The Complete Guide To Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about gorilla trekking and where to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, when to go and if it’s an easy or difficult trek.

You’ve come to the right site if you’re thinking of going gorilla trekking in Uganda or simply want to know what it takes.

Everything you need to know about gorilla trekking and locations to visit mountain gorillas in Uganda, the best time to go, if it’s going to be an easy or difficult task, how to get your gorilla permit in Uganda, and more will be included in this article.

This information should make it easier for you to decide whether or not to go on a gorilla trek if you’re not sure if you want to. 

Popular trips and example itineraries 

Your itinerary will depend on the gorilla tour operator you choose for the trip. The best gorilla tour companies in Uganda include Prime Tours and Adventure, Friendly Gorilla Safaris, Bamboo Ecotours, and Wild Whispers Africa.

Below are a few of the most popular trips and example itineraries they’ve organized.

Gorilla Tour (for 6 days)

With this trip, tourists can choose between a cheap or expensive 3-day gorilla tour in either Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park.

Gorilla Adventure & Murchison Falls (7 days)

On this trip, you will see Ugandan mountain gorillas, go on a wildlife tour of Murchison Falls National Park, and take a boat excursion on the Nile.

Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks Plus Safari Drives

This trip begins in Uganda and ends in Rwanda. With the 8-day Wildlife tour Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives, you may visit Kampala, Uganda, as well as 7 other locations in Africa.

Where can I track gorillas in Uganda?

Mountain gorillas can be seen in two national parks in Uganda. These include the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the Virunga Mountains.

Mountain gorillas can be viewed in both of the parks, which are close to one another in southern Uganda.

About 80 mountain gorillas live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, of which two gorilla families are accustomed to human visitors. It is a national park that covers 13 square miles in the broader Virunga Mountains.

Nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population lives in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is home to 400 of them. 14 gorilla families have been trained to welcome visitors. There are four areas where visitors can undertake gorilla trekking in this 128-square-mile park:

There are 3 habituated gorilla families in the Buhoma Gorilla Region, 3 in the Ruhija Gorilla Region, 5 habituated gorilla families in the Rushaga Gorilla Region, and 3 habituated gorilla families in the Nkuringo Gorilla Region.

The majority of tourists who come to Uganda undertake gorilla trekking in Bwindi since more gorilla families may be visited and more permits are available because of this. If you reserve a tour through an operator, they’ll probably choose the locale and country for you depending on your travel plans and available lodging.

When is the best time to go?

Though you may go gorilla trekking in Uganda at any time of year, if you can be flexible with your travel dates, we’d advise going during one of the two dry seasons. Although rain is always a possibility in this hilly area, it is less likely now, so you are less likely to get wet when hiking.

Uganda has two dry seasons, one lasting roughly from December to February and the other from June to September. In general, this is a fantastic season to travel to Uganda to see the animals.

However, you must be ready for the much higher likelihood of rain and mud, which can make the hike more difficult and affect how well you can see and photograph the gorillas. Gorilla trekking can still be enjoyed during the wet season.

Securing a gorilla permit

You need a permit to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. Securing a gorilla permit and going on an authorized gorilla trip are the only ways to observe gorillas in the wild. It’s also important to note that gorilla trekking is not something you can do on a tight budget. The money you pay supports both gorilla conservation and general wildlife protection in Uganda. 

To support local initiatives for gorilla preservation, some of the money also goes there. The increase in mountain gorilla populations over the past few years is largely ascribed to managed tourism and conservation initiatives supported by permits for trekking.

Prices for gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are listed below for 2022.

• For non-resident foreigners, 700 USD per person
• For international residents, 600 USD per person
• For East African citizens, 250,000 Ugandan shillings

All of these in Uganda are organized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and permits must be reserved in advance. Make sure your gorilla expedition is scheduled before you depart for Uganda. If you book with a tour operator, they’ll probably make the arrangements for you.

Please note that the above charges exclude lodging or transportation to and from the park. Additionally, they exclude the price of hiring a porter and tips for guides and trackers.

How difficult is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is a strenuous and physically taxing activity. Additionally, mountain gorillas in Uganda are extremely rare, and they dwell in an area that is hard to reach. 

Although visitors have gradually created little routes through the jungle, there are still numerous branches and thorns to be aware of as you go.

Usually, rangers and trackers bring along large machetes to help clear the path. Still, it can be difficult to pass. In addition to being highly muddy, it can also be very hot, rainy, and humid.

Additionally, there is no regular path to see the gorillas. 

The time it takes to visit them can range from a few hours to almost a whole day depending on where they are and how long it takes the trackers to find them because they roam about of their own free will. Treks can last up to five hours one way.

What to wear on a gorilla trek

One of the common mistakes people make is showing up for gorilla trekking in the wrong clothing. Some individuals wear sandals and shorts, which are improper for the event. Here’s what you should wear;

• A long-sleeved shirt and long trousers (preferably waterproof ones)
•  A hat
• Sturdy gardening gloves
• Waterproof hiking and sturdy boots
• A rain jacket
• Enough insect repellent
• A warm sweater
• Underwear

The rules around gorilla trekking

All participants receive a briefing that goes over all the major guidelines for gorilla trekking before the start of the journey.

Here is a summary of the key guidelines you need to be aware of, though, to give you a better understanding of what to anticipate.

• Maximum group sizes are set at 8 participants.
• You only have a maximum of one hour with the troop once you’ve located the gorillas.
• Throughout, photography and videography are permitted, however, flash is prohibited.
• Avoid making loud noises or quick movements, and talk in a quiet voice.
• Rubbish should not be left behind. 
• It’s prohibited to eat, smoke, or drink close to the gorillas.
• It is crucial to prevent gorillas from contracting human infections because they are prone to doing so. Everyone is required to wear a mask for that reason. And although mask use became widespread during the Covid-19 outbreak, it has frequently been necessary when seeing the gorillas after then to keep them safe.
• You must maintain a safe distance from the gorillas and under no circumstances try to make noise or touch them.
• During the trek to and from the gorillas, you are permitted to relieve yourself off the trail, provided it is far from any bodies of water. Be aware that human waste must be buried in a hole at least 30 cm deep when it comes to solid trash. Luckily, the ranger always travels with a tiny shovel to help anyone in need.

Are gorilla sightings guaranteed?

Although not 100% guaranteed, there’s a 90% chance that most tourists will observe gorillas.

For tourists that have failed to see them, it’s not that the gorillas can’t be found, but rather that travelers opt to turn around before they get to the gorillas. 

The trek to see the gorillas can be difficult, especially if the gorilla family being visited is farther away. Some tourists may find the trek to be more difficult than they anticipated and turn around.

What are the accommodation options?

Accommodation options near Mgahinga

Compared to Bwindi, Mgahinga has fewer gorilla families, which results in fewer trekkers because there are fewer permits available. As a result, there aren’t many places to stay, but there are a handful of accommodations close to the meeting place for gorilla trekking. They include:

• Mount Gahinga Lodge
• Anjambere Iwacu Community Camp
• Travellers Rest Hotel

Accommodation near Bwindi

The Buhoma region, Bwindi has a variety of amenities and may have the largest selection of hotel options. It is also one of the most well-known original gorilla trekking locations in the park.

• Gorilla Safari Lodge
• Bakiga Lodge
• Ruhija Community Rest Camp
• Gorilla Mist Camp

The Mountain Gorilla 

One can tell from their name, mountain gorillas, that they dwell in forests, particularly hilly areas. These forests are at altitudes of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Mountain gorillas have fur that is both thicker and more dense than other big apes. 

They can survive in an environment where temperatures frequently drop below freezing points thanks to their fur. However, as humans increasingly encroached on gorilla habitat, the gorillas were forced to go further and deeper into the highlands. This wasn’t good because while there, they were subjected to perilous and occasionally fatal conditions. 

The Virunga Mountains, which are covered in extinct volcanoes and serve as the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, serve as home to half of the mountain gorillas. The other half of the gorillas are located in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 

The population of the mountain gorilla subspecies has faced years of war, hunting, habitat loss, and sickness since the subspecies were discovered in 1902. Due to these many dangers, it was previously thought the species would go extinct by the end of the twentieth century. 

All this has however changed because of conservation efforts. Despite the never-ending civil conflict, poaching, and encroachment from humans, gorilla numbers are steadily increasing.