Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — Gorilla Tours, Uganda
Bwindi National Park in Uganda is famous for its exceptional Gorilla Trekking Safaris. Covering an area of 331 square kilometres, the park is home to more than 459 mountain gorillas, which accounts for nearly half of the global population of these extraordinary animals. The breathtaking montane rainforests in this southwestern area create an ideal environment for the gorillas. For those eager to experience this unforgettable journey, a gorilla trekking permit is priced at $800, with daily availability restricted according to the families of gorillas that can be visited. Many travelers fly into Kigali and subsequently travel into Uganda for these extraordinary gorilla tours, benefiting from Kigali’s role as a significant flight hub and Uganda’s attractive wildlife offerings, especially in Bwindi.
Gorilla tours & Self-drive Safaris.
At Rent a Car Rwanda, we offer the necessary flexibility to incorporate Uganda safaris featuring gorilla encounters into your itinerary. For these adventures, we suggest renting a 4×4 vehicle, as the roads can be quite difficult, particularly during the rainy season, making a full SUV the ideal choice. You can reserve both a car and a gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Forest. We will arrange for your gorilla pass in Kampala, ensuring that you receive it when you collect your rental vehicle in Kigali.
About Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, which exceeds 460 individuals. This makes Bwindi forest the area with the largest population of these gorillas globally. Mountain gorillas are considered an endangered species, facing threats such as disease, habitat loss, and poaching. Conservation efforts, supported by tourism, aim to improve their numbers. Visitors can engage in daily gorilla trekking tours throughout the park’s four sectors, allowing them to witness these gentle giants in their natural, dense forest habitat.
What sets gorillas apart from other species?
Gorillas are the largest members of the great ape family. While they are capable of climbing trees, they predominantly remain on the ground. They form social groups known as ‘troops’, typically led by a dominant silverback male, and can consist of up to 30 individuals. Intelligence: Mountain gorillas are particularly noted for their remarkable intelligence. They can create tools from natural materials to assist them with various tasks. Additionally, they are able to learn sign language and exhibit its use in different situations, which is appealing to those who trek to see gorillas.
They display considerable intelligence, having been seen using sticks as tools and even acquiring basic human sign language while in captivity. Another indication of their intelligence is their communication skills; they have been documented producing 25 distinct sounds. The evolutionary and comparative aspects are complex, especially since both chimpanzees and gorillas have shown the ability to recognize familiar faces.
