Ishasha Tree Climbing Activities 2024

The main attraction in Bwindi National Park is Mountain Gorilla tracking and Gorilla Habituation experience . it’s a maximum of 8 people allowed to track gorillas in a group per day. Mountain gorilla tracking permit  costs $800 each gorilla permit for a foreign none resident, $700 for a foreign resident, $500 for rest of Africa citizens and 300,000 uganda shillings for east African Citizens. You will be allowed to be face to face with gorillas for 1 hour full hour taking pictures

Duration of Tracking: 2 hours to 8 hours depending on movement of mountain gorillas from the main gate

 

Gorilla Habituation Experience is so popular for clients who want to be part of habituating mountain gorillas to accept human presents comfortably. Its costs $1500 for foreign none residents, $1000 for foreign residents,$1000 for rear of African citizens and 750,000 for East African Citizens

Duration of habituation experience: its takes about 2 hours to 10 hours on average and You will be allowed to be with mountain gorillas for 4 hours

 

3 Horned Chameleon Tracking

This is a three horned Jackson’s chameleon tracking experience. This type of chameleon lives at an altitude starting from 1600 metres above the sea level. The tracking is normally done near our lodge between 1800 meters above the sea level to 2022 meters above the sea level where our lodge is located. This is a rare specie the chameleons and its  endangered and is found around the Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park a world heritage site sharing the same ecological setup with gorillas. It is unique from other chameleons due to the fact that it lives for 17 to 18 years on a free range, the female gives birth to live offsprings unlike other chameleons where a female has to have eggs and once they are mature it bursts for offsprings to be  born. Its not poisonous and friendly. They are on a free range so you get the opportunity to search your self though you will be with the guide and it is guaranteed that you see them because we have conserved many of them. The trial has a lot of nature scenic views and during the tracking you encounter different tree shrubs of which the guide furnishes you with the information on their uses in respect to traditional and current uses.

Duration: 1 to 2 hours round trip

Cost: $20 per person

 

Batwa/pygmie Forest Experience: –

You walk from the lodge to the Nyamugali impenetrable Forest overlooking Bwindi National park and this is where you will have a chance to interact with Central Africa’s most ancient ethnic Group that will welcome you in their traditional attire,dance and lead you to explore their previous life experience in the forest. The Batwa are the most fascinating of Ethnic groups that people can interact with: their wealth of knowledge about nature and their primitive hunter-gather ways will keep you captivated… while you wonder to yourself how people live like they are still somewhat in the Stone Age and are  yet so warm and friendly. The Batwa will guide you through their lifestyles by physically demonstrating on how they lived in the forest, building style and huts, defensive mechanisims and security against enamies and wild animals, honey extraction, cooking and any other routine procedures during the forest before they got integrated with the developing and abit civilized communities they currently live with now of the Bakiga tribes.

Duration of tour: 3.5 hours round trip

Cost is $ 30.00 per person

 

Batwa Hunting Experience

Batwa used to enjoy wild game meat from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but when it was azette in 1942 as a protected area and  as a national park in 1992 and it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO because of 3 great apes staying together in harmony.  With these developments in the forest Batwa were evicted from the forest including not allowing them to do hunting any more inside the park. They how ever have maintained their hunting skills which is normally demonstrated in a conserved virgin indigenous forest once part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park but now conserved by AFRICODE(African Community Based Integrated Development Initiative) A none governmental organization Advocating for rights and equity of marginalized Batwa communities around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.  During this batwa hunting Experience you are welcomed by a group of the Batwa community well dressed in their traditional attire,dancing traditional music,with a pygmie/mutwa guide who will furnish you will all the information about the batwa tribe since stone age up to current. You will get to Know different medicinal shrubs they used as there medicine,locally making fire,housing, and all other materials and house hold equipment and tools they used while still living in the forest.. 

During this activity in the trail you will undergo live hunting that will involve looking for an animal edible by human beings in the same forest, kill it using arrows and spears, slaughter it, roast the meat(local barbeque) and cook it while in the forest.  This will expose you to traditional foods like roasted Banana, sweet potatoes as well as mingled bread from maize or millet flour.

Duration of tour: 4 hours round trip

Cost: $50 per person

 

Batwa cultural experience

Batwa cultural experience trial, you get to walk into one of the preserved forest called Nyamugali Pocket Forest, one of the unique forests with different albertine endermic bird species, black and white Columbus monkeys, Duikers and other animals. Its called a pocket forest because its surrounded by community farmlands, tea plantation and the lodge. It is separated by Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by the Buffer zone with a tea plantation which prevents animals in Bwindi from entering in it and prevents animals in it to go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park but its.  This trial gives you the exact experience of the batwa staying in the forest where you are guided by a Mutwa(pigmie) with an english translator guide, in this trial the pygmies will show you different medicinal herbs, Caves, original batwa huts, local fire making, behavior in the forest,wonderful views of the forest, different tree species, Bee keeping, Batwa Artfacts and utensils, nature walks in impenetrable virgin forest and many more.

You get the chance to see their ancient huts as well as their defensive mechanisms in the forest from wild animals, honey extraction skills and any other relevant information required from the Batwa.

Duration of tour: 3.5 hours round trip

Cost: $30 per person

 

Batwa community Homestead visit 

This trail takes you to current Batwa home next to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After evicting them from the forest due to reasins to conserve better the park, civil society organizations contributed for them the land and were facilitated with construction of semi permanent houses where they stay now. It show to what extent they have reached regarding to copying up and mixing with local communities.  The have started farming and grazing domestic animals like sheep, goats, pigs and chicken. They have also started putting on clothes as well as going to school things that were un heard of in the past. Once there you enjoy their traditional dances and well as getting more information on the experience in the Forest and now in the communities

Cost: $20 per person

 

Bakiga Community Village Tour: –

This tour takes you through a journey of sustainable life in remote Uganda, showing the lifestyle and culture of the Bakiga people. Interpreting the life by one of the trained community guides who leads the walks through the Nombe community visiting the sites of brewing masters ( for a taste of the local beer);traditional homesteads to see how the woman really do control everything in the family; a fascinating blacksmith to see the art of providing the locals with the tools that they use in their everyday lifestyle such as machetes, hoes and many other fascinating utensils; visiting the local school which gives you the opportunity to interact and see how these children are taught in a poverty-stricken area and their humble respect for education; possibly being fortunate enough to hear the rehearsals of the neighboring church choir; visiting the community projects that we have initiated with pig-farming, school vegetable gardens and chicken-laying; then taking a walk to some of the most scenic views in Africa providing exciting photo opportunities, not only of landscapes but also the warm smiles of the Bakiga. The walk ends with a stroll to see the weavers in action making baskets.

 

A walk through the Nombe Forest& Water falls: –

There is a beautiful forest near the lodge, which has been protected by the government as it hosts a number of endemic bird and plant species. A trained nature guide will take you on a walk, allowing you to admire the beauty of the forest and waterfalls at your own speed. On your way to this forest you pass through community farm lands and should you want to practice while on your way local farming skills with women then its fine. You can as well do swimming in the water fall as it is Bilhazia free if you go with your swimming cosume.

Duration: 3 hours round trip walking from the lodge

Cost is $ 20.00 per person

 Hiking

 

Top of Heaven hill hiking. From the lodge you hike on top of a hill normally called top of heaven because it is the highest point where scenery from here is very rewarding.  It is on a high altitude that on a clear weather you see the whole of volcano ranges(Mt.Muhabura,Mt Mgahinga.Mt Sabyinyo,Mt Nyiragongo,Mt.Karisimbi and Mt Nyamuragira),Kabale,Rwanda and Western rift Valley and Democratic republic of Congo.

You go through a number of communities and emerge your self into Bakiga culture

The cost is $20 per person

 

Hakitute Hill  Climbing.

This mountain takes a hiking through communities and while you are on top of this hill you enjoy the great scenery of the volcanoe ranges,Lake Mutanda,Lake Murehe,Kigezi hills  and the great western rift valley.

The cost is $20 per person

Volcano Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

From the lodge you can also hike the volcano Mountains of:

 

Mt. Muhabura with the highest peak at 4127 m and has crystal clear Crater Lake that is 36 m wide at its summit. It is 12 km round trip that takes 8 hours.  Once at the top hikers are rewarded on a clear day with views of the Virunga volcanoes,Lake Edward,Bwindi Impentrable Forest and the peaks of Rwenzoris.

 

Mt.Gahinga(3474 m) which is the smallest of the Virunga Volcanoes.  It is named after the local practice of tidying the volcanic debris that clusters local farmland into neat cairns or Gahinga. Luck climbers may spot golden monkeys on their way through the bamboo forest

 

Mt Sabyinyo(3669m) that delives its names from the old mans teeth referring to its jagged summit. It is 1300 m altitude gain. It takes 8 hours to 14 km round trip following a steep ridge up to the peak

The cost for a trip to climb any of the volcanoes above is $110 per person from 2 people while one person pays $140 that excludes park entrance fees, hiking  fees and it includes park guide fees,car,fuel,driver plus un limited drinking water.  This excludes accommodation and meals.

 

Golden Monkey tracking:

The endangered golden monkeys is endemic to Albertine rift, and Mgahinga Gorilla National park offers a rare chance to track these striking creatures, high in the dense bamboo forest on Gahinga trail.  There is an estimated 3000-4000 individuals in the virunga area of which 42-60 are habituated in Mgahinga Gorilla National park.

The cost is $110 person from two people and $140 for only on e person and this excludes park entrance fees,park guide fees tracking Golden monkeys but includes ,Car fuel, driver and unlimited mineral drinking water in the car and hiking.  It excludes accommodation and meals

 

Batwa cave trail in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This activity is done from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and guiding is done by the batwa them selves who were hunter-gatherers and fierce who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine.

The cost is $110 per person from two people for transport to Mgahinga Gorilla National park and back to the lodge. This excludes park fees accommodation and meals.

From the Lodge…

 

Let us entertain you: –

Bwindi Backpackers Lodge offers complementary sundowners over looking the sweeping dramatic view of the Bwindi Impentrable Forest while being entertained by one of our localperforming groups. The people have such passion and rhythm, with voices that will amaze you. Their friendly faces and warm hearts will be a memory of a life time.

Cost is free of charge (donations are appreciated)

 

Indulge in a private Romantic Dinner: –

This is set up for you in a variety of locations.

Enjoy some of our finest wines and a gourmet dinner while our trained butlers ensure you enjoy an evening to remember

Cost is free of charge for all on full board basis (pre-booking is appreciated) while those not on full board the cost will depend on what they want prepared for them.

 

Pack a picnic:

Allow us to pack a picnic for you and take you into the Nombe forest where you can relax, sip some French Champagne and having a private picnic next to Zebikire water fall or on top of a hill.

Cost is $ 25.00 per person (excludes champagne and any other alcoholic drinks)                  

 

Birding Tour:

Be lead by some of the best birding guides south-western Uganda has to offer. Whether walking and viewing, or sitting in a hide and watching from a distance is your thing, we will be able to provide a birding experience which will be sure to impress any birder.  If you are a beginner, our guides have the passion and knowledge to open this whole new world up to you.

Cost is $ 60.00 per person

 

Go on a photographic journey:

Allow our trained guide to take you into the community and show you some of the most beautiful landscapes and people to photograph in order to add to your collection. This is truly a fun & interactive way to spend a few hours capturing the spirit of Africa and the Bakiga People.

Cost $ 25.00 per person

 

Walking photographic safaris:

A. Walking safari from Nkuringo to Buhoma or from Buhoma to Nkuringo through Bwindi Impenetrable National park with our knowledgeable guides and porters. Cost is $40 per person that excludes park entrance and escort fees

B. Walking safari from Bwindi to Kisoro via Lake Mutanda.

Walk from the lodge to Kisoro via communities with fantastic sceneries and by dug out canoe through Lake Mutanda. The cost is $60 per person for 1 person& $50 from 2 people that includes the guide, porter, packed lunch, canoe, laker and drinking water. It excludes accommodation.

 

Canoe trekking on Lake Mutanda.

Lake Mutanda is a volcanic lake that is Bilharzia free, with no hazards like crocodiles and it is a fresh water lake with the better views of the volcanoes ranges of Mt Muhabura, Mgahinga&Sabyinyo.

The cost is $60 per person from 2 people and it includes transport from the lodge to lake Mutanda and back to the lodge or Kisoro, canoe trekking for  3 to 5 hrs,laker,guide and packed lunch

 

Coffee Tours.

Our local community guide will guide you through a community nature walk and local coffee  garden where you observe and practice harvesting coffee, drying skills, roasting coffee, boil coffee and drink all you need. Coffee from Garden to cup. 

Duration: 4 hours walking return journey and only 1.5 hours if we use car

$40 per person

 

Volunteering in the community projects :

30% of the profits from Bwindi Backpackers Lodge contributes towards funding of the community projects under AFRICODE (African Community based Development Initiative) a none governmental organizations that works towards changing the lives of people and landscapes around Bwindi National Park through Income generating activities. The lodge also provides volunteer opportunities in the fields of conservation, Health, Education, Culture and Entertainment to empower local communities at minimal costs. Contact us for program details and costs at info@bwindibackpackerslodge.net 

 

Kabaya Cave&Rock trail

This is a very attractive trail that allows you also move through the community to visit one of beautiful cave among other beautiful sceneries of Bwindi Impenetrable national National Park.

Duration: 3 to 4 hours

$20 per person

 

Buffer Zone walk and Tea Harvesting with locals

We have got the best Tea in Uganda and planted along the boundary with the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national Park.You can enjoy the walk to the tea plantation and learn the skills of harvesting tea with locals and processing it to tea for drinking it at our lodge.

Duration : 2.5 hrs to 4 hours

$25 per person

                                                            

1. Bwindi Backpackers lodge through our sister tour company SilverbackGorilla safaris &Resort Ltd is a recognized tour and travel company registered by Uganda Tourism Board and Lincence number…. ….. By the fact that we help clients with little money travel and also help those with more money to travel  longer, We pick our clients from nearest towns (Kisoro,Kabale,Kigali,Kampala,Kasese,Mbarara to our lodge who are on budget start trips from our lodge at low cost budget of car hire for solo travelers, honey moon, group travelers

A) Gorilla tracking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park,Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park In Rwanda

B) Chimpanzee Tracking Permits in Uganda (Kibale national Park,Kalinzu forest reserve, Kyambura George in Queen Elizabeth National park, Bugoma Forest National Park

2. Budget tours to Ugandan national parks.

We own several 4×4 cars suitable for game drives in savannah parks of Uganda ,Rwanda,Congo,Kenya and Tanzania both on self drive or with driver guide basis some of our budget tour packages are as follows:

-4 days 3 nights gorilla express: Picked from Kabale or Kisoro to our lodge on second day track gorillas and return to our lodge on third day travel to Lake Mutanda/lake Bunyonyi, enjoy dug out canoe trekking, visit punishment Islands, enjoy the hike for best views of the lake,overnight at the lake. If went to lake Mutanda on 4th day get dropped to the bus station in Kabale or Kisoro. Only $1,160 if 1 person, $1,120 per person for 2 persons,$1,110 per person for 3 persons, $1100 per person for 4 persons, $1090 per person for 5 persons and $1080 per person for 6 persond and above. All above include gorilla tracking permit,all transport in 4×4 with knowledgeable driver,fuel,3 nights accommodation with all meals full board,Hiking or nature walks in Bwindi,Lake Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi,Visit to purnishment Islands,Chamellion tracking in bwindi,Dug out canoe trekking, cultural entertainments in Bwindi and Lake Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi

Queen Elizabeth express: 2 days queen Elizabeth national park including ishasha tree climbing lions, Ishasha tree climbing lions kazinga channel boat ride ,2 game drives, kasenyi plains,crater fields and equator, chimpanzee tracking all for only $500 per person for 2 pax,$450 per person for 3 pax, $420 pp for 4pax

Any tour you want we can customize it up to your budget and time on request