Gorilla trekking in Uganda is undoubtedly a unique outdoor primate adventure. What is unusual about gorilla trekking in Uganda is that visitors have a lifetime opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Uganda is home to nearly half of the 1,063 mountain gorillas on Earth today. Traveling long distances to see mountain gorillas in the wild can be mesmerizing.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a rare experience that allows visitors to actively walk or trek through the natural rainforest in search of a family of mountain gorillas. These apes are not found in zoos, only in natural rainforests. In Uganda, a variety of options ensure you’ll eventually encounter a group of mountain gorillas you’ve become accustomed to in the wild.
Where to Go Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is all about finding endangered mountain gorillas, observing their daily behavior and taking photos. Mountain gorillas can be captured in two national parks; Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga National Park.
Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks are the two main destinations for gorilla trekking in Uganda, providing sanctuary to more than half of the world’s 1,063 remaining mountain gorillas. Overall, there are five (5) gorilla trekking areas in Uganda – 4 in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi gorilla trekking includes exploring habitual gorilla groups on major routes such as Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Buhoma. Each gorilla track (sector) has a habituated family of gorilla groups. The Bwindi gorilla group includes Rwigi, Oruzogo, Mukiza gorilla family, Habinyanja, Mubare, Bitukura gorilla group, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Bushaho, Katwe group, Nkuringo group, Kyaguriro, Kutu, Mucunguzi and Christmas.
Mgahinga National Park includes the Nyakagezi gorilla group, the only family fully habituated and open to gorilla trekking. All gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi or Mgahinga are conducted with experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guides. The park will provide you with an in-depth explanation of gorilla behavior and ensure you have a safe and secure trek with mountain gorillas in the wild.
What is gorilla trekking like in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda start with a briefing at the respective park office, done by park officials. Officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority will also assign you a gorilla group and park ranger guide. A park ranger guide will accompany you every step of the way. The entire gorilla trek is somewhat challenging as it requires traversing steep ridges and valley terrain. A normal daytime gorilla trek is expected to take approximately 2-6 hours, which also includes an hour of close encounters with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild.
The length of a Uganda gorilla trek is often unpredictable and varies based on the visitor’s hiking speed, the nature of the habitat, and the location of the gorillas during the day. Rest assured, you can spend an hour with mountain gorillas in search of these ape families.
When is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Uganda is available for gorilla adventure Any time of year. But due to favorable climatic conditions, the dry season is the best time to visit Uganda to see gorillas. The advantage of the dry season is that there is little or no rainfall. This makes the ground relatively dry, making it easier for hikers to travel through their natural habitat in search of gorillas.
Heavy rains often occur from March, April, May, October and November. For the budget traveler or backpacker, this is the ideal month for a Uganda gorilla safari. Fortunately, this is a special month when it may rain, but only briefly, and then tourists continue hiking. Their disadvantage is that heavy rains can make gorilla habitats muddy or slippery on steep slopes, making it very challenging to travel through vegetation or rainforest to find gorillas.
Obtain a valid gorilla permit
A valid gorilla permit is an essential tool for gorilla safari in Uganda. Tourists must obtain a permit in advance before the actual date of gorilla trekking. Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued for $800 per person, and you can contact local experts who can not only plan your gorilla trip but also help you obtain your permit in advance. Due to high demand, we recommend that you obtain your gorilla trekking permit at least 2 to 6 months in advance.
What to pack or wear for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Proper packing is all you need for your gorilla safari. This should include choosing the right gear to wear on your gorilla adventure in Uganda. Essential items in your packing list include waterproof hiking boots, backpack, long-sleeved shirt, long socks, long pants, sweater, raincoat, insect repellent, first aid kit, and gardening gloves.
Rules and regulations that gorillas must follow
When visiting gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park, it is important to follow the established regulations. Here are some gorilla viewing regulations to follow;
- All visitors are required to observe face-to-face with the gorilla family for up to one hour.
- Hikes should not be conducted without a park ranger guide present.
- Do not use flash cameras to take photos.
- A distance of 7-8 meters from the gorillas must be maintained.
- Gorilla trekking should only be undertaken by people who are not sick or suffering from any disease.
- Each gorilla group is limited to 8 visitors.
- Gorilla trekking is conducted only once a day.
- Only tourists above 15 years old are eligible to participate in Uganda gorilla trekking.
Fitness level for gorilla trekking
Wondering if you are physically fit to go on gorilla trekking? Yes, your fitness level is crucial when tracking gorillas in Uganda. Adventure activities include walking through high-altitude areas where mountain gorillas live. Mountain gorillas live in mountain rainforest areas at an altitude of 2,400 meters to 3,500 meters. A certain level of fitness is required to complete the full trek with the gorillas. You may consider practicing gorilla trekking early before actually traveling to Bwindi or Mgahinga.
What accommodation options are available in Bwindi and Mgahinga?
If your purpose of traveling to Uganda is Gorilla trekkingthere are plenty of accommodation options available to book for an overnight stay. They include economy, mid-range and luxury models. Top hotels to consider booking for an overnight stay during your gorilla safari in Uganda include Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Lodge and Buhoma Community Rest Camp. In Mgahinga, hotels available for overnight booking include Traveler’s Rest Hotel, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge and Mount Gorilla Rest Camp.
How to Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga is more accessible by road and flight. By land, you can travel from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga in a 4×4 safari vehicle, which is expected to take 8 to 9 hours. There are a number of stopover points on your way to Bwindi/Mgahinga, including Equatorial Crossing in Kayabwe and the Igongo Cultural Centre.
However, by road, visitors can travel from Kigali via the Katuna or Chanika borders and then head to Mgahinga or Bwindi National Park in southwestern Uganda.
By Air – This is the perfect option for visitors planning to travel to Bwindi or Mgahinga via road transport to reduce long flights. By plane, you can travel from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airport, which takes 1 to 2 hours. At both airports, you will be picked up by your driver-guide and transferred to Bwindi/Mgahinga or a hotel in its surroundings to relax.
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