Where to Find Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
Where to Find Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
Where to Find Mountain Gorillas in Uganda : Gorillas in Uganda can be found in the south western part of Uganda in two closest national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park which can be easily accessed by road and by flight. Visiting this great ape in the tropical montane rainforest and bamboo forest nothing is weird you to go missing because of their nice looking, the brown eyes and sharing 98% DNA to humans. It is really special encounter with these gentle giants and absolutely rewarding experience one wouldn’t have missed on his bucket list on Uganda safaris.
However, gorillas are inhabited in only two protected national parks which is Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park which was declared to protect a number of species notably the great mountain gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable national park is located at the edge of western rift valley in the highest region of the kigezi river that raises 331 square kilometres of both lowland and montane forest. It is the biggest primeval forest that protects half remaining endangered mountain gorillas in the world.
Bwindi impenetrable national park has an average annual rainfall that ranges from 1400 to 1900 millimetres above the sea level. It was created in 1991 has gazette area to protect wildlife species and in 1993 gorilla trekking activity was introduced with in the park and since then it has become a famous activity which has impacted a lot on Uganda’s tourism. The park now is home to over 600 individuals which splits in 21 habituated gorilla families grouped in 4 gorilla sectors each in different location within the park such as Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga sector. The choice is your which sector would like to visit. Bwindi impenetrable national park is managed by ‘’UWA’’ Uganda Wildlife Authority and is listed on a UNESCO world heritage site since 1991.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is also home for mountain gorillas located in the south-western region of Uganda on an area covering 34 square kilometres. It has only one habituated gorilla family which has made the park famous worldwide. Many tourists have visited the park to encounter what real Uganda’s mountain gorillas really look with their huge bodies and their amazing life style.
Note, mountain gorillas are not commonly found in the wild which can be found in only three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Congo but the biggest part of it survive in Uganda’s montane rainforest something rewarding.
Where mountain gorillas are found places are famously known because of these primates and visitors enjoy viewing of these great apes. Here are activities you’re likely to participate in and have everlasting memorable experience in life time such as; Gorilla trekking, Gorilla habituation and besides that there are other activities you can engage in like golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park, Birding, Visiting the Batwa people, Mountain Bike Ride, cycling tour, Hiking, Buhoma village walk among others.
Gorilla trekking activity
This is the most done activity in both national parks which starts early in the morning after your morning breakfast. Your driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters with a packed lunch boxes for a briefing about dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in the wilderness. After briefing you will be grouped in 8 people and be allocated to the gorilla sector you’re to trek in. But always ensure that you carrying your packed lunch boxes, enough mineral water bottle and energy giving snacks, rain jackets because you never know at what time you will get done with activity.
This activity is unpredictable can take 2 to 8 hours depending on location of the gorilla family you are trekking. As you will be trekking their high chances of seeing other small species of primates like monkeys, birds, trees among others. Once you locate the gorilla family you’re trekking, you will be given one hour to spend with them as you watch them how they feed their younger ones, swing on the trees, have great sights of the silverback the head of the family, enjoy their play out. This activity is truly humbling with quite unforgettable experience in life time.
Gorilla Habituation
This is worth an activity done day long which starts in the morning at 8am, after breakfast you will be dropped to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla rules. After briefing you will be grouped in four individual accompanied by the park rangers, researchers, doctors who will locate you to the gorilla habituation family in Rushanga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
As you will be trekking in the forest you’re free to ask any question from the researchers who will give you right information about the mountain gorillas. Once you find this gorilla family you will be given four hours to learn from them as they feed, knuckle prints in the mud, built their nests in the evening. Collect their sample which they use to check on their health and study purpose as well as investigating by the team who do research on them.
Uganda is truly a blessed country to hosts such a great number of mountains gorillas and big number of habituated families.
Rules followed for Gorilla Trekking
Flash discs are not allowed because they scare mountain gorillas.
Always wash your hands before going out for gorilla trekking.
Do not touch gorillas they are wild animals.
Always stay in tight group when you reach gorillas
Follow the instruction given by the park rangers
Gorilla habituation allows only four people in the activity.
Gorilla trekking allows 8 people per group per day
Victors who are wishing to know where gorillas are found in Uganda always first meet a trust worth tour operator who will guide you in very thing through bookings of the permits, reservation of the accommodations and transport. We advise you to always book your gorilla permits in advance most especially in peak seasons when less than 6 months and to those who want to do it in wet seasons accommodation rates lowers and few people can be seen in the park.
Cost of gorilla experience in Uganda
Uganda gorilla trekking permits costs USD700 per trek per day for foreign non-residents, USD600 for foreign resident and UGX250,000 for East African Citizen. Rwanda gorilla trekking costs USD 1500 and Congo USD 400 per trek per day. Uganda gorilla habituation experience costs USD1500 and can be done only in Uganda nowhere else in the world.
Best Time to Do Uganda Gorilla Trekking &Habituation Experience
Uganda gorilla trekking and habituation experience and others done activities can be encountered throughout the year but the best time to enjoy it without interruption of rainfall starts from June to September and December to February. Always carry items like rain jackets, insect repellent, enough mineral water, energy giving snacks, hiking shoes, worm clothes, long sleeved trouser and blouses.
Where to stay on your Uganda Gorilla Experience
Both national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park offers comfortable accommodation facilities ranging between Luxury to Budget. To those who wish to do their gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park we advise you to book your accommodation in the region you’re to trek in, the following morning such as Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushanga and Nkuringo region.
Book now and meet with your closest cousins who are said to share 98% DNA to humans so far millions of tourists have visited these mountain gorillas, they tend to do it repeatedly because of being worth activity on planet earth. Visit now and participate in Gorilla trekking and Gorilla habituation which are quite emotional and rewarding of their unique features.
