Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the two parks in Uganda where you can hike and view the amazing Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat worldwide; it is home to more than half of the only surviving Mountain Gorillas in the wild, making it famous and the best place to trek the Mountain Gorilla.
The park is in southwest Uganda, sharing a border with Congo. Declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, the park boasts some of the oldest trees in Africa. Four sectors— Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo—aside from Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest National Park—are covered. The experience is all the same and really fun in all the sections.
In which Gorilla areas of Bwindi is Gorilla trekking practiced?
One of the greatest sports available in all of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is gorilla trekking. Moving in the forest to observe or see a certain habituated mountain gorilla family is known as gorilla tracking. Before gorilla trekking starts, Gorilla trackers/advanced teams/rangers follow these gorillas using several indications and techniques; the trackers get up extremely early every morning and explore the jungle for these mountain gorillas.
Like clapping, they track them naturally by producing crazy noises. Once they locate them, they will notify the park headquarters; then, the guide will inform the guests on dos and don’ts. As the trackers guide them, they will stroll and climb throughout the forest. This offers 99% possibilities for seeing the gorillas in their native habitat in either Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, or Ruhija.
What four gorilla trekking sites exist in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Ruhija territory
The Nkuringo area
Rushaga area
Buhoma domain
Ruhija gorilla treks Geography | Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi
Among the gorilla areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Ruhija. Located on the eastern edge of the forest and inside the Rubanda district—formerly part of Kabale district—the Ruhija area. Road access to Ruhija comes from Mbarara in Mbarara, Kabale, east of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Ruhija, which comes from the Buhoma areas, is only forty minutes’ drive across the forest, making it simpler to even remain in Buhoma and trek gorillas in Ruhija.
Compared to Rushaga and Nkuringo in Bwindi Forest National Park, Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija sector Bwindi Forest National Park has the benefit of terrain not too mountainous and steep. This makes it ideal for both less fit and senior visitors.
Travelers, most of whom are very near to the starting point of Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija sector in Bwindi Forest National park will find it easier to stay at a variety of reasonably priced Budget Lodges for accommodation and Camping groups.
Apart from Gorilla Trekking, there are many other budget-friendly activities you may engage in when you choose to conduct the trek in the Ruhija sector, like Birding tours, Nature walk, Primate Walk, and Batwa Cultural walk experience.
Families of gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park’s Ruhija Region.
Each gorilla family in the Ruhija region consists of roughly eighteen members; each gorilla family is headed and under control by the dominant male gorilla, the Silverback. Each gorilla family that opens for the gorilla tracking experience has different habituated gorilla family members.
There are four Gorilla Families in Ruhija: Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and Kyaguriro; all families are available for Gorilla tracking, but you will need to schedule ahead to guarantee a trekking location. You will need to reserve gorilla permits permitting you to access the Ruhija area to walk mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This is carried out on the day your gorilla permit was reserved and secured at UWA head offices in Kampala. Once you receive your gorilla permit for Ruhija, you will have to travel to Ruhija, where, based on interest and physical health, you will be assigned a gorilla family of your preferred choice. Please email Katland Safaris for more details on Ruhija gorilla permits and gorilla family allotment.

Nkuringo gorilla area in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Of the main areas for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Bwindi, the Nkuringo gorilla region is one of the four sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you may walk and see the amazing Mountain Gorillas in their native environment worldwide. Nkuringo is located in the southwestern Uganda district of Kisoro.
The gorilla trekking experience is the same and just as much fun as any other field. Trekking in Nkuringo Bwindi would rely on the availability of gorilla permits and the level of interest. One may reach the Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via road or plane. Those planning to travel to the Nkuringo area should get in touch with Katland Safaris about the flight availability to and from the area.
From Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, many airlines provide both charter and regular flights, from which you may be driven to the Nkuringo section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Driving 9-10 hours from Entebbe to Nkuringo or 5-6 hours from Kigali border would still let you enter Nkuringo by road. Bwindi impenetrable National Park is located here. Book our Flying safaris to Nkuringo, Gorilla trekking excursions from Kigali, or famous gorilla adventures from Entebbe.
There are three habituated gorilla families for gorilla trekking in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi. Gorilla families and permits in this area. Every gorilla family at Nkuringo assigns eight guests daily, thereby allowing you to view the gorillas at any time of the year. Gorilla trekking with 24 permits available daily lets you spend one hour seeing the gorillas.
The protection and preservation of gorillas in Nkuringo is under the responsibility of Uganda Wildlife Authority, which also grants gorilla trekking licenses in all areas. For those who like challenging treks or walks, the Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the greatest height. Certain gorilla treks have been reported to last up to a whole day and call for a certain degree of physical ability.
If you are not very fit, don’t panic; gorilla trekking is quite feasible with porters or a sedan chair to bring you up to the gorillas. While a sedan chair costs USD$300, hiring a porter runs between 15 and 20 bucks. Don’t let your age or physical condition prevent you from realizing your desire to see the endangered mountain gorillas; offer gorilla hikes for both young and elderly.
Buhoma Gorilla Area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. | Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi
First, in the Buhoma area, gorilla tracking is credited as the birthplace of gorilla tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Uganda generally. Five habituated Gorilla family groupings under Buhoma are: Muyambi Gorilla Family, Katwe Gorilla Family, Rushegura Gorilla Family, Habinyanja Gorilla Family, and Mubare Gorilla Family. Each day at Buhoma, only eight guests are permitted to walk with each gorilla family for one hour of observing the gorillas in their natural surroundings.
You may choose a gorilla family to follow in the Buhoma Sector. Your driver-guide for your tour will consider and inform the Park administration about your condition or wish to have a simple or lengthy walk, depending on your contact with Katland Safaris about your fitness, interest, or general healthy wellbeing.
We consider it an easy walk for you to see the gorilla family that is not too distant, in case you don’t have the energy, physical condition, or you’re elderly. You may also ask for a particular gorilla family to see by choosing the family name; we will always consult the Park guide and Authority to take into account your request.
Flying from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi airstrip, around two hours, will provide you with entry to the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will drive from Kihihi Airstrip to your particular overnight Lodge for acclimatization and gorilla tour planning.
The most visited of the four areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the Buhoma region; however, it is advisable to get gorilla permits here ahead of time, as there is fierce competition.
How much does the gorilla trekking permit cost in various parts of Bwindi?
For both areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, the gorilla trekking permits have the same pricing. For Non-Foreign Residents, the gorilla trekking permit is USD 800 per person; for Foreign Residents, USD 700; for East African Citizens, Shs. 300,000.
Though it is truly a lifelong event to see the gorillas, the trekking permit only grants one hour of observation of them. A USD$800 gorilla ticket provides one hour with a family of habituated mountain gorillas along with ranger guide services, a certificate, and park entrance fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Usually, during the main season—January, February, July, August, September, and December every year—the gorilla trekking permits sell out rather rapidly. About your intended trip and desired dates, contact Katland Safaris; we will check the availability of permits online system for Uganda Wildlife Authority, and if permits are available in Ruhija, we shall send you an invoice to make payment for the permits as they area top priority, and if they are not available, you will choose other dates with availability of permits.
Once we are paid, we will book and obtain your gorilla permits and provide you with a copy of the receipt along withthe booking ID to validate your trip. Uganda will definitely provide you with a lifetime encounter with the gorillas; the procedure of obtaining the gorilla permits is simple.
Where in many areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park should one stay?
You will select lodging or a hotel based on the sector you will be walking from. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers four sectors for gorilla trekking: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga. When you find out which sector has permits available, when you verify their availability with us, we will also recommend the hotels in that sector.
From affordable to mid-range to luxury and to premium hotels with low-season rates and high-season rates, all these segments have hotels or lodges. In the Buhoma area, for instance, you may stay at Buhoma community camp as a budget hotel, Buhoma Havens lodge as a midrange hotel, Bwindi lodge, Mahogany springs resort, Buhoma lodge as the Luxury lodge, and Gorilla forest camp as the Upmarket hotel.
You may stay at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Four Gorillas Lodge in Nkuringo, Bwindi Lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge. For your gorilla encounter in Uganda, all lodging facilities meet standards, are pleasant, and safe.
How can one reach areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Starting from Entebbe/Kampala, you may go southwest to Uganda to the Bwindi wilderness. You might choose a road trip, which runs around nine to ten hours to Bwindi. This allows you to stop at the Equator for pictures and on the way, lunch in Mbarara, and other stops for scenery watching.
Alternatively, you might decide to travel from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrips serving Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With the time spent at the border, you may alternatively fly into Kigali International Airport and drive to southern Uganda via Cyanika or Katuna Border, about 4-5 hours away.
Our guests are usually advised to get the East African Visa, which permits many visits to Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. Arriving at the airport or online, the East African Visa charge is USD100; it is more reasonably priced than purchasing single entry Visas. However, you may also choose to get single Visas; the Uganda Visa costs USD 50 and the Rwandan Visa USD 30. Perfect for woodland hikes and very accessible for an amazing experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
For more information on what to pack for your gorilla trip, the age limit for gorilla trekking, rules and regulations for gorilla treks, and reasonably priced Uganda gorilla holidays and Rwanda gorilla safari tours, do contact us by email, WhatsApp, or phone, and we will advise you accordingly. Clearly, one of the top tour operators running primate and natural history safaris in East Africa.
Why go to Gorilla Trekking areas in Bwindi via Katland safaris?
Katland Safaris is owned and managed by Ugandan people. Having been in business for more than 15 years, our area of expertise is life-changing events and environmentally friendly travel to all East African nations. We are registered by UTB (Uganda Tourism Board) and belong to AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators).
Booking your gorilla permits and services is simple because of our friendly and long-standing connection with UWA, Uganda Wildlife Authority. Both Safari reservations and travel advisor highly evaluate Katland safaris.
Next time you plan to visit any of the five East African nations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, or Tanzania, kindly contact Katland Safaris. To most satisfy your needs, we can customize your gorilla trekking to any gorilla area of your choosing in Bwindi.
Gorilla Trekking and Families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with Katland Safaris