3 DaysBwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour is the best budget and short Uganda safari package
designed for you to get up close with a group of mountain gorillas while in
their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in southwestern
Uganda, 530 kilometers that is approximately 8-10 hours’ drive from Entebbe or
Kampala city center and 3-4 hours by road from Kigali. It covers an area of
331sq.kms and its establishment in 1991 was mainly to offer refuge to mountain
gorillas that today remain fewer than 1004 on earth. Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park is home to half the total number of mountain gorillas that
currently thrive in the world.
Gorillatrekking safaris in Uganda are conducted in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga
National Park. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorilla trekking
adventures are done in only the Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Buhoma region, each with habituated gorilla
families. Note, only 8 visitors are allowed to trek one habituated family per
day and you are accompanied by an armed ranger guide.
The 3 Days
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour starts from Entebbe or Kampala with pick up by one
of our professional driver guides or do the same tour starting from Kigali
International Airport/Hotel in Kigali via Katuna or Chanika border with
opportunity to visit the scenic Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda for you to
embark on community walk or canoe ride while enjoying the breathtaking views of
rolling hills or scenic islands. Alternatively, take a flight from Entebbe
International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip then
connect to Bwindi National Park.
Gorilla
trekking in Bwindi Forest national park
One hour of
magical encounter with mountain gorillas
Stopover at
Equator (Kayabwe)
Batwa
experience
Breathtaking
views of the landscape in southwestern Uganda among others
Photo taking
View the
tree climbing lions at the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 1:
Transfer from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for
gorilla tracking
Day 2:
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Day 3:
Return to Entebbe or Kampala
Day 1: Transfer from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla tracking.
After you
have had your delicious breakfast at your respective hotel or area of residence
in Entebbe or Kampala or Kigali, you will be picked up by our professional and
experienced driver guide. You will have a briefing about your 3 Days Bwindi
Gorilla Trekking Tour and then embark on a road trip to southwestern Uganda via
Entebbe or Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route which may take you about 8-10
hours to drive. En-route, you have a chance to make a stopover at the Uganda
equator (at Kayabwe) for photo taking and a bit of chilling. After, proceed to
Mbarara to have lunch at Igongo cultural center or Agip Hotel.
Later, drive
to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishaka-Bushenyi while enjoying the
best view of extensive tea plantations at Igara. Connect to Queen Elizabeth
National Park Uganda’s second largest savanna national park after Murchison
Falls National Park and then drive via the Ishasha sector in the southern side
which comes with possibility for you to catch a glimpse at the rare tree
climbing lions as they are relaxed on tree branches as well as several
elephants, buffaloes, and many others. Proceed to southwestern Uganda to Bwindi
National Park while enjoying the breathtaking sceneries and rolling hills of
the Kigezi area. From Kanungu, drive to the Buhoma area of Bwindi National Park
on the northern side.
Accommodation
options:
Gorilla
Safari Lodge, Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Bakiga
Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange)
Ruhija
Gorilla Friends Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Enjoy your
breakfast at your preferred safari lodge in Bwindi National Park and after,
gather at your respective trailhead as per your gorilla permit to have a
briefing at 6:30 am on the set gorilla trekking.
During
briefing time, you will be assigned to only one habituated gorilla family to
trek in a group of 8 visitors and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about
20 gorilla families that have been habituated and set for tourism. At 8:00 am,
you will embark on an actual trek with an armed park ranger guide. Note,
gorilla treks in Bwindi National Park start from the 4 main gorilla trekking
regions; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga sector, each of which consists of
habituated gorilla groups.
Buhoma
sector comprises of Mubare gorilla group, Habinyanja family, Katwe and
Rushegura gorilla group; Ruhija region has Kyaguriro, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and
Bitukura; Nkuringo area in the southern Bwindi National Park comprises of
Nkuringo gorilla group, Bushaho, and Christmas while Rushaga area in the south
has Kutu gorilla family, Mucunguzi, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye,
Bweza, Rwigi, and Bikingi group. Mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi National Park
may take you about 2-6 hours depending on your physical wellness, nature of the
habitat and where gorillas are found. The 2-6 hours rewards you not only with
magical encounters with gorillas but also other wildlife species including
black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, birds,
butterflies, unique plants and many others. Upon finding your gorilla family,
you have only an hour to have a face to face encounter, take photos and explore
behaviors and body gestures of mountain gorillas.
After the
one hour of magical encounter, return to the lodge to have rest and in the evening,
you will embark on a community visit to the Batwa community. You will have a
chance to interact with the Batwa pygmies the renowned forest dwellers who
lived in the forest as hunters and gatherers for over 500000 years. On community
or cultural visit in the Batwa community, enjoy the thrilling cultural dances,
music performances; explore the ancient hunting and gathering techniques,
traditions, cultures and many others.
Dine and
Overnight at:
Gorilla
Safari Lodge, Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Bakiga
Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange)
Ruhija
Gorilla Friends Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Day 3:
Return to Entebbe or Kampala.
Early in the
morning, you have breakfast and after, check out from your safari lodge ready
to embark on a return journey to Kampala or Entebbe. You will have lunch at
Igongo Cultural Center and make a stopover at Uganda Equator for the last photo
taking and at Mpambire drum makers to purchase some items.
Gorilla
trekking permit ($600 per person)
Batwa
cultural experience
Visit Lake
Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation
2 nights and meals
Transport in
4-wheel drive safari vehicle
Fulltime English-speaking
driver guide
Stopover at
the equator and at Mpambire drum makers
Personal/medical
insurance
Personal
expenses such as cigarettes, tips, laundry services, airfares, accommodation
and extra activities outside itinerary and others.
Other safari
activities offered in Bwindi National Park
Birding
Cycling
Nature
walks/hiking
Gorilla
habituation experience
Bwindi
National Park is regarded as all year round safari destination. Despite this
fact, the dry season is the best time to go trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi
National Park. The dry season in Bwindi National Park starts in the months of
June, July, August, September and December, January, February. It is also
regarded as the peak season and you are encouraged to secure your gorilla
permit at least 3-4 months before actual trek. The wet or rainy season is also
ideal but it is characterized by plenty of rainfall which makes the habitat
muddy thus posing a challenge when hiking through dense vegetation and steep
slopes. It starts in March, April, May, and October, November. The wet season
is characterized by plenty of forage which gorillas depend on which makes it
simpler or visitors take short hours to find these creatures compared to the
dry season when they move to search for what to feed on.
Waterproof
hiking boots
Rain jacket
or poncho
Long sleeved
shirt/t-shirts
Drinking
water and energy giving snacks
Sweater
Valid visa
and passport
Gorilla
permits (each costing $600-for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign
residents and Ug.shs. 250000 for East African citizens).
Gardening
gloves
Camera with
no flashlight
First aid
kit
Insect
repellent
Hat
Sunglasses
and others.
Keep a
distance of 7 meters at all times away from mountain gorillas
No flashlight
camera is allowed when taking photos of gorillas and if your camera has, please
turn it off
Do not go
for gorilla trekking if you are not feeling well
Do not
smoke, drink or eat in the presence of gorillas
Keep within
your group and never surround gorillas
Only persons
above 15 years are allowed to trek gorillas
You have
only an hour to have face to face encounter with gorillas
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