Bwindi impenetrable National park trek overview

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south western part of Uganda. It is home to almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the wild. The park covers about 321 square kilometers and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its natural importance.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi offers a close and meaningful experience with mountain gorillas. The trek is physically demanding because it involves walking through thick forest and climbing steep slopes. However, meeting the gorillas makes the effort worthwhile.

The trek starts early in the morning at around 7:00 am at the park headquarters. Treks take place in one of four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, or Rushaga. Park rangers give a briefing about park rules and safety. Tourists are then placed into groups of eight people, with each group assigned to one gorilla family. After the briefing, visitors follow forest trails led by the rangers to search for the gorillas.

The trekking time can range from 30 minutes to six hours, depending on where the gorillas are found. Once the gorillas are located, visitors are allowed to spend one hour observing them.

Tourists must keep a distance of about seven meters from the gorillas. This rule helps protect both the visitors and the animals.

Planning is important because gorilla permits are limited, especially during busy months. A gorilla permit costs USD 800 for foreign non residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.

The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi because the trails are less muddy. The dry months are from June to August and from December to February. Having the right gear also helps make the trek easier. Important items include strong hiking boots, a rain jacket, long sleeved shirts, long trousers, a hat, and gloves.

Trekking in Bwindi is not just a journey through the forest. It is a chance to spend time close to mountain gorillas and understand their life in the wild.