Gorilla trekking guide in Uganda

Here is all you must know when planning your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

This Gorilla trekking guide offers you an idea of how to plan your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. It involves when or the best time for your safari, what is required like the equipment’s to use while on your gorilla trekking activity, the destination for your gorilla trekking safari, the rules and regulations of gorillas and many more.

For this case am speaking about Uganda, Uganda is one of the best countries in Africa with an abundant wildlife, good climate and a lot of attractions to view. The country is blest to have the mighty huge mountain gorillas that govern the entire Bwindi impenetrable forest with a lot of other primate species including the chimpanzees that are almost next to human commonly known as the ‘’closest cousins’’. The most popular activity around the park is gorilla trekking experience that any visitor on Uganda safari shouldn’t miss at any point of your visit. Though gorilla trekking comes in with a lot of excitement, the most important thing to consider is how well you can plan your trip. With adventure in the wild safaris, we area a local tour operator company with a lot of expertise ranging from the staff at office, an English speaking guide with a lot of excellent reviews on our trip adviser and many more to plan your safari so you will the best of your Uganda trip for once in your life time.

So, before you embark on this life changing journey, all you need is the best preparation for your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda. listed below is gorilla trekking guide in Uganda that will help you to make proper arrangements when planning your safari in Uganda.

Destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda

There about 1000 mountain gorillas that are still in existence in the world today, and Uganda is one of the countries that’s is blessed to have half of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas, and the remaining mountain Gorillas are in the volcanoes national park in Rwanda, and Virunga national park in the DR. Congo. Both counties conduct gorilla trekking activities. While in Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in two regions that is in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with the highest tourist destination, the parks comprise of 18 habituated gorilla families, 17 of which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the remaining 1 is tracked in Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is situated in the south western part of Uganda in the district of kanungu, the park lies at the edge of the Albertine rift valley. The park is covered with the thick ancient tropical rainforest and act has a home to over half of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas and the other species found here are the white and black colobus monkeys.

Bwindi is comprising of 4 sectors all having gorilla habituated families; therefore, gorilla trekking can be done from any sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

The regions include;

• Rushaga sector the families here include; Kutu, Bakingi, Mishaya, Busingye, Rwigi, Bweza, Nshongi, Kahungye gorilla groups.

• Nkuringo sector in the southern part of Bwindi, the gorilla families here include; Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas.
• Buhoma region situated in the North and has gorilla groups like Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare and Ruhija sector
• situated at the eastern part of Bwindi, the gorilla families here include; Musiza, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga national park is situated in the southwestern part in Uganda, the park lies at edge of the volcanoes national park. Mt. Muhavura, mt. Gahinga all together forming the Virunga conservation. The drive distance from Entebbe to Mgahinga is 8-9 hours and from Kisoro is 10km, the park is boarded by the DR. Congo in the west and in the south, it is boarded by Rwanda which is also popular for gorilla trekking activity.

Mgahinga has only one gorilla habituated family ready for tracking, gorilla tracking in this park is much easier than in Bwindi since the park is small and surrounded by a lot of bamboo trees and green vegetation that gorillas feed on so they do not move away. Therefore, the gorillas are easily located in their habituated group so you may not to move longer distances in search for the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking permit Uganda

All national parks in Uganda are managed by the government body under Uganda wildlife Authority that pass all the rules and regulations for all the national parks.

For gorilla trekking in Uganda, any person willing to take park in gorilla trekking safari in any of the two national parks must have a valid document that allows to view the gorillas in their natural habitat. In Uganda, the gorilla trekking permit is issued by the Uganda wildlife authority at a fee of $600 per person to trek. The permit authorizes you to visit the gorillas in Bwindi or in Mgahinga national park in Uganda.

Therefore, given the high demand for these permits, especially during the busy seasons known as peak seasons in Uganda that is from June-September the permits tend to be on high demand and can be sold out so we always advice our clients to secure the permits at least 6 month in advance or prior to your gorilla trekking day. Through us at adventure in the wild safari, we are able to secure the permits for you before they are out of stock.

The gorilla trekking permit allows you 1 hour from the time you meet the gorillas, but the actual exercise can last from 30min-6hours of the day. The other alternative is gorilla habitation experience and permit costs $1500 per person and this allows you for 4 hours with the gorillas, this is much interesting as you get to have much more time with gorillas.

Best time of the year for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking guide in Uganda helps you to know the best time to plan your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is possible all through the year, in Uganda experience two seasons that is the dry and the wet seasons in a year. The dry season comes with a lot of advantages and its therefore the best time for gorilla trekking, by this time from June, July, August ,September and December and also from January to February, the ground is dry from mud and you can trek steep slopes and thick vegetation without any difficulty in search for the gorillas unlike in the wet season .But also note that Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, there is no guarantee that there will be no rainfall but rainfall can be received at any time of the time due to weather alterations

The wet season known as the low season is also good and gorilla trekking is possible depending on the interest of the clients. The wet season in Uganda starts from march, April, May and October, by this there is a lot of rainfall and the ground is muddy and slippery causing difficulty in hiking and trekking the gorillas. But never the less this come with a lot of advantages for instance in the wet season, there is plenty of food the apes and the primates to depend so these helps visitors to locate the animals faster since they do not move a lot in search for food to feed on.

During the wet season, since its not busy, there is availability of permits, and lodges of your choice who in most cases offer discounts to visitors in the low season, also limited number of people tracking in the forest this offers you an opportunity to ask the guide all the questions you have. This season is best for budget travelers willing to spend less on their safari tour in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking packing list

Now that you have known the best for gorilla trekking in Uganda depending on your interest, you have secured the permits and all that is required, the next thing to know is the right equipment’s to pack for your gorilla trekking safari.  Listed below are the requirements needed for your gorilla trekking day.

• Hiking boots
• Garden gloves
• Pair of long trousers
• Long sleeved shirt for men/ blouse for women
• Pair of socks
• Rain jacket
• Insect repellent
• Sun glasses
• Hut
• Binoculars
• Camera with no flash light as gorillas may turn violent

Energy giving snacks and many others other equipment’s recommended for the gorilla trekking safari. While planning the safari, you can book with us 7-days Uganda gorilla safari, 10-day Uganda gorilla safari this will require a lot more since you will be viewing lots of wildlife from different national parks.

Gorilla trekking day

Gorilla trekking guide in Uganda gives you all the rules and precautions to be followed during your Uganda gorilla safari.

During the gorilla trekking, you are gathered at the parks head quarters and given the rules and the regulations that you will follow during the gorilla trek and when you encounter the gorilla.

Include among others;

• Keep distance of about 7 meters feet a way from the gorillas. gorillas are vulnerable to human infectious diseases and can catch the disease easily.
• Only persons a above the age of 15 years are allowed to trek the gorillas and that must be followed.
• Do not trek the gorillas if you are sick, and incase so you will be arranged another day to compensate for you to trek the gorillas.
• Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing when near the gorillas since they catch cold easily from humans.
• Stand still in case the gorilla changes and avoid direct eye contact with the gorillas it will walk away alone.
• Do not use camera flash lights when taking photographs of the gorillas as they may turn violent and will be forced to attack
• You are allowed strictly one hour from the time you meet the gorillas
• Leave the gorilla habitant how you found it, do not litter the area collect all the papers, bottles and move out with them
• Do not feed the gorillas.

Therefore, with the above gorilla trekking guide in Uganda, this tips help you to plan your safari n Uganda, for more information, you can contact us at adventure in the wild safari tour operator company we will be able to give you all the information you need in order to have the best of Uganda gorilla safari of your lifetime with unforgettable experience.

Book with us today. check some of our tour packages including the 3-day Uganda gorilla safari, 4-day Uganda gorilla safari, 7-day gorilla Uganda safari, 10-day gorilla Uganda safari and many more and also may safari attractions like wildlife viewing, primate safaris with a lot of other activities to offer you a full package of your Uganda gorilla safari.