Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking is the highlight activity you must endeavor to do while on your Uganda safari, we stand out as one of the most reputable tour operators in Uganda specializing in gorilla tracking safari to the Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga National Park. Uganda gorilla tours can be combined with a lot of other thrilling activities such as bird watching game viewing, sightseeing cultural and community tourism among others

What Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a long walk into the thick forest like Bwindi impenetrable national park in search of the gorillas. The hike involves getting bait untidy, getting tired, and travel into the bush through the impenetrable forest with an experienced local guide to find a family of habituated gorillas. Gorilla trekking is awesome and leaves tourists with unforgettable stories to narrate in life.

Where Mountain Gorillas are, in Uganda.

Mountain gorillas are found in Mgahinga gorilla national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda. The Bwindi national park is well known for gorilla trekking and is located in the southwestern part of the country. Bwindi is divided into four sectors and Ruhija sector, these sectors have an impressive array of luxury lodges and campsites, restaurants.

Buhoma Sector in the North.

This is the most popular sector for trekkers consisting of four gorilla groups that are used to humans. The groups are Mubare, Habinyanja, and Nkuringo and Rushegura group of a gorilla. It has developed and comfortable accommodation like Buhoma community rest camp, sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Buhoma lodge, and silverback lodge.

Nkuringo Sector.

This sector has gorilla groups like the Nkirungo group named after a Rukiga word meaning round hill. Accommodation in this sector is cheap and affordable for instance clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Nkuringo gorilla camp, Nshongi camp, and chameleon hill camp.

Ruhija Sector in East

Ruhija sector has the following groups of gorillas: The Batukura group which was named after the river in which they were first seen and it consists of 12 members including 4 silverbacks. the sector contains accommodation like Ruhija gorilla safari lodge, Ruhija gorilla mist camp, trekkers tavern mist camp, and Ruhija resort.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

Rushaga Sector in The South

Rushaga sector is composed of the Nshongi gorilla family, Mishaya family, Kahungye family, and Bweza family group and visitors can settle at the gorilla safari lodge and chameleon hill lodge

Where to Start from for Gorilla Trekking

The starting point depends on the gorilla group to which you have been assigned. Some groups start their trek from the headquarters of the particular sector (Buhoma, Rushoga, Ruhija, Nkuringo) while others have to drive to the forest as the starting point but in most cases, the tourists do not know where their trek will start from not until the day of trekking

Once at their starting point, tourists are supposed to follow their respective ranger guides who will lead them through the thick forest. Armed guards are also provided for security

What Next After Finding the Gorillas

After finding gorillas, tourists are expected to observe, ask questions, take photos and videos of the animals though eating or drinking and flash photographs are prohibited

Secondly, tourists should not walk closer than seven meters to the gorillas because they are highly considered to be susceptible to human diseases. This is to ensure your safety while trekking the gorillas

After about an hour, tourists are supposed to trek back through the forest because too much time staying with the gorilla can make them suspicious and uncomfortable about the environment.

How Long is a Gorilla Trek?

Coming across these gorillas can take the time interval of one to five hours or even more because the trekkers have to figure out where the gorilla has moved to day by day. The trek is relatively hard but tourists in good body shape and health would enjoy gorilla trekking in Uganda so much.

But if a tourist is uncomfortable carrying their luggage during the trek, he or she can hire some of the local porters from surrounding villages and they cost $15 a day with a tip for example friendly BATWA community

Permit Cost for Gorilla Trekking

In Uganda the permit costs $600 per person and gorilla habituating is $1500 per person. The permit can be got from Uganda wildlife Authority through an adventure in the wild safaris. The most way of getting a gorilla trekking permit is by going with a local operator. However, tourists are advised to adventure in the wild safari earlier before the travel such that we can check to tell you the gorilla trekking permit availability and thus reserve it for you

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

It is done throughout the year and gorilla trekking permits are issued day by day but most tourists enjoy trekking during the dry months of the year which are January-February and May- September. During these months, the land is drier though some little raindrops are experienced it’s more comfortable for the tourists due to the less muddy conditions and clear sky.

What Is Required for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Tourists are advised to carry at least two long-sleeved shirts, lightweight and waterproof safari clothes, binoculars, garden gloves, insect repellent with DEET, and a good-sized back bag for keeping in all your belongings. Cameras are also recommended for taking pictures and forever have a sweet memory of the unforgettable adventures in Uganda.

Walking sticks are provided at your respective campsites and lodges by the local operators to enable easy penetration into the impenetrable national park.