Short Gorilla Tours in Bwindi

Short gorilla tours in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable refer to gorilla excursions that are organised specifically for travellers with limited time and also intend to have a brief stay but with passion and love to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. These short gorilla tours normally last between 1 to 3 days, where 1 to 2 days will enable those visitors strictly on a very tight schedule, where by, you will get transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the next day you participate in gorilla trekking experience. However, for a more relaxed experience, the 3rd day will offer a more unforgettable experience that will enable you explore more about the unspoilt experiences within Bwindi such as hiking, birdwatching, nature walks and cultural encounters among others.

Short gorilla tours in Bwindi tend to focus on gorilla trekking as the primary activity that draws tourists from different parts of the world. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is atop destination popular for mountain gorilla trekking and home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Additionally, gorillas are believed to share a genetic material of 98% DNA with humans, hence arousing peoples’ interests to come and witness these unique gentle giants.

Short gorilla tours in Bwindi always begin from Entebbe International Airport and from here you can get transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at your booked Lodge by using road transport along Masaka- Mbarara- Kabale Highway. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to either Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip and after connect to the park to your booked lodge.

Short gorilla tours to Bwindi are categorised into two: These include short luxury gorillas’ safaris which are organised for travellers with fly in options for easier access to Bwindi and who prefer upscale accommodation. However, travellers can also access Bwindi  forest from Kigali City in Rwanda which is more cost effective due to the short distance covered compared to that from Rwanda.

Another category is mid-range or affordable short gorilla tours, where travellers transfer from Entebbe International Airport mainly on road to Bwindi and reside in mid-range or affordable accommodation with the aim of immersing themselves in gorilla trekking and other related activities such as bird watching, nature walks, hiking, cultural encounters among others.

Activities to do during your short gorilla tours to Bwindi

Gorilla trekking

This involves visitors to trek from 45 minutes to 7hours within the lush jungle looking for mountain gorillas. It begins with a briefing at the park headquarters where you will get precautions concerning the activity. You will be distributed in groups of not more than 8 people, and then get assigned to particular gorilla families. Each group will be led by an armed ranger guides who are well versed with the forest trails. Upon seeing these gorillas, you strictly have to maintain a 7-meter distance as per the rules and regulations.

More still, trekkers are allowed to spend an hour with these endangered mountain gorillas while studying their behaviours and social dynamics as they perform their day today activities such as playing, feeding, nursing, nesting, mating among others. Feel free to take as many photos and videos as you may wish to share such unforgettable memories. You will explore and come across several wildlife species such as other birds and mammals like forest elephants, duikers, monkeys such as blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many others.

Birdwatching

During your short gorilla tours to Bwindi forest, gorilla trekking can be combined with birdwatching, where experienced birding guides together with armed ranger guides helps you conduct the activity. These guides have a broader perspective and knowledge about Bwindi’s best birdwatching trails and several bird species. The park is a haven for birdlife and boasts more than 350 bird species, with 23 Albertine Rift endemics, making it one of the best birding destinations in Africa.

These bird species include the Regal Sunbird, Masked Apalis, Grauer’s Broadbill, Shelly’s Crimson wing, Ross’s Turaco, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black Kite, Yellow-throated Wagtail, Great Blue Turaco, Black Bee-eater, Olive Wood Pecker, African Pitta, Black-billed Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Bar-tailed Trogon, Mountain Oriole, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Rwenzori Nightjar, Handsome Spurfowl, among others.

Batwa Experience- Short Gorilla Tours in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking can also be combined with Batwa experience where visitors have the opportunity to interact with the Batwa people. These Batwa people are the earliest inhabitants of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, coexisting with untamed wildlife species within the jungle such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, forest hogs, antelopes, monkeys, hyrax, among others. After their eviction from the park in 1991, as away of conserving mountain gorillas from extinction, they resorted to live at the edges of the forest.

You will interact with the Batwa people and learn about their culture, lifestyle and history. You will also get entertained through their cultural performances through singing and cultural dances, demonstrating their hunting skills, medicinal healers, among others.

Hiking and Nature walks

Visitors have a chance to do several other activities such as hiking, nature walks, this means you can combine gorilla trekking with nature walks. During your nature walk experience within the forest, you may come across several park attractions such as chimpanzees, forest hogs, forest elephants, bush pigs, buffaloes, duikers and primates like L’hoest Monkeys, olive baboons, among others.

Best time to do short gorilla tours to Bwindi

Although travellers may go for short gorilla tours to Bwindi throughout the year, some months are more ideal than others. The dry season which begins from June to September and runs from October to November is the best time to visit Bwindi. These months receive little to no rainfall, making roads heading to the park accessible, with short vegetation that offer clear scenic views with dry trekking trails compared to the rainy season which makes most of the roads heading to the park muddy and slippery.