GORILLA TREKKING UGANDA – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Gorilla trekking in Uganda, the “pearl of Africa” is fantastic compared to any other experience in Africa. The environment of the trek through the jungle is unbelievable. With each movement ones expectations develops and the reward of sighting the remaining few gorillas in the world is amazing. The location, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is confirmed one of the most fascinating in all of Africa. It was gazetted as national park in 1991 with the mubare group as the first group of gorillas in 1993. It has been confirmed that as a result of poaching, there has been a reduction in the number of gorillas all over the world. In total there are 1000 mountain gorillas in the world as per the 2018 census with Uganda holding 50% of the total population.
To see the gorillas is spectacular because the tourists are get to see them in their natural habitat. so get an opportunity to go gorilla trekking in Uganda with the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world.
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 a bit 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 story to narrate in life.
WHERE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS ARE, IN UGANDA.
Mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga Mountains in DRC and Rwanda as well as in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Worldwide, Uganda contains of 50% of the total mountain gorillas left with about 450 of them living in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Bwindi is well known for gorilla trekking in Uganda and it is located in the southwestern part of the country and its one of the most popular national parks in East Africa.
Bwindi is divided into four sectors : Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector and Ruhija sector. These sectors have an impressive array of luxury lodges and campsites as well as restaurants, craft stalls and guiding services.
BUHOMA SECTOR IN THE NORTH.
This is the most popular sector for trekkers consisting of four gorilla groups which are used to humans. The groups are mubare, habinyanja,nkuringo and the rushegura group of gorillas. This sector has many developed and comfortable accommodation like Buhoma community rest camp, sanctuary govilla forest camp, Buhoma lodge, CTPH gorilla conservation camp 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 example clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Nkuringo gorilla camp, nshongi camp and chameleon hill camp
RUHIJA SECTOR IN THE EAST.
Ruhija sector has the following group of gorillas; the bitukura group which was named after a river in which they were first seen and it consists of 12 members including 4 silverbacks. The sector contains accommodations like, Ruhija gorilla safari lodge, Ruhija gorilla mist camp’ Trekkers Tavern mist camp AND Ruhija gorilla resort.
RUSHAGA SECTOR IN THE SOUTH.
Rushaga is composed of nshongi gorilla family, mishaya family, kahungye family and Bweza family group and visitors can settle at Gorilla safari lodge and Chameleon hill lodge.
WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
A classic day of trekking begins at an appointed meeting area for example at Buhoma park headquarters where visitors show up any a given time and for a short video and gorilla briefing with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. After that the tourists are divided into small groups of about 8 members and are assigned to different gorilla groups. the group number is because small groups are easy to manage and they do not scare the gorillas. The Habinyanja group of gorillas has a family of 17 gorillas which is the largest habituated gorilla family in Bwindi National Park
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 headquarters of the particular sectors (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija or Nkuiringo) while others have to drive into the forest as a starting point but in most cases tourists do not know where their trek will start from not until the day of trekking. Once in their starting points, tourists are supposed to follow their respective ranger guides who will lead them through the thick forest. Armed guards are also provided for security.
HOW LONG IS A GORILLA TREK
Coming across these gorillas can take the time interval if one to five hours or even more because the trekkers have to figure out where the gorillas have moved to day by day. The trek is relatively hard but tourists in a 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/she can hire some of the local porters from surrounding villages ant they cost $15 a day with a tip for example the friendly BATWA community .
WHAT NEXT AFTER FINDING THE GORILLAS
After finding the 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 of staying with the gorillas can make them suspicious and uncomfortable about the environment.
BEST TIME FOR GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Gorilla trekking 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 is January-February and May-September. During these months, the land is drier though some little rain drops are experienced but its more comfortable for the tourists due to the less muddy conditions and clear sky.
PERMIT COST FOR GORILLA TREKKING
The permit cost for gorilla trekking in Uganda is $800 per person and gorilla habituating is $1500 per person. The permit can be got from Uganda Wildlife Authority through us at Adventure in the wild safaris. Rwanda’s $1500 whereas the cost for DRC is $400 due to recorded political instability in the country.
HOW THE GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS ARE ACQUIRED
The most convenient way of getting a gorilla trekking permit is by going with a local operator of Bwindi impenetrable national park like Qash Safaris. However tourists are advised to Adventure in the wild safaris earlier before the travel such that we can check and tell you the Gorilla Trekking permit availability and thus reserve it for you.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Uganda generally experiences two dry and wet seasons. However Bwindi impenetrable national park is a little moist even during the dry season because of the nature of Bwindi National Park being a tropical rain forest.
Tourists are advised to carry at least two long sleeved shirts, lightweight and waterproof safari clothes, binoculars, gardening cloves, 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 adventure 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.
HOW YOUR GORILLA TOUR HELPS CONSERVE THE GORILLAS
The money raised from tourism is used to conserve the few remaining gorillas in Uganda since these animals are highly endangered. This has promoted to an increase in the number of mountain gorillas of lately. I would like to add on the power to save these gorillas is in the tourist’s hands only by visiting them.
Part of the money is also given to the surrounding local communities in Bwindi to promote education and provision of food.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking is one of the top activities that brings travelers to East Africa. The mountain Gorillas are an endangered primate species, with less than 900 mountain gorillas left on the planet and as such they are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
To see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, one must visit either Uganda or Rwanda. The mountain gorilla trekking experience has often been described as a once in a life time experience by many travellers who have done the trek. The mountain gorilla trekking experience is usually a day activity that starts early in the morning, travelers are advised to have an early breakfast then travel to the briefing point where they are briefed about the experience, and the gorilla tracking rules. They are then assigned to different gorilla families, with a maximum of 8 people assigned per group. The tourists then proceed to the thick jungles and bamboo forests in search of the mountain gorillas, with the trek lasting between 1 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Upon meeting the gorillas, a maximum of 1 hour is allowed for the tourists to stay with the gorillas
Frequently Asked questions about Gorilla trekking Uganda and Rwanda
What is gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking is a tourist activity in which travelers hike through the thick tropical rainforests of Bwindi forest national park, Volcanoes, Mgahinga and or Virunga national parks in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. There are only three countries in Africa where you can go mountain gorilla trekking that is Uganda and Rwanda. In order to go gorilla trekking, a gorilla permit is required, which should be secured in advance. Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with briefing by the ranger guides about the Gorilla trekking rules, after which you grouped into trekking parties of 8 and assigned a specific mountain gorilla family to trek. You then head into the thick forests guided by the parks ranger guides, following the mountain gorilla family based on its last known location or where the gorilla group spent the night. The gorilla trek lasts from 30 minutes to 3 quarters of the day, and you should therefore be ready for any experience. After you finally meet your mountain gorilla family, you will be allowed a maximum of 1 hour with the Gorillas, in which you will take photos, observe the mountain gorillas and also ask the ranger guides any question about the gorillas. Gorilla trekking has been described by some travelers as “a once in a lifetime experience” and it should be on your bucket list of things to do in Africa.
When is the best time of the year to trek the Mountain Gorillas?
Many times travelers ask the question “when is the best time for Gorilla trekking?” The Mountain Gorillas can be trekked all year round in Rwanda or Uganda however given the cost of the Gorilla trekking permit (Rwanda $1500, Uganda $800) everyone would want to travel during the time of the year where they can get the best value for money and best gorilla trekking experience. It is therefore important to note that the drier months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February are the best for gorilla trekking. During this period the trek is very enjoyable as it’s very easy to navigate through the dense forests of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the volcanoes national park, the forests are not dump and wet, there is less mist, and it is not very cold. However it is also good to note that since these are tropical rain forests, once in a while even in these dry months, there can be little rain.
On the other hand, if you are looking to travel in months where there are discount, Rwanda offers their gorilla trekking permits at $1050 for low season months. As for Uganda, note that the low season discounts where scrapped off recently.