Guide to Self Drive Tours to Bwindi Forest

A self-drive tour to view the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is incredibly one best way that you can adventure this magical side of Uganda this coming season. Best described by Sir Winston Churchill as the pearl of Africa, Uganda boasts of breathtaking landscapes and varied tourist attractions with one of star attraction being mountain gorillas. To trek these magnificent creatures in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is that one unique protected area you shouldn’t miss to pay a visit. It lies suitably within southwestern Uganda just at a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This 331 square kilometers park features mainly the montane and lowland forests. Other wildlife species to see in Bwindi National Park include 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 27 frogs, 220 butterflies, 1000 flowering plant species, 163 tree species and 104 ferns among others.

When you think of a gorilla self-drive tour to Bwindi National Park, take note that treks begin early in the morning at the park headquarters and for this case in the 4 main trailheads of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. You track gorillas in a sector where your permit directs you to.

Where to trek gorillas in Bwindi National Park

Each of the 4 main sectors feature habituated families and in Buhoma you can track gorilla families like Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe. The accommodation options here include Silverback lodge, mahogany springs, Bwindi Volcano Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Engagi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma community rest camp, gorilla resort and among others. Nkuringo sector is comprised of habituated families like Nkuringo group and Christmas. This sector lies in the high elevation. This area is usually considered to offer challenging experiences. The available accommodation options include Nkuringo gorilla camp.

Ruhija comes with habituated groups like Bitukura, Kyaguliro and Oruzogo while Rushaga area features groups such as Busingye, Kahungye, Nshongi, Bweza and Mishaya. The available accommodation options in this sector include Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla safari camp, chameleon hill lodge, gorilla haven lodge and others.

While on the trail to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park, you have to follow the set rules and regulations which include among others; only an hour of magical encounter, only 8 visitors are allowed to track only 1 habituated family, a distance of 7 meters must be observed at all times away from gorillas, no flashlight cameras are allowed while taking photos of these large apes, no tracking gorillas when you are sick/feeling ill, keep your voices low and many more..

How to get to Bwindi national park

To get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you have 9-10 hours to drive from Kampala or Entebbe. On your self-drive tour, you can set off using a 4 wheel drive safari vehicle or by air. By road, there are many routes that take you up to this park and most of them converge around Butogota approximately 108 kilometers from Kabale Town to Buhoma sector through Ruhija about 3 hours’ drive. For those of you who are will travel from Kampala, you will drive up to Buhoma along a finest road linking up to Kabale-Ntungamo approximately 60 km.

In Mbarara Town or drive from Ntungamo and take the right side 45 km to Rukungiri and then Kambuga to Kanungu where you will finally come to Butogota-17 km to Buhoma sector. From Kampala to Bwindi National Park, it is about 550 kilometers’ drive. If you pass via Kasese/Fort Portal-there are two (2) routes-one which leads you through Katunguru, Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park that also rewards you with excellent views of the rare tree climbing lions and then you come to Kihihi approximately 3-5 hours’ drive. The other route takes you via Mbarara then to Ishaka about 33 km to Kagambe through Kabale road at a junction with Ntungamo to Rukungiri route then you arrive to Buhoma area. By air, you can take a direct flight from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield and you land into Kisoro airstrip where you can connect by car.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi

A self-drive tour to Bwindi National Park to trek mountain gorillas can be done at any time of the year. On the other side, you need to take note of dry and wet season-the dry season starts from June to September and December to February and this is normally considered as the best for gorilla trekking. The wet season is equally ideal and starts from March to May then from October to November. The challenge with this season is that it is characterized by heavy rainfall and the ground remains slippery and muddy.

What to pack for a self-drive trip to see Bwindi gorillas

When you think of a gorilla self-drive trip to Bwindi National Park, you have to think of which items to pack. They include waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, rain jacket or poncho, long sleeved shirt/blouse/t-shirt or long trousers or long pants, energy giving snacks and bottled water, cameras and additional batteries, long socks, day pack, insect repellents, anti-malarial tablets, first aid kit, hat, sun glasses, pair of binoculars, walking stick-but this one you will find it at the park headquarters or lodge where you will spend a night in Bwindi and this can be got at the park headquarters/lodge, money belt, toiletries a mention but a few.