Discover Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park : The most popular tourist safari activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is gorilla trekking, which is done by visitors to this impenetrable forest. One of the greatest national parks in Uganda is Bwindi Forest National Park, also called Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. While on a safari tour, visitors can take part in a variety of activities there, including the much awaited gorilla trekking experience. Situated just across the steep ridges of the Great Albertine Rift Valley in the southwest of Uganda, Bwindi Forest National Park is a stunning expanse of greenery. In 1942, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted as a forest reserve; in 1992, it was elevated to park status. Because of its significant biodiversity and the presence of the then-critically endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Covering about 327 square kilometres of space, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in fact such an expanse of vegetation that the park got its name “Bwindi” which translates to impenetrable for obvious reasons. Bwindi Forest National Park is a get caught of thick montane and lowland forest vegetation cover with steep landscapes, slippery valleys and high draughty ridges.
Bwindi Forest National Park is one of the very few historically rainforests still in the world on the African continent, home to over half the total world population of the great endangered mountain gorillas with the rest being distributed in the Virunga Massifs of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda, Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park od Rwanda. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park has travelers hiking the steep impenetrable slopes of the rainforest in search of the mountain gorillas, to come face to face and looking at the very expressed brown eyes of the gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Given that Bwindi Forest National Park is home to approximately 468 gorillas and roughly 21 gorilla families that have become used to visitors, gorilla trekking is an extremely exciting and 100% assured experience. Habituating gorilla families requires about 1-3 years of aligning the wild gorillas to accommodate human interaction. It is the fully habituated gorilla families that tourists may meet on a gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park safari adventure, distributed in the four gorilla sectors of Bwindi namely Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector and Ruhija sector. It is safe to visit these habituated gorilla families, and each one offers visitors a different gorilla trekking experience, allowing them to potentially see many gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park experience.
The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest National Park starts as early as 7am with trekkers arriving at the sector starting points. Here, hikers receive a briefing on what to anticipate from their gorilla trekking experience in the park, along with the rules and regulations that must be followed to. Trekkers are then assigned to gorilla families to trek with after being split up into groups of eight. Gorilla family allocation is basically reliant on the physical ability of the trek with trekkers who think themselves slow or even elderly given much easier to reach gorilla families. After, trekkers then a chance to hire porters if they do need their services, and then proceed to hike through the impenetrable forest in search of the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. During the gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park activity, look out for other wildlife and birds in the park, as well as plant species that your guide shall show you along the way. When almost approaching the gorillas, you shall be notified and prepare for it. Once in the company of the gorillas, spend time studying their similarities with us humans say how they feed, interact, care for the young among so much more. You can take pictures, all the time keeping in mind not to use a flash camera. After, trek back to the starting point, making a number of rest stops including a lunch stop for those with packed lunch.
What do I need to be able to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park?
A gorilla trekking permit, which costs only $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300000 for East African citizens, is required for visitors to experience gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park. Only eight gorilla trekkers are allowed to visit a single gorilla family each day, and visitors must be at least 15 years old. They can only spend an hour in the wild with the gorillas. Gorilla trekking permits can be got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala, or through a trusted tour operator like Takeoff Ventures Tours and Travel Gorilla permits re in high demand and given they are few in number, they sell out very first. Booking in advance is therefore very important to secure your preferred gorilla trekking dates and sector.
When to go gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park.
Although Bwindi Forest National Park is open year-round, the best time to go gorilla trekking is during the summertime, when the roads and trails are clear and less muddy. Gorilla sighting is also a little easier because the forest is not as overgrown. During the wet season too, gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park takes place given the rains do not fall all day but usually in the afternoons and nights, giving travelers an opportunity to encounter the gorillas and enjoy all the activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Because Bwindi Forest National Park is a rainforest, it is important to remember that rain might fall there even during the dry season. Therefore, it’s crucial to have warm clothes with you.
One of the most amazing things to do in Bwindi Forest National Park is gorilla trekking. there are yet a number of activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that travelers can take part in say gorilla habituation experience, Batwa cultural visit, Community tours, bird watching, nature walks, among so many. Also, including a wildlife viewing safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a great way to spice up your gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park safari. Get in touch with a reputable tour operator and get yourself the best Uganda safari package fit for just you for an opportunity to enjoy gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park and so much more.
Where to stay while gorilla trekking Bwindi Forest National Park.
There are plenty of accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that travelers can stay in while in the park. These accommodation have different ranges adapting for a variety of travelers from luxury, mid-range to budget, both in and outside the park. Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, among so many others are some of accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that travelers can stay in while gorilla trekking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How to get to Bwindi Forest National Park.
Bwindi Forest National Park can be reached by both road and air. By road, a 4WD safari vehicle is the best way for handling the terrain of the park. Bwindi Forest National Park is about 8 hours away from Kampala, with a number of stops say the Equator, or even Queen Elizabeth National Park if time allows among others. Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma, Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukunjiri-Kihihi-Buhoma sector are some of the most commonly used routes to Bwindi Forest National Park. Bwindi Forest National Park can also be reached by air, with the existence of a growing aviation industry in Uganda. Aero link Uganda and other airlines operate scheduled flights to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi to various airstrips in and around the park say Kihihi airstrip and Kisoro airstrip, as well as Kayonza airstrip.
