Gorilla trekking in Uganda is without doubt a unique outdoor primate adventure. The unusual bit about Uganda gorilla treks is that visitors have a lifetime opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Uganda is home to almost a half of the entire 1063 mountain gorillas that exist on earth today. A trek to see mountain gorillas in the wild can be mesmerizing.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a rare experience in that visitors engage in active walking or trekking through the natural rainforest to find a family of mountain gorillas. These apes do not exist in the Zoo but only in the natural rainforest. In Uganda, multiple options guarantee you ultimate encounter with an already habituated mountain gorilla group in the wild.
Where to go trek mountain gorillas in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is all about searching for endangered mountain gorillas, observing their daily behaviors, and taking pictures. Mountain gorillas can be tacked in two national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park are the two premier destinations in Uganda for gorilla trekking and offer refuge to more than half of the world’s remaining 1063 mountain gorillas. Overall, Uganda features five (5) regions for gorilla trekking – 4 of them are in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi gorilla trekking involves exploring habituated gorilla groups in the main tracks such as Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. Each of the gorilla tracks (sectors) features already habituated gorilla group families. Bwindi gorilla groups include among others 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 that is fully habituated and open for gorilla trekking. All gorilla treks in Bwindi or Mgahinga are conducted with the presence of an experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guide. The park will explain in depth the behaviors of gorillas to you and also ensure that you have a safe and secure trek with mountain gorillas in the wild.
What is the gorilla trek in Uganda Like?
A gorilla trek in Uganda starts with a briefing at the respective park offices and this is done by the park official. The official from Uganda Wildlife Authority will also allocate a gorilla group and park ranger guides to you. The park ranger guide accompanies you throughout the trek. The entire gorilla trek is a bit challenging because it involves navigating via the terrain of steep ridges and valleys. A normal day gorilla trek is expected to go for about 2-6 hours which also covers an hour of up close and personal encounter with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild.
The length of a Uganda gorilla trek is generally unpredictable and varies depending on visitors’ hiking speed, the nature of the habitat, and the location of gorillas in the day. What is rest assured is that you can have an hour with mountain gorillas on locating a family of these apes.
What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Uganda is accessible for gorilla safaris at any time of the year. But the dry season is the most preferred period to visit Uganda to see gorillas thanks to their favorable weather conditions. The advantage of the dry season is that there is low or no rainfall that is received during this period. This makes the ground relatively drier and easier for trekkers to navigate through the natural habitat in search of gorillas.
Heavy rains often occur starting in March, April, May, October, and November. They are ideal months for budget or backpackers on Uganda gorilla safari. Luckily, they are unique months whereby it may rain but for a short while then visitors continue with their trek. The disadvantage about them is that the heavy rains render the gorilla habitat muddy or steep slopes slippery thus posing a high challenge in navigating through the vegetation or rainforest in search of gorillas.
Obtaining a Valid Gorilla Permit
Valid gorilla permits are essential tools when it comes to gorilla safaris in Uganda. Visitors are required to obtain their permits in advance before the actual date of trekking gorillas. A single gorilla permit in Uganda is issued at USD 800 per person and you can contact your local expert not only to plan a gorilla trip but also to assist you secure a permit in advance. Due to the high demand, we recommend that you secure a permit for gorilla trekking at least 2 to 6 months in advance.
What to pack or wear on a gorilla trek in Uganda
Packing right is all that your gorilla trip requires. This should include choosing the right gear to wear on a gorilla adventure in Uganda. The essential items to include in your packing list include waterproof hiking boots, a daypack, a long-sleeved shirt, long socks, long trousers, a sweater, a rain jacket, insect repellents, a first aid kit, and gardening gloves.
Gorilla rules & regulations to follow
Observing the set regulations is essential on gorilla visits in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. Here are some of the set gorilla watching regulations to observe;
- All visitors must observe a maximum of an hour face-to-face with a family of gorillas.
- No trek should be done without the presence of a park ranger guide.
- Do not use a flashlight camera for taking photos.
- A distance of 7-8 meters must be observed from gorillas.
- Gorilla trekking should be done by persons free from sickness or who are not ill.
- Each gorilla group should be visited by only 8 visitors.
- Gorilla trekking is done only once per day.
- Only visitors above 15 years old are eligible for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Fitness level for gorilla trekking
Wondering about how fit you should be for a gorilla trek? Yes, your fitness level is essential when it comes to tracking gorillas in Uganda. The adventure involves walks through the high elevation where mountain gorillas live. Mountain gorillas occupy the montane rainforest areas of an altitudinal range of 2400 to 3500 meters. Some fitness level is required to allow you to make a complete trek with gorillas. You can consider doing practice early before the actual visit to Bwindi or Mgahinga for gorilla trekking.
What are the available accommodation options in Bwindi and Mgahinga?
If you are visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking, there are plenty of accommodation choices to book for overnight. They include budget, midrange, and luxury. Top lodges to consider booking for an overnight stay on a Uganda gorilla trip include Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Lodge, and Buhoma Community Rest Camp. At Mgahinga, the lodges to book for overnight stay 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 get to Bwindi & Mgahinga to trek gorillas
Getting to Bwindi and Mgahinga for gorilla trekking is easier both by road and air. By road, you can drive from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga in a 4×4 safari vehicle and expect to take between 8 and 9 hours. En route to Bwindi/Mgahinga, you have multiple places to make a stopover including the Equator crossing at Kayabwe and Igongo Cultural Centre.
Still, by road, visitors can drive from Kigali via Katuna or Chanika border and then connect to Mgahinga or Bwindi National Park in Southwestern Uganda.
By air – This is the perfect alternative for visitors with plans to cut down on the long hours if they use road transportation to get to Bwindi or Mgahinga. By air, you can take between 1 and 2 hours by setting off from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip. At these two airstrips, you can be picked up by the driver guide and you transfer to the lodge in or around Bwindi/Mgahinga for relaxation.
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