Gorilla Trekking

An Independent Travel Guide to mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best place to see mountain gorillas up close in the wild. Perfect and less marketed, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the most affordable destinations where travelers can meet the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Tracking gorillas in the impenetrable Bwindi forest is one of the lifetime adventures that will never fade from your memory. The activity involves a hike through the lush rain forest that is characterized with different tree species and interesting fauna, an amazing experience full of life time memories. You can easily get a gorilla permit at only US$800 per day, a fee that includes park entrance fees, park rangers, and great memories in general. Food, transport and accommodation can’t cost much as long as you have the main park gate pass at hand. The park retains much of its rich treasures through conservation and local community support so whoever tracks mountain gorillas support the community and the park mountain gorilla conservation. You may be surprised to find free coffee at the Buhoma Tourism Center, a welcome prize prepared using Uganda locally made coffee for every guest to park as a way of saying thank you for supporting mountain gorilla conservation. Why Go Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi This is the finest park for mountain gorilla trekking twice at a pocket friendly price that you won’t find anywhere in the region. Experience rural ancient life by meeting up with the gorillas twice in a unique gorilla habitat -Bwindi Forest and later mix with locals for updates on Uganda traditions and culture. The amazing adventure offers opportunities to be with mountain gorillas for one hour of photography and observation a thing every primate tourist will love. Besides Bwindi impenetrable forest is a home to one of the richest ecosystems in Africa and one of the most populated gorilla destinations for mountain gorillas. Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Mountain gorillas are the major draw to Uganda’s tourism. Meeting these great apes in their natural wild is an experience that is of a lifetime. Within the Bwindi Forest, gorilla trekking is conducted in four sectors; Buhoma and Ruhija in the north as well as Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. This adventure activity is done all year round and gorilla permits are prebooked well in advance. The activity is conducted along ecotourism guidelines and tourists are given up one hour to watch the great apes. Some of the important gorilla trekking guidelines that you need to know are; Tourists must maintain a distance of 7 meters from the mountain gorillas. Though at times, the apes can get very close to you, it is important to take advice of the rangers on duty on how you should behave whilst gorilla trekking. During the gorilla trekking session, it is important to keep in your small group and endeavor to maintain your voices low. Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an exceptional destination with a checklist of up to 120 species of mammals. Bwindi features four main well-established visitor centers where briefing for gorilla watching and allocation of park ranger guides is done by the park official. The four main sectors/regions/information centers in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Ruhija, Buhoma sector, Rushaga, and Nkuringo region. These four tourism information centers in Bwindi National Park are found in the different parts of the park. Visitors on gorilla trekking safaris must choose their tourism/gorilla trekking center right from the initial stages of booking gorilla permits. The region/center you choose to spend your Uganda holiday in Bwindi should be guided by what you intend to do or gorilla families you want to track. Here is a detailed guide to each of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park tourism information centres (sectors/regions/areas). Buhoma Sector Buhoma sector is located in the Northern end of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is known for gorilla trekking and visitors can explore gorilla families such as Rushegura, Mubare, Habinyanja, and Katwe gorilla family. Visitors with plans to start their activities at Buhoma can consider booking the lodges that are close to the starting point of the gorilla trek. Popular Buhoma lodges include Engagi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Volcanoes Safari Bwindi Lodge. Ruhija Sector The Ruhija tourism information centre is located in the Eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Visitors with plans to explore different gorilla families/groups in the Eastern section of Bwindi assemble at Ruhija trailhead to begin their day with briefing. Rushaga Sector In the far Southern edge, there is Rushaga sector, a region with highest gorilla groups already habituated and open to trekkers. Rushaga is one of the tourism information centers located in the southern end of Bwindi National Park. Unlike other gorilla sectors/regions, Rushaga features the highest number of already habituated gorilla families for tourists to track. Nkuringo Sector Nkuringo region is another popular gorilla trekking area in the Southern end of Bwindi National Park. Like other tourism information centres, Nkuringo is an ideal location for tourists to kick-start their gorilla trekking adventures in Bwindi. Visitors can book lodges/accommodation choices in and around Nkuringo for overnight stay. They include Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and others. All About Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Gorilla trekking is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It combines adventure, wildlife observation, and the thrill of encountering one of the world’s most endangered species in its natural habitat. However, this activity requires preparation and a clear understanding of what to expect. Gorilla trekking is a unique, thrilling and fulfilling experience! It is a journey leading one to appreciate the hidden treasures of Uganda. There are over 40 gorilla families within Bwindi Forest but only 25 families have been habituated for gorilla tourism. The remaining gorilla families are still wild though some are still undergoing the gorilla habituation process. Visiting one or more habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi National Park is worth as each of them tells