A Traveler’s guide to gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park

Embark on a unique adventure with our Bwindi National Park gorilla trekking guide. This comprehensive guide covers everything primate trekkers need to know before embarking on the thrilling gorilla safaris. Discover the location of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best time for gorilla tracking/trekking, where to stay, and what gorilla trekking is like. Uncover the gorilla trekking rules, what you should wear for gorilla trekking, what the chances are of seeing gorillas in Bwindi, gorilla families, Bwindi gorilla trekking prices, and the cost of the permit.

In this article, expect to explore the popular Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris and tours, gorilla safari lodges, and how to get to the park for gorilla safari holidays. Bwindi gorilla trekking entirely involves exploring the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on foot in search of a family of habituated mountain gorillas. This foot-walk adventure is conducted with the lead of an experienced park ranger guide. It’s important to note that gorilla trekking can be physically demanding, as it often involves hiking through dense forests and steep terrain.

Where is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris are conducted in the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in the far Southwestern corner of Uganda. The park is set on the Rift Valley’s edge and surrounded by Kisoro, Rukungiri, Kabale, and Kanungu districts. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established in 1991 and has an elevation range of 1160 to 2607 meters. Additionally, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was recognized by UNESCO and declared a World Heritage Site

Bwindi National Park expands up to 331 km², inhabited by more than mammal species. The lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also provides refuge to about 350 species of birds. The birds in Bwindi include the Albertine Rift Valley endemic species such as Kivu ground thrush, yellow-eyed black flycatchers, black-billed turacos, bar-tailed trogon, and green broadbill. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is undoubtedly the most popular primate adventure. This exhilarating primate adventure takes you through the dense rainforest of Bwindi in search of the massive mountain gorillas in the wild.

Why visit Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking?

Regarding gorilla trekking safaris, Bwindi is always a bucket list destination in most holidaymakers’ travel plans. Visiting Bwindi National Park is essential for every safari goer looking for the best primate adventure. Here are the top reasons you should visit Bwindi for gorilla tracking and not any other destination.

I’m wondering if you’re looking for a reliable gorilla trekking destination. Bwindi should be top of your list. The park is home to over 24 habituated gorilla families available for trekking. Each family has unique dynamics and behaviors, offering a different trekking experience. The groups of mountain gorillas to visit in Bwindi include Rwigi, Kutu gorilla family, Habinyanja, Nkuringo, Katwe, Rushegura, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Christmas, and Mucunguzi groups. The other gorilla groups to trek in the last Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Kyaguriro, Bweza, Kahungye, Mishaya, Busingye, Nshongi, Bikingi, and Mubare.

Trek mountain gorillas in the 4 regions: Visiting Bwindi National Park for gorilla trekking allows visitors to trek gorillas from any of the four sectors or regions. Each area has already habituated gorilla groups worth exploring. They include the Buhoma sector, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija regions.

Plan your adventure in advance and secure your gorilla permits early. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a budget-friendly destination, and gorilla permits for gorilla trekking in Bwindi cost USD 800 per person. Don’t miss out on this unique experience, book your permits now.

Combine gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking: Only in Bwindi National Park can one combine both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation. Some of the gorilla families are still in the habituation process. Book a combined gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking safari now and create memories.

Is Bwindi gorilla trekking safe?

Rest assured, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a safe and secure African destination. You can confidently embark on the gorilla trekking adventure, knowing that the park is peaceful and secure for all visitors. On the actual gorilla trek, you will be accompanied by an experienced park ranger guide, ensuring your safety throughout the journey.

What makes Bwindi a safe and secure gorilla safari destination?

Presence of experienced and well-trained park guides: Bwindi is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). This organ recruits capable personnel to ensure the destination is safe for visitors and its floral and faunal species. On the actual date of visiting gorillas, an armed park ranger guide will take the lead, and guests will follow. The park ranger guides will be with you from the very first moment they are allocated to you until you return from the jungles.

Park rangers: A good number of trained park ranger guides always conduct patrols in the park. This practice contributes to the safety and security of gorillas and visitors.

Habituated gorilla groups: All gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi are done in already habituated gorilla families. These groups of mountain gorillas are accustomed to human presence.

Safety guidelines: Before any gorilla trekkers embark on a journey to search for mountain gorillas, the park ranger guide takes them through a briefing session. During the briefing session, you get to know the different safety measures to be followed in the jungles.

Safety tips for a successful gorilla trek in Bwindi National Park

To enjoy a safe and successful gorilla trekking adventure, here are some tips to take note of.

Always listen to what your park ranger guide tells you. What goes on in the gorilla habitat can be crazy. As you navigate the park searching for gorillas, some may react or get irritated at you. When they charge at you, what comes to anyone’s mind is to run away. But it is not the safest measure. At this point, the best thing to do is to keep calm, stand your ground, and ensure that you follow what your park ranger guide tells you to do.
Stay 7-8 meters away from gorillas. Maintaining a distance of about 8 meters is essential not only for your safety but also for the gorilla family you visit.
Visit gorillas when free of any illness. Gorillas are generally susceptible to human infectious diseases, especially respiratory-related sickness. When visiting gorillas, you should travel when in your best health to avoid the spread of contagious diseases that can cost the lives of these large apes.
Travel/health insurance. Bwindi is the new destination, so having yourself insured is essential to cover the cost of some unplanned emergencies.

How to plan the Bwindi gorilla trekking tour

Book a gorilla permit early. Gorilla permits must be obtained/booked before the planned date of visiting mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Take note of the high demand for gorilla permits, especially during peak months or seasons. The peak season for gorilla trekking in Bwindi is usually around June, July, August, September, and December, January, February.
Plan and book your Bwindi gorilla tour with a reliable tour operator or company. You don’t need to go far regarding gorilla trips; Native Africa Tours is a reliable and trusted company you can deal with.
Getting there: Consider securing transportation to Bwindi National Park to trek gorillas. Our reservation team can do all these on your behalf. We plan a complete gorilla safari, which means we start right by booking a gorilla permit, transportation, accommodation, and other safari activities.
Accommodation: There are many gorilla safari lodges to consider for overnight stays, and you can choose one that suits your budget. The different accommodation options in and around Bwindi Gorilla Safari Park range from budget to midrange to luxury.

What should you expect on Bwindi gorilla trekking?

The Bwindi gorilla trekking expedition is an unforgettable journey to enjoy up-close and personal encounters with massive mountain gorillas. On a gorilla trekking adventure, expect to assemble at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offices for a briefing. This may begin around 7:30 a.m.; you will meet the park official. During the briefing session, the park officials verify visitors, and your gorilla permit should be available. You will learn the various gorilla tracking rules and regulations during the briefing.

The official from Bwindi will use this session to allocate gorilla groups to guests. One group of mountain gorillas (already habituated) is assigned to a maximum of 8 guests. An experienced park ranger guide will lead a group comprising eight visitors. At around 8:00 a.m., exit the briefing location for an actual search for a group of endangered mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking regulations to follow during Bwindi mountain gorilla trekking

Don’t eat/drink near the family of mountain gorillas.
Follow the park guide’s instructions on your gorilla trek.
Keep calm and observe what your park ranger guide tells you, especially when gorillas charge at you.
Always maintain a distance of 7-10 meters away from the gorilla family.
Don’t chase away gorillas –be aware that they can sometimes come near or rub themselves on you. At this point, do not be tempted to touch them.
When taking pictures, you should ensure that the camera is flash-free. Those with flashlight cameras can turn off the flashlight before photography begins.
Avoid direct eye contact as the gorillas may take it as a confrontation.
Ensure that your hands are kept clean or sanitized.
If you happen to help yourself, bury the human waste as directed by your park ranger guide.
The park officials only accept persons free of illnesses or sicknesses to trek mountain gorillas.

How fit should you be to trek the Bwindi mountain gorillas?

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi is not predictable and requires some fitness level. The trek involves navigating ridges, valleys, forests, and thick undergrowth. On a gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, expect to conquer an 1160 to 2607 meters elevation range.

How difficult/hard is Bwindi gorilla trekking?

How long is a trek to see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest? These and more are some of the frequently asked questions by tourists with plans to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Unlike the usual game drives or zoo tours, Bwindi mountain gorilla tracking/trekking requires a moderate physical level. Expect to spend about 2-6 hours in the wild, and this involves trekking through different kinds of vegetation (which can be dense). You can sometimes find yourself on steep slopes and in muddy areas. Navigating through such a kind of habitat requires you to be fit. Most importantly, you can embark on early physical exercise. The success rate of seeing gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 95%. At Native Africa Tours, we have not registered any cases of tourists failing to meet the gorillas.

Can an older adult with disability go trekking in Bwindi mountain gorillas?

Bwindi mountain gorilla treks are flexible because even people with disabilities have a chance to participate in the search for the massive mountain gorillas. People with disabilities or anyone with physical fitness challenges can hire a sedan chair. The sedan chair can be lifted by a team of experienced and energetic porters. However, this requires early planning to enable the tour operator to book this service with the park authorities.

What are the chances of seeing gorillas in Bwindi National Park?

Are you guaranteed to see gorillas in Bwindi? We often encounter this question, and the answer is yes. Visitors have about a 95% chance of seeing gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The remaining 5% is due to unavoidable factors like the location of gorilla families, the nature of the habitat, the fitness level of visitors, and others.

How many mountain gorillas are in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The park has over 456 mountain gorillas and 26 habituated gorilla families, the highest mountain gorilla population of any destination. The rest of the population of these endangered species resides in the other three National Parks: Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park.

What is the acceptable age limit for gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is restricted to individuals aged 15 and above. The same age limit applies to other gorilla safari destinations like Rwanda and Congo. If you have kids, do not cancel your Uganda gorilla trekking safari. Lodges in Bwindi have so many activities for kids to participate in while adults are out for gorilla trekking.

Mountain gorilla habituation in Bwindi Vs gorilla trekking

Both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experiences are done in Bwindi. However, there is a slight difference between the two. Mountain gorilla habituation experience involves spending more time following a semi-habituated gorilla family. The gorilla permits for the Bwindi gorilla habituation experience cost USD 1500 per person for foreign nonresidents and USD 1000 for all foreign residents. East African citizens book these permits at UGX 750,000 per person, which can be obtained through a licensed tour operator. Talk to the reservation team at Native Africa Tours to book a gorilla habituation tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi entirely takes you on a search for already habituated groups of mountain gorillas. The permits for Bwindi gorilla trekking cost USD 800 for all foreign nonresidents, and USD 700 for foreign residents, while Ugandans pay shs.300,000 per person. Visitors from the rest of Africa can also book gorilla trekking permits at USD 500 per person. Unlike mountain gorilla habituation experience, which is only done in the Rushaga sector, gorilla treks are conducted in any of the 4 sectors of Bwindi and across the four main mountain gorilla safari parks.

How much does Bwindi gorilla trekking cost?

The cost of a Bwindi National Park gorilla trekking expedition varies depending on several factors. The cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi is determined by factors such as the cost of gorilla permits (which also varies depending on visitor category; foreign nonresidents, foreign residents, East African citizens, and rest of Africa); cost of accommodation (budget, midrange, and luxury), and cost of transportation and fuel. Apart from the 3 major factors, the cost of a gorilla tour in Bwindi is also influenced by group travel size, season (peak and low season), cost of purchasing the packing list items for gorilla trekking, visas, passports, and cost for other tourist activities. Bwindi has other incredible activities worth adding to the gorilla tour package, including mountain gorilla habituation experience, birding/bird watching, forest walks, and Batwa cultural experience.

What is the best time to visit Bwindi for a Gorilla trekking safari?

Bwindi National Park is open for travelers at any time of the year, including public holidays and weekends. The dry season is the best time of the year to consider visiting the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for mountain gorilla trekking. The dry season in Bwindi usually occurs twice a year, from June to August and December to February. Around these months of the year, the forest trails remain relatively drier and less slippery. But Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an all-year-round destination, meaning there is an option of traveling even during the wet or rainy season. This period is favorable for budget or backpacker travelers. The wet or off-season months begin from March to May, then from October to November.

During the wet months, the park is more likely to experience heavy rain. The gorilla habitat can become muddy, steep slopes can turn slippery, and vegetation can be thick. These challenges threaten primate trekkers in their search for a group of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

How early should you book a gorilla permit or gorilla tour in Bwindi?

While last-minute gorilla trekking is possible, booking the permits and the entire gorilla trip to Bwindi early enough is better. The demand for the licenses for this adventure usually rises, especially during the year’s peak months. We recommend that you book your permit or gorilla trekking safari at least 2 to 6 months before visiting gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

What would you like to pack for the Bwindi mountain gorilla trekking tour?

The list of items to carry/pack for the gorilla tour in Bwindi is endless, but keeping it to only essentials is important. The essentials to consider when packing for the Bwindi mountain gorilla trekking safari include waterproof hiking boots, which should be lightweight, and a camera without a flashlight. You will also require long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a safari hat, insect repellents, a first aid kit or medical kit, gardening gloves, sunglasses, snacks, enough drinking water, toiletries, a rain jacket, and a valid gorilla permit.

Where to stay in and around Bwindi during the gorilla trip?

All four main gorilla trekking regions of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have accommodations for overnight visitor stays. These consist of budget, midrange, and luxury options. The popular places to consider for overnight stays on gorilla safaris in Bwindi include Buhoma Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs Lodge, and Chameleon Hill Lodge. Other lodges include Bwindi Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Gorilla Heights, Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Silverback Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Bwindi Nshongi Camp, and Wagtail Eco-Safari Lodge. You can also reserve a place for an overnight stay in Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Ride 4 a Woman, etc.

Would you be able to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be reached by road or air. Traveling to Bwindi by road can take between 8 and 9 hours, depending on road conditions. From Kigali, expect to take about 4 to 5 hours on the road, and your journey covers the border crossing via Katuna or Chanika.

Within Uganda, there is also an alternative of setting off from Kisoro/Kabale in the southwestern part to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can reach Bwindi within a 6-7-hour drive from Lake Mburo National Park.

Even if you are in Kibale National Park, you can easily connect to Bwindi, which means you can have a combined chimp and gorilla trekking adventure. It is possible to travel from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi, which is about a 5—to 6-hour drive.

Accessing Bwindi by Air

Flights to Bwindi can begin from Entebbe International Airport or Kajansi Airstrip. You will land at Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrip. From these two airstrips, visitors can take a shorter period to connect to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a safari.

Conclusively, Bwindi gorilla trekking involves exploring more about the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. It is a budget-friendly primate experience and a lifetime adventure worth considering on your bucket list of adventures in Africa. Talk to our experts to plan and book the most memorable gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.