Gorilla Trekking in Uganda – Uganda Gorilla Safaris, Tours to See Primates
The critically endangered mountain gorillas are the top attractions that pull tourists to Uganda. Gorilla trekking is when tourists go through the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas. This is an interesting activity that brings tourists to have a face to face encounter with these marvelous Giant Apes. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be a strenuous activity in some areas because of the rugged terrain or the high altitude while trekking in other areas it is not so challenging because some areas don’t involve trekking to far and high altitude locations. Regardless of how challenging you find the activity, meeting face to face with the mountain gorillas will leave you excited and breathless.
Where to go for gorilla trekking
In Uganda, gorilla trekking in Uganda is conducted in two remarkable national Parks that is Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The former is located in South-western Uganda on the edge of the Rift valley. While the latter (Mgahinga National Park) is also located in the South-western corner of Uganda also covering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
There are 12 habituated Gorilla groups (eleven (11) in Bwindi and one (1) in Mgahinga) available for tourism in Uganda and UWA sells 96 gorilla permits per day (88 gorilla permits for Bwindi and 8 gorilla permits for Mgahinga). However, most permits are sold for Bwindi because the Gorilla group in Mgahinga that is the Nyakagyezi group is always mobile crossing to the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
When to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking (best time to visit)
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a year-round activity but December to February and June to September are always considered the best months to visit Uganda for Gorilla trekking. These months fall under the dry season. This is also the peak season for tourism and the demand for gorilla permits is competitive during these months. The rainy season includes March to May and October to November. This is the low season because most tourists choose not to participate in gorilla trekking because the roads leading to the parks and within the parks become literally impassable, the trails also are muddy and slippery making trekking and hiking a challenge for the tourists. Interestingly, there are discounted gorilla permits offered for the tourists trekking mountain gorillas in the low seasons.
How much do gorilla permits cost?
Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $600 for the foreign nonresidents, $500 for the foreign residents and Shs. 250,000 for the East African citizens. These prices are applicable for other months and the peak seasons (December to February and June to September). Low seasons have different prices which include $450 for foreign non-residents, $400 for foreign residents and Shs. 150,000 for the East African citizens.
How to acquire a gorilla permit in Uganda
In order to guarantee your participation in gorilla trekking in Uganda and also the high demand for gorilla permits, it is advisable to book for a gorilla permit at least 6 months in advance. The permit can be purchased directly from UWA offices or indirectly through tour operators/travel agents. When booking with UWA, you can reach the reservation office physically since the headquarters are in Kampala City on plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya. If you cannot reach the offices physically, call the offices on +256 414 355000 or +256 312 355000. You can also send an email to uwa@uwa.or.ug or info@ugandawildlife.org and you will be able to inquire about the availability of the gorilla permits on the dates you wish to travel.
What companies to contact to book for gorilla trekking
For your gorilla trekking safari, you can use the services of the tour operators to organize for your hustle free trip. The tour operators can as well purchase the gorilla permit on your behalf in case you do not need them to plan for your entire safari package. You will only be required to pay a commission, but if they plan the entire safari you will not be charged a commission for purchasing the gorilla permit. Due to the increase in the number of fraudsters, you have to use credible tour and travel companies, which include Maranatha Tours and Travel Company, Abacus Africa Vacations and Africa Adventure Safaris among others (you can check with Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) for the list of all credible tour operator companies)
Where to stay within Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park
The accommodation facilities range from upmarket to Low budget accommodation facilities. For Bwindi, each of the four sectors (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo) has accommodations facilities for tourists to choose from. Some of the accommodation facilities include Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Lake Kitandara Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and Chameleon Hill Lodge among others for tourists opting for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park.
For the gorilla trekkers opting for Mgahinga National Park, the accommodation options include Lake Mutanda Chameleon Hill Lodge, Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge, and Amajambere Iwacu Camp among others
What is required to participate in gorilla trekking?
On the day of the real gorilla trekking, make sure you have your gorilla permit so that your participation can be guaranteed.
Wear strong rainproof hiking boots that will allow you to maneuver through the thick jungles of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Should have garden gloves because, during hiking, you will need to support yourself with tree branches that might have thorns. So the garden gloves serve to protect your handles from the effect of that.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers which will also protect you from stinging nettles, scratches from branches, thorns, and grass. Wear a hat to protect your head from the scorching sunshine.
Carry a rainproof backpack to keep your documents, cameras, binoculars, your packed lunch and drinks among others.
Carry a walking stick that will support you when climbing the mountains
Also wear rainproof rain jackets because regardless of it being a rainy or dry season, the fact that the forests are equatorial and the Parks lie in areas of high altitude it can always rain anytime.
Carry packed lunch inform of snacks and drinks (preferably water or an energy drink) that will give you energy and quench your thirst during the long walk trekking the mountain gorillas.
You will also need insect repellant to protect you from the flies, mosquitoes found in the forest.
Do’s and Don’ts of Gorilla trekking
When with the mountain gorillas, maintain a distance of 7 meters away from them. This helps to reduce the possibility of infecting them with illnesses like flue and cough among others. Also, avoid touching them. They might be shy animals but are and will always remain wild animals.
Do not visit the mountain gorillas if you have contagious diseases like cough and flue. These creatures have 98% of their DNA related to humans, so you can infect them with those diseases.
Do not participate in gorilla trekking if you are below 15 years of age.
Do not litter rubbish (empty bottles, leftovers, and food wrappers) within the National Park. Enjoy nature in its natural form by conserving for present and future generations.
When you encounter the Giant Apes, avoid up and down movements, avoid noise no matter how excited you are to see the mountain gorillas because it can end up scaring them.
Avoid flash and sound cameras when taking photographs of the Giant Apes because it can also scare them away
Each group of tourists visiting a gorilla group should not exceed 8 people. You are allowed only one hour with the mountain gorillas. Since they are critically endangered species of gorillas, going against that rule can strain them.
In case you get the urge of coughing or sneezing, turn away from the mountain gorillas and cough or sneeze with your mouth and nose covered to reduce the possibility of spreading diseases to the Gorillas.
In case you have the urge of easing yourself, speak to the tour guide who will dig for you a pit of about 0.3meters (30 centimeters), after which it should be thoroughly covered after use.
Do not drink or smoke while near the Giant Apes
Always keep in your group with fellow gorilla trekkers because of diversion from the group while trekking can contribute to your getting lost. So keep following your guide and do not divert or join another group of gorilla trekkers.
How to access the National Parks for gorilla trekking
Bwindi National Park can be accessed through both air and road transport. With road transport, it takes about 6-10 hours depending on the route because a number of routes can be used. One of them is Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija/Buhoma, another route is Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi then to Buhoma, the third route if Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu and finally to Buhoma (5 hours drive) and Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo. By air, there are three airstrips including Kihihi, Kayonza, and Nyakabande (in Kisoro). charter flights are available to Kayonza airstrip.
Mgahinga National Park can also be accessed by both road and air transport. It is about 8 hours drive from Kampala to this Park. The route is Kampala to Kabale to Kisoro. By air, scheduled flights to this Park use Kisoro airstrip and take one hour.
In conclusion, gorilla trekking in Uganda is an exceptional activity unique to Uganda because it is one of the main reasons that tourists visit the country. This exceptional activity is conducted from two iconic national Parks that is Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Tourists planning to visit Africa for safaris should not miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in this life-changing activity and have memories for a lifetime.