Flying to Kigali for Africa Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Travelling to Africa for a mountain gorilla trekking experience through Kigali, Rwanda.

The driving distance from Kigali to Bwindi National Park is approximately five to six hours through the countryside, featuring deep valleys and beautiful hilly terrain.

You get to see many local Rwandans going to their daily work, such as farming, and kids going to school, as well as roadside markets with fruits and vegetables.

We cross the border at Kyanika (also known as Cyanika) with views of the greater Virunga volcanoes, home to the famous mountain gorillas, a stretch of 8 volcanoes running through Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that forms the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in DRC. Some are dormant, while others are very active and alive, such as Nyiragongo, with the largest lava lake, and smoky Nyamuragira.

The Gorilla Trekking Experience Explained

Bwindi National Park is home to the largest population of Mountain Gorillas. According to previous gorilla census, more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas reside in this dense, impenetrable rainforest, characterized by steep slopes and mountainous valleys.

Every day, a team of ranger trackers follows the gorillas from where they nested the night before until they are found, monitoring their health, movements, and behaviors. The guide then brings you to encounter them later in the day, once the trackers have located them.

They find each other by walkie-talkies, GPS, and cell phone communicating to each other whereby the ranger guide leads you by following the fresh trailhead left by mountain gorillas that morning as they feed, once encountered, they allow you to spend a max of one hour watching them, taking photos and videos as you slowly enjoy viewing the gorillas.

Mount Gorilla Families and the Role of the Silverback

Mountain Gorillas live in families led by a dominant silverback, who decides the daily movements, feeding times, and resting times, and is responsible for protecting the family.

Gorilla families range from 5 individuals to as many as 30 individuals, comprising babies, subadults, mothers, and silverbacks. A family can have more than one silverback; however, there is only one dominant one, and every other one must be submissive to the dominant silverback.

Bwindi National Park Entry Points (Visitor Centres)

Bwindi National Park has four entry points, offering a variety of accommodations to choose from, ranging from campsites to budget lodges, mid-range options, and luxury accommodations, making it easier for travelers to customize their travel plans to suit their budget.

The entry points are Buhoma, accessed through Kanungu in the northern part of Bwindi National Park; Ruhija, accessed through Rubanda in the eastern part of Bwindi; Rushaga; and Nkuringo, accessed through Kisoro, with the most prominent habituated gorilla families.

Optionally, Bwindi can be accessed through domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport. Interested in booking your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda? Contact us at info@bambooecotours.com