How long does gorilla trekking take in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

How long does gorilla trekking take in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park? Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park can vary quite a bit terms of time and difficulty because the gorillas are always moving around in the forest. This means that each trek can be different depending on where the gorillas are that day. It’s important to be ready for changing weather, as conditions can shift quickly. The ground can be steep and there might not always be clear trails to follow. Some trek might only las for 1 hour, while other could take a full day, sometimes stretching to 8 hours pr more, especially in hot and high-altitude conditions therefore please be prepared for this by being as fit as possible.

While on a gorilla trekking in Bwindi, you might walk over 9 miles, which can take around 3 hours to spot these fascinating rare mountain gorillas in their habitat. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park starts in the morning at 8:am at the park’s headquarters in Buhoma with a briefing about the gorilla trekking rule and regulations as well as expectations while in the forest.  After the briefing you will be allocate an armed Uganda wildlife authority guide who will lead to the forest in search for these fascinating creatures. During the trek, you’ll also het a chance to spot other wildlife that call the forest home such as birds, butterflies and other animals.  Once you have allocated with these creatures, you will be allowed only one hour interaction with them as you watch how the do with their daily activities such as grooming, playing feedings and breastfeeding as well as taking photos. However kindly note this is for the normal trek, gorilla trekking sometimes can take the whole day it all depends on the nature that day and the movement of the gorillas on the forest.

About gorilla trekking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the only 4 national parks home to the endangered mountain gorillas in the world.  The other three national parks include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.

Bwindi Forest National Park is one of Africa’s oldest forests and was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning park is a home to a diverse biodiversity with various species which include 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 moths and 120 mammals, the park is also home to several primates including chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey and the major one the Mountain Gorillas. Out of the global mountain gorilla population of about 1,064, around half live in Bwindi. The park offers the opportunity to track over 15 gorilla family groups that have become accustomed to human presence, with 8 permits available for each group each day for visitors interested in this incredible experience.

How many gorillas trekking families are in Bwindi for gorilla trekking?

There are 18 habituated gorilla families found in Bwindi impenetrable national park done in the four sectors namely Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija and Nkuringo sector. The experience is all the sectors is the same and very enjoyable. Every gorilla family is allocated 8 visitors per day which gives you an opportunity to visit the gorillas any time of the year. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is safe and such a life time experience on your travel list.

More so, every sector has its own named gorilla families that visitors can trek to. in Buhoma sector, you can find the Mubare Gorilla Family, Habinyanja Gorilla Family, Rushegura Gorilla Family, Katwe Gorilla Group. The Ruhija sector is home to the Bitukura Gorilla Family, Oruzogo family, Mukiza gorilla family, Kyaruguriro Gorilla Family. The Rushaga sector has a larger variety, including Nshongi Gorilla Group, Mishaya Gorilla Group, Bweza Gorilla Group, Bikyingi gorilla family, Kahungye Gorilla Family, Busingye Gorilla Family and Mucunguzi gorilla family. Finally, in the Nkuringo sector, you can trek to the Nkuringo Gorilla Family, Bushaho Gorilla family, Christmas Gorilla Family.

How much is Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

If you’re planning to go Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, the cost of a gorilla permit is as follows: It’s costs USD 800 per person per trek for Foreign Non-Residents, USD 700 for East African Residents and USD 300 for East African Citizens. With this permit, you’ll get the chance to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas once you find them during your trek.

What is the best time to see primates in Bwindi impenetrable National Park?

If you’re planning to trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the best to go are during the drier months, which are from January, February, June, July, August and early September. These months usually have less rain, making trekking a bit easier. Any time of the year, you can visit the gorillas in Bwindi. Sometimes, the rainy season is considered better to see the gorillas as there is a lot of food growing because of rain and gorillas can clearly be spotted.

How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Gorilla Trekking

To get Bwindi impenetrable national Park, you can drive there, which takes about 9 to 10 hours from Kampala or Entebbe. The scenic road trip is fun, with stops at the Equator for photos, lunch in Mbarara, and gorgeous views along the way. We use comfortable 4×4 vehicles that are comfortable for your trip and our professional and trained driver guides will ensure your safety on your gorilla trip.

Alternatively, you can fly into Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrips that serve Bwindi impenetrable national park. The flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip takes around 1 to 2 hours, after which you can take a short drive to your hotel or lodge.  There are both scheduled flights or chartered flights depending on your budget and planned trip.

Another option is fly into the Kigali international Airport, drive to south western Uganda through Cyanika or Katuna Boarder which take only 4-5 hours with the time spent at immigrations at the border. We recommend getting the East African Visa, which allows you to enter Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda multiple times.

Where to stay on a gorilla trekking trip to Bwindi impenetrable National Park?

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has a variety of accommodation options built to cater all kinds of travellers. These accommodations ranges from luxury, mid-range to budget level.  Some of these facilities includes Rushaga Gorilla camp, Four Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge. In Buhoma sector you can stay at Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany springs Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Trekkers tavern Lodge, Bakiga lodge and Gorilla Forest camp among others.