This jaw-dropping 2 days Gorilla Trekking Bwindi gives primate enthusiasts the chance of spending less time on the road and trekking the mountain gorillas cheaply. If you connect from Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you will spend about 4 hours on the road instead of Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi where you will take 8-9 hours. Secondly, instead of paying the whole $1500 per person for gorilla trekking in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), you will instead pay $600 per person to trek from Uganda.
Another fascinating thing about the 2 days Gorilla Trekking Bwindi is that it also works perfectly for tourists who are already in Uganda’s western and south-western districts of Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Kisoro, and Kabale where you will need few hours to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted in 1991 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 just one year after gorilla trekking officially began in the Park following the habituation of Mubare Gorilla group. Presently, there are 20 gorilla groups to trek hence 160 permits are available for sale daily.
What to expect for the 2 Days Gorilla Trekking Bwindi
• One hour for interacting with the allocated mountain gorilla group.
• Transport by a comfortable 4WD Vehicle.
• A guide to take you to the destination and return.
• A cultural tour.
• A chance to see other primates, birds and other mammal species.
• Hotel pick-up and drop off.
Highlights of the 2 days Gorilla Trekking Bwindi itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali City to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 2: Trekking gorillas in Bwindi National Park and return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 2 days Gorilla Trekking Bwindi package
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali City to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast at your Hotel, home or any other place of residence in Kigali, you will meet (get picked up by) our driver at an agreed point to start your journey to the spectacular Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The beautiful sceneries of Rwanda green hills will spice up your journey experience and by the time you arrive the Park, you will be wondering how such breathtaking places ever existed on earth.
Cross the border through Cyanika or Katuna border point to Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma or Nkuringo regions and upon arrival, check-in at the Lodge, freshen-up and head straight for lunch. After your finger-licking meal, proceed for the Batwa Cultural tour where you will learn several interesting facts about Uganda’s pygmy population that once lived in the jungles of Bwindi and Mgahinga Forests before they were gazetted. Retire to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner.
Accommodation options
• Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Lodge or Chameleon Hill Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge or Gorilla Valley Lodge.
• Budget: Nshongi Gorilla Camp or Travellers Rest Hotel.
Travel time: 4 hours.
Day 2: Trekking gorillas in Bwindi National Park and return to Kigali
Arise to the cool air and misty Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and prepare for the forthcoming activity. Have your trekking gear ready and move to the restaurant or eating area of the Lodge for your sumptuous breakfast before proceeding to the Park Headquarters.
Join other intending trekkers for a briefing that will be conducted by the ranger and 30 minutes later, be allocated to the different gorilla families. Later begin the trek that introduces you to the rich jungles of Bwindi to encounter the gorilla family where you will spend only one hour observing and taking pictures of them as they go by with their normal activities.
Return to the Park Headquarters where you will be awarded your trekking certificate. Have your lunch and check-out of the Lodge for start your journey back to Kigali
End of your 2 days Gorilla trekking Bwindi.
Your 2 days Gorilla trekking Bwindi package includes;
• Gorilla permit at $600 per person but will be $700 from 1st July 2020.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Bottled water.
• Cultural tour.
• Park entrance fees.
• Ground transportation with our comfortable 4 WD Vehicles.
• A full-time English speaking driver.
• One night accommodation.
• Border crossing.
• Meals including the en-route ones.
Your 2 days Gorilla trekking Bwindi package excludes;
• Ugandan visa.
• Airfares.
• Personal expenses like personal insurance, beverages, tips, souvenirs, telephone bill and laundry fees.
• Optional activities not included on the itinerary.
Mountain gorilla trekking guidelines.
• Maximum time spent with the mountain gorillas is one hour.
• A distance of 7 meters must be maintained when seeing the gorillas.
• Tourists have to be above 15 years to trek the mountain gorillas.
• Do not eat or smoke when in the presence of Mountain gorillas.
• Trekkers with flue or cough are not allowed to trek the Mountain gorillas.
• Avoid making noise during trekking and when with the mountain gorillas.
• Littering the Park is prohibited because rubbish acts as a breeding ground for germs.
• Stay together with group members when observing the mountain gorillas.
What to carry for your 2 days Gorilla trekking Bwindi tour
• Light-weight and neutral-colored safari pants to protect your legs from being scratched white trekking.
• A backpack for carrying the things you will need during trekking.
• Long-sleeved shirts of neutral colors.
• Rain gear.
• Gardening gloves to protect hands from being scratched.
• Energy giving snacks.
• Enough drinking water
• Non-flash camera.
• Sunglasses.
• A flash torch.
• A sweater to keep you warm during chilly mornings and evenings.
• Pair of binoculars.
• Toiletries such as lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair gel, and many others.
• Insect repellant.
Other tourist activities conducted within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Gorilla Habituation Experience
• Hiking/or nature walks.
• Mountain biking.
• Birding.
Related Gorilla Trekking Safaris
3 days gorilla habituation experience
3 days Bwindi Gorilla Tour
4 days Mgahinga Gorilla Tour