1 Day Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali or Kisoro

This 1 Day Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali or Kisoro takes tourists for an amazing gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi’s impenetrable national park. Bwindi is the prime gorilla safari destination with almost half of the total population of mountain gorillas. The safari either starts in Kisoro or Kigali in Rwanda If arriving from Kisoro, the journey to the starting point is about 1 to 2 hours. Visitors coming from Kigali will have to endure a 3-hour journey Rushaga, Nkuringo, or Buhoma sectors of Bwindi’s Impenetrable forest. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwest Uganda’s Kigezi Highlands, commonly referred to as “the Switzerland of Africa.” The park has a total area of 331 km2 and is mostly covered in tropical and montane forests. It is the world’s largest natural home for mountain gorillas. Not only is it small in size, but it also hosts half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Bwindi was made a full national park in 1991 with a mission to protect the mountain gorillas whose numbers were decreasing due to loss of habitat, poaching and human diseases in the area.

gorilla trekking from Kigali

But the increased conservation efforts in the past years have seen the population of mountain gorillas growing. Bwindi has 50 gorilla families and about 13 lone individuals in the wild. Of the 50 gorilla groups, 20 are habituated and set aside for research and the gorilla trekking experience. A gorilla trekking experience in Uganda’s Bwindi will allow you to dwell in the tropical rainforests as well as enjoy incredible views of nature.

Trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi requires one to have acquired a gorilla trekking permit. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for issuing gorilla permits in Uganda. This authority is in charge of overseeing and defending Uganda’s national parks. The easiest way to obtain the permit is through a tour company, though. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a less expensive place to go on a gorilla safari than Rwanda, where permits cost $1500. A gorilla permit in Uganda is $700.

Detailed Itinerary for 1 Day Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali or Kisoro

You will wake up very early in the morning at around 5:00 AM, and your driver guide will be ready to transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your 1 Day gorilla tour. Depending on your pick-up location (Kisoro or Kigali), you will enjoy a drive in the countryside with incredible views. For those traveling from Kisoro, it is a 1 to 2-hour drive to Bwindi Unlike travelers from Kigali who have a long journey of about a 3-hour drive to Bwindi.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

It is important to carry lunch and also hire the services of a porter to help you with your equipment and any heavy bags. Upon arriving at the park headquarters, you will join other trekkers for a briefing about the dos and don’ts during the gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing, you will be led by the park ranger to the starting point of the trek. You will either walk to the starting point depending on the gorilla group you are assigned. When you reach the starting point, you will get into the jungle and begin searching for the primates.

After locating the gorillas in the wild, you will approach them however at a measurable distance of about 7 meters. The dominant silverback’s calm, powerful grunts will likely welcome you. The huge structure of the silverback will astound you, as will his charismatic leadership skills. The other individuals in the group will be eating, playing, grooming, and sleeping. Take as many pictures as you can at this moment. You will be guided back to the starting location by park rangers after an hour of exciting events. Before meeting your Guide to be driven back to Kisoro, Kabale, or Kigali in Rwanda, anticipate receiving your individual certificate of participation. You will be transferred back to your starting location.

End of the 1 Day Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali or Kisoro