Mountain Gorilla Trekking - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Experiences

Gorilla trekking 

community  |  Guided adventures

In the Heart of the Forest, In Touch with the People

At Silverback, the forest is not a boundary — it is an invitation.
Beyond your room, your deck, your plate — a world of living stories unfolds. Here, Bwindi’s mountain gorillas are the undisputed stars, but the forest’s people, birds, plants, and rhythms offer endless ways to experience more.

We invite you to deepen your journey, through guided experiences curated for Silverback.

Gorilla Trekking

Come face to face with the forest’s most iconic residents

For most Silverback guests, this is the moment that calls them here — and it is like nothing else on Earth.
Early morning light filters through the mist. You set out with expert trackers, moving through the primal green. A rustle. A snap. And then — eyes meet eyes.

Bwindi is home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Silverback is positioned at the forest edge, just minutes from the Buhoma trailhead. Your trekking experience is supported with guidance, preparation, and warm hospitality before and after your adventure.

BEFORE YOU GO
Silverback provides a pre-trek briefing and can arrange porter services, walking sticks, and packed lunches. See our
Gorilla Trekking Checklist below to help you prepare.

AFTER YOU TREK
Celebrate back on the Lodge’s viewing deck with a cold drink or freshly brewed Ugandan coffee.

Gorilla Trekking Checklist

Clothing & Footwear
  • Long-sleeved shirts and trousers
  • Waterproof jacket or poncho
  • Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
  • Optional gaiters
  • Hat or cap
  • Extra socks
Health & Safety
  • Waterproof backpack
  • Water bottle or hydration pack
  • Energy snacks
  • Binoculars
  • Camera with extra batteries
  • Walking stick (provided by UWA or bring your own)
Trekking Gear
  • Insect repellent

  • Sunscreen

  • First aid kit

  • Face mask (mandatory)

Travel Documents
  • Gorilla trekking permit (required)

  • Passport and identification

  • Cash (small denominations)

Guided Experiences

Batwa Cultural Encounter

MEET THE FOREST PEOPLE
The Batwa, known as the forest’s original inhabitants, once lived as hunter-gatherers in harmony with Bwindi’s rhythms. Today, many have transitioned to life outside the park, yet they continue to share their profound knowledge of the forest’s plants, wildlife, and traditions.
Our Batwa experience — guided by members of the Batwa community — offers respectful insight into their way of life, songs, dances, and survival skills. It is both a cultural exchange and a contribution, helping to support community preservation efforts.

Traditional Coffee-Making Experience

FROM BEAN TO BREW, THE UGANDAN WAY
Uganda produces some of the world’s finest Arabica coffee — and nowhere is that more true than the highlands around Bwindi. Join local coffee farmers on a hands-on journey: picking, drying, roasting, grinding, and brewing coffee the traditional way. The experience ends, of course, with a steaming cup of your own forest coffee.

It is a chance to engage directly with the land’s bounty — and take home more than a souvenir.

Community Trail Walk

STORIES UNDERFOOT AND ALL AROUND YOU
Just beyond Silverback, the Buhoma community invites you to walk its living paths. On this guided trail walk, you’ll visit craft cooperatives, traditional homesteads, herbal medicine gardens, schools, and everyday corners of village life.
Meet the people who call this edge-of-the-forest home. Your visit supports local livelihoods and deepens your understanding of the delicate balance between conservation and community.

Bird Watching in Bwindi

A BIRDER’S PARADISE ON YOUR DOORSTEP
Over 350 bird species inhabit Bwindi, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Whether you’re an avid birder or a curious beginner, the Silverback forest edge offers extraordinary opportunities.
Join one of our expert local guides for a morning or afternoon bird walk. Possible highlights include:
African Green Broadbill | Grauer’s Rush Warbler | Handsome Francolin | Black Bee-eater | Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher | Regal Sunbird

 

Travel your way

There’s no one way to arrive — only your own.

Whether you fly into the nearby Kihihi Airstrip, take the scenic route through Uganda’s lush highlands, or arrive by helicopter directly at the lodge, our team will help you plan every step. From transfers to special requests, we make sure the journey flows as quietly as the forest that waits.

Silverback

Travel your way

There’s no one way to arrive — only your own. Whether you fly into the nearby Kihihi Airstrip or take the scenic route through Uganda’s lush highlands, our team will help you plan every step. From transfers to special requests, we make sure the journey flows as quietly as the forest that waits.

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