Bwindi Forest National Park Home to the Mountain Gorillas.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southwestern Uganda. It’s renowned for its biodiversity, particularly as a habitat for mountain gorillas. Here’s some information about Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park:
- Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and Rwanda to the south. It covers an area of about 331 square kilometers (128 square miles).
- Biodiversity: Bwindi is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Africa and is home to approximately half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Apart from gorillas, the park also harbors other primate species such as chimpanzees, baboons, and several species of monkeys. It’s also rich in birdlife, with over 350 species recorded, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
- Gorilla Trekking: One of the main attractions of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is gorilla trekking. Visitors can embark on guided treks to encounter habituated gorilla groups in their natural habitat. Permits are required for gorilla trekking and should be obtained in advance due to limited availability.
- Other Activities: Besides gorilla trekking, the park offers other activities such as bird watching, nature walks, and cultural experiences with the Batwa pygmies, who are indigenous to the area.
- Accommodation: There are various accommodation options available near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, ranging from luxury lodges to budget campsites. It’s advisable to book accommodations well in advance, especially during the peak tourist season.
- Accessibility: Access to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is mainly by road. The park can be reached from various points in Uganda, including Kampala, Entebbe, and other nearby towns. The roads leading to the park can be rough and challenging, especially during the rainy season.
- Conservation: Conservation efforts are paramount in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to protect its delicate ecosystem and the endangered mountain gorillas. These efforts include anti-poaching patrols, community involvement in conservation, and sustainable tourism practices.
- Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is during the dry seasons, from June to August and December to February, when trekking conditions are favorable. However, gorilla trekking is possible year-round.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, particularly those interested in encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a very captivating and interesting activity, which involves walking in the wilderness of Bwindi forest National Park or Mgahinga National Park in search of these great apes and a maximum of Eight people are permitted per group per day.
To trek this giant primates in the wildness, you need a gorilla trekking permit, obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority for Uganda
How many gorilla Families are in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?
They are 14 groups that can be tracked in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The habituated groups in Bwindi include; Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Bweza, Nshongi, Bweza, Kahungye, Busingye, Nkuringo, Bushaho groups for normal tracking, Bikingi group that is set aside for the habituation experience and Kyaguliro group that was set aside for research purposes.
Mgahinga National Park comprises of one habituated group know as Nyakagezi that used to cross borders to Democratic Republic of Congo but now settled in Uganda.
Gorilla Permit Booking Procedure
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda can be only be done after attaining Gorilla permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority as the only authorized entity. Please contact us for pre-purchase your permit at no extra cost once you book a gorilla safari with us. Uganda Wildlife Authority requires your details; Names, passport number, and nationality to issue your gorilla permit.
Gorilla Permit Prices in Uganda for the Period of July 2024 to June 2026
Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is more affordable than in Rwanda, priced at $800 per person per trek for regular tracking and $1500 per person per trek for the habituation experience.
Gorilla Trekking Cost according tourist categories in Uganda unlike in Rwanda where the price is uniform even for it’s citizens:
- Foreign Non-residents – US $800
- Foreign Residents – US $700
- Ugandans/East Africans – UGX 300,000/=
DISCOUNTED GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS $400 UPTO JUNE 2021
When should I book my Gorilla permit:
After contacting us on your possible travel dates, we will advise you on the best gorilla family to trek. During the high seasons of January, February, June, July, August, September, October and December, you will need to book your gorilla permit at least 5 months in advance as permits tend to be scarce while in low seasons, you can even book it close to the tracking date. Please do contact us at info@gorillasafaris-uganda.com or what’s app: +256 782744920, for last minute gorilla permit booking and we will secure it for you at no extra cost .
Can I book a gorilla permit myself for mountain gorillas.
Yes you can book your gorilla permit by contacting the reservations offices at Uganda Wildlife Authority on +256-414-355402/3/4/5 who will advise on the availability of gorilla permits and how to transfer funds to their account. Once the money reflects on their account, they will then book your permit and on arrival in Uganda, you will go their offices with your credentials for the issuing of your permit for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Though it is advisable to contact a tour operator in Uganda to book the permits for you to avoid the hustle.
1.World Of The Mountain Gorilla
2.Gorilla Tracking Families in Bwindi National park Uganda.
3.The Gorilla Habituation Experience
6.Clothes to Wear on Mountain Gorilla tracking
7.Age Limit For Mountain Gorilla Tracking.
8.Gorilla Trekking Etiquette in Uganda
