1 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari
This 1 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari is an ideal package for tourists with limited time who wish to achieve their dream of encountering the Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With this package, you will need to spare just one day within your busy week schedules for the famous trek within the jungles to meet one of the 20 habituated gorilla groups across the four sectors of the Park-Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.
This 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari starts from Uganda, especially for tourists staying within the south-western districts of Kibale and Kisoro near the border of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Bsituated in the south-west of Uganda and covers an area of 331 square kilometers. This jungle Park is a haven to over 120 species of mammals, over 350 bird species, more than 250 butterfly species and several reptile species of great importance. The beauty of Bwindi will make you wish to visit again for a longer safari to have a deeper and intimate experience of its magnificence.
Highlights of the 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
- Lunch.
- Bottled water.
- Customized 4WD Vehicle with fuel.
- A magical encounter with one of the habituated gorilla families.
Detailed itinerary of the 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari
On this day, you will be expected to walk up early enough to have your breakfast and be picked from the hotel. The journey begins at 5:00am so that you are able to be at the briefing point at 7:00am and begin the trek at 8:00am.
Briefing is done by the Park rangers and is followed by allocation to the gorilla family with a maximum of 8 persons to visit it per day. After this briefing, hire a porter to carry your backpack (optional) with your walking stick then start the trek that will last 1-4 hours.
After several hours of trekking, you will be notified by the Park rangers when you are almost approaching the Gorilla family and after one hour of interacting with them as well as taking photos, you will enjoy your packed lunch within the jungles.
Return to the starting point to receive your gorilla trekking certificate and proceed to your place of residence in Kisoro or Kabale Towns. That marks the end of your 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari.
This 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari package includes;
- Gorilla permit
- Lunch.
- Transport by a customized 4WD Vehicle plus fuel.
- Bottled water.
- Relevant Government taxes.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
- Service of a driver guide and his allowances.
This 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari package excludes;
- Accommodation in Kisoro or Kibale Towns.
- Personal expenses like cigarettes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, souvenirs and gratuities.
- Ugandan visa.
- Optional activities not included on your itinerary.
What to pack and wear on your 1 day Bwindi Gorilla safari
- Waterproof safari pants.
- Strong waterproof hiking boots.
- Packed lunch.
- Rain jacket.
- Long sleeved shirts.
- Gardening gloves.
- Walking sticks (acquired from at the briefing point).
- Hat.
- Sunglasses.
- Non-flash camera.
- Pair of binoculars.
Dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking
- Maintain a distance of 7 meters when seeing the Mountain gorillas.
- Avoid visiting the mountain gorillas when you have cold or other contagious diseases.
- Only 8 persons can visit a habituated gorilla family per day.
- Avoid drinking, eating or smoking while in the presence of mountain gorillas.
- Tourists are allowed to spend only one hour per visit per day.
- Avoid making noise while trekking or when in the presence of mountain gorillas.
- Do not litter the Park.
- Make sure to cover your mouth and face away from the mountain gorillas when coughing or sneezing.
Best time for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is done all year round but most tourists prefer doing it in the dry months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December because vegetation is slightly sparse, forest paths less slippery and muddy thus making trekking less challenging. This is also the peak season for gorilla trekking, hence making the demand for permits higher.
The wet months of March, April, October and November are usually avoided because trails are muddy and slippery in addition to vegetation being thicker hence making trekking more challenging. However, these months also fall within the low season and trekking lasts shorter time.