Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Uganda Gorilla Trekking

Experience the world’s best Gorilla trekking in Uganda, the pearl of Africa. Uganda protects the highest number of these endangered Mountain Gorillas, out of the remaining 1,063 surviving in the wild and the world according to the last Gorilla census in 2018.

Gorilla trekking is the highlight of all the safari activities in Uganda, bringing you an up close and personal experience with the Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.

Uganda safaris offer two destinations to go gorilla trekking and these are the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects the highest number of Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and the world. This is about 459, almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. You can trek any of the park’s 23 habituated gorilla families in one of the park’s 4 trailheads, Buhoma. Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on the other hand has one habituated gorilla family (the Nyakagezi Gorilla family) which makes Uganda home to 24 habituated gorilla families that provide visitors with unforgettable Gorilla experiences in the country.

We look at the two Gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda below,

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most renowned gorilla trekking destination in Uganda with the highest number of habituated gorilla families, not just in Uganda but in all the gorilla trekking destinations in the world.

These gorilla families are spread through the 4 sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. It is best to stay in the sector or near the sector where you will be having your gorilla trek for early arrival at the gorilla trekking destination.

Let us look at these magnificent trailheads below.

Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma 

The Buhoma sector in the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 6 gorilla families that you can track on your safaris in Uganda. Through the beautiful sector, you will track one of the following gorilla groups.

1. Mubare Gorilla Family
2. Habinyanja Gorilla Group
3. Katwe Gorilla Group
4. Rushegura Gorilla Family
5. Bunyindo Gorilla Family
6. Muyambi Family

Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija 

The Ruhija sector is found in the Eastern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Park and it has 3 habituated gorilla families for gorilla tracking in Uganda.

These are the Kyaguliro, Oruzugo, and the Biruka gorilla families.

Gorilla Trekking in Rushaga 

Taking you through the breathtaking sceneries, the Rushaga sector will bring you to track one of the 11 habituated gorilla groups and these are.

1. Mishaya Gorilla Family
2. Bweza Gorilla Group
3. Busingye Gorilla Family
4. Bikyigi Gorilla Group
5. Rwigi Gorilla Group
6. Oruzugo Gorilla Family
7. Nshongi Group
8. Kahugye Community
9. Kutu Family
10. Mucunguzi Group
11. Tindatine Family

Gorilla Trekking in Nkuringo 

Visiting the Nkuringo sector will allow you to track one of the 4 habituated gorilla families: the Nkuringo, Christmas, Bushaho, and the Posho families.

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Western Uganda is the only destination in Uganda where you can see the endangered golden monkeys. However, it is also an alternative destination for watching mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the Virunga Conservation Area, which also includes Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and DRC’s Virunga National Park.

The Mgahinga National Park only has one habituated gorilla family which is the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family which is available for tracking during your gorilla safaris in Uganda.

The Gorilla Trekking Experience 

The Gorilla trekking experience begins early around, 7:30 am at the park headquarters with a short briefing about the important regulations to follow during your safari experience in the country.

When your gorilla permits are confirmed, your guide will then group you depending on the most common likenesses like age, or fitness levels. Before your adventures, you can either get a walking stick or hire a potter to help you with the hiking and heavy luggage during your experiences.

After the insightful briefing, you will led by rangers and guides into the forest to find a gorilla family. The short walk is a chance for you to experience the remarkable beauty of the forest and its wildlife the trees, birds, and primates, among others.

After about 30 minutes to 2 hours of searching, you will meet a gorilla family that you will spend at most an hour as you watch them relaxing, feeding, playing, or grooming.

You will then return to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate that shows that you have tracked the mountain gorillas in the forest.

Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations in Uganda 

The gorilla trekking rules and regulations are in place to keep both the gorillas and the trackers as we promote conservation.

Below are the important gorilla trekking rules in Uganda,

1. Only a maximum of 8 people can visit a gorilla group.
2. Gorilla trekking is only for tourists who are 15 years and above.
3. When you meet the mountain gorillas, you will spend with them a maximum of one hour so they are not exhausted.
4. When you meet the family, you will spend a maximum of one hour with them.
5. It is not allowed to use flashlights when taking photos of the Mountain Gorillas because they scare them and draw their attention.
6. Stay at least 7 meters away from the Gorillas.
7. Wear dull colors when going to meet the primates because bright colors attract the attention of the animals.
8. Avoid direct contact with the gorillas as it intimidates them and makes them feel like you are intimidating them.
9. If a gorilla takes what belongs to you, leave it to them as they will later drop it for not finding use for it.
10. In case you wish to ease yourself, all wastes will be buried at least 30 meters below the ground.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda 

Gorilla habituation is the process by which wild gorillas are introduced to the presence of human beings and in Uganda, it only occurs at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The gorilla habituation experience is the same as the gorilla trekking process. However, while in gorilla trekking tourists spend one hour with the mountain gorillas, in gorilla habituation, participants spend 4 hours with the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla habituation is mostly done by researchers but tourists can also participate in the process.

Other Top Gorilla Trekking Destinations in Africa

Africa provides other unique mountain gorilla tracking experiences in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda 

Volcanoes NP in Rwanda is a renowned destination for gorilla tracking in East Africa, also protecting the endangered Mountain Gorillas.

The park has about 10 habituated gorilla families to track on your Rwanda safaris.

These gorilla families include Susa A, Karisimbi, or the Susa B family, Agasha, Umubano, Amahoro, Hirwa, Sabinyo, Agasha, Ugenda, and the Bwenge gorilla families.

Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo protects two gorilla species and these are the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

Therefore, the country will allow you to explore two gorilla species during your

Virunga National Park has 8 habituated mountain gorilla families for amazing gorilla trekking experiences and these families include the Kabirizi, Mapuwa, Rugendo, Humba, Bageni, Lulengo, Munyaga, and Nyakamwe gorilla families.

On the other hand, the Kahuzi Biega National Park protects 4 habituated Eastern Lowland Gorilla families and they include the Mpugwe, Nganwe, and the Chimanuka gorilla families.

Conclusion:

Gorilla tracking safaris in Uganda is one of the most sought-after tour experiences in the country. Through the adventure, tourists will be able to experience a closer encounter with the primates in their natural habitat while becoming insightful of the different ways to conserve the animals.

Inquire and book with us your Gorilla trekking permits for remarkable adventures today.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda? 

The cost of Uganda gorilla trekking covers the Gorilla trekking permit, accommodation costs, transportation costs, other additional safari activities, and the number of days spent on a safari.

A Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 Uganda Shillings.

 Accommodation costs will range from about $150 per night for budget travelers, about $200 to $350 per night for midrange travelers, and about $350 to $600 per night for luxury travelers.

Your professional tour operator will draft for you the best itinerary that covers your necessary needs for your safari.

2. How do I Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda? 

You can either book a Gorilla permit directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through our professional tour consultant at Orinoco Expeditions.

3. When is the Best Time to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda? 

The best time to go for gorilla treks in Uganda is during the dry season which covers mid-December to February and June to about September. The dry season is very much preferred because it makes the tracks much easier to pass through since they are dry.

On the other hand, the wet season makes the roads muddy and thus harder to pass through. However, it is also possible to experience remarkable gorilla trekking experiences in the rainy season because it is a low season and thus some costs are lower.

4. How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda? 

The Gorilla trekking process is not quite difficult although it can be challenging for tourists who are not physically fit. Ensure that you have a normal level of fitness when going gorilla tracking in Uganda.

Also, you can get a walking stick or a potter to help with easier movement.

5. Is Gorilla Trekking Cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda? 

Gorilla trekking is cheaper in Uganda than it is in Rwanda because of the cheaper Gorilla permits and logistic services. The Gorilla permit in Uganda is $800 while it is $1500 in Rwanda.

6. What Should you Pack and Wear when Going Gorilla Tracking in Uganda? 

The things to pack and the clothes to wear play an important role in enjoying an enthralling gorilla safari experience in Uganda.

Pack light by carrying the most important things that you will need for your safari experience. Light clothes are recommended for the hot days and warm clothes for the cold evenings.

The important things to pack and wear for your gorilla tour are your travel documents (passport, visa, Yellow Fever Card), long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, notebook and pen, guidebook, backpack, rain jacket/poncho, socks, etc.

7. What Other Safari Activities Can You Do in Uganda Apart from Gorilla Treks? 

The gorilla safari can be preceded or proceeded with other amazing African safari activities in Uganda like chimpanzee trekking, game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, nature walks, mountain hiking, city tours, and cultural encounters, among others.