Bwindi forest park is famous for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Bwindi’s “impenetrable” jungles are home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population that numbers around 1000 gorillas. Apart from Bwindi Park, mountain gorillas in Uganda are also found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. And, apart from Uganda, there are two other countries with mountain gorillas and these are Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of Rwanda in Virunga National Park.
All those other parks with mountain gorillas are part of the Virunga mountains range that straddles along the borders of the three neighboring countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo). Bwindi forest park on the other hand, is fully in Uganda and overlooks the Virunga mountains in the mountainous southwestern park of the country.
What is the price of Bwindi gorilla trekking permit
International tourists: $700
Foreign East African residents: $600
East African citizens: Uganda Shillings 250,000 ($68)
The price of the permit is much more affordable compared to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda where the permit costs $1500 for international tourists.
Number of habituated gorilla groups for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Bwindi National Park has 22 habituated gorilla groups for tracking. This is the highest number of habituated gorilla groups of all the parks. The big number of permits makes Bwindi the first choice for gorilla trekking.
However, note a maximum of people are allowed to track a gorilla group in a day. And given the cheaper price of the permit they do sell out quickly especially during the peak tourism season from June to September. If you plan on trekking during this time you should book your permit or gorilla tour way in advance.
Bwindi forest gorilla trekking locations and respective habituated gorilla families
When booking your Bwindi gorilla trekking ticket you are required to know the sector of Bwindi park you would like to track the gorillas from. Bwindi National Park has four gorilla trekking sectors or call them trail heads. These are the starting points for gorilla trekking in the different parts of Bwindi forest. Bwindi forest national park spans massive highlands or hills hence it was not possible to track gorillas of far off areas of the park starting from the same location. Each sector is therefore the location to the nearest habituated gorillas in that area of the park.
The sector of Bwindi you will be tracking from will also determine the hotel or lodge you have to book. You want to sleep in a hotel that is closest to your tracking sector. Therefore, mistake you can make is booking your preferred hotel first and then book a gorilla ticket of a sector that is not close to your hotel. Once you have booked in different location from your booked hotel and want to change the tracking location, you will incur a penalty of 30% on the cost of the permit for change location. But this is also if there is availability of permits at the location you are changing to.
Below are the sectors of Bwindi National Park and the respective groups
Buhoma sector.
Buhoma is the premier gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi National Park. It is basically the headquarter of Bwindi. And because of this, it has the most developed infrastructure and the best of selection of upmarket lodges. Normally Buhoma is the first location to run out of gorilla permits.
Buhoma sector has six habituated gorilla groups which are follows.
- Rushegura
- Habyinyanja
- Mubaare
- Katwe
- Binyindo
- Muyambi
Buhoma sector the closest sector to Ruhija sector (see below) and therefore one sleep there and track a group in Ruhija, in case one finds that the permits are finished in Buhoma but would like to sleep at a nice hotel there. Note that it is about one and half hours drive from Buhoma to Ruhija hence you would need to wake up quite early for the transfer.
Buhoma sector is also believed to have the easiest groups for tracking hence a good option if you are worried about a long trek.
Ruhija
Ruhija sector is perhaps the closest sector if you will be arriving via Kabale. This is perhaps the best sector you are doing a quick tour starting from Kampala or Kigali in Rwanda and want reduce the travel time even by an hour or minutes. Ruhija is the closest sector to Uganda – Rwanda Katuna/Gatuna border.
It is also possible to sleep in Ruhija and track in Buhoma sector.
Ruhija has four gorilla tracking groups and these are:
- Bitukura
- Mukiiza
- Kyaguriro
- Oruzogo
Rushaga
Rushaga sector is located in southern area of the park close to Kisoro town, the last town in the southwestern tip of Uganda.
Rushaga is more difficult to access compared to the first two sectors above, and is therefore not always the first option for gorilla trekking in Bwindi. On the other hand, however, Rushaga overlooks the magnificent Virunga mountains. It is also close to the beautiful lakes Mutanda and Mulehe. Tracking in Rushaga comes with amazing scenery.
If you will be coming from Rwanda through Musanze District or after activities in Volcanoes National Park, Rushaga is the right sector to be tracking as it closer to the Uganda – Rwanda Cyanika border.
Rushaga has 8 gorilla groups, the highest of any of the sectors. The groups as follows:
- Bweza
- Mishaya
- Nshongi
- Kutu
- Mucunguzi
- Busingye
- Kahungye
- Bikingi
Nkuringo
Nkuringo sector is the remotest of sectors located in the southwest in Kisoro District. Nkuringo is near Ruhija and therefore is therefore not always the first choice for gorilla tracking to the long distance.
On the other hand Nkuringo directly overlooks the Virunga mountains offering stunning views of the volcanoes. If you would like to experience surreal scenery, then you should consider tracking in Nkuringo.
Nkuringo has only four gorilla groups and these are:
- Christmas
- Nkuringo
- Bushasho
- Posho
How difficult is gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park and how long does it take find the gorillas?
Bwindi is thought of a difficult place for gorilla trekking, more difficult than in the volcanoes. This is because of the dense forest cover and massive highlands over which you may have to hike to find the gorillas. To some extent it may be true that the gorilla trek in Bwindi is difficult but it is not always the case.
The level of difficult of the gorilla trek in Bwindi depends on how far your assigned group is from the starting point. Advance trackers by the park always set out early in the morning to find where each group is before the tourists start the trek. So, your park guide and advance trackers will try to establish the shortest route to get the gorillas.
Therefore, it may take from as few as 30 minutes to find the gorillas or as many as 4 hours to find them.
If you want an easier trek, ask to be assigned to a group that is nearer.
On the other hand many tourists who have been looking forward to the challenge of trekking through the African jungle and have prepared for several months to attain high fitness levels become very disappointed to find the gorillas within a few minutes trek. If you to test your fitness and have an adventure in impenetrable jungle, you should then ask for a difficult group.
The level of difficulty may also be determined by the weather and season. The wet season from March to May and Oct to Nov makes the most difficult trekking in Bwindi because of the muddy ground and heavy rains.
What is the best time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi
You will see the gorillas any day you trek. The best time for the trek perhaps may mean the time you will have an easier trek? Well in this case, the best time is the dry season from June to mid September and from mid December to February. The trails are dry and the level of difficulty is reduced.
Note that the dry season is also the high tourism season hence there will be lots of people tracking and nearly each gorilla group has the maximum number of 8. This may cause a bit of competition at the sighting. So, the best time for you may when there are no crowds? Well in this case, the best time is during the low tourism season which coincides with the wet season (March to May) when you can be a few individuals at one gorilla group giving you great uninterrupted views. However you would have to content with the muddy trails.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali
You can track the gorillas in Bwindi coming from Kigali in Rwanda. This is in fact shorter journey than if you start the trip from Kampala or Entebbe airport in Uganda.
If you will be starting the trip from Kigali in Rwanda there are two borders you can come through, that is Gatuna and Cyanika. The choice of border to go through depends on the sector of Bwindi you would be tracking the gorillas in. For tracking in Buhoma and Ruhija, the nearest border is Gatuna/Katuna. While for tracking the gorillas in Rushaga and Nkuringo, the nearest border is Cyanika.
Note that you can still go through any of the borders to get to any of the sectors.
Where to stay for gorilla trekking in Bwindi
As explained above, the choice of accommodation very depends on your confirmed sector for gorilla trekking. The gorilla trekking starts at 7am so you need to stay closer to the sector’s office where every trekker has to convene by 7am for assigning the group and briefing.
There are many accommodation options and new one are being built. Below I have listed a few per sector that I highly recommend.
Buhoma
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Luxury)
Buhoma Lodge (Luxury)
Bwindi Lodge (Luxury)
Buhoma Community Haven Lodge (Midrange)
Silverback Lodge (Midrange)
Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget)
Ruhija
Kiho Gorilla Safai Lodge (Luxury)
Bakiga Lodge (Budget)
Rushaga
4 Gorilla Lodge (Upmarket)
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Midrange)
Rushaga Gorilla Camp (Budget)
Nkuringo
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Luxury)
Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (Midrange)