Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mountain Gorilla Trekking, Bird Watching & Batwa Visit
It is situated in the Southwestern parts of Uganda near the town of Kabale. Bwindi is most popular for habiting the largest number of the rare endangered Mountain gorillas in the world with over 500 apes which is almost half of the world’s total population of the Mountain gorillas which is above 1000 Mountain gorillas.
From Kampala, the Park can be accessed through; Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu and then to Buhoma which is a 5 or 6 hours drive though the Park can still be entered via Queen Elisabeth national park through the Ishasha sector and then to Buhoma sector in Bwindi.
For a gorilla trekker to go trekking in Bwindi should possess a gorilla permit of which it is difficult to get especially those trekkers abroad/far from Uganda and there are numerous tour agencies such as the NATURE ADVENTURE AFRICA SAFARI LIMITED that can book for you a Uganda gorilla permit such that on your arrival you will be given your booked permit and then go tracking.
A Uganda gorilla permit is sold at the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kamwokya and it costs US$ 600. The Park consists of four sectors where the tracking of gorillas takes place from and these include; Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector.
There are 14 habituated gorilla families in the Park which include 3 in Buhoma (Habinyanja family, Mubare family and Rushegura family), 7 in Rushaga sector (Bwesa family, Kahungye family, Mishaya family, Bikyinji family, Nshongi family, Bushaho family and Busingye family), 3 in Ruhija sector (Oruxogo family, Bitukura family and Kyaguriro family) plus the 1 in Nkuringo sector called Nkuringo family.
The Park comprises of various accommodations to offer shelter to its annual visitors and these include; Ruhondexa lodge & campsite, Bwindi forest farm campsite, Buhoma community rest camp, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Ecomarvels gorilla resort, Gorilla conservation camp, Trekkers Tavern, Lake Kitandara tented camp, Albertine gorilla campsite, Chameleon hill lodge, Ruhija gorilla lodge, Clouds lodge, Nkuringo gorilla camp, Mahogany springs, Silverback lodge, Buhoma lodge, Buhoma haven lodge, Bwindi backpackers and many others.
Gorilla tracking is done in groups of 8 individual per each group tracking and a trekker is only allowed to spend strictly one hour with the gorillas.
Gorilla tracking starts with briefings at 07:00am where trekkers will be briefed about the rules and regulations governing gorilla trekking and after the briefings, tracking will then start at 08:30am.
