Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
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The 5 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari via Kigali adventure takes us to Bwindi ‘The Impenetrable Forest’, Uganda’s mountainous far southwestern tip where you will have the opportunity to track Mountain Gorillas. This action-filled excursion will provide you with the opportunity to get up close with endangered species. The climax of this safari is an encounter with a Silverback!
This Africa safari starts and ends in the beautiful Rwanda capital, Kigali where you get a chance to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial center before you cross the border into Uganda to trek Bwindi Impenetrable forests gentle giants, the mountain gorillas.
Arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to accommodation in Kigali overnight. However please note if your flight is with Qatar Airlines and arrives before 1 pm Kigali time, it's possible to proceed directly to Nkuringo.
After breakfast, at 9:00 am departure to Buniga Forest Trail Walk, an informative project run by USAID and the local Batwa community. The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only. They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, in perfect balance with the flora and fauna around. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. They now survive as best as they can and earn a living explaining their previous life in the forest and their rich heritage.
Continuation of the walk through the community to visit the traditional herbalist and the blacksmith.
This morning after a hearty breakfast, enjoy birding in Nombe Pocket Forest – it was part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is still quite impenetrable, however, it was cut off from it as people needed more land to live on and cultivate. It can be reached on foot (approx. 1 hour to go and 2 hours to come back) or by vehicle and the visit lasts approx. 2 hours, depending on the interest of guests.
The Batwa tribe was forced to leave their home in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO Heritage site for gorillas only. They had been living in the forest as nomadic hunter-gatherers for millennia, in perfect balance with the flora and fauna around. Moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. The drive takes about 5-7 hours.
After breakfast, at around 7:45 am, with packed lunch and drinking water you will be transferred to the National Park Head Quarters for the briefing on the dos and the don’ts while with the gorillas. You then continue to the forest for the start of the actual gorilla tracking.
The beauty of this rain forest is spectacular. The area offers a dramatic, steeply forested landscape and is incredibly dense, but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. The time is taken and the terrain varies as per the movements of these great primates. The thrill of spending time observing these gentle and endangered giants is an awesome, exciting experience to be long savored. Many find it to be a rare and moving opportunity. The tracking can take place at Nkuringo or at Rushaga (1 hr drive from Nkuringo), as per the gorilla permits obtained.
Upon return, relax at the lodge and, for those who like, at 5.00 pm either stroll through the community center or drive up to the “Top of the World” – the name given to the football field, high up in Nkuringo which offers amazing views over the peaks and forests around Nkuringo. A great way to stretch your legs after the gorilla tracking and to enjoy a sundowner.
Early in the morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Cyanika Border via Kisoro town and continue to Kigali for your departure flight.
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