Uganda gorilla trekking is an adventure of a lifetime hiking the thick pure mountainous rain forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park the destinations of half the world’s mountain gorillas.

Uganda gorilla trekking takes you to one of the 21 fully habituated gorilla families in the pearl of Africa amidst the 50 present families.

 

What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is a safari activity that gives you access to the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats for a full hour. The activity starts very early in the morning at the different trekking starting points within Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park

Securing your gorilla trekking permit earlier before your trekking day at only 700USD.

The guided trip into the tropical rainforests of the Virunga-Bwindi highlands over tall, dense scrubs and old trees with a machete, heavy boots, and thick pants is known as gorilla trekking.

Tourists may only view these endangered apes in their native surroundings since they cannot thrive in captivity. The landscape is harsh and hilly, with foggy and dense forests reaching 14,763 feet (4,500 meters) above sea level.

Daily hikes begin at 8:00 a.m. at five visitor center sites, in small groups of eight visitors, an expert tracker, and two armed rangers. You will be walking into uncharted region where anything might be harmful. Armed rangers protect guests from hazardous animals and other potential threats. The tracker will also be carrying a fine-edged knife and a walkie-talkie to connect with other rangers and trackers.

Your tracking guide will communicate with another set of rangers who go out early in the morning to discover the gorillas before they leave their nests and stay with them all day. They then give locations to your tracker, making your travel easier.

When you eventually locate the gorillas, your trekking guide will instruct you to don a facemask and view them in quiet for one hour from a safe distance of around 32 feet (10 m). Visitors generally discover them during their mid-morning break, so there will be less movement during your visit. Mountain gorillas have a very peaceful disposition and will gladly disregard your presence unless you break the rules!

Sitting in quiet for 60 minutes on the freezing ground of a Ugandan bush may be one of life’s greatest blessings.

 

UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING

Uganda has two gorilla trekking locations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Bwindi is by far the more popular alternative since it has a larger population of gorillas, is better located for fly-in safaris, and offers a wider selection of housing options.

Which park you visit will be determined by your overall trip plans and the amount of time you have available. There is no difference in permit pricing or sightings between the two parks.

 

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is Uganda’s most popular gorilla trekking site. There are four trail heads from which habituated families may be reached: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.

Each trailhead has its own personality, family, and degree of difficulty.

You join a group of fellow trekkers (maximum group size of 8 persons) at one of the four trailheads on the forest’s perimeters for a guided trip into the forest in search of one of the 20 habituated gorilla families.

While you journey to the gorillas with trained Uganda Wildlife Authority guides, you will be introduced to the ecology of the forest and the changing environment. Your guides are in contact with the team of trackers who have been following the gorillas since sunrise. Your guides are directed to the gorillas by the trackers.

The group size limit is designed to protect gorillas from airborne infections while also increasing the likelihood of sightings, as bigger groups typically scare off these (surprisingly) shy creatures.

The enormous southern inclined slopes and terraced volcanoes prove a difficult foe from the start. This is gorilla country, and getting there takes hiking through dense, triffid-like flora, through muddy slopes, and down into jagged valleys.

After making contact, there is normally a quiet wait deep within the dense forest as the gorilla’s edge approaches.

When they finally emerge, watching the gorillas in their natural home, with the lush forest as a backdrop, is a genuinely unforgettable experience.

The rustling of leaves as the gorillas roam and play quickly breaks any stillness, and the cries, whistles, and whoops of thousands of animal species for kilometers around create the ideal soundtrack.

You get up to an hour with the gorillas after you make contact. If you wish to spend more time with these gentle giants, you may participate in a gorilla habituation experience and spend up to 4 hours with them.

 

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga

Mgahinga National Park, close to the Rwandan border, is a popular stop on itineraries that include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It is also the only location in Uganda where you can go Golden Monkey trekking. Combining gorilla trekking in Nkuringo (Bwindi) with a gorilla hike in Mgahinga is a popular option.

Mgahinga is more isolated than Bwindi, and the hikes are not as difficult. There are fewer permits available in this location. Although gorilla families cross the border from Rwanda to Uganda on a regular basis, only one family is known to make contact in Mgahinga. The Nyakagazi group consists of five silverbacks, two adult females, and three juvenile gorillas.

Mgahinga was formerly utilized as a “overflow” gorilla trekking site for Bwindi, but this has altered for two reasons. The first is that the rise in the cost of Rwandan gorilla permits to $1,500 per person has encouraged travelers to explore Rwanda before crossing the border to Mgahinga, where treks cost $700 per person.

The second reason is that Mgahinga is such a beautiful area. Because it is so near to the lakes Mutanda and Bunyoni, you could spend a week in the far southwest of Uganda and reserve the rest of the country for another trip!

You may also climb the volcanoes at Mgahinga, which are all rather strenuous excursions of 8-9 hours that exceed 4,000 meters.

Mgahinga accounts for around 10% of all gorilla climbs in Uganda, with the great bulk taking place in Bwindi!

 

When is the best time for Uganda gorilla trekking?

Because of Uganda’s tropical environment, temperatures are fairly stable throughout the year. Rainfall is the only thing that distinguishes the seasons. The long rainy season lasts from March to May, while the short rainy season lasts from October to November.

It is possible to visit the gorillas at any time of year.

The price of gorilla permits used to vary according to the season, but this is no longer the case. Because permit rates are constant all year, the decision to visit should be determined by your availability, the availability of permits, and your travel plans outside of gorilla trekking.