Planning a luxury gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Planning a luxurious gorilla trip means that you are looking for exclusive services with an eco-touch mix. This includes your accommodation and transportation to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla trekking is an activity that gives tourists a chance to visit a fully habituated gorilla family for an hour under the guidance of experienced tour guides and rangers.

On the other hand, Gorilla habituation is an activity whereby tourists move with a team of researchers to a semi-habituated gorilla family and spend 4 hours with them with an aim of getting them used to human presence for easy future trekking.

While planning a luxury safari holiday, It is important to book a gorilla permit in advance for any of the above experiences.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park issues gorilla trekking permits according to Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga   gorilla trekking sectors.

You need to consider a 4 by 4 vehicle in a good condition driven by a professional while looking for a luxury transportation to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This is because kigezi sub-region is mountainous with messy roads during the rainy season.

luxury gorilla trip to Bwindi

About planning a luxury gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Gorilla permit booking

A permit is essential for any tourist that would like to do Gorilla habituation or Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. You need a specific date when you expect to do a gorilla trip plus the gorilla permit numbers if you have company. The least number of days tourists can be on a gorilla trip is a three-day Uganda gorilla tour in case you are planning a luxury gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Giant Holiday Safaris helps you in securing a gorilla trekking permit in Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga or Ruhija sectors.

After receiving your gorilla tour inquiry, our consultant finds out whether gorilla permits are available from Uganda Wildlife Authority list. Once we get a positive gorilla permit status, our tour consultant replies. Tourists that want to use peak Uganda tourism season for a luxury trip in January, June, July, August, September or December are advised to book their permits in advance because they are on high demand. This also applies to accommodation.

After securing your permit, proper identification details like your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport expiry date are required and added to your gorilla permit card to be presented on your tour day. Be carefully while presenting your identification details because in case of any mistake made, you may not be allowed in the park.

Booking accommodation for you gorilla trip

Ensure that you book a luxury accommodation basing on the number of people you hope to travel with for a gorilla trip in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the sector in which your permit is booked.

Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are booked according to Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga sectors. This requires tourists to book accommodation that is near the sector on their permit so that they do not miss morning briefing. Spending a night far away from your trekking sector is inconveniencing because you need to drive dark in the night with fog and logs that may block your way and give you poor visibility.

Accommodation options in Bwindi include Gorilla safari lodge, Clouds lodge, Gorilla Forest camp, Nkuringo gorilla lodge and Ichumbi gorilla lodge.

Transportation for the gorilla trip

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be accessed using air or road transport on a luxury gorilla trip.

When you choose road transport, we advise you to book 4 by 4-wheel land cruiser that is in good condition because roads that lead to the park may get messy especially with rains, bumps or roughness. In addition, fuel your tank to full capacity because refueling deep in the village can be difficult. Giant Holiday Safaris picks the best safari guides and cars to give you the best experience on your trip.

The following routes from Entebbe or Kampala lead to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park;

Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo

Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma

Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Buhoma

Queen Eizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma

Alternatively, Tourists can choose to use air transport which is the most convenient means from Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip. They board daily domestic flights to Kisoro or kihihi airstrip. You are advised to hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge in advance to avoid delays.

Charter flights are also available at Entebbe or Kajjansi airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. These flights need pre-booking so that all the necessary clearances are made in advance.

Exercises recommended before the gorilla safari

A luxury gorilla trip requires one to be physically fit so preparing your body for this long adventure is advisable. This is because Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is mountainous with plateaus and ridges from volcanic action. Daily jogging before the trip is recommended.

The right equipment for a gorilla safari

A gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a rough trip with stinging insects, irritating plants, unpredictable weather and a long journey thus requires one to park important items like sunscreen, first aid toolbox, camera, safari boots, insect repellants, rainproof gear, safari hats, wilderness friendly colored clothes. Do not forget to pack enough water and snacks too because you may need to hydrate and energize on your way.

You are advised to carry extra hard cash on your gorilla tour since using credit cards usually has a long queue because it is not a standard means of transacting in Africa. This cash will ease your on-ground purchases.

Additional unforgettable activities to add on your luxury gorilla trip

The pearl of Africa is rich with many optional adventurous activities like game drives, chimpanzee safaris, white water rafting, visiting the source of the Nile, golden monkey safaris, birding, scenic views and so much more. Whether it is a combination of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, Giant Holiday Safaris is open to working hand in hand with you in drafting a suitable itinerary that matches all your interests in Africa.

Best season for booking a luxury gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Though Gorilla safaris are open throughout the year, the dry season is often considered the best season because the paths in the park are drier with clear skies giving trekkers higher chances of spotting mountain gorillas and other primates in the park. This peak season includes months of December, January, September, July, August and June. Visitors are encouraged to book their gorilla trekking permits in advance to avoid disappointments during peak seasons because the demand is very high and the permits are few.

On the other hand, some trekkers prefer booking their permits during the wet season because accommodation prices and permit prices are cheaper since the season has few tourists. The low season sometimes offers free gorilla tours which is an added advantage. you are also assured of top -notch services since all the attention is on you. This season is for months of March, April, May and November.

Is it true that mountain gorillas are aggressive?

Despite their giant body sizes, fierce outlooks, furry bodies and knuckle-walking styles, mountain gorillas are peaceful and interesting animals if they are not provoked. You are advised to attend morning briefing about rules and regulations of gorilla trekking before the trek to add on your safety.

Rules for gorilla trips

• In case you need to do a long call, ask a ranger guide to dig 30cm deep and cover everything beyond recognition after.
• Do not surround gorillas after locating them because it makes them feel ambushed.
• Anyone below 5 years is not allowed for gorilla trekking since the activity needs patience. Stay behind incase you catch communicable diseases for example flu, corona virus and cholera. This is because these diseases spread easily to gorillas.
• Keep a safe distance of 8 meters from gorillas after locating them to reduce chances of exchanging infections if there is any.
• Do not spit on vegetation because it is what gorillas feed on. The act is nauseating and unhealthy for gorillas.
• Do not make sudden movements or noise with gorillas because it overwhelms and scares them.
• Mandatory wearing of masks and use of sanitizers is highly emphasized. You must change into a clean mask as you encounter gorillas.