The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Many of the expert guides have been involved in this process since the beginning and are able to explain the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant silverback. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few, as just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. Tracking through dense forests with steep slopes means that participants do need to be physically fit to enjoy the track. Once the gorillas are located, spend a maximum of one hour with them before returning back to camp. Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorillas.

A tracking permit must be bought in advance in person in Bwindi. We are happy to purchase your permit on your behalf, please contact us for more details.

Learn about and interact with the local Batwa People. This full-day activity involves a three-hour walk followed by about an hour spent with the Batwa. The walk back to camp is two hours. The visit includes music performance, visitation by the goddess, hunting and gathering demonstration, and an opportunity to see how they live. The Twa tribe who is also known as the Batwa are the oldest inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. They speak the same language as the Hutu and Tutsi groups of Rwanda. Like most of the tribes in Africa, they have moved from place to place and are now found in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the eastern portions of the DRC. Statistics show that by the year 2000 their numbers were approximately 80,000 people, making them a significant minority group in these countries. The first records of the Batwa were made by the Egyptians over 4,000 years ago. They described them as short-statured people living near the "Mountains of the Moon" extolling their abilities as dancers and storytellers.

Bwindi boasts over 350 bird species, including 24 that are endemic to these highlands straddling Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo - the so-called "Albertine Rift Endemics". For keen birders, we can arrange for a local expert to guide you on a fascinating 2-3 hour walk through the park.

Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular place to visit. In addition to the gorillas, Bwindi is also home to rare forest elephants, giant forest hogs, and eleven kinds of primates, such as red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colobus, baboons, and chimpanzees. You can also find forest duiker antelopes, bushbuck antelopes, and over 200 species of butterflies. We can offer a guided forest walk on the Munyaga waterfall trail. This trail starts from the Park office and ends at the magnificent Munyaga waterfall. The walk to and from the waterfall takes about three hours and is a good way to practice or cool down a day before or after the gorilla tracking.

While staying at Gorilla Forest Camp guests are able to venture out on game drives to Ishasha, located in the south of the well-known Queen Elizabeth National Park popular for its tree-climbing lions, savanna elephants, buffaloes, topi, hippos, various bird species, warthogs and the occasional leopard.

The Ishasha Sector is famous for its population of tree-climbing lions. The Lions are normally seen lazily lying within the branches of the huge fig trees staring down at the numerous Uganda Kobs grazing in the open Ishasha plains. This is usually a full-day outing where guests are able to stop for lunch at the hippo pool. Departure is at 6:30 in the morning.