Following on from Anita's post, there are 4 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi, 3 coordinated from Buhoma and one from the Southern sector of Bwindi. 8 people only to each group per day (1 Hour with gorillas)so a total of 24 permits per day from Buhoma. Other arrangements and costs as for Virunga.  You may need to track the gorillas for several hours before you reach them so if you are going to go you would need to be there for at least 2 nights preferably 3 or 4.

I confirm you that from QEP to Bwindi it takes about 3 hours drive...of course depending on road conditions!

The rate of Bwindi is now USD 500....and you should book at least 4 months in advance to be sure to get your ticket: there is a limit of number of people making tracking every day.

I was not in Bwindi, I saw Gorillas in Virunga (Rwanda) and every day there were only 8 groups of max 8 people for tracking.

The purpose is not to bother too much gorillas, who can be stressed if too many people are around!

 Edit: btw, tracking start at 8.30 in the morning...I think you have to be there the night before...otherwise you risk to arrive late when the group has already left and somebody has taken your place!

I could also be mistaken. My memory isn't always good... I think we left Bwindi in the morning and arrived in QENP (Mweya region) in the afternoon.

But gorilla trekking starts early in the morning (well, at least it did in 2002), so you can't do it without staying overnight in the area.

ahh really? i just read that its 2-3 hrs from QENP, but it said in the rainy season conditions are harsh.. what a shame

I think it's too far. It doesn't look far on the map but the roads are bad. As far as I remember it took us almost all day to drive from Bwindi to QENP.  

does anybody know if its possible to just take a day trip to bwindi? how expensive is it in USD... and how far is it from the Kyambura gorge?

Hi there.I was in Uganda in January. Included QEP and your source is correct re no rhinos etc. However, you can see Lion there and I believe in one area of QEP you may see Chimpanzee. Gorilla? Yes, Bwindi in the SouthWest is the only place. I had a terrific time surrounded by a group of 9 gorillas including the silver back and a baby. Uganda is great; people superb, countryside wonderful. It may not be No1 in Africa for the wildlife yet, but it still a great place. Hope you enjoy it.

I don't even remember if I saw them in QENP but I found a website that says no giraffes, zebras and rhinos.

If you go gorilla trekking in Bwindi, the chances to see gorillas are very good. When I was there in 2002 the success rate of finding them was almost 100%.

Not sure about chimps. I saw them in Kyambura Gorge and Kibale National Park but don't know what the chances are.

If you have the time, the chimp sanctuary on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria is worth visiting too. Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary