Is it safe to visit Bwindi? Often, most visitors with plans to travel for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are inquisitive about their safety. Well, when planning any trip, first, its safety to visitors is essential. No one chooses a destination with insecurity issues and luckily, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda is one of a few safest parks in Africa any enthusiastic nature traveler should consider a must-visit for any safari holiday.
As a reliable tour operator, we take you to places safe to stay while you enjoy your vacation. Bwindi is a preferred destination to most travelers on African safari because it is safe and secure. Not only is security tightened in Bwindi NP alone, but across Uganda, a good reason to visit for you to trek mountain gorillas.
To ensure maximum safety and security of all clients, security teams work together. At the safari lodges, there is 24/7 security, and in any security threat, they work together with military, tourism police and park rangers. What is interesting is that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one location where tourists and mountain gorillas plus other wildlife can interact safely and securely.
Visitors on gorilla safari or any vacation have safety measures to observe to ensure they stay safe while in Bwindi NP. This applies to whether you are visiting for mountain gorilla trekking, hiking, birding, gorilla habituation or Batwa cultural experience.
Cases of poaching
Poaching remains as one of the main challenges affecting wildlife conservation and tourism not only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but also other parks across the world. It is as a result of poaching practices that led to the loss of Rafiki silverback gorilla of Nkuringo gorilla family in Nkuringo sector in Bwindi. Since the occurrence of this incident, gorilla safaris have continued with the park ranger team ever on ground to ensure maximum safety of not only the guests but also the gorillas.
How safe is gorilla trekking in Bwindi NP Uganda
Gorilla trekking is one of the very few most exciting and organized experiences. From the very start till the end, tourists are guaranteed of ultimate safety while interacting with mountain gorillas in the wild. Before you set foot into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to look for a family of mountain gorillas, the tourism official takes you through the safety measures to be observed.
The safety measures are intended to ensure safety of guests and gorillas in their natural habitat. They include observing a distance of 8m away from gorillas, visiting already habituated gorilla family, the park ranger guide assigned to lead guests, no making loud voices, wash your hands, and trekkers should be above 15 years. No one is allowed to trek gorillas when sick or ill, etc.
How safe are gorilla safari lodges to stay?
In the process of planning for your trip, we book safe and secure accommodation facility that guarantees you a safe stay while in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Regardless of the region, there are comfortable lodges to choose for your overnight stay in Bwindi N. Park. They include Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, 4 Gorillas Lodge, and others –these exist in Rushaga sector.
The nearby lodges in Nkuringo sector include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mutanda Resort and more. Buhoma sector –Bwindi Lode, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, and Buhoma Community Rest Camp while in Ruhija region, stay at Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Tented Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge and others.
When to visit the park for gorilla trekking?
There is no exact time when you should visit Bwindi National Park to see mountain gorillas. The park has its doors open to all guests at all times but the most preferred period is during the dry season. In every year, the park records 2 phases of dry spell –long and short dry months. The short dry months occur starting December, January, to February while the longer dry season is experienced from June to September.
How fit should you be?
Once you have made up your mind about trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park, first, be aware of your fitness levels. It is not the normal guided nature walks in the gentle landscapes, but conquering high elevations of 3000 to 4300m. On a normal day trek, expect to take at least 2-6 hours but with a guarantee of one hour for up close and personal with a family of endangered mountain gorillas.
What are the chances to see gorillas in Bwindi?
Trekking to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi or any other place such as Volcanoes National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is entirely unpredictable. It is a search in the jungles and creatures roam from one point to the other. But there is 99% chance for you to locate a family of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Getting there
Getting to Bwindi National Park is easier by road and air. By road, you will drive for 8-9 hours starting from Kampala and 4-5 hours from Kigali city to any of the 4 trailheads –Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma and Ruhija regions. By air, set off in a scheduled or chartered aircraft up to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip and you connect up to your accommodation.