A complete guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda
A full guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking is a fun and unique exercise where people walk through the tropical jungle in search of mountain gorillas that are used to people. Once they find them, they spend an hour with them in their natural environment. A lot of people come to Uganda to go gorilla trekking. It can be done in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has the most gorillas, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is in the southwest. If you want your gorilla trekking trip to go well, you should read this full guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda. As well as Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park, and Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also places where you can go gorilla climbing. Here is everything you need to know about trekking gorillas in Uganda.
Trekking with gorillas in Uganda
In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there is one family of habituated gorillas. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are over 22 habituated gorilla families living in four sectors: the rushaga sector is in the south, the buhoma sector is in the north, the nkuringo sector is in the south, and the ruhija sector is in the east. At around 8:00 a.m., gorilla climbing in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts with a talk about the rules and laws that trekkers must follow.
After the training, you will be split into eight-person groups. Each group will be given a familiar gorilla family to walk with and an experienced park guide who knows the way through the bush. In Uganda, trekking mountain gorillas can take anywhere from two to seven hours, based on where the gorillas are. This is because they like to move around in search of food. You will see other primate species, birds, plant and tree species, and more while trekking. Once you find the mountain gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. This gives you a chance to learn more about their habits and behaviors, as well as to take pictures and record the beautiful moments to show your family back home.
Everything you need to know to go gorilla trekking in Uganda
How much it costs to go on a gorilla trek in Uganda
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, passes to go hiking with gorillas cost 700 USD per person who is not from Uganda and 600 USD per person who is from Uganda. East African citizens pay 250,000 UGX per person.
How to get a pass to go gorilla hiking in Uganda
You can book gorilla hiking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park through Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd, a reputable tour company. Just let us know the gorilla spot you want to visit, along with the date, month, and year you want to go. Once you reach us, we’ll check with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to see if there are any permits available. If there are, you will be asked to make a deposit. We will be able to buy the gorilla hiking pass for you and send you a scanned copy of the bill as proof once the payment is received.
When is the best time to visit Uganda to see gorillas?
You can go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at any time of the year, but the best time is during the dry season, which is also known as the peak season and includes June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because there is less rain in the national parks during this time, so the access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be clear, making trekking easier than it is during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making gorilla trekking harder.
What to bring with you on your Uganda gorilla hiking trip
People who want to go on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda need to bring a lot of things with them. These include bug spray, hiking shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and pants, garden gloves, a waterproof rain jacket or poncho, energy snacks and water, a camera and extra batteries, face masks, a warm sweater, a walking stick, a hat and sunglasses, and a backpack, among other things.
Where to stay during your hike to see gorillas
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both have a lot of different places to stay while you are on vacation. Some of the places to stay are cheap, some are moderately priced, and some are very expensive. They are called Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Closeup Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Rafiki Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Silverback Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Bwindi View Lodge, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Engagi Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Mahinga Lodge, Ruhija Safari Lodge, and Bweza Lodge.
How to get to the places where you can go monkey trekking
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are in the southwestern part of Uganda. To get there, book a charter or regular domestic flight with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips, and then take a road connection to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
You can also get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by car. To get to the park offices, you’ll need to drive from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale, which will take about 9 to 10 hours.
Visitors can also get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali, Rwanda. They will fly to Kigali International Airport and then drive for four to five hours to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park via the Katuna Border in Kabale or the Cyanika Border in Kisoro.
