Trekking with Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Travelers wishing to visit Uganda most look forward one of the best activities available: gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Every visitor should include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an outstanding vacation destination located in south western Uganda in the districts of Kanungu, Kabale, and Kisoro. As the name suggests, the park is an inaccessible forest that has coexisted with the Batwa pygmies in this African wilderness. The Batwa pygmies were expelled, thus efforts to safeguard the critically endangered mountain gorillas at that time would not start until the forest was designated as a national park in 1991.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority, which oversees the preservation of the nation’s species, controls the park. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, the park’s significance in helping to preserve bio-diversity drove its declaration. With an elevation ranging from 1,160m in the north of the park to as high as 2,609m in the southern section, the park gets an annual rainfall of 1,500mm.
Bwindi impossible Though there is a lot of plant and animal life in national parks, visitors often come for the mountain gorillas. The most done activity among the hundreds of visitors flocking the park is gorilla treking. Concentrated in one area, the park boasts the most mountain gorillas of all the parks worldwide, with about half of their total population. After years of habitation, these gorillas are subsequently made accessible to visitors engaged in a popular activity called gorilla trekking. Seeking the mountain gorillas in their native habitat, visitors engage in gorilla trekking—that is, walking or trudging across the thick forest.
Families of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Tourists may visit more than ten habituated gorilla groups. These gorilla families or groups occupy four separate areas of the park. Every household can only be visited for a maximum one hour by a group of eight people daily.
One can go gorilla trekking in Uganda any time of year. Uganda goes through a wet and a dry season twice. Travelers interested in gorilla trekking in Bwindi are best advised to schedule their visit for the dry season in the months of June to September and mid-December to February, when the ground is dry and the vegetation is not very overgrown thus a much easier trek than the wet months that have the ground wet and slippery. Trekking in the wet months of March, April, May, October, and November also has benefits since the gorillas are easily reached since they don’s travel larger distances to look for food when there is sufficient of fodder for these mountain gorillas.
Given the great demand for the gorilla trekking permits, it is advisable to secure yours much in advance of your travel date. Ad travellers can book for the permits even up to two years in advance; at least three to four months should be taken into account. East African residents pay UGX250,000; foreign non-residents pay $700; foreign residents pay $600; gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost $700. One can get them at the reservations office of Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala or from a reputable ground tour operator around the nation.
Essential goods that you should not overlook while packing for your much expected gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safari They comprise waterproof hiking boots, insect repellent creams, waterproof jackets, long sleeved shirts or t-shirts, pants, sun glasses, waterproof backpack for your vital gear, a camera without a flashlight, energy-giving snacks and water for refreshment along the lengthy walk. Think about packing eco-friendly clothing and steer clear of screaming colors.
Mountain gorillas dwell in high altitudes, hence the walk would undoubtedly call for some degree of physical well-being and fitness. Should you fail to get any further, though, there are porters hired to assist transport you on a stretcher. Available at the park or the lodge, hiking sticks will also help you on your climb.
normally beginning very early in the morning, say at six, Gorilla Trekking sends you to the park headquarters for a briefing, normally scheduled for either 7am or the latest at 7:30am. You will be informed of what to expect during the brief,
but above all, rules and guidelines will be presented to you that you should pay great attention:
- Keep yourself seven meters away from the mountain gorillas. Given our 98% DNA, they are quite likely to have our diseases.
- Trekkers for gorillas are limited to those above 15.
- If you intend to photograph, do not sue flash cameras.
- Keep calm and avoid making eye contact with the gorillas should a gorilla charge at you since this poses a threat to them.
- Say a gorilla charges at you; follow whatever directions the ranger or guide will be showing you when under any kind of danger.
- When you arrive to the gorillas, you have one hour at most.
- Don’t trash the forest; leave it as you discovered it.
- Try to prevent noise; if necessary, whisper.
Following the brief, you will be divided into eight groups and assigned a gorilla group for treking. If the area you are walking from corresponds with a certain gorilla group, you can ask to be assigned that group. After that, you will start a walking trip across the forest till you come across the peaceful species. When you are halfway there, a ranger will let you know; but, if you pay close attention to the unique sounds produced in the forest, you may as well be in the know. Pay special attention to your surroundings during your journey; your guide will constantly point out significant and worth-to-note elements or critters, including other animals including elephants, bushpigs, chimps, and many bird species and vegetation. Depending on where the mountain gorillas are located, the overall time spent on the trail may be thirty minutes to five hours or more.
One can reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by plane or vehicle. Aerolink from Entebbe or Kampala flies daily from air to Kihihi or Kisoro airfield. One to two hours separate the travel from Kihihi or Kisoro to surrounding lodges. Driving from Entebbe, nevertheless, can take nine or ten hours. Popular routes utilized ae the Masaka-Mbarara-Ntungamo-Kihihi-Butogota and then to Buhoma, or Mbarara to Bushenyi and then take the Ishasha road to Kihihi and then to Butogota and lastly to Buhoma, or even Kampala- Kabale and proceed to the other sectors.
Gorilla Trekking in National Park Bwindi Impenetrable
Apart from gorilla trekking, say gorilla habituation, there are several other things one can engage in in Bwindi. Visitors engaging in gorilla habituation spend more time and interact with the gorillas. Usually, they spend four hours—in small groups of four—with the gorillas. For foreign non-residents, gorilla habituation costs $1,500; for foreign residents, it costs $1,000; and East African natives pay UGX 750,000.
One of the must-do activities of many visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is gorilla trekking. See the nearly human species in their natural habitats and let their grace and softness enthrall you. Contact your reliable tour operator and you will be astounded by the degree of gratification and exhilarating experiences you will have upon seeing these threatened animals.
