Located in south-western Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – comprises 331 square kilometres of dense tropical forest and borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Home to the critically endangered mountain gorilla, Bwindi accounts for half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, and is also the only forest in Africa where both the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee are found. A truly memorable and special experience, observing the mountain gorilla in its natural habitat also serves to support its conservation.
The forest itself is one of the most biodiverse areas on earth, with over 120 species of mammals, approximately 350 species of birds, and a huge variety of insects and reptiles. The flora of the region features over 1 000 varieties of flowering plants, 104 species of fern and 163 tree species.
Generally, clients will need to spend a minimum of two nights in one of the lodges within Bwindi or on the border of the park to facilitate a gorilla safari, due to the logistics and timing of trekking safaris.
Gorilla trekking is a highly regulated activity, governed by strict rules of behaviour – which must be adhered to for the gorillas’ health and wellbeing. A permit must be secured, no flash photography is permitted, and if you get ill, you will have to sit it out (gorillas share 97% of human DNA and are susceptible to the same illnesses we are). For more clarity on these and other regulations, please see the full section on gorilla trekking under the ‘Experiences’ tab.
For every new booking made in 2023, Safari365 will contribute to the further education of one African student enrolled in Umuzi’s digital skills upliftment program.
