Gorilla trekking is the most popular adventure to take in Uganda. Uganda hosts nearly half of the remaining population of the world’s mountain gorillas. The gorillas in Uganda can be encountered in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park. The journey from Kampala or Entebbe takes one long day of driving to reach these tropical montane rain forests in western Uganda.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda are one of the most lifetime adventures that one shouldn’t miss out when creating lifetime memories. That splendid and amazing moment when you have an up-close encounter with the endangered species in their habituated natural habitats. Enjoy a gorilla safari experience in different destinations like Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park which is known for hosting almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas
A mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorillas. These are descendants of ancestral monkeys and apes and are mostly found in the African continent in four destinations of Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national park of Uganda, Virunga mountains national park of Democratic Republic of Congo and then Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. These apes are known for their unique features including the thick and longer fur that allows them to live in colder temperatures. Also, the hair at their back is shorter than that on other body parts and also that on their arms is a bit longer. Mountain gorillas inhabit the Albertine Rift Montane cloud forests such as the Virunga mountains.
Gorilla trekking experience Uganda
In the Republic of Uganda, gorilla trekking experience takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 320 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.
Located in the southwestern region, Bwindi Impenetrable national park is the main destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The park is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift.
With an area of approximately 331 square kilometers, the national park is part of Bwindi Impenetrable forest which consists both montane and lowland forests. It is famous for inhabiting almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas that can be allocated within the four sectors – Buhoma, Ruhijja, Rushaga and Nkuringo sector. In these sectors, there are about 23 habituated gorilla families and among these include; Bitukura, Mukiiza, Kyagurro and Oruzogo in Ruhijja sector, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Mubaare, Katwe, Binyindo and Muyambi in Buhoma sector, Bweza, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Busingye, Kahungye and Bikingi in Rushaga sector and then Chrismas, Nkuringo, Bushahoand Posho in Nkuringo sector. All the gorilla families can be encountered at a closer distance during a gorilla trekking and habituation experience.
Besides the mountain gorillas, the park also hosts other species such as mammals like African elephants, African green broadbill, L’Hoest’s monkeys, red tailed monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervets, and many others.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Positioned in the Virunga Mountains, Mgahinga gorilla national park is another destination in Uganda where gorilla trekking experience can be done. Stretching over an area of approximately 33.9 square kilometers, the park is contiguous with Volcanoes national park of Rwanda and the southern sector of Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo. With two gorilla habituated families – Nyakagezi and Hirwa, gorilla trekking experience is the most done activity in the park. The experience involves hiking through the rainforests of the park in search of the endangered species and once they are allocated, the trekkers are allowed to spend an hour in their presence as they learn more about their lifestyles.
Apart from mountain gorillas, Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to other species like the unique golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, and several mammal species like leopards, elephants, bushbucks, black fronted duiker, bush pigs, buffalos, giant forest hog and many others. For the bird lovers, the park is also among the best destinations since it hosts over 300 species of birds such as red throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, collared apalis, double collared sunbird and many others.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
For one to take part in the Gorilla trekking experience, he or she must possess a gorilla permit. The permits sell out months in advance so one needs to obtain his or her permit early to secure a vacancy. The gorilla permits sell out quickly in the dry seasons during the months of December to March and June to September.
The gorilla trekking permits cost $700 per person and the cost includes the park entrance, park guides and rangers, and also a time with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
Best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking experience
Mountain gorilla trekking experiences in the Republic of Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year but the best time is during the dry season which stands in the months of December to February and between June and August as the jungle is neither muddy nor slippery.
The wet seasons begin in the months of April and May. Though the surfaces of the park are slippery at these times, one can still track the gorillas. In this season, fruits ripe thus make the gorillas to lower down to the forest canopy so as to get the fruits.
Gorilla Trek Planner
Once at Bwindi we would recommend staying atleast two nights – one night before the gorilla trek and one night after the trek.