Gorilla trekking tour in Uganda
Are you considering a trip to Uganda for gorilla trekking? This well-researched guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda, created by Monumental Expeditions and Safaris, is among the best resources available to assist you in organizing and scheduling your gorilla trek. We are happy to offer you guidance and advice on organizing your safari in Africa. One of the once-in-a-lifetime activities that many tourists choose to partake in while in Uganda is gorilla trekking.
Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is one of the best wildlife experiences any traveler can have during their safari, despite the high prices, time commitment, and pain involved in making the reservation and hiking through the forest to look for these endangered apes. Gorilla trekking is a strenuous sport that necessitates physical fitness at the time of the journey.
It entails hiking or walking through the forest, sometimes through dense vegetation, crossing rivers, and through swamps in search of gorillas. In Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo, gorilla trekking offers you the chance to spend an hour with and observe gorillas in their natural environment. The Gorilla Habituation experience, which offers a 4-hour interaction with the gorillas, is an option for those who would prefer to spend more time with the gorillas in their natural environment.
In Africa, where can one go gorilla trekking?
The only remaining mountain gorillas may be found in four national parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where gorilla trekking is practiced. These include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Congo’s Virunga National Park, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
You may also view the Lowland gorillas in Congo, which are located in Kahuzi Beiga National Park. A gorilla permit is necessary in order to access any of the aforementioned national parks for gorilla trekking. As soon as you have your gorilla trekking dates set, we advise you to begin making reservations right away because permits and services fill up quickly, especially if you want to go during the busiest months of June through September. It is always preferable to make reservations at least five months before your trip. Reservations for gorilla trekking at the aforementioned parks can be made directly or via Monumental Expeditions and Safaris, a reputable tour operator.
Where in Uganda can one go gorilla trekking?
In Uganda, gorilla trekking is conducted in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Other national parks in Uganda can also be included in your schedule for your gorilla trek safari; the greatest ones are Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.
How much it costs to obtain a gorilla permit in Uganda
You can spend an hour with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by purchasing a gorilla permit in Uganda, which costs $800 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, $700 per person for residents, and $80 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).
There are 136 gorilla permits available daily for gorilla trekking in Uganda, which contains 17 habituated gorilla family groups, 16 of which are located in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also offers you the chance to spend more time with the mountain gorillas by participating in the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which is only available in the Bwindi Forest.
For $1500 per person, you can spend four hours with the semi-habituated mountain gorillas under the supervision of researchers and trackers, as opposed to an hour for regular trekking. Gorilla permits in Uganda can be obtained directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or via a reputable Ugandan tour company, such as Monumental Expeditions and Safaris.
P.S. It is crucial to remember that the cost of your gorilla permit does not include lodging, airfare, ground transportation, food, or other costs. You will need to inquire with your tour operator about the specifics of the package you are purchasing.
How old can you be to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
In Uganda, the minimum age requirement for gorilla trekking is 15, while the upper age limit is contingent upon physical standards. Elderly people can now go gorilla trekking, especially in Bwindi Forest, thanks to the availability of sedan chair carriers.
These chairs are used to transport people who feel unfit and unable to walk into the forest during their trek; potters will carry you to and from the forest. The cost of renting a sedan chair ranges from $400 to $500, and it can be done in advance or on the day of the trek. Children under the age of fifteen can also go gorilla trekking in Uganda, but they must make a reservation in advance.
Ugandan gorilla permit cancelation policies and penalties
Having a gorilla permit is necessary in order to undertake gorilla tracking; ideally, the person who books the permit will be able to use it for the trek on the specified date. In Uganda, gorilla permit cancellation fines and regulations state that you will not receive a refund for your permits if you are unable to make it to the tracking day between 0 and 8 days prior to the trek date.
Due to the Corona Virus outbreak, which compelled both countries to loosen their cancellation policies, gorilla permit cancellation policies have changed significantly over the past six months. In Uganda, all gorilla treks impacted by the pandemic have been given the chance to reschedule their trekking dates twice, until December 2022. For further information, get in touch with us here.
Which season in Uganda is ideal for gorilla trekking?
Ugandan Gorilla Safari. The best time to go gorilla trekking in Africa is during the drier months of January, February, June, and early September. This makes it easier to get to the park and provides a clear view of the gorillas because the vegetation cover isn’t too high grown. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done all year round.
Things to Bring for Ugandan Gorilla Trekking
Walking shoes or boots that are comfortable and durable are essential for gorilla tracking. In general, when it rains, the forest is extremely muddy. Some of the uphill portions can be extremely steep and taxing. Wearing lightweight long pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt is also advised to protect you from biting ants, stinging nettles, and weeds. Recommended Packing List for Gorilla Trekking
A flashlight or torch, insect repellent, and extra batteries
Water bottle, wet wipes, cameras, lenses, etc.
Comfortable socks and footwear for trekking and walking
Gloves for gardening to track gorillas
Walking shoes, sandals, or strops
Sunscreen and a hat
A raincoat
Sweater or fleece
Swimwear
Binoculars for watching birds or games
Compare the gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is only available in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. More over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population resides here. Gorilla trekking is also possible in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park.
If you are considering going gorilla trekking in Uganda and are having trouble deciding between Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, we have provided a comparison based on our experience to assist you in making that decision.
The whole fact is that mountain gorillas can be found in both Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the experience you get at the end of your trip is essentially the same. To decide where to reserve and travel for your gorilla trekking, you can compare gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with Mgahinga National Park using a variety of criteria, such as the following:
Regarding vegetation and the trekking experience, mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park are found in the Virunga/hills, where bamboo is the predominant vegetation. In contrast, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are found in a dense, impenetrable tropical rain forest that is home to a variety of trees and plants. Since the gorillas in Mgahinga National Park are located in a dense forest, it is thought that the vegetation makes it easier to observe them and obtain sharp pictures. This is in contrast to Bwindi.
Accessibility-wise, Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi are both reachable by air or road. To reach Mgahinga National Park by road, you will need to travel eight to nine hours from Kampala/Entebbe via Kabale town and then on to Bwindi or Kisoro. It is also feasible to go from Kigali to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, which would take four to five hours. With this, you arrive in Kigali, use the East African Tourist Visa (which enables you to travel to both countries simultaneously), and then go on an inexpensive gorilla trek in Uganda.
There are budget, mid-range, and upscale lodges in both national parks where you can stay while trekking. For those who prefer to stay in ultra-luxurious lodges that meet international standards, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the ideal destination for gorilla trekking. These lodges provide excellent and opulent services; some, such Gorilla Sanctuary Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and Buhoma Lodge, are regarded as some of the best in Africa and the entire nation.
More gorilla families are available for hiking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park than in Mgahinga National Park. Due to the fact that Bwindi is home to 19 habituated gorilla family groups, 152 gorilla permits are available daily for gorilla trekking. Since there is only one gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park, there are only eight gorilla permits available daily for gorilla trekking there. Because of this, obtaining gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi is more flexible than in Mgahinga National Park, particularly during the busiest times of the year.
Whether you have to go a shorter or longer distance to view gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park depends on which gorilla family you are assigned to on the day of your trek. Gorilla families are assigned in both Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park based on each individual’s level of interest and physical fitness.
For instance, if you would prefer a shorter walk, you will need to notify the park officials on the day of the trek in order to be assigned to such a family. You follow the same procedure if you desire a medium-length or longer excursion. It should be mentioned that although they will attempt to provide you with a family that needs shorter travels, the experience may be impacted by the gorillas’ behavior. For instance, if the gorillas decide to go farther as you search for them, you will have to travel an even greater distance.
In comparison to Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is also nearer to other national parks. It is possible to combine your unforgettable gorilla trek with an additional adventure in other parks because it only takes two hours to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for big game wildlife viewing and four hours to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking.
Why reserve your gorilla trip in Uganda with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris.?
Get in touch with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris., and we’ll assist you with booking your gorilla trip in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We may also arrange for you to have gorilla permits included in any of our several gorilla trekking safari packages, which vary from low-cost to high-end alternatives.
Check out our trip advisor reviews to read from a community of contented customers. You may be sure that your Uganda Gorilla safari vacation will be unforgettable when you work with us. We are committed to provide top-notch client service and satisfaction. If you have any queries about safari, our staff of knowledgeable tour coordinators is always happy to assist. We promise you an amazing gorilla trip in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.