Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali
Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the gorilla trekking destinations located in Uganda. The park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kisoro district near the borders of Rwanda and DR Congo. Bwindi is a top gorilla trekking destination in the world as it hosts more than half of the mountain gorillas surviving in the world.
Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali takes tourists through the rolling hills of Rwanda to Uganda where Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located. Tourists who trek mountain gorillas use a few hours to access the park and interact with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. This route is shorter than that of Entebbe when it comes to distance because tourists spend 3 to 4 hours instead of 9 to 10 hours from Entebbe.
Bwindi gorilla trekking from Kigali allows tourists to trek mountain gorillas with affordable gorilla trekking permits. A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park is twice the price of a Ugandan permit a reason why more tourists are crossing to Uganda from Kigali to trek these endangered primates in their natural habitats. Tourists from Kigali cross to Uganda using Katuna or Kyanika border to any of the gorilla trekking sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a place hosting the highest number of mountain gorillas and gorilla families in the whole world. Gorilla trekking is the most done activity within this park attracting thousands of travelers from different parts of the world. Below let’s look at gorilla trekking in any of the sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park when tourists are from Kigali.
The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi from Kigali
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali can be carried out in Rushaga, Nkuringo, or Ruhija which are the closest sectors. The activity starts early in the morning at the sector headquarters with a briefing about the dos and don’ts from the rangers. Once the briefing is done, tourists are grouped not exceeding 8 people, and armed ranger guides are assigned to lead them into the jungle.
Trekkers are driven to the starting point of the trekking where they head into the jungle with the guides to search for where the mountain gorillas could be. Using different trekking trails, tourists are bel to meet the mountain gorillas after 2 to 5 hours of searching. When located, they get one hour to be around the members and this comes with an opportunity of knowing about their habits and watching them carry out daily activities.
What is the cost of gorilla trekking permits from Kigali?
The cost of gorilla trekking permits stays the same for a period of about 2 years and these prices are set by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Whether you are coming from Kigali or Entebbe the cost of the permit will stay the same. Gorilla trekking permits cost $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa, and UGX 300,000 members of East African citizen states.
Gorilla trekking permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority at their offices in Kampala. Only licensed tour operators are allowed to purchase gorilla permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Depending on the local tour operator used, they will be able to send you the gorilla trekking permit so that you get allowed to see the apes in their natural habits.
When to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi from Kigali?
Tourists can go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Kigali at any time of the year. June to September and December to February which are the driest months of the year are however the best times to see the mountain gorillas. The weather favors the activity within the park because the trekking trails are dry and easier to walk through and also the vegetation is short with good views of gorillas.
Tourists from Kigali can still go gorilla trekking in Bwindi during the rainy seasons. March to May and October to November are low season months within the park and these favor budget travelers who love discounted packages and also tourists who hate crowded places. Tourists should however know that the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, and the vegetation is tall with unclear views of mountain gorillas.
Getting to Bwindi from Kigali
Kigali is very close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park compared to when tourists are coming from Kampala. From Kigali, it’s about 3 to 4 hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Tourists can cross to Uganda using Katuna border in Kabale and then Kyanika border in Kisoro.
From the borders, tourists can drive to Nkuringo, Rushaga, or Ruhija sectors of the park which are all home to mountain gorillas. Because of the short distance, tourists always find it very easy to cross to Uganda and trek mountain gorillas at a very good price. Trekking in Volcanoes National Park doubles the price of trekking mountain gorillas of Bwindi and this has favored Uganda because it gets more tourists.
