Plan Bwindi gorilla tours from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda for mountain gorilla trekking. Travel from Kampala is by road or air, about 487 km taking 8 to 10 hours, or flights from Kajjansi to Kisoro or Kihihi. Book permits with Uganda Wildlife Authority. A 3 day trip includes travel, trekking, and return. Book your Bwindi gorilla trekking tour now for a clear and well planned trip experience.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for its large population of mountain gorillas, which live in the park’s four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Bwindi is located in southwestern Uganda in the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, and Kanungu. The park covers an area of 331 sq. km in the highest parts of the Kigezi Highlands.
Trip Highlights
- Start the trip from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Travel by road about 487 km which takes 8 to 10 hours
- Flights are available from Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip
- Bwindi has about 500 mountain gorillas in over 20 families
- Gorilla trekking is done in four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga
- Visitors must book permits through Uganda Wildlife Authority
- The trip is planned for 3 days
- Day 1 is travel to Bwindi and lodge check in
- Day 2 is gorilla trekking after a morning briefing
- Visitors are placed in groups of 8 people with a ranger
- The trek takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are
- Visitors spend one hour with the gorillas after finding them
- Day 3 is return to Kampala or continue to other parks
- The best time to visit is June to August and December to February when trails are dry
- Bwindi is home to other animals like monkeys, chimpanzees, elephants, and birds
- This trip gives a chance to see mountain gorillas in the forest
Bwindi is home to about 500 mountain gorillas, grouped into over 20 gorilla families. Some of these families include Nkuringo, Mubare, Habinyanja, Christmas, Rushengura, Bweza, and Bushaho.
Bwindi is covered with both montane and lowland forests, which are habitats for various wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. Mammals in Bwindi include blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, elephants, and buffaloes.
Bird species include the black bee-eater, black-billed turaco, great blue turaco, Rwenzori turaco, Kivu ground thrush, Regal sunbird, and Shelley’s cinnamon, among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which oversees all tourism activities in the park.
Traveling to Bwindi from Kampala
If you are traveling to Bwindi from Kampala, you can use either road or air transport.
Bwindi is located about 487 km from Kampala by road. The journey takes approximately 8 to 10 hours, depending on the means of transport, the condition of the roads, and the sector being visited.
Tourists traveling by road can hire private cars, which are the most convenient and comfortable way to reach Bwindi. Alternatively, they can use public buses that travel from Kampala to Kabale or Kisoro towns near Bwindi.
For tourists looking for a faster way to reach Bwindi, flights are available from Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips.
Proposed Duration for a Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kampala
Below is the proposed duration for a gorilla trekking tour from Kampala:
- Day 1: Tourists will travel from Kampala early in the morning and head to Bwindi, where they will check in at their lodge.
- Day 2: Tourists will be briefed at the park headquarters based on the sector they are visiting. They will then proceed for gorilla trekking. After trekking, tourists will return to their lodges.
- Day 3: Tourists will return to Kampala either by road or by air or continue to other national parks.
The best time to visit Bwindi is during the dry season, which occurs from June to August and December to February. During these months, the trails are dry, making it easier to access the forest.
Bwindi gorilla tours from Kampala are wonderful as tourists begin their adventure with amazing views of Uganda’s beautiful landscapes.
