Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorillazzzzz!

If you want to see mountain gorillas I believe this is the best park to go and see them. I went on Sunday 7th September 2014 to one of the entrance points (sorry I forgot the exact location of entrance) of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP. The group was small, arount 5-7 tourists. Before the track the guide/ranger gave us tourist/trackers a good introduction on what to expect and the do's and don'ts. Thereafter the guides were informed by the rangers where our gorilla family was found. Because they are walking, foraging and eating, they are not fixed in one spot. Then the tracking began. I am not a sporty and I was a bit scared now and then climbing up and down the slopes of the mountain, but they all provided us with a stick and you could choose a porter to carry your daypack and to assist you. I have to admit that I was holding the (female?!) porter's hand for almost the whole trip, but they all really helped out: the guides, the porters and the rangers. It was a very nice experience, they were all very professional and we managed to find the gorillas after around 1-1,5 hours hike. We saw them eating tree bark and sitting together. They (the gorillas) saw us, but for the main part they simply ignored us and allowed us to be in there habitat. We also saw them swing in a tree and sit far above us. After we had spend 1 hour with the gorillas we hiked back through the forest. The silverback said his goodbyes to us with a big fart :-). After around 2 hours hiking we came at a parking lot where our drivers were waiting for us with the cars. It was a well organized and wonderful experience and we were all rewarded with a certificate :-). We were lucky with the weather, because during the whole track there was no rain. Nice experience!

Unforgettable opportunity to see mountain gorillas

On May 29th, 2008, I visited Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. By that time I had been in Uganda for three weeks, spending most of my time around Kabale and lake Bunyonyi - a lake suitable named after a 'place of many little birds'. Suitable, because the most colorful and cheeky little birds I've ever seen gladly helped me finish my fruit-breakfast in the morning, when I stayed at the lake. But I could not withstand the temptation to visit Bwindi - I wanted to see the gorillas with my own eyes! Even though the entrance price to the park was steep at the time, $500,- I decided that my chances of seeing these wonderful animals might be very slim if didn't take this opportunity. What are the odds of me going to Uganda again, when there is an entire world to explore? So why not see everything I want to see, while I can?
While in Kabale, I had made a few friends, and one of them helped me get a permit. If you want to avoid tour operators, getting a permit can be difficult if you're on a schedule. Only a few people a day are allowed to track the gorillas, so it could be a couple of days before you can get one. Since I was in Uganda for a month, I had that luxury, but if you're visiting for a short period of time or if you have planned your entire trip, better be safe than sorry and use a tour operator. In my case, my friend offered to drive me there on his cousin's motorcycle if I paid for the fuel - which is what we did. That in itself was an adventure, as paved roads are few and far between. We left late, and after it had started to rain, we found the roads be very muddy. We actually fell once and had to push the bike up a hill a couple of times, but I was so excited, it never felt dangerous. It took us 6 hours and we arrived after dark. But we were there! We found a place to stay and sleep and had a late dinner - goat meat was all that was available, but it tasted great - even for a vegetarian ;) The next morning I went to the UWA meeting place and heard some stories about what it was like. The gorillas move around a lot, so trackers are sent out to find them, before the tracking groups are sent on their way. The day before, the gorillas had stayed close to the camp area, and the group had found the gorillas within the hour. You're allowed to stay a maximum of one hour with the group, so as not to upset them, meaning this group had come back early. No such 'luck' for me, I am happy to say. We got word where the gorillas were, and our group was taken by car to the edge of the forest, where the trackers met us. The gorillas had moved on, so the tracking became a long, long hike - our entire trip, start to finish, took 7 hours, although that includes the drive and an hour with the gorillas. Yes, we did find them, after several hours following gorilla droppings, navigating narrow paths and steep climbs. Not everyone in our group was prepared for this, unfortunately. An elderly man had come with his daughters to 'see the waterfalls', but since that excursion was full, they had opted for the gorilla tracking. On sneakers. Not a great idea, especially since the man himself was not really fit enough for the climbs - the guides had to help him up and down every hill, sometimes one person pushing, the other pulling. To his credit - he never complained once, unlike his daughters, who were ready to go back after an hour or so, and eventually even demanded to be taken back - which was not an option. The lesson here: come prepared. Dress for the occasion, and do not try this if you are not up for a (very) long hike & climb on slippery forest trails and hills. This is not an exaggeration - holding on to tall grass to not slide down a hill was part of the journey. And on this day, the gorilla's had quickly moved out of the forest, so we did not go very deep into it, (unfortunately). But do not let this scare you off, either: that hill was the last one between us and the gorilla's, and we could see them from afar. We had come out of the forest, as the gorillas had moved to the banana plantation to feast on the leaves of the banana trees, after climbing down that hill, crossing a stream, we went up the next hill to the group of gorilla's (the H-group). We were told be as quiet as possible, no shouting, no wild gesturing or anything of the kind, and of course, we paid attention. We walked up a trail that brough us about 30 meters or so above the group, a great vantage point for quiet observation. Or so we thought. Part of the group of gorillas was actually a bit further up the hill than we were, putting us basically in the middle. We heard some huffing and grunting from behind the bushes, and after moving about a bit (carefully) I spotted one gorilla lying on his belly, staring at us. He seemed content enough to stay there though. Unlike the gorilla that suddenly broke out of the bushes and make a mock charge at our group, me being nearest. It was a female, with a baby on her back, which was no doubt the reason for her anger. Of course I instinctively backed away a couple of paces, even though she only took a step or two in my direction, I still think she was close enough to touch had I stayed where I was. She quickly moved down the hill to the rest of the group, and after calming down, we settled in for our hour of watching. The silverback, the leader of the group, was down there, climbing a tree to rip off leaves, then climbing down again with his massive, massive body to sit down and eat. A couple of meters before him, two very young gorilla's played on a log of wood, climbing, falling down, having fun, and the baby gorilla on the mother's back that had just passed us, was groping at leaves as his mom moved about. I just sat there, taking pictures, and sometimes just quietly contemplating life in general and the beauty of what I saw around me.
Since we were already almost out of the forest, the trip back was fairly easy. The cars picked us up and brough us back, and it was all over...

Was it worth it? Don't even ask. I am writing this in 2014, 6 years after I went, and it is still one of the dearest memories I have. I was reminded of my trip because a friend is in Uganda right now, and I just wish I could join her. Writing down my experience is as close as I can get.. for now ;)

Gorillas and Birding with Avian Safaris at Bwindi

It was fantastic. Very well organised. A great balance between getting us the best views/interaction with the gorillas and the gorilla's welfare and status as wild animals.

Birding was a bit tough cos the birds tended to stay at the canopys but still not too bad. If someone could have controlled the rain it would be fantastic but as it is it wasn't too bad!

Bwindi has unique creatures the mountain gorillas with a wild range of bird species

Perfect place for Ecotourism

Bwindi National Park is well worth every hard hike and every hard earned dollar.

My trip to Bwindi to trek gorillas was absolutely incredible, it's a must-do for anyone traveling to Uganda. Uganda is one of only a few countries that offers this experience, it's a beautiful and lavish country to trek in.

The staff at Bwindi is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The trek to find the gorillas ranges in time and difficulty; a hike can take from 1-5 hours and can be strenuous depending where the gorillas are located that day. I suggest wearing your best hiking boots and brining a lot of water.

The family of gorillas in Bwindi are not threatening at all, the staff have been working with the families for years and they have become quite accustomed to people. One of my top life experiences.

Silverbacks, the Golden Experience

The 'must see' life experience is the 1 single hour you can spent in the wild with our so close related gorilla's.
As the venture is starting with a good hike to the last known where-abouts of the family, it takes you trough beautifull scenery.
However, as seen every where, Uganda hasn;t been forgotten by us humans in the major destruction of nature.
The clear cutting line of trees and farmland, shows so clearly the pressure of humans on the wildlife. Other scenery is infected with Eucalyptus trees, growing, but with no purpose at all, as it originate from Australia with a specific adapted wildlife.
Back in the nature, and in Bwindi, you will have a perfect picture about how almost whole africa must have looked like over a century ago. Marvelous! and so impressive. With some ''luck'' you will have to find the gorilla's here, deep in the jungle. with some less restraining hike, they are just across the farmland and showing their gentle nature close by. Gentle nature..... perhaps with my video you might think differently, but it is all show off! The guides visit the gorilla's every day, for over many years, before they may host the guest from all over the world.
The relative high price to pay for the 1 hour visit is worth every dime! and some is used to protect the species and land for future generations.
See, learn and respect the Best!

Hope you will have a wonderfull trip.
Fillip ter Haar
the Netherlands.

Ive seen it all but this was the best if you have a good guide.

From soup to nuts this place has something for everyone. If you dont care to see gorillas the birding is fantastic. All of the Bwindi park rangers are fine but if you can arrange to be with "Sunday" you will get 20+ years of Gorilla affection and understanding.

One of the unforgettable days of my life with the mountain gorilla!

We spent with a group 2 days at the park. The gorilla trakking was simply amazing. We thought, it is wuite expensive, but afterwords i think, it was worth every cent of it. To be so close to those animals was simply undescribable. One female even touched me. To see playing the younglings was phantastic. I really had to concentrate, that i turn of my camera and enjoy the moment. The feeling remains with me.

The park crew was very supportive, very friendly and very competent. They informed us very well what to do, what not to do. I also made a walk to the 3 waterfalls, which was also great. I always had the feeling, thta our guide knew what he was doing. He instucted us nicely but stricktly, how to conserve the territory for another generations. I felt, that the park is not simply an financial income source, but the people really love their home and the nature.

The village was nice, the people really nice. With the honey maker Agaba i still have connection. The childrens dance on the school was a bit too much show. I felt sorry for them instead of joy, that they dance and sing. I knew, the make it every day.

I was thinking about the masks, and gift stores. I wished more t-shirts, and less gorilla masks. I think the tourists really wanted the traditional stuff, not the fake modern touristic things to buy.

I wished for a bit longer running of the generator in the evening. The camp site was still really nice, confortable and welcoming.

Thank You for the great experience!

I you like mountains and Gorillas - it's a must see (but to expensive)