Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is only one of two destinations in Uganda that are home to mountain Gorillas; the other is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, Bwindi is the primary destination for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
Located in southwestern Uganda in the Kigezi hills, along the Congo border and on the eastern edge of the western Rift valley, Bwindi, a UNESCO world heritage site, is considered to be one of the most biodiverse forests in Eastern Africa.
The terrain is very rugged, consisting of narrow valleys intersected by rivers and steep hills. The altitude ranges from 1,190m to 2,607m (3,904 to 8,553 ft) above sea level, and 60 % of the park situated above 2000m (6,600 ft).
In addition to being home of almost half of the world’s population of mountain Gorillas, Bwindi also has about 120 mammals that reside in the national park, including chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, African elephant, colobus monkeys and many more.
The park begins right where the plains and mountains meet, giving it a rich collection of flora and fauna. The forest has over 200 trees, 200 butterflies, 100 ferns, and 350 bird species. Some of which are endemic to the park. The surrounding communities are mostly agricultural and produce some of the best arabica coffee in the region.
Bwindi has a tropical climate with annual temperatures ranging from a minimum of 7 to 15 °C (45 to 59 °F) and a maximum of 21 to 27 °C (68 to 81 °F). The annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 1,900 mm (55 to 75 in).
Two types of seasons characterize Ugandan weather; the dry seasons are June to August and December to February and the wet seasons when record rainfall occurs.
The dry months offer ideal conditions for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. In the wet months, the ground is often damp and muddy, making trekking more challenging.
According to the last census, about 459 individual mountain gorillas consisting of 50 groups and 13 individual gorillas inhabit Bwindi.
For the sake of preserving the park, 18 gorilla families have been habituated and are available throughout the year for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
However, to visit the gorillas, you need to purchase a gorilla permit at the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala.
Bwindi is approximately a 9-hour drive from Kampala or a 4-hour drive from Kigali, Rwanda, in a private vehicle. It’s even longer using public means. However, there is no appropriate public transportation to the park.
Most buses from Kampala stop in the nearest towns to the park: Kihihi in the north, Kabale in the southeast, and Kisoro in the south. It’s another 2 hours’ drive from each town to the park, and you can only get there by employing a private taxi or motorcycle (bodaboda), which most times are in lousy condition and hard to find.
If you want to avoid Kampala’s long drive, you can also take a shuttle flight from Entebbe International Airport, which takes about an hour.
It is not possible to go gorilla trekking on the same day you travel to Bwindi, due to the time it takes to get there. It’s a nine hours drive from Kampala and a four hours drive from Kigali.
If you are traveling from Entebbe or Kampala, you need to set aside a minimum of 3 days. Two days of travel and one day of trekking. If you are traveling from Kigali, you can pull it off in 2 days: drive to Bwindi on the first day, trek the second day and drive back to Kigali after your trek.
There are four different locations in Bwindi that you can go to for Gorilla Trekking, but not all are ideal for you. You can track four families in Buhoma in the north, four families in Ruhija in the east, eight families in Rushaga in the south, and two families in Nkuringo in the southwestern part of the park. To determine the best place to stay, you need to consider the following.
If you are traveling from Entebbe or Kampala, it is better to stay in Ruhija or Rushaga. They are the closest gorilla trekking locations from Kampala. If you are going from Kigali, Rushaga, and Ruhija are the nearest locations for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
If you plan to take a wildlife safari in Uganda before or after Gorilla Trekking, then Buhoma is the right location for you. It’s the closest to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking.
If yes, then you need to stay in Rushaga or Nkuringo, because only these two locations have gorilla families that offer the gorilla habituation experience.
Click here to learn more about each location.
Once you have determined where in Bwindi you want to stay, then purchase a gorilla trekking permit. You need a gorilla trekking permit to visit any of the Gorilla families in Bwindi, and you can only buy it at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala.
The gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $600 and gives you access to track and visit only one gorilla family on a specific date in a particular location in Bwindi. Make sure you obtain a Gorilla trekking permit whose designated destination corresponds with your preferred one.
You are not at liberty to choose a gorilla family of your choice. You can only select the Bwindi location, and on the day of the trek, the Uganda Wildlife Authority designates a gorilla family to you in that location. However, if you favor tracking a particular gorilla family, it is essential to work with a knowledgeable and experienced tour operator who usually can influence the rangers to designate a gorilla family that fits your preferences.
If you desire to visit more than one gorilla family, you will need more days in the park since you only can track one family a day, and you will need to purchase multiple gorilla permits. We recommend visiting families in the same region of the park, which minimizes the cost of your trip and also minimizes the travel time.
Once you have determined the location and obtained a gorilla trekking permit, it’s time to find a suitable lodge. Avoid unnecessary travel on the day of your trek by choosing a safari lodge situated in the same location as your gorilla trekking permit.
Each of the four gorilla trekking stations in Bwindi has several lodge establishments with varying comfort and price levels. See the lodges we recommend in each location.
Due to Bwindi’s remoteness and primitive road network, there is no direct route by public transportation. Trying to get to Bwindi on your own is often exhausting, stressful, and time-consuming. We recommend hiring a tour operator for roundtrip transportation to and from Bwindi.
The right gear is essential for a pleasant gorilla trekking experience. See our packing list to determine what to wear and equipment to carry for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is strenuous and requires you to have a moderate level of fitness. The total trekking experience can last anywhere between 2 to 8 hours and involves hiking up and down steep hills. We recommend incorporating exercise routines, running, or hiking as part of your trip preparation.
No matter the gorilla family you track, trekking in Bwindi is strenuous, and you need to be fit. However, indeed, the trekking experience in Bwindi can slightly vary depending on the gorilla family you trek.
Some groups are situated at higher altitude regions of the park (Nkuringo), making the trek more difficult. Other groups are also known to travel frequently within the park, leading to longer trekking distances and time.
However, even families (i.e., Rushegura, Bitukura, Bweza) generally known to be situated closer to the edge of the park; they too sometimes can wander off and travel further in the forest on the day of your trek. Therefore, do not bank on a short trek, physical fitness is essential for a pleasant gorilla trekking experience.
It is also essential to organize your trip with a tour operator with excellent knowledge of the park and its gorilla families. Although not guaranteed, choosing the right tour operator and planning your trip six to eight months in advance, gives you the best chance of tracking a gorilla family with the shortest and less strenuous trekking experience.
There are five central locations for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Four of them are in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and one is in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Although each of the five locations offers a similar gorilla trekking experience, it is helpful to know the geographical location of each region and the gorilla families in the area, so that you plan your safari better.
Buhoma is located in the northern boundary of the park. It was the first gorilla trekking outpost to be established in Bwindi. It has since experienced a lot of development, growing into a small town, and is now the most established destination in Bwindi.
The area also has the most number of lodges in the park.
Four gorilla families are available for tracking in Buhoma. These are;
Buhoma is on a lower altitude than the other locations; as a result, Gorilla trekking in this location is considered slightly less strenuous than trekking gorillas in the other three areas.
Some of the gorilla families are sometimes closer to the park boundaries, hence leading to a shorter trek.
It is also about a two hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park. Buhoma’s proximity to Queen Elizabeth, and other attractions in southwestern Uganda makes it the ideal destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda if you also plan to take a safari or visit Chimpanzees in Kibale.
Located in the southern sector of Bwindi, Rushaga is home to eight gorilla families. Rushaga has the highest number of gorilla families available for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
It is the most likely destination for travelers who decide to trek gorillas with only a few weeks to their departure date. Since gorilla trekking permits are on high demand, Rushaga is usually the last location to run out of gorilla permits.
Rushaga is also the only destination in Africa for travelers seeking to spend more than the standard one hour with the gorillas. Rushaga has the Gorilla Habituation program, which offers travelers the opportunity to visit a gorilla group and spend up to 4 hours watching the family feed, play, mate, and nest.
The cost for the Gorilla Habituation Experience is $1500 per person, and it’s best for Mountain Gorilla enthusiasts desiring more time to spend with these magnificent creatures.
Lastly, since Rushaga is in the south, it’s an excellent destination for travelers coming from Kigali to Bwindi for Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla families in Rushaga are:
Located in Bwindi’s eastern sector, Ruhija is a gorilla trekking outpost for four gorilla families. Ruhija is also the closest destination from Kampala, with the driving taking 8 hours.
The town is also the second nearest destination to Queen Elizabeth national park, after Buhoma. If you are interested in visiting Lake Bunyonyi, Ruhija is the best place to stay for your gorilla trekking, since it’s only a two-hour drive from the lake.
Lastly, Ruhija is also the closest destination for travelers coming from Kigali to Bwindi for Gorilla Trekking. It’s less than 5 hours from Kigali. The gorilla families in Ruhija are:
Nkuringo is on the southwestern part of Bwindi and is the furthest Gorilla Trekking destination from Kampala. However, it is ideal for travelers from Kigali, with the drive taking about 5 hours.
Gorilla Trekking in Nkuringo is considered the most strenuous of all the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda. There are two gorilla families in Nkuringo for tracking. These are:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is on the southwestern border of Uganda and Rwanda. The park consists of three extinct volcanoes, which are part of the Virunga mountains that lie along the edge of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park is home to one gorilla family known as Nyakagezi. The Nyakagezi family consists of 8 members, including 3 Silverbacks. The family is known to migrate between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Find the family’s availability for trekking from Uganda Wildlife Authority before booking your gorilla permit or safari. Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga is convenient for travelers coming from Rwanda or the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
There are only two lodges close to the park. However, you can also stay in Kisoro town, which is about an hour’s drive by private vehicle to the park.
Here are a few accommodations we recommend: