Gorilla trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is one of those rare experiences that stays with you long after your boots come off. There’s something quietly humbling about stepping into this ancient, emerald world, where the mist hangs low and every rustle could originated from an extraordinary creature. And then, there they are the mystic mountain gorillas, impossibly close, incredibly endanger, each movement echoing something deeply familiar. It’s not just thrilling, it’s a grounding experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. A heart-pounding, awe-filled encounter that makes you feel lucky just to witness it.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is famous for gorilla tracking, gorilla habituation and birding safaris.
There are about 880 mountain gorillas in the whole world and half of these gentle Mountain gorillas call Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National park their home.
The forest – which was made a wildlife Reserve in 1932 and gazetted as a national park in 1991 – is located in South Western Uganda bordering Rwanda and Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a world UNESCO heritage is close to other national parks in Uganda that include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Rwenzori Mountain National Park and Semliki National Park. This makes it easy for visitors on a Uganda and/or Rwanda safari to easily combine gorilla tours with chimpanzee and wildlife safaris in the national parks mentioned above.
The name Bwindi derives from a local phrase “mubwindi bwa nyinamuraki”. 500 years ago, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park were one forest. People who came from Rwanda to settle in Kigezi highlands or gorilla highlands regions separated the two forests. One clan called Abarenje settled in Rubuguri, the Southern part of Bwindi Forest who shifted from place to place looking for fertile soils to cultivate since they were cultivators. One day they were shifting from Rubuguri to Kayonza in the Northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, through the forest until when they got to a boggy swamp in Ruhija (the Eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest). They tried to cross the swamp, and when they crossed it half way, it started moving with them. This movement of the swamp made them realize that they were going to die.
They asked the swamp spirits for guidance and they were told if only they sacrificed their most beautiful virgin daughter nyinamukari, the family would cross the river peacefully. After two days of deliberation, the family decided that they could not turn back to Rubuguri in the South and so they threw the girl into the water to drown, the swamp accepted them to cross safely to the other side. When other people heard about the news of the sacrifice, they began to avoid the swamp calling it mubwindi bwa nyinamukari – dark place of nyinamuraki. The swap is still known as Mubwindi although the whole forest area is referred to as Bwindi- Thus the name Bwindi.
In April 1993, the Mubare gorilla family in Buhoma, the Northern sector of Bwindi was the first family to be habituated for gorilla tracking in Uganda
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are about eleven habituated gorilla families which include Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura (In Buhoma the Northern sector), in the Eastern Sector also known as Ruhija which is by the way the highest point of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at approximately 2000 Meters above sea level are Bitukura, Oruzogo and Kyaguriro, and Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye in Rushaga and finally Nkuringo Gorilla Family all in the southern sector of the park.
Apart from mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest hosts 120 mammal species that include primates (chimpanzees and different types of monkeys) of which 7 are diurnal, forest elephants which are darker and smaller than their Savannah counterparts, forest buffalo, duikers, golden cat, giant forest hogs among others. There are also reptile species and amphibians that include frog specie which is still being researched about by scientists.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to approximately 300 species of butterflies that include swallowtails, one of the two endangered butterfly species.
Bwindi National Park is one of the hottest birding spots in Africa with about 350 bird species that include 23 Albertine Rift endemics, 14 of these only recorded here.
The park is home to some of the globally endangered species like the African Green Broadbill, Shelley’s Crimson wind and Chapin’s flycatcher. Others are Mountain Masked and Collared Apalis, handsome Francolin, white bellied Robin chat, black billed Turaco, Regal sun birds among others.
This Afro-montane forest is characterized by fern, vines and shrubs. The park has approximately 324 tree species, 10 of which are only found in Uganda.
There are many activities visitors can do while in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, but gorilla tracking and gorilla habitation are the most popular.
Gorilla tracking of the different habituated gorilla families ranks among one of the highlights of a safari to Africa for almost all travelers on a safari to Uganda.
Tracking the endangered mountain gorillas gives one a feeling that is had to describe. It is estimated that there are only 880 mountain gorillas left in world shared between Rwanda and Congo with half of them in Uganda.
A traveler needs a gorilla tracking permit to be able to track the gorillas. The permits are on first come first serve with a very high demand and can sell out many months ahead.
Permits can sell out months ahead. However, Gorilla Link Tours will help you book your permits.
Gorilla habituation is a process where wild mountain gorillas are made comfortable with the presence of man with out charging.
Instead of being with the gorillas for 1 hour as it is with gorilla tracking, one is with gorillas for 4 hours starting from where the gorillas nested the previous night.
You can only be part of the habituation process in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, specifically, in Rushaga in the Southern sector.
Two gorilla families Bikyingi and Bushaho are being habituated and visitors can part of the process with researchers.
Gorilla habituation process takes three years to be completed and researchers keep visiting the wild family being habituated learning about each individual gorilla and how they behave. The research you will make with the researchers will be added into the data base, and if you like, you will get constant updates about the gorillas you habituated while you back home.
With a size of 321sq.kms, and at an elevation of 1190 – 2607 meters above sea level, about 357 bird species have been recorded in Bwindi and birding watching in this forest should be on every birder’s itinerary whilst on a birding safari to Uganda.
Bwindi Forest is home to 10 of the 26 globally threatened bird species, with 5 vulnerable ones. It has 23 local Albertine Rift endemic species in the country like the Africa Green Broadbill, Chapin’s flycatcher and Shelley’s Crimson-wing found no where else in Uganda. The Forest was also named as Africa’s number one birding spot by Africa Bird Club. Gorilla Link Tours has specialized bird guides for a traveler birding needs and there are also bird guides on sites.
Apart from gorilla tracking and bird watching, a visitor in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can go for guided forest walks to the beautiful waterfalls.
During the waterfall trail, you will learn about Bwindi Forest’s trees, butterflies and the amazing bird life that decorate the forest. The forest nature walks normally take 3 hours or longer and may be moderately difficult. One can also go for the Buhoma – Nkuringo trail which takes about 3-4 hours, with an armed ranger guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The time taken to get to Nkuringo depends on the pace of the traveler. The other option is the Rushura waterfall walk, a 14 km walk that takes approximately 7 hours and this too depends on the pace of the traveler. This walk goes through a forest which is shared between Uganda and Congo. And lastly, one can go for Muzubijiro loop that is 6km and takes place around Rukubira hill and offers amazing views of some of the Volcano Mountains.
Travelers can go on optional guided community walks and cultural experiences after their gorilla trek or the next day. One needs at least two days in Buhoma to go for this village trail.
You will visit a hand craft place, learn how to brew Uganda waragi and visit a traditional healer who will show you some of the traditional herbs used to as medicines and the natural Viagra plant.
The walk goes on to Mukono community school where you will meet the children and the teacher, proceeding to Bwindi Community hospital
Lastly, you will visit the Batwa Pygmy community who are the original people of Bwindi Forest. They lost their forest home when Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was created. They will perform their traditional dances, show you forest survival skills like making fire and tell you stories about their lives in the forest.
Most lodges around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – which is located on a hilly area – can rent out bikes to you to be able to enjoy biking through some of the developed trails with a beautiful scenery of the area. Ride for A Woman, a community run project rents out bikes for Ivi River trail that starts from Buhoma park offices and takes you up to to Ivi River.
The Kigezi region where Bwindi Forest is located is a mountainous area with beautiful scenery. Most lodges have bikes you can rent per day to take on the special trails created in the community otherwise ask them for a project you can rent from. Ivi river trail from Buhoma park headquarters to Ivi river organized by ‘ride for a woman’.
Gorilla tracking and habituation permits are issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority and we do recommend that you book your permits way in advance since there are on a high demand based on first come first serve basis but also they are very limited. Passport details are required in order to get the permits
A gorilla tracking permit costs 600 US Dollars and a gorilla habituation permit costs 1500 US Dollars.
Simply get in touch with us to book your gorilla permits. You don’t have to book a whole safari with us for us to book these permits for you. You will only pay us handling fees.
Please note: Only persons who are 15 years and above can go for gorilla tracking and habitation.
There are many accommodation options in Bwindi for every traveller. One can choose from luxury, mid range or budget accommodation in the different sectors of the park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park easily accessed and accessibility is from Entebbe or Kampala and even via Kigali.
It takes about 8 or 9 hours respectively on road to get to Bwindi Forest. The park also accessed from Rwanda and this takes about 3.5 hours from Kigali to the Southern Sector (Rushaga) of Bwindi
Through our partners Aerolink, one can get to the park by scheduled and charter flights from Entebbe International airport to Kihihi that connects to the Northern and Eastern sectors and to Kisoro airstrip to connect to Rushaga and Nkuringo; both in the Southern sector of the park.
