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Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Uganda · South-west · With a trusted partner guide

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Best time
June – September; December – February
From Nairobi
Flight to Entebbe, then a domestic flight or a long day by road
Size
~321 km²
Known for
Mountain gorillas
Overview

An hour with the gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects steep, ancient rainforest in Uganda’s far south-west, and a large share of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Several habituated gorilla families can be visited, each by one small group a day, led by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers.

Treks can take anything from an hour to most of a day, on steep and often muddy ground, and time with the gorillas themselves is limited to an hour. Permits are limited and sell out for the busiest months, so Dexter will want to secure them early. On the ground in Uganda, you are guided by one of his local partners.

Planning Bwindi
  • PlanningDexter, directly
  • GuidingLocal partner guide; UWA rangers on the trek
  • Ideal stay2–3 nights
  • Book aheadGorilla permits
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What you'll see

Wildlife to look for

Resident species you can expect most months, alongside anything seasonal.

Mountain gorilla
Habituated family groups
Black-and-white colobus
In the forest canopy
L'Hoest's monkey
A forest-dwelling monkey of the region
Forest birds
Including Albertine Rift endemics
When to go

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, season by season.

Jun – Sep

Long dry season

Drier trails and the most comfortable trekking; peak demand for permits.

Dec – Feb

Short dry season

Another good window for trekking.

Mar – May, Oct – Nov

The rains

Muddy, steep trails, but gorillas can be tracked year-round and permits are easier to secure.

Safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Built around this reserve.

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari 5 days
Uganda · With a trusted partner guide

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari

Fly into the misty hills of south-west Uganda for four nights in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and two gorilla treks, the closest and most moving wildlife encounter in Africa. Permits included.

From $5,200 · per person
Uganda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari 8 days
Uganda · With a trusted partner guide

Uganda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari

Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, then mountain gorillas in Bwindi. Uganda's great primate journey, with permits included.

From $7,400 · per person
Begin a conversation

Let's shape this around your dates.

Tell David when you're thinking of travelling and how many of you there are — he'll reply personally, usually within a day.