Gorilla Trekking in UgandaGorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is the major tourist activity that attracts many tourists to visit Uganda. Gorilla trekking involves clients walking on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and, once found, spending one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two destinations, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas, which are found in four sectors, namely, the Buhoma sector in the north, the Rushaga sector in the south, the Nkuringo sector in the south and the Ruhija sector in the east.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Clients interested in gorilla trekking activity are required to first purchase a gorilla trekking permit, which is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to visitors above the age of 15 years, allowing them to take part in the gorilla trekking experience. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, 500 USD per person for citizens of the rest of Africa, and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
Uganda also offers low-season gorilla trekking permits in the months of April, May and November, which cost 600 USD per person for foreign non-residents and 500 USD per person for foreign residents.
Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing, you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails in the forest. Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During the trek, you will enjoy views of other primates like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, mammals, and different bird species, among others. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat, which gives you an opportunity to watch them feed, play, rest, breastfeed, groom young ones, learn and ask questions about their habits and behaviors from the park guide, and take pictures and record videos.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done all year round, though the best time is during the peak season, also known as the dry season, in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During this period, there is less rainfall in the tropical rainforest; therefore, gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable, hence making trekking easy compared to the wet/rainy season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, which makes gorilla trekking difficult.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
There is a wide range of accommodation facilities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange and budget, including Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge, Agandi Uganda Eco Lodge, Orugani Bwindi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Rafiki Safari Lodge, Dorotia Bwindi Eco Tourism Resort, Four Gorillas Lodge, Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Cuckooland Tented Lodge, Wagtail Safari Camp, Engagi Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Karungi Camp, Bwindi Neckview Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Broadbill Forest Rest Camp, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Gahinga Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort and Campsite, and Ruhija Safari Lodge, among others.
How to get to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are located in the southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means.
When using road transport means, clients will drive from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale and then to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which takes about 10-12 hours’ drive.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda, where clients will fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect to the gorilla destinations in Uganda via the Katuna border in Kabale or the Cyanika border in Kisoro, which takes about a 4- to 6-hour drive.
When using air transport means, there are domestic airlines like Aerolink Uganda and Pearl Sky Uganda that operate daily scheduled and charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, which take about 1 hour.
Packing list for gorilla trekking in Uganda
There are a number of essential items that you can pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda including long sleeved shirt and trouser, hiking shoes, waterproof rain jacket/ poncho, insect repellent, waterproof back pack, camera and extra batteries, bottled drinking water, energy snacks, gardening gloves, a pair of binoculars among others.
Gorilla trekking is a breathtaking and once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be combined with other interesting activities like game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, walking safaris, horseback riding, and sport fishing, among others in Lake Mburo National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is the major tourist activity that attracts many tourists to visit Uganda. Gorilla trekking involves clients walking on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and, once found, spending one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two destinations, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas, which are found in four sectors, namely, the Buhoma sector in the north, the Rushaga sector in the south, the Nkuringo sector in the south and the Ruhija sector in the east.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Clients interested in gorilla trekking activity are required to first purchase a gorilla trekking permit, which is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to visitors above the age of 15 years, allowing them to take part in the gorilla trekking experience. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, 500 USD per person for citizens of the rest of Africa, and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
Uganda also offers low-season gorilla trekking permits in the months of April, May and November, which cost 600 USD per person for foreign non-residents and 500 USD per person for foreign residents.
Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing, you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails in the forest. Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During the trek, you will enjoy views of other primates like l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, mammals, and different bird species, among others. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat, which gives you an opportunity to watch them feed, play, rest, breastfeed, groom young ones, learn and ask questions about their habits and behaviors from the park guide, and take pictures and record videos.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done all year round, though the best time is during the peak season, also known as the dry season, in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During this period, there is less rainfall in the tropical rainforest; therefore, gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable, hence making trekking easy compared to the wet/rainy season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, which makes gorilla trekking difficult.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
There is a wide range of accommodation facilities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations range from luxury, midrange and budget, including Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge, Agandi Uganda Eco Lodge, Orugani Bwindi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Rafiki Safari Lodge, Dorotia Bwindi Eco Tourism Resort, Four Gorillas Lodge, Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Cuckooland Tented Lodge, Wagtail Safari Camp, Engagi Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Karungi Camp, Bwindi Neckview Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Broadbill Forest Rest Camp, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Gahinga Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort and Campsite, and Ruhija Safari Lodge, among others.
How to get to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are located in the southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means.
When using road transport means, clients will drive from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale and then to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which takes about 10-12 hours’ drive.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda, where clients will fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect to the gorilla destinations in Uganda via the Katuna border in Kabale or the Cyanika border in Kisoro, which takes about a 4- to 6-hour drive.
When using air transport means, there are domestic airlines like Aerolink Uganda and Pearl Sky Uganda that operate daily scheduled and charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, which take about 1 hour.
Packing list for gorilla trekking in Uganda
There are a number of essential items that you can pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda including long sleeved shirt and trouser, hiking shoes, waterproof rain jacket/ poncho, insect repellent, waterproof back pack, camera and extra batteries, bottled drinking water, energy snacks, gardening gloves, a pair of binoculars among others.
Gorilla trekking is a breathtaking and once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be combined with other interesting activities like game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, walking safaris, horseback riding, and sport fishing, among others in Lake Mburo National Park.
