Where Can I Do Gorilla Trekking In Uganda?
Where Can I Do Gorilla Trekking In Uganda? Uganda is a land of diversities and a sanctuary to one of the last remaining habitats of endangered mountain gorillas (half of the gorilla population in the world). The lush, verdant landscapes of Uganda’s national parks such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National park create a magnificent backdrop to view a wide range of incredible wildlife, including the endangered and rare mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the heart of Africa. Trekking through the dense forests, you will encounter not only mountain gorillas, but also chimpanzees and other wildlife species roaming the misty forests.
As you plan your gorilla trekking in Uganda, in this blog we delve into what to expect on gorilla trekking and where to see these endangered primate species in Uganda as well as the best time to go.
Gorilla Trekking – is an adventurous wildlife experience involving hiking through dense forests to have an interaction with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This immersive experience takes place only in the rainforests of Central Africa in Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo, in four national parks that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR.Congo.
With two gorilla trekking destinations, Uganda is home to half of the remaining mountain gorilla population.
As their name suggests, mountain gorillas live high in the mountains at elevations of 2,500 to 4,000m. Experienced guides play a crucial role in the gorilla trekking experience, leading trekkers deep into the forest to track mountain gorillas, ensuring safety, while navigating challenging terrain and educating groups on how to behave around the animals.
Where Can I Do Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Mountain gorillas are only found in two populations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Mountains – a range of extinct volcanoes stretching along the borders of Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
In Uganda, you can do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. By far, Bwindi is more popular choice as the park contains a greater population of gorillas, is better situated for fly-in safaris, and has a greater range of accommodation options.
The park you will visit for gorilla trekking in Uganda will depend on your wider travel plans and the time you have available. There is no difference in permit prices or chances of sightings across the two parks.
Note that both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are in the deep southwestern region of Uganda, near the border with Rwanda to the south and the DRC to the west.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. Here, habituated gorilla families can be accessed from four trail heads: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Each trail head has its own characteristics, families and levels of difficulty.
Departing from one of the four trailheads on the perimeters of the Bwindi forest, you join a group of other trekkers (maximum group size of 8 people) for a guided hike into the forest in search of one of the 20 habituated gorilla families.
Led by experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority guides, you will be introduced to the ecology of the forest and the changing landscapes as you trek to the gorillas. Your guides are in communication with the team of trackers who will have been shadowing the gorillas since daybreak. The trackers direct your guides to bring you to the gorillas.
Gorilla Treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla tours in Bwindi run daily from you’re the park headquarters / starting point, usually starting at 09:00 am and are limited to groups of 8 per habituated gorilla family.
The limit on group size is to keep gorillas safe from any sort of airborne pathogens, but also to increase the chances of sightings, as larger groups often scare off these surprisingly timid animals.
From the onset, the imposing southwestern slopes hills and terraced volcanoes prove a formidable adversary. This gorilla sanctuary, and access requires hiking through the thick, triffid-like tangles of vegetation, up muddy hills and down into craggy valleys.
The high altitude and testing terrain make the journey tiresome, but the rewards are more magical.
Once you have made contact with the gorillas, there is usually a silent wait, deep within the dense foliage, as the gorilla’s edge closer. When they do emerge, the gorillas in their natural habitat, the verdant forest providing the perfect backdrop is a truly breathtaking experience.
Any silence is soon broken by the rustling of leaves as the gorillas wander and play, and the calls, whistles, and whoops of thousands of animal species for miles around provides the perfect sound-track.
Once contact with the gorillas is made, you have up to one hour to spend with the gorillas and if you want to spend longer, you can take part in a gorilla habituation experience, and spend up to 4 hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.
Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families can be accessed from four trailheads/gorilla trekking sectors that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors. Each trail head has its own characteristics, families and levels of difficulty.
The trailheads serve as launch points for treks to 21 gorilla families with three semi-habituated gorilla families.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Part of the Virunga Conservation Area and stretching along the Virunga Massifs, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the second gorilla sanctuary in Uganda and a popular option for crossover itineraries with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Also, it is the only place in Uganda where you can trek both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a popular option to combine gorilla trekking in Nkuringo Sector of Bwindi with a gorilla trek in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Compared to Bwindi, Mgahinga is more secluded than Bwindi and the treks are not as challenging. The park has only one habituated gorilla family – Nyakagezi, thus only 8 gorilla permits per day.
The Nyakagezi Gorilla Family has five silverbacks, two adult females and three young gorillas.
When is the Best TimeB for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done all year round, but the best gorilla trekking experience is during the two dry seasons that is from December to February and June to late October. These periods are the most comfortable for trekking, but still the conditions are very humid and wet.
