On a Bus to Trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest – Not Recommended – Full of Delays – you could actually miss trekking the Gorillas.
Having been in the business of taking tourists to Bwindi for Gorilla trekking for over 5 years now, we surely understand that Gorilla trekking is not a cheap venture with permits costing upto US$750 in Rwanda or US$600 in Uganda.
Because of the initial gorilla permit hefty price, you definitely don’t want anything messing up you journey to see these great Apes – remember there are only 880 left in the whole World.
The Journey to Bwindi Forest takes upto 10 hours by road – if travelling in a private or hired car. What would it then take if on a bus to trek Gorillas in Bwindi Forest.
Because the journey is long, we usually schedule your gorilla trekking for the next morning when you have fully rested from the long drive.
Reasons we think you Should not be on a Bus to Trek Gorillas in Bwindi Forest.
The government of Uganda is working tirelessly to improve the public transport systems in the country by setting up good road network, improving the road conditions and encouraging investor to invest in transport.
Truth be told, you can get to round about anywhere in Uganda on public transport. However there just a few hiccups in the Uganda Public transport industry – these have surely caused us to Say NO to the idea of getting on a Bus to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest.
Time Keeping: On a Bus to Trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
Buses in Uganda that plea the remote areas of Uganda – (Bwindi is among the remote areas) usually don’t have a FIXED departure time and or an Exact ARRIVAL time – this makes it difficult for one to estimate when they will get to their destination – Bwindi.
The main reason these buses don’t have a set departure or arrival time is that they only leave the stations when they get Full – meaning it may take up to one or two hours before you depart Kampala (assuming your start point is Kampala). Another thing to remember is that these buses keep stopping from town to town picking and dropping Off passengers – this is time consuming unless you think otherwise.
Comfort on the Bus: On a Bus to Trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
Buses in Uganda typically carry round over 60+ persons – all in one bus – this makes for a high school road trip. Because these Buses only make one trip to the last destination, they try to maximize on the Space, squeezing up to three persons on a row seat originally built for two. Note, not all persons on the bus are travelling to bwindi, the will keep as you to make way for a person who sat after you and yet is jumping off before you – this process can be cumbersome.
The Bus seats are usually built with ordinary foam (not so comfortable ) with little leg room – making for a very uncomfortable – On a bus to trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Experience.
Over speeding: On a Bus to Trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
To try an cater for the Numerous stops (Town to town Stops) the buses are pron to over speeding in order to cater for the time lost picking up and dropping of passengers.
We both know that with over speeding comes the risk of accidents – remember Uganda has high road fatality rates (associated to over speeding) of upto 2,954 deaths – recorded in 2013.
General Knowledge or guiding practice:
Bus companies are up to getting you to your destination – no information about a thing will you get as you travel on a bus to trek mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest – i don’t Know if you would say that is value for time and money spent on a bus to trek mountain Gorillas in Bwindi.
Our recommendation: On a Bus to Trek Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
Having said all the above about Getting on a bus to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest, we recommend that for one to have a memorable time either exploring Uganda or even just trekking Gorillas, Set out your budget and directly contact a local tour operator like Realm Africa Safaris – an we will tailor make you the most affordable Uganda Safari that fits your budget whilst taking into consideration the comfort and safety in getting you around Uganda.
