Costing up to US$800 for an hour of viewing, gorilla trekking in Bwindi is one of the world’s most costly wildlife experiences. However, those who have scaled the slippery slopes or squeezed through the dense rainforest to spend time with these closest cousins of man will proudly tell you that the gorilla trekking experience is an activity worthy of your money.
Besides that one-hour encounter with gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, gorilla trekking in Uganda costs you half of what it would cost if you opted for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Please note that nearly 50% of the world’s mountain gorilla population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi forest. This equates to around 500 gorilla individuals on the count, according to the last official census in 2019, with 24 gorilla families currently habituated for tourism in Uganda – a plan way higher than any other forested area that offers gorilla trekking safaris in Africa.
Are you planning to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park during your safari in Uganda? Then this full travel guide we have worked out for you!
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Sectors
Bwindi is divided into 4 sectors, each named after a nearby village. Each sector serves as a self-standing gorilla trekking destination, featuring its own set of accommodation options, gorilla families, and various tourist attractions, and is accessed via different roads.
When you book your own accommodation or a permit for tracking gorillas, it’s crucial to know whether you will be tracking gorillas from:
- Buhoma Sector (northern Bwindi)
- Ruhija Sector (eastern Bwindi)
- Rushaga Sector (southern Bwindi)
- Nkuringo Sector (western Bwindi)
Since these hubs are located quite far apart by road, it’s best to book your gorilla permit or choose accommodation within the same sector. While it may seem obvious, it is possible to encounter others driving to a different trailhead on the day of their trek and then returning to their lodge afterward.
This can be inconvenient but manageable if traveling between Buhoma and Ruhija (about two hours) or between Rushaga and Nkuringo (about one hour). However, it is nearly impossible with any other combination (most extremely, Buhoma and Nkuringo are a full 6-hour drive apart).
How to Get to Bwindi National Park?
If you are coming straight from the capital city Kampala or nearby Entebbe (the main entry point to Uganda), expect the driving time to Bwindi to be about 8 to 10 hours without stops.
Many people include Bwindi in a long road tour of Uganda. You can approach Bwindi from Kibale Forest or Queen Elizabeth National Park, with the drive taking anywhere from two to seven hours, depending on your exact starting point and which of the four gorilla trekking sectors you are headed to.
Alternatively, you can travel to Bwindi from Lake Mburo National Park, which takes about five to seven hours. If you are planning to travel directly to Bwindi from Entebbe, you might want to book a scheduled flight to Kihihi Airstrip (for Buhoma and Ruhija) or Kisoro Airstrip (for Rushaga or Nkuringo).
It is also important to note that Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is far closer to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, and many road tours to the park often begin from there.
What's a day of gorilla trekking in Bwindi like?
Your gorilla trek will begin early, so ensure you arrive on time.
Depending on your accommodation, the drive from your lodge to the trek starting point can take anywhere from 10 to 90 minutes along dirt roads. As a result, you will likely need to wake up before dawn, have breakfast, pack your lunch, and drive to the starting point in the early morning light.
Your hike will begin with a briefing from your Uganda Wildlife Authority guide. Each trekking group is limited to a maximum of 8 tourists, accompanied by UWA rangers.
You also have the option to hire a porter to carry your bag. There’s no obligation to do so; these local men and women are glad to earn some income by helping with your belongings.
Trekking typically begins at 8 AM. The time it takes to locate the gorillas can vary significantly, ranging from about 1 hour to 5 hours, depending on where they were spotted the day before.
Once the rangers locate a gorilla family, you will have the opportunity to spend one hour with them. This one-hour limit is in place to prevent the gorillas from becoming too accustomed to human interaction. After this time is up, the gorillas are left undisturbed by humans for the remaining 23 hours of the day.
It’s essential to remember that you can walk at your own pace. The one-hour viewing time begins once the entire group is together, so there’s no need to feel hurried by other trekkers. After your gorilla encounter, you’ll return to the starting point, where you’ll receive a gorilla trekking certificate and meet your driver guide for a transfer back to the lodge. Tips for the rangers and porters are greatly appreciated.
Are The Hiking Trails In Good Condition?
The gorillas in Bwindi roam freely and do not stick to specific trails, so your guide will first lead you along a trail in the forest to get you close to a gorilla family group.
As you approach, you’ll likely need to leave the trail and follow the guide and trackers through the forest undergrowth. They’ll look for the easiest path for you and use machetes to clear branches along the way.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest lives up to its name, with very dense vegetation, and even the established trails can be quite overgrown. Additionally, the trails can become slippery after rainfall. It is advisable to hire a porter who can carry your bag and assist you with balance along the trail.
Are mountain gorillas aggressive?
Mountain gorillas are not aggressive; in fact, they are often called gentle giants. Their huge size would pose a danger if they were aggressive, which is why they can be approached closely on foot.
Silverback males may occasionally display aggression towards other male gorillas and engage in fights for dominance. While these conflicts usually result in one male leaving the family group or a group splitting, there are rare occasions where such fights can lead to death.
Sometimes, a gorilla might mock charge at tourists, but this has never caused any injuries. Before you go gorilla trekking, you’ll receive a comprehensive briefing on what to do if a gorilla approaches you or shows any signs of aggression. As long as you follow your guide’s instructions, you should be completely safe.
What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Bwindi?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years. This restriction is implemented for several important reasons. Younger children might struggle to stay calm if a huge silverback male gorilla mock charges during the trek, and their lower stamina may make it difficult for them to complete the entire trek. For additional details, check out our blog on gorilla trekking with children.
Which month is best to trek gorillas in Bwindi?
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park is possible year-round. However, the best trekking conditions are typically found during the dry season, which runs from June to August and December to February.
In the wet season, the trails can become slippery and more challenging to navigate. Since gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it can be disappointing if it rains on your trekking day.
You may also like; When is the best time to visit Uganda?
Are gorilla sightings guaranteed in Bwindi?
Gorillas in Bwindi roam freely within their territory, making them sometimes difficult to locate.
During the briefing from the head ranger before your gorilla trekking tour, you’ll be advised that sightings are not guaranteed. However, in recent years, the success rate has been nearly 100%, so it’s reasonable to expect to see the gorillas. The only instances where people may not succeed are if they feel unfit and choose to turn back; most reasonably fit individuals can complete the trek.
The guides and porters will do their utmost to assist you, with some visitors being physically helped up the mountain slopes. To enhance your chances of success, come well-prepared with a walking stick, drinking water, a rain jacket, and snacks, and make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes.
How much is gorilla trekking in Bwindi?
A gorilla permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents. While this may seem pricey, it is a great deal compared to the price of a similar experience in Rwanda. The fee is reduced to US$700 for foreign residents, US$80 for East African citizens, and US$500 for holders of other African passports.
Gorilla trekking is available in two national parks in Uganda: Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks. Both parks provide a comparable experience, allowing you to spend one hour with a gorilla family once you reach their location, with each group of trekkers limited to eight participants.
A distinctive activity available in Bwindi is the gorilla habituation experience. Two semi-habituated gorilla families can be tracked by a limited group of four tourists daily, who can stay for four hours. Since these gorillas are not fully accustomed to human presence, viewing them can be more challenging, as they tend to keep their distance. The cost for this exclusive experience is US$1,500.
How To Obtain Your Gorilla Trekking Permit?
If you’re planning to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi, it’s recommended to book your trekking permits well in advance. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these permits exclusively through tour operators, so tourists cannot visit their headquarters in Kampala to arrange them independently.
Our team at Tulambule is happy to assist you in securing your gorilla permits. To facilitate the arrangement, we will need the following information from you:
- Full passport name, nationality, date of birth, and passport number of all the people trekking.
- Preferred starting location and date.
- Second best dates in case the preferred date is fully booked.
- Once proof of payment has been sent, we will purchase the permits on your behalf.
- For this service, we charge a handling fee of US$ 30 per gorilla trekking permit and US$ 50 per gorilla habituation experience.
Please note that once your gorilla trekking permit is bought, it is not possible to change the start location (sector) and/or trekking date.
Which other parks should I visit on a trip that includes gorilla trekking in Bwindi?
That largely depends on the length of your safari.
A 2-day Uganda gorilla safari package from Kigali or a 3-day gorilla tour from Entebbe or Kampala will provide limited time for activities beyond gorilla trekking and potentially one additional guided walk in Bwindi or relaxation, canoeing, and boat cruise at Lake Bunyonyi/Lake Mutanda.
If your itinerary spans 4 to 5 days, it’s recommended to spend at least one night in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can observe lions and elephants on the plains, take boat trips on the Kazinga Channel to see hippos, and spot chimps in the forested Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu Forest.
If you extend your trip to 6 or 7 days, you can also consider visiting Lake Mburo National Park for plains wildlife and Kibale National Park for chimpanzees, monkeys, and forest birds.
A minimum comfortable duration for an itinerary that extends further north to Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is 9 days, although 10 days would be preferable.
A two-week trip would provide enough time to include all of these destinations and also add a white-water rafting adventure on the Nile River near Jinja, located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Tips for the best gorilla trekking in Bwindi
- Wear sturdy and comfortable walking or hiking shoes that can handle slippery terrain.
- Pick up a walking stick at the beginning of your trek.
- Strong gardening gloves are useful since you’ll need to grab various twigs and trees along the way.
- Opt for long-sleeved clothing to shield yourself from scratches and insect bites while navigating through dense vegetation.
- Remember to bring a facemask, as it is required when you are near the gorillas.
- Pack a raincoat, sunscreen, enough water (about 2 liters), and snacks or a packed lunch.
- Close-up photos can be particularly striking, so consider capturing images of a hand, foot, or face.
- Take some moments to observe the gorillas without focusing on taking pictures. Put your camera away to fully appreciate your surroundings, immerse yourself in the experience, and enjoy the moment!