Visitor information

If you are using public transport there are several different options. From Kampala, a bus leaves every day except Monday from the bus park and goes directly to Butogota. From there you can easily walk the 17km to Buhoma gate, or take a private taxi hire if you want to save your energy for tracking.
If you’r already in Kabale the options include checking at the taxi park to see if there is a pick up going to Butogota. Otherwise look for pickups going to Kihihi, they will take you take you to Butogota eventually at an extra cost. The UWA information officer may be able to advise you about the costs and availability of transport.
If have to spend a night in Butogota, the Butogota Travellers Inn is simple, clean and comfortable. The Pineapple Lodge is another option.
Note: Leave ample time to get to Buhoma. If you are not at Buhoma park office by 8:30 am on the day of tracking, you loose the place.
At Buhoma there are several choices of accommodation, all facing a dramatic forested slope across the Munyaga River. For the budget traveler, the Community Campground is excellent. It has open campsites, “tea sheds” where you can pitch a tent on dry ground under a tratched roof, and “bandas” or round houses with four bunk-beds to a room. If you aren’t equipped to cook for yourself, there are at least two canteens nearby where you can eat, but you should order meals well in advance. The A&K luxury tented camp mainly accepts visitors with prior bookings. The African Pearl lodge has 15 rooms, and offers meals.
At Ruhija, if you want to stay a night you can use the Guest Houses as a base for a small fee. IT has beds but you should bring your own food.

Mgahinga- Access and Accommodation
From Kabale to Kisoro is an 80km drive on unpaved roads and takes about 2-3 hours. If you are using public means, buses and hire cars are available.
In Kisoro you should check in the park booking office before 5:00pm on the day before you plan to visit the park. Here you can double check that the gorilla group is in the park, confirm your booking, pay your fee and receive your permit. If you want to spend the night in Kisoro, try the Mubano Hotel, Sky blue Hotel, Kisoro Guest House, Virunga Volcanoes Guest House, or Traveller’s Rest Inn.
From Kisoro to the park gate at Ntebeko is 13km, which is about 3 hours’ walk or 1 hour’s drive. The road is often bad and four wheel drives is necessary. Cars for hire are usually available in Kisoro.
Gorilla tracking begins at 8:30am, and if you are not there your place will be given to some one else. Unless you can be sure of a early ride from Kisoro, you should sleep in Ntebeko.
At Ntebeko gate there is a community campground with campsites and 4-bed bandas, and a canteen providing meals. You can expect the climate to be cold, for Ntebeko is at 7700ft. To make up to it, you also have an incredible view! there is also a private campsite, “Gahinga rest camp” slightly further from the gate.
If you intend to climb Muhavura, you should sleep at Muhavura base camp- you can get further information from the kisoro office.

NOTE: Rules, procedures and facilities may change. Check in Kampala!
Be a culturally conscious camper!
In the village. Women should wear skirts or trousers that cover the knees. Men can wear shorts but should wear shirts.
Respect our privacy ask for permission before taking photographs.
Please avoid public display of intimacy.
If you sun bathe, please do it out of sight from local people.
Don’t wash your clothes or body in streams, for water is used for drinking.
Please keep the campsites clean and the community at whole.
Giving pens, gifts or money to kids teaches them to beg, so we prefer you to arrange donations through local leaders or teachers.
Please register when you arrive.
Please pay your bill the evening before you depart.
Please use the toilet facilities

Useful addresses
-Uganda Wildlife Authority Headquarters,
P.O. Box 3539, Kampala
Located at: Plot 3, Kintu Rd. Nakasero, Kampala.

-Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
P.O. Box 124, Kisoro
Tel. 0486300098

-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
P.O. Box 862, Kabale

-UWA Information Office, Kabale
P.O. Box 826, Kabale
Tel. 048624121

-Uganda Tourist Board
P.O. Box 7211
Located at: 1st floor,
IPS Building, Kimathi Ave, kampala
Tel. 041421196/Fax. 3428188
E-mail: utb@starcom.co.ug

-Association of Uganda Tour Operators
P.O. Box 11060 Kampala
Tel/fax 041320152
E-mail: mas10@calva.com

-MBIFCT
P.O. Box 1064 Kabale
Tel. 048624120/Fax 21122
-IGCP Uganda
P.O. Box 10950
Fax. 257945
e-mail:igcp@imul.com

What you can do to help the parks and gorillas

You have already helped support these parks by visiting them, paying entry and gorilla fees. But you can help protect these parks in perpetuity by supporting the Mgahinga and Bwindi forest Conservation trust (MBFICT), and the International Gorilla Programme(IGCP).

What does the trust do?
It works with 50 parishes close to the two parks to help mitigate their loss of access to the forest’s natural resources. MBIFCT runs awareness and education programmes, and co-finances a wide range of traditional rural development projects chosen by the communities themselves.

How money is spent?
MBIFCT allocates its funds as follows: 60% to community projects, 20% to ecological monitoring and research, 20% to improve park management. There is strong emphasis on proper use of funds, through supervision and evaluation of the success of projects.

What is the role of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme?
IGCP serves to insure the long term survival of mountain gorillas. It is the only programme working for the conservation of mountain gorillas and their forest habitats in the Domocratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. It is a joint initiative between the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna and Flora International and the World Wide fund for Nature. IGCP works in partnership with government agencies, including the protected area authorities in each country.

Gorilla Safari Main Page
Gorilla Tour Packages
What are Gorillas?
Gorilla Trekking Rules
Growing up as a Gorilla
Visitor Information
What to Bring
Gorilla Habituation
Gorilla Tracking Uganda
Ecology of the Gorilla