Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda, gorilla trekking is one of the major activities that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Uganda. The activity involves moving on foot into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and once the mountain gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you unforgettable memories on your safari.
Where to see mountain gorillas in Uganda
Uganda is a home of about 459 mountain gorillas which are found in two destinations that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in southwestern region in Kanungu district and Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in the southwestern region in Kisoro district. The endangered mountain gorillas can also be seen in other destinations like Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors the highest number of the endangered mountain gorillas in all the destinations and it’s a home of about 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Rushaga sector in the south, Buhoma sector in the north, Ruhija sector in the east and Nkuringo sector in the south. On the other hand Mgahinga gorilla national park harbors one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi which is available for trekking on a daily basis.
Gorilla trekking experience
Gorilla trekking in both destinations that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing visitors will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla trek and start trekking in the jungle with an experience park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas and trails to follow. Allocation of gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park is done depending on various factors like age, physical fitness and personal preferences.
Gorilla trekking in both destinations takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas slept the previous night, during trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species in the forest including mammals like forest elephants, buffaloes, duikers, variety of bird species, other primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, view colorful butterflies, different plant and tree species among others. once the gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to observe their behaviors, watch them play, feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, rest, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people home after the safari.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits are legal documents or cards that are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park. A single gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 700 for foreign non residents, USD 600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda can be booked directly through Uganda wildlife Authority by contacting the head offices in Kampala via telephone calls or email. A gorilla trekking permit can also be booked through a tour operator like achieve global safaris where you will contact us with your names, date, month, year and the destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if the permits are available you will be asked to make a deposit for the permits. Once we receive the payments, we will purchase the gorilla trekking permits on your behalf and send you scanned copies on the receipts as confirmation.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February.
Best time to go for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda can be done all year round though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. The dry season is also known as the peak season and during this period there is less rainfall in the tropical rainforests therefore vegetation will be thin which helps visitors to clearly view the mountain gorillas and other wildlife species. The dry season is also the best period for gorilla trekking in that trails in the forests will be dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are wet, muddy and slippery.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
- Hiking boots to keep your feet dry during trekking
- Garden gloves to protect you from germs and itching plants
- Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm and prevent insects from entering your trousers.
- Insect repellent to protect your body from biting insects like tsetse flies and mosquitoes
- Camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos
- Waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall because both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are tropical rainforests therefore rain is expected anytime regardless of the season.
- Energy giving snacks like packed lunch and drinking water to keep you hydrated during trekking
- Hat and sun glasses to protect you from strong sunshine
- Back pack to carry your gorilla trekking items like energy snacks, camera, insect repellent among others.
How to get to the gorilla destinations in Uganda
Both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are located in south western Uganda and can be accessed by road and air transport means.
Road transport, when using road transport to any to the gorilla destinations you will drive from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park which takes about 9 to 10 hours drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda where by visitors will drive from Kigali international airport via Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale.
Air transport, when using air transport means visitors will book charter flights with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip and then connect the one of the national parks by road. Charter flights can however be booked by your tour operator.
