Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi With Terrain Safaris
This is the main activity in Bwindi. It starts in the morning at around 08:00 am and normally takes about 3-5 hours, depending on the movement/location of the gorillas. The park has more than 400 gorillas, more than half of the world's remaining population of these endangered giants, with 13 groups; Nkuiringo, Bweza, Kahungye, Mishaya, Nyakagezi, Kyaguliro, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Nshongi and 11 groups are available to be visited by tourists. There is a high demand for Bwindi gorillas, so if you plan to pay a visit to these great apes, it's better to book your safari sometime in advance to avoid inconveniences. Bookings are made at the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through travel agents. You may do it on your own or trust us at Terrain Safaris to do it for you at a fair price. Dressing code for this activity: You are advised to blend natural colours when visiting these gentle giants. While on this activity, what to come along with: Long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, hiking boots and rain jacket, insect repellent, to avoid being bitten by some insects or pricked by small sticks. You need to carry a rain jacket because it might rain when you are deep in the forest—not forgetting to pack some lunch and enough drinking water because the trek might take more than the expected time.
A gorilla tracking permit is $700 per day, and no one is allowed inside the park without the permit.
Bird-watching
Birding in Bwindi majorly takes place along the main trails; the Buhoma Waterfall Trail, the bamboo zone and the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija. The 348 bird species, among which 23 are Albertine Rift Endemics, make it a perfect place for birders. Some bird species to be seen here include; African Green Broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, Fraser's Eagle Owl, Rwenzori Nightjar, Archer's Robin-chat and Doherty's Bush-shrike, among others. We at Terrain Safaris Uganda have experienced bird-watching guides who will make sure you enjoy your bird watching and fulfil your targets in birding.
Cultural Tours
Cultural tours are done throughout the country and around the neighbouring communities of the conservation areas, where tourists visit the Batwa communities. This gives you an opportunity to know about the Batwa people, their food, dance and how they live life. A donation to the community would be helpful, or buying some of their locally made crafts.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Hikers will like it in Uganda because we have a lot of mountains to enjoy countrywide, and the Rwenzori Mountains are the highlight of this adventure. Standing at 5109 meters above sea level and stretching about 150 kilometres, along the Albertine Rift Valley, from Kasese to Bundibujo, the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the moon), is the highest mountain range in Africa. To make the full trail of mountain climbing on the Rwenzori, you will need the help of full mountain climbing gears, and this may take you about 7 – 8 days to the summit (Margherita) and back to the starting point at Nyakalengeja.
There are also a number of mountains in Uganda to test our fitness from, like Elgon, Moroto, Kadam, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura, among others.
Muhabura is the highest volcano in the Virunga massive, and the name in the local language means a guide. Being the highest landmark in that area, the locals used it to know their locations before the invention of the compass and the GPS, hence naming it Muhabura. Hiking is done on Mount Muhavura. It may take you a day to and from the top of this mountain, which gives good scenery of all five volcanoes and the Virunga setting, plus the Mgahinga Gorilla Forest, as seen from the Crater Lake top of this beautiful mountain. You can also do gorilla trekking from Mgahinga National Park, which protects the Ugandan side of the Virunga Massive Conservation area. Virunga area protects the other half of the gorillas and is shared by the three countries; Uganda, Congo and Rwanda.
Terrain Safaris welcomes you to Uganda and can take you through all the tourism products and the country's natural gifts. Book your safari with us.