Mbarara day trips and tours

Mbarara day trips and tours, start the safari from Mbarara to visit Bwindi or Lake Mburo National Park? Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi from Mbarara, Yes this is very possible and you will need a minimum of 3 days for this visit. Mbarara is 4-5 hour drive (218.5 km) via Kabale – Mbarara Road to Bwindi impenetrable National park. Mbarara town is the largest city in the sub-region, are located approximately 290 kilometers by road, southwest of Kampala. Mbarara City is a city in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mbarara District and the site of the district headquarters.

Bwindi forest is one of the oldest forests in Africa and was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994. Bwindi Impenetrable national park has more than 400 species of plant life, sheltering up to 120 mammals among which are the primates including the famous Gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, forest elephants and antelopes among others. Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is one of the key highlights of this Park. There are gorilla permits available per day for gorilla trekking that allows you to see the gorillas for one hour and Four. Uganda wildlife Authority is in charge for the protection and conservation of gorillas in permits, all tourism activities in Bwindi impenetrable National Park

What activities to do on Mbarara day trips and tours

Gorilla trekking in in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking is the main activity considered to do in any of the four regions of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. Gorilla tracking refers to moving in the forest to see/view a given habituated mountain gorilla family. Gorilla trackers/advanced team/rangers use many signs and methods to trace these gorillas before gorilla trekking takes place, the trackers wakeup very early every morning and go to the forest in search for these mountain gorillas. They use natural means to track them like clapping, making wild sounds. Once they find them, then they will communicate to the park headquarters and it’s then the guides after briefing the visitors on dos and don’ts, they will start to walk and trek in the forest as they are directed by the trackers. This gives you 99% chances of seeing the gorillas in their natural environment in Bwindi. The gorilla trekking permits costs USD700 per person for Non- Foreign Residents, USD600 for Foreign Residents and Uganda Shillings 250,000 per person for East African Citizen and allows you one hour of watching the gorillas once you find them

Uganda has half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas in the world, it is such a life time experience to watch the endangered and rare mountain gorillas which have 95% DNA as human beings in Bwindi. The Mountain Gorillas in Uganda can be found in the hilly tropical forests in south western Uganda and you will be able to view the gorillas in their natural environment.

1 Day Safari in Lake Mburo National Park from Mbarara

Mbarara day trips and tours. Lake Mburo National Park, this park gives you an opportunity to enjoy wildlife up close, while in Lake Mburo National park you can do various activities and see various attractions including game drives, walking safaris, nature walk, and horseback riding among others. Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda; it is a home to an impressive diversity of wildlife with 69 mammal species and 332 bird species. Lake Mburo National Park is the only park in Uganda that contains impalas and the only one in western Uganda where you can see the Zebras, Giraffes and Elands. Various activities and attractions in Lake Mburo National Park can be explored while on our various safari trips.

Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi

Gorilla Habituation experience is also one of the most interesting things done in Rushaga region of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.  The experiences allows you to spend four hours with mountain gorillas still undergoing 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.

Trek to the top of the World

This is also one of the interesting hikes you can do in Nkuringo, it is short walk from Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. You stroll through Nkuringo village and take some small foot paths to the top of the world. Beautiful views overlooking the surrounding mountains, valleys and ridges. The hike is about 2-3 hours.

Gorilla Buffer Zone Walk

A buffer zone is a transition zone between Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the cultivated areas where the people live. Nowadays a lot of tea is grown in the buffer. You will be able to see various tea plantations and other crops grown by the locals.

Batwa cultural experience

The Batwa experience is also an interesting activity to do in any of the regions in Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The Buniga Forest Trail in south of Bwindi showcases the life of the Batwa native pygmies their historical nomadic cultures when they occupied the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest until 1991 when the forest was gazette as a national park. The tribe was forced out of the park and since then have been struggling to cope with modern life outside the jungle. The Buniga forest trail is a USAID initiative put together to help the Batwa community earn a living from tourism around the UNESCO world heritage site. This walk is truly an experience, not challenging at all, but rather informative and exciting.

Ivy River forest walk from Nkuringo to Buhoma

This Ivy River route ascends and descends gently through beautiful areas of the rain forest with several viewpoints from the marram road to Nkuringo overlooking lush mist shrouded valleys. The trail is also an important footpath for local people travelling to and from Nkuringo particularly on market days to Nteko village on the southern boundary of the park. Monkeys, duikers, bush pigs and some of Bwindi’s world renowned bird and butterfly species can be sighted.

Visiting the Suma Waterfalls

The waterfall is found in a village called Suma the waterfall is surrounded by different species of trees that are home to plenty of endemic bird species, for example, Northern Double Collared Sun Bird, the Violet Backed Starling and the Great Blue Eared Starling. This activity can be done any time but the best time is in the morning hours.

Birding experience

Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park is a 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.

Where to stay in Bwindi impenetrable National Park?

Since Bwindi impenetrable National Park has four sectors for gorilla trekking namely; 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 us Mbarara day trips and tours

Eco Adventure Safari is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Eco Adventure Safaris is run and owned by Ugandans, we specialize in life changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) and are registered by UTB (Uganda Tourism Board). We have a good and long working relationship with UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla safari. Contact us here for booking Mbarara day trips and tours