5 Things You Enjoy On Your way To Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National park is long lasting about 8hours to 9 hours but taking breaks to stretch and rejuvenate makes it a fun Africa safari experience and we usher to you the 5 Things You Enjoy On Your way To Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi. Right from Entebbe Airport, you can make stops before arriving Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is about 530 km from Kampala city or Entebbe.

Enjoying a post or pre-gorilla trekking experience in either Entebbe or Kampala makes part of the activities you can do on your way to gorilla trekking. You can visit enroute safari destinations on your journey to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This enriches your safari wildlife photo collection. You also get a better understanding of why Uganda is the Pearl of Africa beyond gorilla trekking.

Highlights

• Tour Uganda wildlife Education Center Entebbe
• Visit Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary
• Stop at The Equator in Kayabwe or Mpambire drum Village
• Visit Lake Mburo National Park
• White Water rafting and Source of River Nile in Jinja.
• Tour Uganda wildlife Education Center Entebbe

Just a few meters from Entebbe Airport is Uganda Wildlife Education Center the former Entebbe Zoo. This center is home to over 50 animal species and more than 250 herbs. The center offers wildlife in an open air natural exhibits that simulate three major ecosystems of Uganda.

The animals in the wild may not come close to you like the ones in the exhibits. Most of the wild animals that the country harbors in the National Park are represented in UWEC. The 1km long natural forest trail giving you perfect feel of the wilderness. You may get to see lions, cheetahs, hyenas, chimpanzees, reptiles, vervet monkeys, zebras, cape buffaloes and others.

You can visit this center before or after gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National park.

Visit Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary

If you have limited time on your gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National park but wish to be in the company of the chimpanzees, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary is the ideal break. In case you are doing a fly in gorilla safari, you can visit the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary in the morning then catch up with check in time for your afternoon domestic flight.

The sanctuary was commissioned in 1998 to give home to rescued, orphaned, abandoned chimpanzees that cannot return to their communities in the wild. This island is part of the Koome Islands in Lake Victoria. It occupies an area of 100 acres of land southwestern Entebbe

Over 50 chimpanzees are residents of this center and during feeding time visitors stand at the platform to distribute their food. Watch the idiom survival for the fittest come to life as the most powerful chimpanzees grab the food from the weak ones.

In case you have some time you can walk along the beach, take part in feeding the chimpanzees again, caregiving, sunset Cruise and others.

The Uganda Equator in Kayabwe and Mpambire Drum Village.

Enroute to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can stop at the equator to perform some interesting water experiment, stand on both sides of the earth at the same time and take photos for memories. This place has a circular concrete through which the Equator is believed to pass. If you wish to carry safari souvenirs, go into the local craft shops close by to select one and pay by cash. Credit cards are not commonly used for transactions in Uganda because of their lengthy

Stopping at Kayabwe drum village gives, you have a chance to see how local musical instruments are made in Uganda. This center has a great historical background according to Buganda Kingdom where its royal drums were designed from since time immemorial.  The center has different local drums of all sizes made from local materials. The current generation of drum makers inherited this work from their ancestors.

Visit Lake Mburo National Park

Having a stopover for a night at Lake Mburo National park before proceeding for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is delightful. During the game drive in the park you may get to see zebras, impalas, elands, herds of buffaloes, herds of elephants, Uganda kobs, reed bucks and others.

The vegetation cover in Lake Mburo National Park provides a comfortable habitat for a variety of wildlife including the birds.

White Water rafting and Source of River Nile in Jinja

If you want to experience thrill on River Nile, white water rafting is here for you. Taking an excursion to Jinja at Itanda falls to do white water rafting is breathtaking. No need to have experience to do white water rafting because instructors are in place to take you through all the relevant procedures.

Safety measures to keep you from being harmed are readily available. After wearing your life saving jackets securely, you proceed to the tube boat to start peddling. A kayaker leads the way to establish the strength of the Nile water at the moments. He gives a set off signal and then you are all expected to paddle through the tides. Different levels of white water rafting at various locations are in place and you can choose which ones to take on according to your feeling. The further you go the tougher the Nile tides

Visiting Uganda and not visit the source of River Nile in Jinja leaves a gap in your Uganda safari. You board a boat from the pier and sails to the point where Lake Victoria water separates from River Nile waters. This dramatic point leaves visitors wondering what may be taking place underneath that water.

Getting to Bwindi Forest National park For Gorilla Trekking

By Road

This park can be accessed through various but remember to leave Kampala or Entebbe early enough before roads get busy. Some of the routes you use to Bwindi Impenetrable National park are impassable sometimes especially when it rains you need to hire a 4×4 wheel vehicle to withstand these conditions.  For you to enjoy your long road trip, leave in time so that you can ride on the up country roads without panicking.

Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma

Early morning Kampala city or Entebbe on a tarmac road for about 414 km. This goes through a curving murram road for about 120 km to Kanungu and Kanyantorogo.

Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma

Making a stop for game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park is remarkable. You need to spend at least a night or two here to sink into the beauties of this rift valley park. During the game drives or launch trip you may spot lions, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, water bucks, and bush bucks, hyenas, Topis and others. You must pay park fees for this park and this lasts 24 hours of your stay.

This route proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national Park for about 160 km from Mweya and 64 km from Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Look out for tree climbing lions that love climbing high in the fig branches. You must know the condition of Ishasha bridge because it gets washed away sometimes especially during severe rain seasons.

Kampala to Kabale to Ruhijja to Buhoma

Although still under construction, you can use this road through Kabale to Ruhijja and Buhoma for about 95km.

Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma

From Kampala, you need about 8 hours excluding stops the road to Rukungiri for about 390 km. Drive on to Rukungiri on a murram road to Buhoma the main admin center for Bwindi forest 82 km.

Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo

Kabale, Nkuringo has a distance of 150 km lasting about 4 hours on a winding murram road. You can stop in Kisoro which is 80 km from Nkuringo gorilla trekking area. Driving from Kisoro for about 35km so any one can overnight here and do gorilla trekking the next day. To attend briefing you have to drive close to 1 hour and half.

Scheduled Flights or Charter flights to Kisoro or Kihihi Air strip

Every day domestic flights fly from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air strip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip. You musically in t book a seat in advance because they get sold out especially in the peak season. Remember to hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

Note; Charter flight services for more private arrangements are booked from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kihihi.

What Accommodations to book For Gorilla trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Depending on where your gorilla permit is booked, Bwindi has a variety of accommodation facilities to book. They range from up-markets, mid-range and Budgets facilities.

The gorilla trekking permits of Bwindi National Park are booked according to area to enable all the gorilla families in the park to be visited. When the gorillas are not visited for some time, they may return to their wild habits yet it takes a lot of time and money to habituate them.

Some of the accommodations you can book for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National parks include Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Lodge, Mahogany springs, Gorilla Resort, Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla safari Lodge, Trekker’s Tavern, Buhoma Community Bandas, Engage Lodge, lake Kitantara Tented Camp and others.

The Best Time to Book Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Anytime is gorilla trekking time in Bwindi Impenetrable National park but the busiest season is June to September and December to mid-January. This time the forest is not so soggy and the rivers are more controlled. There is some sunray penetration to the ground because the leaves are not so thick to cover it from reaching the ground. They undergrowth in the forest is not so dense this season. The slopes are not very slippery just in case the gorillas are feeding from there.

The wet seasons that is March to May and November also receive visitors but you must pack all your gorilla trekking gears. This season Bwindi forest receives more rains, the rivers over flow, and the mountain gorillas prefer to feed from the slopes. You must be ready for these conditions just in case. This season however receives more infant births and chance of gorilla trekking alone are high. Just imagine having an entire gorilla trekking family to yourself with no one to obstruct you.

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Safari hat to cover your hair from the humid conditions and buzzing insects in the wilderness
• A pair of stocking to tack in your trousers and prevent insects from creeping into your clothes
• Fleece or Poncho for you to wear early morning when its too cold or evening because temperatures of Bwindi Forest drops as low as 7 degrees centigrade at times.
• Safari tracking boots comfortable enough for you to use when hiking slippery slopes, the ones that can walk through boggy surfaces and not get stuck
• Garden gloves for protecting your palms from stinging nettle especially if you need to grasp a secure grip on the forest creepers.
• Energy bites to munch on and give you energy to carry on to locate the mountain gorillas.
• A camera with no flash and no sound because this may scare the mountain gorillas that are very suspicious of intruders in there vicinity.
• Insect repellants to keep away stinging insects in the wilderness
• Light water proof backpack for keeping your gears from humid forest conditions and avoid getting lost in the jungle
• A raincoat or poncho just in case it rains because this area receives rain at any time without warning.
• First aid kit with emergency medication just in case you get injured.
• Travel adapter and charger to use in case your gadgets run low on power.
• A pair of pajama to wear in the night
• Bag spray for you to use in case you spot any bugs in your facility
• A torch to use in the nights when lights go out and you need to trace something
• Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need to purchase anything on ground. Credit cards are not commonly used in Africa because of the lengthy procedure of acquiring money from them

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For inquiries, advice on how to plan for this safari, booking the hiking permits; organizing transport and accommodation, get in touch with safari vacations and travel services, we help you to avoid inconveniences after landing for the safari.