Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021

Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021 : Gorilla trekking is the major activity done in Uganda and it involves moving on foot into the tropical rainforests in search of the endangered mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two destinations that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which is known for harboring the highest number of mountain gorillas in Africa and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Gorilla trekking is also carried out in other destinations which include Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern region in Kanungu district and its one of the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda. The national park is famously known for harboring half of the world’s mountain gorilla population which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhiija sector in the east and Rushaga sector in the south.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 19 habituated gorilla families which are available for trekking on a daily basis and they include Rushegura gorilla family, Mubare gorilla family, Habinyanja gorilla family, Katwe gorilla family, Christmas gorilla family, Nkuringo gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, Bitukura gorilla family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Mukiza gorilla family, Kyaguriro gorilla family, Mishaya gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla family, Bikyingi gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family, Busingye gorilla family, Rwigi gorilla family and Mucunguzi gorilla family.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is another gorilla trekking destination in Uganda, the national park is located in southwestern Uganda in Kisoro district and it’s a home of one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi which is available for trekking on a daily basis.

Gorilla trekking in both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trekking trails in the jungle.

Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorillas because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primate species such as chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, variety of bird species, different tree and plant species among others.

Once the mountain gorilla family is located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their habits, behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, feeding, playing, resting, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari.

Bwindi impenetrable national park also offers the adventurous gorilla habituation experience where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Gorilla habituation process is only carried out in Rushaga sector southern part of the park and it takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete. Gorilla habituation experience start very early with a briefing at the park headquarters just like gorilla trekking.

After the briefing you will join a team of researchers, scientists, gorilla doctors, trackers, park guides and start trekking in the jungle in search of the gorillas under habituation. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to monitor and record their behaviors, learn about gorilla naming, watch gorillas feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, play, rest among others.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking because during this period the gorilla trekking destinations receive little or less rainfall therefore vegetation will be thin which makes wildlife viewing easy and gorilla trekking trails in the tropical rainforest will be passable compared to the wet season when the trails are wet, muddy and slippery hence making trekking difficult.

Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda

A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card or document that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit any habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 per person for East African citizens. A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens.

How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda

A gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism and when booking through UWA you will contact the head offices in Kampala via telephone calls or email.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When booking through a tour operator you will contact us with your names, date, year and gorilla destination you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once we receive the money we will purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because the permits are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February therefore to avoid last minute inconveniences you are advised to book in advance.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda 2021

Hiking boots which are comfortable to keep your feet dry and during trekking
Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm during morning hours and protect you from safari ants and thorny tree branches.
Waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall during trekking because both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are tropical rainforests therefore it can rain anytime of the day regardless of the season.
Camera to take pictures and record videos during the one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
Energy snacks like packed food from the lodge and drinking water to keep you hydrated during trekking
A pair of binoculars for clear viewing of gorillas and other wildlife species such as birds, other primates and mammals.
Insect repellent to protect your body from insect bites such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies.
Backpack to carry your gorilla trekking essentials such as energy snacks, rain jacket, insect repellent among others.

Visitors looking for fascinating and unforgettable experiences on a safari, gorilla trekking is a must do activity in Uganda 2021. For more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda please contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for affordable Uganda gorilla trekking packages.