After an early breakfast in your hotel, at around 7 am, your guide/driver, will come to pick you up at the hotel and straight hit the road for the long journey.

On the road you experience a lot, make use your guide by asking him anything about the safari or what you need explanations observed on the way to Bwindi.

You can also ask him about the gorilla tracking encounter just to prepare your mind before the experience.

On the way, we will have a stopover at the equator, stretch with an optional experimental movement of water (clockwise and anticlockwise) between the south and Northern Hemisphere. You can also have a moment to take as many photos as possible this point

We can also have coffee/tea cup and then proceed to Mbarara, nicknamed as “the land of milk”, evidenced by the presence of the long-horned cattle along the way.

This is where you will have a stopover for lunch. After lunch we shall embark on our journey, and the next stop should be at the lodge and check in at the lodge which probably has to be close or in the Bwindi Forest

Recommended Accommodation:

• Sanctuary Gorilla forest camp
• Buhoma lodge
• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Mahogany Springs
• Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Rushanga Gorilla Camp
• Gorilla Heights Lodge

This is the highlight of our trip Gorilla Trekking. After breakfast, we assemble at the briefing point of the park offices, before being guided in the forest by the park ranger guide.

You will also be escorted by the touring police to protect you against any threat be it from forest Elephants, buffalos and even wild Gorillas.

Trekking of the gorillas depends on how lucky you were on the family of the gorilla permitted. After spotting your gorilla family, then you will be given an hour to spend with the family up close. After this you will return back to your lodge for an overnight dinner

Recommended Accommodation:

• Sanctuary Gorilla forest camp
• Buhoma lodge
• Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
• Mahogany Springs
• Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
• Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Rushanga Gorilla Camp
• Gorilla Heights Lodge

After the morning breakfast, you check out of the lodge leaving Bwindi forest and we embark on our route back to Kampala.

We get a hot lunch stop in Mbarara and then drive through Lake Mburo National Park. On a lucky day we can spot Zebras and Impalas, we can stop at Mpambire drum making village on Masaka road for souvenirs then continue

Just like Rwenzori Mountain Trekking, Gorilla trekking also requires these items when trekking the gorillas;

Water:

Gorilla trekking can be very tiresome and you need to refill your tank as the trek goes on. It is advisable to park a few water filtrations tablets before you come for the trek

Boots:

you will need good waterproof comfortable shoes. Some times it rains during the trek, so skid proof shoes can come in handy

Rain Jacket:

You are advised to carry rain jacket because if rains very often in Bwindi impenetrable forest

Snack:

You can carry a light snack to give you some energy during the walk in the forest

Trouser and shirts:

Bwindi forest is covered with thick undergrowth, therefore light trousers and long-sleeved shirts are advised

Socks:

You will have to tuck in the trousers into the socks to avoid insects crawling inside

Gloves:

You will need Garden gloves because you will be grabbing tree branches, leaves etc. and some can be thorny

Camera:

Carry a good camera (no flash) to capture this lifetime experience

Bwindi is derived from the Runyakitara word “mubwindi” and means “a place full of darkness” this name comes from the extensive stands of bamboo interspersed amongst the larger forest hardwoods.

The bamboo and thick ground cover of ferns, vines, and other plants growth severely hinder direct access on foot.

The forest is on the edge of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, only a few kilometers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border and about 25 kilometers (16 mi) north of the Virunga Mountains

The forest is one of the most biologically diverse area on earth where half the world’s population of the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas live in its natural habitant jungle.

The forest has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a world heritage site for its biological significance

The forest has been described as “riven by disputes and crosshatched by historical, political, biological boarders” by the researcher Craig Stanford, co-director of the park’s jane Goodall Research center. In 1991, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established

it is located southwestern Uganda. The park part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The Park is on the edge of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, only a few kilometers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border and about 25 kilometers (16 mi) north of the Virunga Mountains.

Composed of 321 square kilometers (124 sq mi) of both Montane and lowland forest, it is accessible only by foot.

BINP has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a world heritage site for its biological significance

Species diversity is a feature of the park. It provides habitat for 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, and many endangered species.

Floristically, the park is among the most diverse forest in East Africa, with more than 1000 flowering plant species, including 163 species of trees and 104 plant species of ferns.

The northern (low elevation) sector has many species of Guineo-congolian flora, including two endangered species, the brown mahogany and Brazzeia longipedicellata. In particular area shares in the high levels of Endemisms the Albertine Rift

The park is a sanctuary for colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and many birds such as hornbill and turacos. It is most notable for the 400 Bwindi Gorillas, half of the world’s population of endangered mountain Gorillas.

Habituated mountain gorilla groups are open to tourism in four different sectors of Buhoma, Ruhijja, Rushaga and the Nkuringo in the Districts of Kanungu, Kabaale and Kisoro respectively all under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority

NOTE:

Gorilla trekking best time to go in Uganda is usually in the dry seasons: December-January and June-August

The price for Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $700

Bwindi is a home to over 350 Gorillas, 350 bird species