Gorilla Trekking Adventures in Uganda

Gorilla trekking adventures in Uganda offer travellers, especially nature lovers and primate enthusiasts, a chance to have close interaction with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. These endangered primate species attract visitors from different parts of the world due to their genotype, sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only gorilla parks in Uganda where visitors can meet these gentle giants in their environment.

Gorilla Trekking Adventure

Following gorilla trekking adventures in Uganda, Bwindi alone is home to the highest gorilla population in the world, with over 459 individuals, compared to any other gorilla park within the Virunga Conservation Area. During gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, visitors have the chance to spend a maximum amount of time with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Unlike Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four sectors of the park where gorilla trekking is carried out, and these include Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, all offering visitors the chance to choose where to trek based on availability. The two gorilla parks offer more than 150 gorilla trekking permits daily, where Bwindi offers more than 142 permits compared to 8 trekking permits in Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Permits

For travelers to see mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking tours, you need a gorilla trekking or habituation trekking permit, an official document that allows visitors to get up close and personal with mountain gorillas. These gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, particularly to licensed tour agencies. The cost of these permits varies by origin and resident, sold as $800 for non-foreign residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for the Rest of Africa, and UGX 300,000 for the East African member states.

For visitors to prove their gorilla trekking issuing permit category, a passport or a national identity card is required. More still, gorilla habituation permits are a little different from the standard gorilla trekking permits, which cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for the East African member states. However, this gorilla habituation permit allows visitors to spend four hours with the semi-habituated mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Bwindi and Mgahinga

Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda take place in Mgahinga National Park, where travellers track only one gorilla family, while in Bwindi, they take place in four sectors of the park, including Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Here, each trekking day starts with a briefing at the park information centre, where the rangers always brief you about the rules and regulations to ensure the safety of both the gorillas and the trekkers while in the jungle. You will always be distributed into groups of 8 individuals per gorilla family. More still, armed ranger guides lead each group on the right tracking trails to search for mountain gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers are driven to the tracking starting point near the forest and then begin their search for mountain gorillas in the jungle, led by armed ranger guides who are well-versed and informed about the park.

There are higher chances of encountering numerous wildlife species, such as forest animals, primates, and bird species, along the trekking trails. The search for mountain gorillas may take from 45 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the nature of the trail and the location of the gorillas. Upon seeing these gentle giants, trekkers will spend a maximum of one hour observing the gorillas and watching their daily activities, such as feeding, nurturing, coupling, climbing, nesting, playing, and their leadership roles.

During this moment, trekkers are allowed to take memorable photos and videos, and after the experience, trekkers must step away to allow the gorillas to continue their routine. Additionally, upon exiting the jungle, trekkers will receive certificates as proof of their participation in gorilla tracking and support for gorilla generation/conservation.

What to Pack During Gorilla Trekking Adventures in Uganda?

To enjoy gorilla trekking tours in Uganda’s gorilla destinations such as Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, you need to pack the essential items. Your packing list for gorilla trekking should include long cotton socks, a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, a face mask, a pair of binoculars, sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, a hat, a pair of gaiters, waterproof hiking shoes, a water bottle, insect repellent, a camera, long cotton socks, long-sleeved socks, extra batteries, and others.

Accommodation in Uganda’s Gorilla Adventure Parks

While on a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda’s gorilla parks, there are various accommodation options, from affordable to luxury options. Visitors are advised to book lodges based on their budget and in the sectors where they opt to track gorillas. Some of these lodges available in Mgahinga include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Eco Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, and others.

Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Sanctuary Gorilla Lodge, Silverback Safari Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ride 4 A Woman, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Oruzogo Safari Lodge, Bwindi Neck Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Cuckooland Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Rushaga Haven Lodge, Dorotia Safari Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Mirambi Safari Lodge, Karaa Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights, Clouds Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, and others.

Getting to Uganda’s Gorilla Parks

Both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks are located in southwestern Uganda and can be accessed by either road or air. Air transport is the best and fastest option, with two airstrips at Kihihi and Kisoro, served by airlines like Aerolink Uganda, Pearl Sky, and Bar Aviation, especially for those preferring quick travel. Road transport is the commonest type of transport, taking a lengthy 9-10-hour journey to access these parks from Kampala, involving some stops and scenic views. Travelers may use the Kampala-Masaka highway through Lyantonde, Mbarara, Kabale, or Kisoro to access these two gorilla parks.

What is the Best Time to do Gorilla Adventures in Uganda?

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry season, stretching from the months of June to September and December to February. These months receive intermittent rainfall, making the trails easier for travelers to trek, providing a clear view of the apes for better photography. However, travelling during the rainy season can make the trekking trails slick, muddy, and slippery.