Bwindi four hour gorilla safari
Bwindi four hour gorilla safari: A four-hour gorilla trek safari in Bwindi is about gorilla habituation. Gorilla habituation is a process of introducing mountain gorillas to people with an aim of making them get used to human presence around them. In the whole world, gorilla habituation is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. In Bwindi, currently done in the Rushaga sector which is found in the southern sector of the park.
Bwindi four-hour gorilla trek safaris take tourists to the impenetrable forest of Bwindi. This is where they visit Rushaga sector in the south of the park the only place with a gorilla family gorilla through habituation. Apparently, Bikingi is the only mountain gorilla family in Rushaga sector of Bwindi that goes through habituation every day. On a safari to this sector, you will be allowed to have four with its members if you have a valid gorilla trekking permit.
The four hour gorilla search in Bwindi
Being around mountain gorillas for four hours is only possible in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. In Rushaga, gorilla habituation is only done on one mountain gorilla group named Bikingi. Bikingi gorilla family allows trekkers to be part of the activities that make its members get used to the human presence around them. The habituation is done by a team of researchers, rangers, doctors, and trekkers.
On the day of trekking, tourists are transferred to the Rushaga headquarters where they meet rangers who teach about the rules and regulations of habituation. Not more than 4 people can go for this habituation activity. Driver guides transfer you to the starting point of the trek and leave you with a team of doctors, researchers, and rangers to head into the jungle.
While in the jungle, different trekking trails are used to search for where the mountain gorilla family could be. The search can take 2 to 5 hours but once located, trekkers are allowed to be with the members for a maximum of 4 hours and this time comes with an opportunity of being part of the activities that make the apes get used to human presence around them.
How much is a four hour gorilla trek in Bwindi
A four hour gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park calls for a gorilla habituation permit. This is a document that allows tourists to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 4 hours. A single gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 for foreign non residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 members of East African citizen states.
Tourists who intend to do a four hour gorilla trek with in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park need to know that there are only 4 permits available in a day. This calls for early booking of the habitation permits. Tourists are advised to book 3 to 4 months in advance to avoid last minute disappointments.
When to go gorilla habituation in Rushaga sector of Bwindi
Tourists can go gorilla trekking the Rushaga sector of Bwindi at any time of the year however the best time would be the dry season. June to September and December to February are the best times to do a four hour gorilla habituation in Bwindi. These months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which favors the park activities.
The trekking trails with in the jungle are dry and easier to pass through which favors the movement of the trekkers allowing them to locate the mountain gorillas on time. The vegetation with in the jungle is short and scattered and this allows tourists to have a good view of the apes and other attractions of the park. Roads leading to Rushaga are also in good condition due to little or no rainfall.
Tourists especially budget travelers and maybe those who hate crowded places can visit Bwindi for a four hour gorilla trek during the rainy season. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November a period when the park receives plenty of rainfall and little sunshine. Tourists who visit the park during this period will find the trekking trails muddy and slippery and the vegetation will be tall giving unclear views of apes and other attractions.
Things to pack for a four hour gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Tourists who intend to have a four hour gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park need to know that to have the best of the activity, you must travel with the necessary equipment. What to pack includes waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, masks, gardening gloves, a camera, a pair of binoculars, a camera, sunscreen, insect repellents, a drinking water bottle and energy giving snacks to mention but a few.
Where to stay on a four hour gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Tourists who are intending to visit for a four hour gorilla trek have so many accommodation options to use. These can be mid range or luxury in areas of Rushaga sector or Nkuringo. Lodges include Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and Four Gorillas Lodge to mention but a few.
Getting to Bwindi for a four hour gorilla trek.
Four hour gorilla trekking in Bwindi is only done in the Rushaga sector located in the southern sector of the park. Tourists can get to Rushaga in a single day from Kigali or Kampala/Entebbe. The sector of Bwindi can be accessed using either road transport or air transport. From Kigali, tourists just need to cross to Uganda using Kyanika border in Kisoro.
From Kampala/Entebbe, tourists drive through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kisoro to Rushaga. The journey is a bit long but comes with a number of stopovers as well scenic views along the way. For luxury travelers who want to fly, there are flights from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip where tourists take a short drive to the park.
