Short gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Short gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a popular destination for mountain gorilla trekking in the world. Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, the park protects the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world. These mountain gorillas are seen in four sectors of the park namely Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga when one participates in gorilla searching activities.
Mountain gorilla trekking and mountain gorilla habituation are the top activities carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. With a limited time on the safari, we believe that tourists can either do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation to get an opportunity to come close to these apes in their natural habitats. Gorilla trekking is just one hour with the mountain gorillas but when decide to go gorilla habituation they get four hours with the apes.
Short gorilla safaris to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are done by tourists who have limited time on a safari. They are done by tourists who are on a trip to Uganda but would love to leave the country after meeting these apes. They can also be done by tourists who love to travel during the short days they are free from work. Well below, are the top activities that tourists can do during their short gorilla safaris to Bwindi.
What to do on short safaris to Bwindi
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is the main reason why tourists visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The park is famous for having the highest number of gorilla families in the world which are seen in four of its sectors namely Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija. On a short safari to Bwindi, you can carry out gorilla trekking and get a chance to see these endangered mountain gorillas in the wild.
Mountain gorilla trekking on a short safari is always done on the second day. Early in the morning, the tourists have morning breakfast and get their packed lunch ready. They are driven to the sector headquarters where they go through a briefing session to learn the rules and regulations of trekking. Groups not exceeding 8 people are formed and given armed ranger guides to lead them into the jungle.
Trekkers are driven to the starting point of the trekking and left with armed ranger guides to go into the jungle and search for fully habituated mountain gorillas. The search takes 2 to 5 hours depending on the location of the family and nature of trails. However, when the apes are located trekkers are allowed to be around the members for a maximum of 1 hour which allows them to know about their habits and how they do day to day activities.
Gorilla habituation
A short gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be about gorilla habituation. Bwindi is the only place in the world where tourists can have gorilla habituation activities which enable tourists to be with semi habituated mountain gorillas for up to 4 hours. One mountain gorilla family is so far open for gorilla habituation in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi.
On a short gorilla safari to Bwindi, tourists can habituate the members of Bikingi family and get an opportunity to be around the apes for a maximum of four hours while doing things that make the apes get used to the human presence around them. The trekkers are guided by armed ranger guides, doctors, and researchers on things to do with the mountain gorillas throughout the whole habituation.
Relaxation in Bwindi
On a short gorilla safari to Bwindi, after trekking or habituation tourists can drive to Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest water lake in Uganda. The fact that gorilla trekking ends late in the park, driving back to Kampala/Entebbe is always not possible and this is why tourists are advised to visit Bunyonyi for relaxation.
While in Lake Bunyonyi, tourists can participate in boat cruises which are the best way to explore the different islands of Bunyonyi. The boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi is a 2 hour activity with local guides who have all the information about the different islands. They will also be in positions to tell the different attractions that are in the islands as well as the surrounding areas.
When to have short gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
These short safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be done at any time of the year when one gets time to travel. The park is always open for gorilla safaris all throughout the year. Tourists who will have short safaris in the park during the dry season will have the best experience because the weather is good and favors trekking activities.
June to September and December to February tourists will find the roads leading to the park in good condition, the trekking trails are dry and passable and the vegetation is short with good views of the attraction of the park. The rainy season can still be used for short safaris in Bwindi but tourists should know that there is always plenty of rainfall which affects the activities.
Getting to Bwindi for short safaris
Tourists can get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for short safaris using road transport and the luxury can use air transport because it’s very possible. By air transport, there are flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips that are close to Bwindi. From the airstrips driving to the park takes a very short time.
By road transport, from Kigali tourists can cross to Uganda using Katuna or Cyanika border to any of the sectors of the park they are interested in visiting. From Kampala/Entebbe, tourists drive through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale or Kisoro to different park sectors. The road transport journeys come with views of different attractions along the way and enjoying the rolling hills Kisoro.
