Uganda Gorilla trekking tours

Uganda Gorilla trekking tours is one the lifetime primate and wildlife experience in Uganda safaris. Doing Uganda Safari Tours  may be considered incomplete if one does not do Uganda Gorilla trekking tours. Mountain Gorilla trekking is done only in three African Countries those are Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda Gorilla trekking tours is done in two parks those are Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park.

These two parks are found in the South Western part of Uganda bordering the Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo.  They are part of the extension of the Volcanoes Mountains that run from Rwanda to Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda. The Volcanoes ecosystem is the only hosts of the remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world. According to the mountain Gorilla census which was conducted in May 2018 the number of Mountain Gorillas are on increase with a total of 1004 mountain Gorillas present currently.     

Out of that total Uganda boasts as it hosts almost half of the total population of Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable national park can be accessed through Rwanda or from Uganda. This makes our Uganda Gorilla trekking tours to start from any side either Rwanda or Uganda. You can easily do Gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda or Kigali. It takes short 4 to 5 hours drive from Kigali to Bwindi.  From Entebbe international airport it takes 9 hours drive. However much the drive is long its too scenic as you pass through the remote places of Uganda. Stop at great destinations for pictures like in Equator and other craft shops. If one wants to shorten the distance, there are other options like flights from Kajjansi or Entebbe to Kisoro or Kihihi airports. Alternatively one can land to Kigali and have 4 hours drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

Uganda Gorilla trekking tours is done in the 5 sectors that form the two Uganda national parks where Gorillas are found. The five sectors of Gorilla trekking include:

Ntebeko sector in Mgahinga and Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhinja and Nkuringo sectors all found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. The five sectors have a total of 18 Gorilla families that are fully habituated and tracked by the tourists during their visit to Uganda for Gorilla trekking in Uganda. Despite the fact that the Gorilla families are many but the currently habituated gorilla families for Tourism activity are only 18. The gorilla conservation, protection is done by governing body called Uganda wildlife Authority. The number of tourists per day per group or gorilla family are limited. The number of tourists that are allowed to track one gorilla family are limited to track the maximum of only 8 guests only and only 4 guests per family for Gorilla habituation.

The gorilla sectors in Bwindi are distributed in the two regions of Bwindi impenetrable Forest national park those are Southern region and the Northern Region. Each region has two trekking sectors with different number of Gorilla families. The sector with the highest number of Gorilla families is Rushaga. Gorilla habituation is only done in Uganda and in Rushaga and it’s the only sector with Gorilla habituation families where all the Gorilla research activities are done. In the Southern part there are Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sector. While on the Northern part there is Buhoma sector and Ruhinja sector. All gorilla permits show clearly the sector you’re tracking in and the date. This will make you book the rightful accommodation at the sector where your going to do your Uganda Gorilla trekking tours from.

One has to book for the gorilla permit as early as more than 3 months in advance during peak season and one month in advance during off season months. The best time to do Gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry months that is from June to October and again from December to March every year. If you prefer less crowded time, then come during wet or rainy season will be the best though you should be physically fit enough since the forest will be slippery.

For one to do Uganda Gorilla trekking tours one has to secure a gorilla permit from Uganda wildlife Authority or through reputable local Uganda tour operators. Most Tour operators provide packages that include even the gorilla permits in their cost hence reducing you the burden of looking for the Gorilla permit. They even advise on the parking list for Gorilla trekking activity in Uganda. The gorilla permit costs 700 USD per person which is limited to only one Gorilla trekking. You can also opt for Gorilla habituation permits which costs 1500 USD. For gorilla habituation you only be four in the team and spending 4 hours with the gorillas after meeting them. There are only 16 gorilla habituation permits in Uganda. Its only in Uganda that Gorilla habituation is available and in Democratic Republic of Congo though they only do for Lowland Gorillas not Mountain Gorillas.

Uganda Gorilla trekking tours is a life time experience signified by the Gorilla trekking certificate that is issued to guests after trekking the Gorillas. The experience is worth the amount paid for the gorilla permit. The Gorilla trekking activity starts as early as 7:30 with the briefing from the park rangers and clearing from the headquarters office. After the general briefing is done where the guests are briefed on the rules and regulations of Gorilla trekking in Uganda. The guests are divided in to the group of 8 people in each group with the game ranger assigned on them. Each group will be allocated the Gorilla family where they will track.

After the group briefing is done the guests are lead to the jungle where you will enjoy the chill weather of the forest. However much its dry season but any time be aware of rain drops any time while on the forest. The tracking also involves hiking to certain level which need some level of fitness though no hiking experience is required.

Uganda Gorilla trekking tours are govern by rules and regulations that all the guests are briefed off before they enter in to the bush. The different regulations help in the observation of the conservation of the Gorillas.  Gorilla trekking is full of joy and excitement while in the middle of the lush rainforest. Play full young gorillas like coming closer to the guests some can even touch you. Its out of this that children below 15 years are not allowed to track the gorillas in Uganda.