The mountain gorillas
Families in the forest.
Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a thick mountain forest of 321 square kilometres in south-west Uganda, near the border of DR Congo, and it can be entered only on foot. It is the country's best-known place to see mountain gorillas in the wild, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name reflects how dense the forest is on the ground. It is among the richest forests in East Africa, with 120 species of mammals, 350 of birds, 310 of butterflies and more than 1,000 flowering plants, including 200 kinds of tree and 104 of fern. A large share of the world's remaining mountain gorillas live here, which is what draws visitors from everywhere. A trek starts in the morning with a briefing from the rangers, then you walk with your group up and down through trees and dense plants, for anything from an hour to several hours. When you reach a gorilla family, you spend a set time with it, watching the big silverback feed and the young climb. In the early morning mist rises over the hills. It is about 47 km from Kabale in a straight line, and the roads are slow, so give it a full day. Book permits months ahead, above all in the dry season. Wear walking shoes, long clothes and gloves, and carry water and food. Follow the rangers on distance, and do not go if you are ill.
Families in the forest.
Uphill through dense plants.
Over green hills.
Kanungu District, south-west Uganda
From an hour to several hours, depending on where the gorilla family is that day.
Yes, the park sets a minimum age, so ask about the current rule when you book.