How many days are required to track gorillas in Bwindi?

How many days are required to track gorillas in Bwindi is one of the questions that has been asked by travelers who would love to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Well, the number of days required to track mountain gorillas depend on the activities you want to combine with your safari.

The real gorilla trekking activity requires a single day because the trekking activity takes 2-7 hours depending on the mountain gorilla family location and the speed of the trekkers. A traveler that wants to simply trek mountain gorillas and no other activity requires only 2 days to track gorillas in Bwindi. The first day is for traveling to Bwindi and the second day is for gorilla trekking and then transfer back to the airport of your place of residence.

How many days are required to track gorillas in Bwindi

A traveler that would want to trek gorillas and then combine the safari with other activities requires 3 days and above. The more the number of days the more the activities and the places visited. The 3 days gorilla tracking safari comes with 1st day transfer to Bwindi gorilla park, 2nd day gorilla trekking, and 3rd day transfer back to the airport or place of residence.

The number of days required to track gorilla families in Bwindi depends on factors such as the time you have for the safari, activities you want to engage in, and your travel budget among others. The more the number of days the more the travel budget increases because you would need transport and accommodation each day.

3 days gorilla safari to Bwindi would be the best safari to Bwindi gorilla park with the second day designed for gorilla trekking. The first day is simply for traveling to the pack, relax at your lodge as you prepare for gorilla trekking. The second day is for gorilla trekking and since the time taken is unpredictable, if you trek gorillas and return in the evening hours it would mean that you can’t travel back to Kampala for the journey is long so you would require another night in the park. The last day which is day three would be for transfer back to the airport for your flight back home or your place of residence.

Travelers that are interested in double gorilla trekking need a minimum of 4 days to successfully do a gorilla safari in Bwindi gorilla park. The 4 days of gorilla tracking safari in Bwindi include day one for travel to the park, day 2 gorilla trekking for the first time, day 3 gorilla trekking for the second time, and day 4 transfer back to the airport or area of residence. A traveler can do double gorilla trekking in Bwindi for more than 4 days and this depends on the activities they want to do and the number of days they want to be in the park.

Encounter the Silverback gorilla in the highlands of Bwindi forest

Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi

The gorilla trekking in different sectors of Bwindi start with a briefing at the sector offices where wardens teach about the rules and regulations of the trekking activity. The trekkers are divided not exceeding 8 people and armed ranger guides are given to each group to lead them throughout the whole hike.

The armed ranger guides lead the trekkers in the jungle taking them through the quickest routes to locate the mountain gorilla family assigned. The time taken to meet the mountain gorilla family can be 2-7 hours depending on the location of the gorilla group as well as the speed of the trekkers.

During the 2-7 hours of searching, trekkers do get opportunities to meet different park animals such as buffaloes, duikers, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, monkeys, birds, and different plant species. The moment the mountain gorilla family is located, armed ranger guides do give trekkers 1 hour to around the group as they learn about their habits, watch them do daily activities, take photos, and record videos.

How much is gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi requires one to have a gorilla trekking permit. The gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi gorilla park are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is a government body in charge of tourism in the country. Gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. The gorilla permits include 1 hour around mountain gorillas, ranger guide fees, and park entrance fees. Travelers that would love to encounter mountain gorillas for 4 hours can purchase gorilla trekking permits and these do cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East Africa.

What to pack for gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

The packing list for mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi includes waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, gardening gloves, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved shorts, long-sleeved pants, a rain jacket, a hat, sunscreen, toiletries, a drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, sanitizer, facemask, first aid kit, a camera, a pair of binoculars, and a light backpack.

Stay at Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector

Accommodation on a gorilla safari in Bwindi?

While answering the question of how many days are required to track gorillas in Bwindi, it is important record different sectors of Bwindi gorilla park have several accommodation facilities which travelers can use while on a safari. The accommodation facilities do range from budget to mid-range to luxury options and where to stay depends on the sector where you are to trek and the travel budget.

Accommodation in Buhoma sector: Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.

Accommodation in Rushaga sector: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.

Accommodation in Nkuringo sector: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite

Accommodation in Ruhija sector: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.