The main tourist activity done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is mountain gorilla trekking and a maximum of 8 visitors can visit a specific gorilla family per day. Other interesting activities in the park include; a guided forest walk, bird watching, and Batwa cultural experience among others.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a standout amongst the most popular tourist activities in the country. Almost half of the mountain gorilla population in the world is found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The park is found in the southwestern part of the country on the edge of the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley. A regular Uganda safari often incorporates gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking
Bwindi gorilla trekking can be done any time of the year but it’s advisable to visit in the dry season June to September and from December to February. Visitors who travel to Uganda for gorilla trekking during the low seasons (rainy seasons) benefit from discounted gorilla permits.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 600 amid high seasons and they can go for USD 450 amid low seasons by the time of writing. Gorilla permits are the main necessity for one to get the chance to visit these animals in their natural habitat and obtaining these permits is best done through you’re a registered tour company in Uganda or a tourist can book directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
What to wear when tracking mountain gorillas.
Visitors are encouraged to carry hiking boots, additional layers of cloth for when it gets chilly, A Rain Coat, and Gloves. Thick trousers and a sense a long-sleeved top are additionally perfect for gorilla trekking.
Accommodation in Bwindi Forest
First-class safari lodges have over the years been set up in the park to give agreeable accommodation to tourists going for gorilla trekking in the park. There are all types of accommodation options in the park including budget accommodation, mid-range, and high-end luxury safari lodges which implies they can take care of all types of tourists depending on your budget.
Among the famous safari lodges in the park include; Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge, and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge among others.
Getting to the park
This national park can be taken either by road from Kampala, Uganda’s capital which can take something like an 8hours drive, or by air from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip. Flights from Entebbe to either Kihihi or Kisoro take around 2 hours and from there you can use a safari vehicle to drive you to the park.