Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Uganda (original) (raw)
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest1434 Tripadvisor reviews
**Unique emotion**A memorable day! We begin with a briefing in which the rules of behavior are explained, then groups of 8 people are formed and the family of gorillas to search for is assigned. The price is high, 700 dollars, but it is absolutely worth it. We must also consider that each group is accompanied by 2 armed rangers and a guide plus 3 other rangers who leave at dawn to look for the gorillas and then guide us via radio. The duration of the trek depends on the location of the assigned family. It took us about 2 and a half hours to reach them, we traveled through a thick and beautiful jungle, the ranger in front literally created a path with his machete. The route is challenging, but when we finally meet the gorillas the emotion erases the fatigue. When we get nearby we have to wear masks, then meter after meter the rangers make our way until we reach a distance of 5 or 6 meters. From now on we have exactly one hour to enjoy them. Gorillas are completely uninterested in our presence. We were lucky, the family was quite large, a majestic silverback, 5 females and 4 puppies of various ages. Time flew by watching the puppies play with each other and with their mothers while the silverback ate almost continuously. Truly memorable experience, absolutely worth trying!
**Highly recommended despite the price tag.**In the morning, after a welcome dance by locals (I hope), we received a clear briefing and were divided into groups of max. 9 people. Our trip took about 5 hours in total (we had to search and the gorillas were not immediately found by the trackers). Fortunately there was no rain, otherwise you would have a different story in terms of difficulty!!! Sturdy footwear is really recommended here. The permits are currently 700andwouldsoonbeincreasedto700 and would soon be increased to 700andwouldsoonbeincreasedto800!!! Money that goes directly to the government. Some would go to locals, guides, trackers and porters. I'm curious what percentage??? For people with poor physical condition, a "carrier" is really recommended. Energy gels are useful. Don't be guided too much by videos on You Tube of close encounters with gorillas that come and tinker with your ear as an introduction to people. Those encounters will certainly exist, but they are the exception rather than the rule! But all in all a great experience.
**bwindi impenetrable national park gorilla trekking**My expedition to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park transcended the ordinary, offering an unparalleled encounter with nature's grandeur. As I embarked on gorilla tracking, venturing deep into the heart of the dense forest, each step felt like a pilgrimage into the realm of the extraordinary. The sheer magnificence of witnessing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat left an indelible mark on my soul, a testament to the park's unrivaled conservation efforts. Every aspect of the journey, meticulously arranged by the experts in gorillatrackings.com epitomized excellence, from the knowledgeable guides to the seamless logistics. In the presence of these majestic creatures, time seemed to stand still, and amidst the ancient trees and mist-shrouded valleys, I found a profound sense of connection to the primal rhythms of the natural world.
**Gorillas in the mist**Seeing mountain gorillas had been on my bucket list forever and finally, and I was so glad, to fulfill my dream in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. To be honest, I kind of psyched myself out by reading too many descriptions about how strenuous the hike would be. Considering I was still suffering from some after effects from Covid, I eventually told my guide to ask to put me in a lower group…well, beware that low groups can be very low…we spotted ours after barely half an hour. But while my heart initially dropped, I ended up having the best experience! Our group was called Busingye - translating to „peace“ and we indeed had a very peaceful silverback who let us take pictures of all three babies. One of them climbed up on a branch, then back down to its mother’s back, letting itself fall back to chuckles from everyone. Another one was being nursed. The two babies ended up playing with each other…it was simply magical. The hour flew by, especially as the gorillas kept moving and we had to follow them. When it was time to pack up, though, we were granted a small encore as 2 gorillas came to our path and we passed directly underneath one/ by one…officially you need to keep a 7 meter’s distance at all time, but oh well - no-one told the gorillas and I don’t think there was a meter between me and the last one. Honestly, this might have been the best hour of my life! I do hope to regain all of my fitness and one day return for the 4 h habituation experience. As for now, I‘m grateful to the trackers, my guides and my porter Meron. - Take garden gloves!! You will be grabbing on to thorns and vines - Be honest about your fitness but don’t be scared…some of the gorillas are very close to the town - Hire a porter, even if you are fit! Providing employment opportunities to locals is the best way to help protect gorillas - Bring some cash to also tip the gorilla trekkers and buy some souvenirs - Wear enough insect repellent - the forest is crawling with bugs - Put the camera away for a bit…even if it’s hard…you will want to remember more than just staring through your lense - Just go! If you’re thinking about whether it’s worth it - it absolutely is!!
**Travel January 2024**Gorilla tracking, the walk to meet these animals is truly technical, between the slippery ground, the vines that cling to our shoes, the roots that trip us up, the mud in which we sink... it It was tough! My carrier truly accompanied me. Both for carrying my bag and for telling me where to put my feet. The rangers are angels, very vigilant and know this forest like no one else. Opinion from a Valais woman who regularly walks on the trails in her region.
**Gorilla Habituation Experience - Worth Every Cent**This was an amazing experience. It was very different from what I have read up. Trackers get sent out in the morning from 6am to follow the family and to Habituate them. They use pangas and machetes and make grunting noises to get the family used to them. We entered the Forest were the gorilla family where being tracked, and needed to try and get to them. The terrain is difficult to navigate, as you are following the path that the gorillas are going and they really move off any beaten track. And these guys are on the move the entire time. We spent 4 hours following the family and got to see how they naturally move around the forest, eating and playing. They are truly majestic. You need to be fit for this experience, otherwise you will miss out. Wear long sleeves, pants, closed shoes, and have a face mask available. There are so many bugs. Bug spray is also a must. This is the more expensive option for tracking in Uganda, but well worth the money. The guides and trackers are very experienced and really ensured that we were safe and that we enjoyed the experience.
**Unforgettable**An unforgettable experience that respects animals and the indigenous population, the gorillas are certainly accustomed to humans but maintain their initial behavior
 Kara-acel Experiences
2023-12-12
**Gorilla Experience**It was really fascinating witnessing Gorillas in their natural habitat. Great appreciation goes to kara-acel experiences for making this possible!
 curiousworldwanderer
2023-12-09
**To do once in your life!**The name of the forest itself (impenetrable) sounds like quite an adventure. It is the home of half of the mountain gorillas remaining on earth, and, as such, was a must for me. I was expecting a lot of mud, a long trek, and a lot of uphill and downhill walk to see the gorillas. On that day, the weather was good and dry and the family we had been invited to visit was only 10 min. away from the parking place. While such a short distance may kill some of the glamour of the impenetrable forest, we did see a family of 10 gorillas (silverback male, females, juveniles, and babies). This was the main objective. We were a group of 6 people and spent one hour with the family. The trackers did a good job to show us the best angles to see and take pictures of the various family members and to explain to the gorillas' lifestyle. I will never forget this experience.
**Amazing**After a splendid but challenging walk we arrived at a family of gorillas Magical moment Be careful the slopes are very steep, you need to be in good shape