Bwindi gorilla safari from the United Kingdom
Bwindi gorilla safari from the United Kingdom: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a popular gorilla trekking destination harboring mountain gorillas which are said to be close relatives of human beings. The national park hosts the highest number of mountain gorillas and has the most affordable gorilla trekking permits compared to Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda.
Tourists from the United Kingdom who are interested in seeing mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are always welcome at any time of the year. From the United States, tourists can go gorilla trekking and spend one hour with the mountain gorilla or gorilla habituation where they spend 4 hours with the mountain gorillas.
Bwindi gorilla safari from the United Kingdom
Encountering mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation in Bwindi start very early in the morning with all trekkers of the day meeting at the briefing point. Here they are taught about the rules and regulations of the activity before being grouped and given armed range guides who lead in the jungle. At the briefing point, there are always local dancers from the nearby communities entertaining the trekkers of the day through dance and drama.
The park rangers teach the trekkers the rules and regulations of the activities and later set them free for gorilla trekking which is done by 8 people and gorilla habituation which is done by 4 people. Armed ranger guides and trekkers drive to the starting points where they are left to head into the jungle and search for where the mountain gorillas could be.
Inside the jungle, different trekking trails are used and they come with an opportunity to see some of the attractions of the park like the mammals, primates, and several bird species. After 2 to 4 hours of searching, the mountain gorillas are spotted and trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members which enables them to learn about the gorilla habits, watch them do daily activities, take photos, and record videos for future memories.
Tourists who are on a gorilla habituation safari get to have 4 hours with the mountain gorillas taking part in the activities that make these apes get used to the human presence around them. After spending time with the mountain gorillas, trekkers are asked to move out of the jungle and let the mountain gorillas continue with their daily activities.
When is the best time to travel from the United Kingdom for your Bwindi safari?
June to September and December to February are the best times when tourists need to travel to Bwindi from the United Kingdom. These months are characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which is the perfect weather for different activities within the park. The trekking trails are dry and easier to walk through, the vegetation is short and scattered with the best views of mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in perfect condition.
Tourists more so budget travelers can travel from the United Kingdom to Bwindi for their safari during the rainy season. This is a low season period in the country when a few tourists are traveling and the tour packages are reduced in price because the tour operators are attracting a few who are interested in visiting. The season however has plenty of rainfall and little sunshine which in most cases leaves the trekking trails muddy and slippery.
When to book a gorilla safari in Bwindi from the United Kingdom
Tourists from the United Kingdom need to book their gorilla safari to Bwindi about 3 to 4 months or even more in advance. This is advised because gorilla permits which are documents that enable tourists to see mountain gorillas are still available. Early safari booking also enables tourists to stay in the best accommodation facilities because they are always available.
Where to stay in Bwindi on a gorilla safari from the United Kingdom
Tourists from the United Kingdom should know that Bwindi has several accommodation facilities where travelers can stay if they want to spend a night or more within the park. The lodges range from budget to mid-range to luxury options such as Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, and Ichumbi Lodge among others.
Getting to Bwindi from the United Kingdom
Tourists from the United Kingdom can fly to Kigali International Airport or Entebbe International Airport for their safari to Bwindi. From Kigali, tourists will simply drive to the southwestern part of Uganda in Kabale or Kisoro by crossing via Cyanika or Katuna borders. The Kigali Bwindi journey takes 3 to 4 hours making it the shortest road transport route to Bwindi.
By road transport from Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi tourists take 9 to 10 hours to go through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, or Kisoro to different sectors of the park. For luxury travelers that want to fly, there are scheduled and chattered flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip.
