, dense vegetation and the different trails which are sometimes muddy.

As you trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi, you will be greeted with bird songs and calls, monkeys, gorillas and other wildlife species found in the park. Your guide will share facts and insights about the flora and fauna adding to your knowledge as you search for the gorillas.

The moment you locate the gorilla family you have been assigned is one you will not forget because it is a magical moment and you get to spend the next hour observing, taking photos and recording videos in their natural habitat.

Always remember to keep a respectable distance from the mountain gorillas and follow all the rules and regulations set to protect the mountain gorillas. After spending an hour with the gorillas, you retrace your footsteps through the forest back to the park headquarters where you will receive a certificate for participating in the trek.

Preparing for the gorilla trek in Bwindi

You need to appropriately prepare for the Bwindi gorilla trek, and this involves both mental and physical preparation. One of the things that ensures that you are prepared is by packing right for the safari. The essentials that you can pack for your gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi include long-sleeved shirts and trousers, a waterproof rain jacket/coat, a waterproof backpack, a camera, binoculars, extra batteries, a flashlight, insect repellent, sunscreen, a first aid kit, toiletries, snacks, and a refillable water bottle, among others.

Is gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safe?

Yes, gorilla trekking in Bwindi is safe because safety is the main concern for the government when it comes to gorilla trekking so that both gorillas and travellers are kept safe. Bwindi is very safe with armed rangers and experienced guides who prioritise safety before, during and after the trek. Below are some of how safety during a gorilla trek is carried out.

• Through experienced guides: No one is allowed to trek without an experienced guide in Bwindi. The guides are well-trained and have experience in gorilla safety protocols and behaviours. They make sure that the trekkers always follow all the rules and regulations, including keeping a safe distance from the gorillas, and they know how to respond in any situation that arises.
• Park rangers: The park rangers are always armed and they keep on patrolling the forest to ensure that the gorillas and the trekkers are safe. They are trained to make sure that any potential threats are deterred and maintain a secure environment. There is 24/7 security for the national.park.
• Health: There are health precautions that are set in place before entering Bwindi Park. All trekkers are screened for any sickness to make sure that there are no disease transmissions from humans to gorillas.
• Habituating gorillas: Trekking mountain gorillas can only be done with already habituated gorilla families. This is because habituated gorilla families are used to human presence, unlike the wild gorillas that can attack at any given moment.

Rules and regulations for safety purposes for both trekkers and gorillas

Following the rules and regulations is part of how you can keep safe during a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and these include:

• Listen to your guide and always follow their guidelines and instructions. And don’t forget to follow all the park regulations.
• Keep a safe distance from the Mountain gorillas at least 10 meters to protect the gorillas and yourselves.
• When you feel sick on the day of the trek, volunteer to stay back to protect the gorillas. You will also not be allowed to trek if you have any viral infections because Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to diseases.
• Eight people are allowed to trek an assigned gorilla family per day.
• Taking photos of the mountain gorillas with a flash is prohibited
• Communication during a trek and when with the gorillas should be done in low tones. This ensures that you actively participate in the exercise and you also get to see more of what the wild has to offer when minimal noise is made.
• Bwindi Park has to be kept clean at all times, and this means that all rubbish has to be disposed of properly.
• A hole of 30 cm is dug to keep all human waste and it has to be covered well. This is because there are no toilets and the gorillas have to be kept safe.

When to visit Bwindi for gorilla trekking

The best and recommended time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry season, June to August and also from December to February. These dry seasons offer easier-to-use trekking routes, dry terrain and clear visibility of the gorillas and the surrounding areas.

The rainy season, if possible, should be avoided because it presents slippery and muddy trek terrains, and the visibility is not clear due to the dense forests and rain however, if you are looking at a budget-friendly gorilla safari in Bwindi, the rainy season is your best option.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is accessible using both road and air, with various options to suit different preferences and your budget.

Road:

1. From Entebbe: The drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about 9 to 10 hours, depending on the road conditions and traffic. Tourists usually choose this type of journey with stopovers along the way for a break from the long journey at Kayabwe, where the equator monument is located, Mbarara or Kabale, depending on your itinerary.
2. From Kigali: The ride  from Kigali in Rwanda is much shorter as compared to the one from Entebbe or Kampala, and takes around 4 to 5 hours, including all the border procedure crossings. Ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork so that you can easily cross from Rwanda into Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
3. From other national parks: You can also take a walk to Bwindi from other national parks, and the time taken depends on the location of the national parks. It takes 5 to 6 hours from Lake Mburo National Park, 5 to 6 hours from Queen Elizabeth National Park and 5 hours from Kibale Forest National Park.

Air:

1. Entebbe International Airport: Entebbe International Airport is the only international airport in the country and the main entry point in Uganda for all international travellers. Domestic flights can be arranged from here to the small airports that are close to the national parks. The different domestic flights connecting to Bwindi use the following airports.
2. Kisoro Airport KSO, located in Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda.  AeroLink Uganda charters flights to Kisoro Airport daily. It is approximately an hour and a half from the airport to the national park.
3. Kihihi Airstrip KHX is located north of Bwindi National Park, with a driving time of about an hour and a half to the Buhoma sector, which is closest, and almost four and a half hours to the southern part of Bwindi.

Whether you decide to use road or air transport, the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an exciting adventure with the diverse landscape and unique culture.

Get in touch with us at Encounter Africa Safaris for an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.