Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi holds roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas in a forest that has stood, unbroken, for more than 25,000 years. Trekking here is not a game drive. It is a walk, sometimes a steep one, through dense montane forest with a guide and a tracking team, ending in an hour that most travellers describe as the quietest of their lives.

Why visit

• Around half the world's mountain gorilla population
• Four trekking sectors, each with a different character and access
• Forest walks, birding and community experiences beyond the trek
• Rich Batwa cultural heritage in the surrounding area

Wildlife

Mountain gorillas, plus forest elephant, several monkey species, and more than 350 bird species including many Albertine Rift endemics.

Activities

• Gorilla trekking
• Gorilla habituation experience (Rushaga)
• Forest and waterfall walks
• Birding
• Community and craft visits

Halal dining here

Lodges around Bwindi are small and menus are set, so halal meals are arranged well in advance. Trekking days start early and can run long, so we arrange a packed halal lunch to carry.

Prayer

Fajr is prayed at the lodge before the briefing. The trek itself has no fixed schedule — it may last two hours or eight — so we discuss combining and making up prayers with you beforehand, and your guide will accommodate a stop where the terrain allows. SCHOLAR: guidance on prayer while trekking to be reviewed before publication.