Can I stay in Lake Bunyonyi and trek Bwindi gorillas?
Can I stay in Lake Bunyonyi and trek Bwindi gorillas: Most travelers think that it’s really difficult for them to stay at Lake Bunyonyi and trek Bwindi gorillas the following day but it is very possible. Lake Bunyonyi is an ideal place for adventure activities and offers the beautiful scenery and thus staying at this lake would offer you an advantage to combine both the adventure and the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi.
About Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in the districts of Kabale and Kisoro. The lake is the deepest in the country and is known as a place of many small birds. Lake Bunyonyi has over 29 islands which include Bushara island, Kahungye island, Akampene island, Njuyeera island, and Bucuranka ialnsd among others. Of all the 29 islands, Akampene island is the famous known which people that visit the lake want to visit. The island is famous because it was the place where girls that got pregnant before marriage were taken to serve and die.
Lake Bunyonyi is the best to stay for relaxation and honeymoon in the country. It’s perfectly located between the terraced hills of Kigezi. While at Lake Bunyonyi you can do a lot of adventure activities such as canoeing where you visit different islands, swimming because it’s bilharzia free and doesn’t have any dangerous animals, birding where you see a variety of birds and then community visit around the lake.
Travelers can stay in Lake Bunyonyi and trek Bwindi gorillas because the national park is not far away from the lake. The nearest region of Bwindi from Lake Bunyonyi is Ruhija which is found on the eastern side of the park. Ruhija is the easily accessed region of Bwindi gorilla park for travelers intending to visit Bwindi while staying around Lake Bunyonyi. Ruhija sector is 59kms away from Lake Bunyonyi and the driving time is normally one and a half hours if you are to use good safari vehicles. Travelers staying at Lake Bunyonyi will be asked to wake up very early and start their journey by 5:00 am so that they make it to the registration and briefing exercise to be allowed to trek mountain gorillas at 8:00 am
Lodge at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
Where to stay in Lake Bunyonyi
There are a lot of accommodation facilities aru7nd Lake Bunyonyi where travelers can stay while on a safari to trek Bwindi gorillas. These accommodation facilities do range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and so where to stay depends on the traveler’s budget. The accommodation facilities do include Arcadia Cottages, Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Bunyonyi View Resort, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, Birdnest Bunyonyi, Bushara Island Camp, Heritage Lodge, and Paradise Eco Hub among others.
Trekking Ruhija gorillas from Lake Bunyonyi
Gorilla trekking is the main activity done in Ruhija region of Bwindi gorilla park by travelers fr0m Lake Bunyonyi. Ruhija sector has 3 mountain gorilla families that can be trekked when you are from Lake Bunyonyi and these include Oruzogo gorilla family, Kyaguliro gorilla family, and Bitukura gorilla family. These families can be trekked at any time of the year as long as you have a gorilla trekking permit that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The gorilla permits in Ruhija region are only 24 because a maximum of 8 people is allowed to trek a gorilla group. Travelers most especially those visiting Ruhija from Lake Bunyonyi in the high season are advised to book their permits in advance of atleast 3-4 months before the final day in order to avoid disappointments. The gorilla permits can be got directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted local tour operator at the same fee. Each gorilla trekking permit to enable you to trek Ruhija gorillas is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. The gorilla trekking permits for those from Lake Bunyonyi to Ruhija will come with paid park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, and community fees but no transport.
The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi from Lake Bunyonyi
The gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Lake Bunyonyi is done in Ruhija sector of the park which has 3 mountain gorilla families fully habituated. On the day of gorilla trekking, travelers will leave Lake Bunyonyi very early in the morning at 5:00 am and drive to Ruhija region which takes 1-2 hours depending on the condition of the roads. You will get to the briefing where you will meet other trekkers and the park wardens who teach about the rules and regulations of the gorilla trekking activity.
The park wardens group trekkers not exceeding 8 people and each group is given armed ranger guides to lead them in the jungle. Inside the jungle, you go through different trekking trails searching for the gorillas, and this gives you an opportunity to encounter different park mammals, birds, and primates. The search for the allocated gorilla family can take 2-7 hours and this time depends on the location of the gorilla group and the speed of the trekkers. When the gorilla family is found, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members watch them do daily activities, take photos, record videos and watch the members do daily activities.
best time to travel to Bwindi Gorilla Park
When to visit Bwindi from Lake Bunyonyi
Travelers can visit Bwindi gorilla park from Lake Bunyonyi at any time of the year but there are certain months that are better than the rest. The dry months that occur from June to September and December to February are the best to visit Bwindi gorilla park. these months are good to visit Ruhija from Lake Bunyonyi because they are characterized by little or no rainfall that leaves the roads leading to the park in good condition, the trekking trails in the park are dry and not slippery and the vegetation is short and scattered giving clear views of the mountain gorillas.
Travelers most especially the budget ones can visit Bwindi gorilla park in the rainy season to enjoy discounted accommodation facilities. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November but these months are characterized by too much rainfall which leaves the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with unclear views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in poor condition.
What to pack for Bwindi gorilla trekking from Lake Bunyonyi?
While leaving Lake Bunyonyi for Bwindi gorilla trekking, we advised you to carry along waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, a rain jacket, sweater, scarf., long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellents, sanitizer, facemask, a camera, a pair of gaiters, light backpack, drinking water bottle, and energy-giving snacks among others.
