Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Can go I Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel? What distance is there to travel and for how long?  Mweya is one of the regions of Queen Elizabeth National Park where the boat cruise on the channel is done. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the savannah Parks found in the Kasese district in Western Uganda, it spreads to the western arm of the Great Rift Valley and is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, Uganda kob, baboon, and many species of birds.  With both a riverine and savannah habitat, the park includes the southern Ishasha area with its tree-climbing lions and Maramagambo, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda. 

The northern Mweya area, traversed by the equator and dominated by the scenery of crater lakes, is often occupied by large flocks of flamingos. It is approximately 5-6 hours’ drive (289.3 km) via Ntungamo – Katunguru Road and Kabale – Mbarara Road to Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The Journey is interesting as you will have stops for photography and en-route lunch (local food) in Kabale town. There is also an option of flying from Mweya Airstrip or Kasese Airstrip to Bwindi which is about 2 hours flight. Eco Adventure Safaris will tailor your safari to Bwindi impenetrable National Park from Mweya best to meet your interest and expectations. Visiting Bwindi and Mweya (in Queen Elizabeth National Park) you will have a great experience of the Big four (Nature dictates) and the ultimate gorilla experience. On this safari, you will have unique experiences in either Parks.

What to do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Queen Elizabeth National Park?

There is a lot to see and do in Bwindi impenetrable national park, this park is one of the leading great tourism destinations in Africa that you shouldn’t miss on your bucket list. You can participate in different activities in Bwindi to have a whole new experience as detailed below.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi                                                           

Gorilla tracking is the primary activity to do and see the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National park from Mweya, you will need about 3 days safari to Bwindi from Mweya for a gorilla trekking safari.  Bwindi is a home to half of world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world meaning your visit here you have 98% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You can opt to spend quality time trekking mountain gorillas in any of four different sections of the park that is Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south and Ruhija and Buhoma in the North East and East part of Bwindi National park respectively. 

Having a gorilla permit is the key priority for you to have a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe. The gorilla permit has to be purchased in advance to secure a spot for your trek for any date depending on your travel dates and availability of the permits that day. Gorilla tracking is done in a group of eight people per gorilla family meaning eight permits only are available for each gorilla family, for you to secure a place for a day’s gorilla trek you will need to secure your gorilla permit in advance months or days prior visiting Bwindi Forest National park. When you book an all-inclusive Gorilla road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe with Eco Adventure Safaris, all you need to do is to send us your actual dates when you prefer trekking gorillas and we will check the availability of permits online. We will reserve your permit tentatively and send you a permit payment invoice. Once you make payment, we will go ahead and secure your permit and thereafter send you scanned copies of receipts from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

Gorilla Habituation Experience is another amazing experience to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Mweya. The activity allows you to spend four hours with mountain gorillas still undergoing the process of habituation. Only four people are allowed to do gorilla habituation activity in Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, with this you are required to book your gorilla habituation permit in advance to secure your place. The experience starts and takes up to half or a full day depending on the time you take to find them.

Gorilla habituation activity is only done in the south of Bwindi impenetrable National Park between the sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo. During this experience, you visit the gorillas that are in the process of being habituated and the gorillas are not yet used to Visitors and act wild, with researchers and guides, you monitor the way gorillas feed, move, rest and also communicate with them.

Bird watching Experience in Bwindi

Bwindi Forest National Park is home to various unique bird species including the Albertine Rift Endemic birds and it is a place to be for Bird watchers, Key bird species to spot on your birding tour in Bwindi National Park include Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing. We do organize birding packages to Bwindi Forest National Park, with professional birding guides you are able to identify different birds.

Cultural and community experiences

Cultural experiences is also one of the most sought activity when planning in Bwindi impenetrable National Park from Mweya. Bwindi Forest National Park used to be inhabited by the Batwa people commonly referred to as the pygmies for many years until of recent when they were removed from the Bwindi Forest to the surrounding communities of Bwindi Forest National Park to ease mountain gorilla conservation and tourism. A road trip to Bwindi Forest National Park from Entebbe will give you an opportunity to see these pygmies used to spend their time in the forest, where they used to stay, how they used to harvest wild honey as well as hunting. They will show off their dances and explain how they have managed to settle and enjoy normal life outside the forest. You can as well visit the rest of the community in the out skirts of the forest, the women groups that do crafts and sell food, the community schools and we encourage if you have any donation to support the children with clothes and scholastic materials.

Nature and Forest walks

Forest walks are ideal when you visit Bwindi impenetrable National park. Bwindi is made up of a tropical forest which is one of the oldest forests in the world existing for more of the past 250,000 years back; it has ancient tree species and some of them are endemic to this forest. It is as well known to be impenetrable due to its thick canopy making nature walks enjoyable, on your nature walking safari in Bwindi Forest you will have a chance to learn about different tree species, spot different bird species as well have a chance to sight different animals including rare forest elephants if lucky, monkeys, baboons.

We do offer Nature walking packages from Buhoma sector to Nkuringo Sector, crossing Ivy River, Kashasha trail, these nature walks also given you a chance to blend yourself with nature including a visit to the beautiful waterfalls and rivers in the Bwindi Forest National Park, you can choose a package that can be tailored with all these activities to best suit your interest.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?

Starting your safari to Bwindi impenetrable National Park from mweya, you will be required to spend at least two nights in any of the four gorilla regions of Bwindi; Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga, You will choose accommodation/Hotel depending on the where you want to do safari from. All these sectors have hotels/Lodges ranging from budget to midrange to luxury and to up market hotel with low season rates and high season rates. For example, In Buhoma sector you can stay at Buhoma community camp as budget hotel, Buhoma Havens lodge as Midrange hotel, Bwindi lodge, Mahogany springs lodge, Buhoma lodge, as Luxury lodge and Gorilla forest camp as the Up market hotel. In Rushaga, you can stay at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla camp and four gorillas Lodge, in Nkuringo you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge.

Why book with Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel

Eco Adventure Safaris organizes Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel with many choices of activities as well customized packages from Mweya. We offer free pickups from Entebbe International Airport as it is very close to our offices. Our magic in organizing authentic experience stems from the fact that we have over time assembled a team mixed with young and energetic staff guided by well-experienced mature managers and directors who are Ugandans and passionate about what they do. Eco Adventure Safaris is highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor to help you learn on the experiences of the other travelers who have traveled with us. Contact us here about booking for you Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel