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Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Uganda - Gorilla Tracking Safari

Ugandan Mountain Gorillas up close...

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in South Western Uganda, on the edge of the Western Rift Valley and is one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. It is a true rain forest spread out over a range of steep ridges and deep valleys.  It is 331 square kilometers in size and ranges in altitudes from 1160 meters to 2607 meters.  The temperature ranges from 7 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius, with the coldest times being in June and July.

The local people surrounding the park are of the Bakiga and Bafumbira people.  There are also a few Batwa who are pygmies. This is one of the most densely settle areas in Uganda with 350 people per square kilometer.  The local people cooperate and do not disturb life in the park, but realize that it is for the wellbeing of all and they receive a share of the fees collected by Uganda Wildlife Authority.  Permits are presently $500 US Dollars per person and should be booked well in advance.

Bwindi means darkness and henceforth the word impenetrable is added.  This fantastic Park is home to more than 370 gorillas which is over half of the world's populations of mountain gorillas.  Besides there are 346 species of birds and over 200 species of butterflies  There are 324 tree species here, 10 of which are found nowhere else in Uganda.

Gorilla Tracking:  This is what people come here for.  There are five gorilla groups at Bwindi Forest that you can track.  There are certain things one must have in order and understand before coming here or to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

• Book at least 3 months (but not more than two years) in advance to ensure that the requested dates are available.

• Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi or Mgahinga can be challenging.  Physical fitness is a must.  Bring boots and rain jackets because both parks are  often wet.  Gorilla tracking experiences begin at 8:30 am local time and the trip can last from a few hours to all day depending on where the gorilla group is.  Registration begins at 7:45 am.

For conservation reasons, visits to the gorillas are tightly controlled.  The following rules apply and must be strictly adhered to:

• No one with a communicable disease (e.g. Flu, diarrhea) is allowed to enter the park.

• Stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas, don't surround them.

• Don't get closer than 7 meters (21 feet) to the gorillas.

• Don't use flash on your camera while photographing.

• Don't eat or smoke when with the gorillas or within a distance of 200 meters from the gorillas.

• Turn away from gorillas if you have to sneeze or cough.  Cover your mouth in the process.

• Bury all human feces a minimum of one foot deep and ensure that hole is properly covered.

• Do not leave litter.  All litter must be carried out of the park and disposed of properly.

• No person under the age of 15 is allowed to track gorillas.

• Do not make loud noises or move suddenly.

• You are allowed a maximum of one hour with gorillas.

• Do not spit on vegetation or soil while in the park.  Use a hankie or Kleenex.

• Your group must not exceed 6 people and must be all over 15 years old.

3 Day Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Gorilla Tracking Safari

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK GORILLA TRACKING SAFARI:

Day 1: The Gorilla Tracking Safari Begins:  We come to your Hotel or our  Guest Houses for your safari to begin.  We then head for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for our Gorilla Tracking Safari.  The travel takes us southwest through Masaka, Mbarara. We will cross the equator, have lunch in Mbarara at the Lakeview Hotel.  Then we drive onward, soon taking in the breathtaking sights of Uganda viewing an area that is referred to as "the Little Switzerland of Africa."  Arrive at your overnight destination which is either budget or better accommodations.  The location depends at times on the permit gorilla permit.  Accommodation comes with full board - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Gorilla tracking:  After  an early breakfast it is off for the morning briefing before embarking on one of the most exhilarating life experiences. The gorilla tracking at Bwindi can last from a few hours to all day.  The gorillas move to a new location daily.  Bwindi Forest contains half of the mountain gorilla population of the world.  You can be brought as close as 7 meters to these gentle giants weighing up to 250 kilos.  After your tracking experience return to your accommodation for a well deserved rest.  If there is time an afternoon walkabout in a pigmy village will be most befitting and give you some cultural insights into the Batwa culture.

DAY 3: The Gorilla Tracking Safari conclude:  Rise early for Breakfast - Take a walk through the nearby forest and then off to Kampala stopping for lunch on the way.  Arriving in Kampala for dinner.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:

This is the smallest National Park in the country - about 38 square miles.  Yet because is contains a habitat for the endangered Mountain Gorilla, it is very important.  It is located near Rwanda's Volcano Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park.

Most Gorilla tracking is done at Bwindi, since there is only group in Mgahinga and that group frequently crosses over into Rwanda, so one must have the latest information as to the location of the group.

The local people have controlled and sustainable access to the park and there are the Bafumbira who are cultivators and the Batwa (Pygmies) who once lived in cares and fed on wildlife.

The majority of the staff are from the surrounding area.  the community receives 20% of the Park entrance fees for development projects.

Mgahinga like Biwindi is a mountainous area and a cool climate for Uganda.  Animals found in the park are Mountain gorillas, Buffaloes, Elephants, bushbucks, the threatened golden monkey and many others.  Bird species include the Rwenzori Turaco, crowned hornbill, black kite and crowned cranes.

There are 3 extinct volcanoes to climb for the physical fit, the highest being Mt. Mhavura at 4,127 meters.

A taste of what it is like in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

For a quote on this Safari or any other Uganda Safari, here is what we will need.  How many people, what Safari would you like, budget or better accommodations, need of accommodations in Kampala.  Once you give us these facts, we will have a most competitive prices in your email within 24 hours with detailed itinerary..

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