Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021

Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021; Gorilla trekking is an interesting and one of the famous activities in Uganda where visitors move on foot into the tropical rainforests in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021 is done in two destinations namely Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern part of Uganda.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern Uganda in Kanungu district and it’s the most visited gorilla destination in Uganda in that it harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector in the north, Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhiija sector in the east and Rushaga sector in the south. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 19 habituated mountain gorilla families which are available for trekking on a daily basis. The national park also offers gorilla habituation experience an adventurous activity where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking and visitors who engage in the activity get a chance to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas under the habituation process.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park

Mgahinga gorilla national park is another gorilla destination in Uganda located in southwestern region in Kisoro district. The national park is a home of one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi which is available for trekking daily.

Gorilla trekking in both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts early morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is knowledgeable about the mountain gorillas and also conversant with gorilla trails. Gorilla trekking takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from place to place in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species such as mammals, bird species, tree species, other primate species like black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees among others. Once the mountain gorillas are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, groom young ones, take photos and record the incredible moments to show people back home after the Uganda safari.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021es Safari — Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

When to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021

Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2021 can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February because that’s the time when access roads to the park and gorilla trekking trails are dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are wet, muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda

A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card or document that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park. A single gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 700 for foreign non residents, USD 600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. A gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park costs USD 1,500 per person for foreign non residents, USD 1,000 per person for foreign residents and UGX 750,000 per person for East African citizens.

How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority by contacting the head offices in Kampala via telephone calls or email. You can also book a gorilla trekking permit through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When booking through a tour operator you will contact us with your names, date and destination which you wish to visit. We will check for permit availability and if there are permits available you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date in that the permits are competitive and get sold out quickly especially during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, august, September, December, January and February for a Uganda Safari.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

There are a number of items that’s you should pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda 2021 including,

Face-mask and sanitizer to protect you against the deadly Covid 19 virus and also protect the mountain gorillas as they are vulnerable to human diseases.
Hiking boots to keep your feet dry during hiking
Garden gloves to protect your hands from germs
Waterproof jacket to protect you from direct rainfall
Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm and protect your skin from plant scratches.
Energy snacks like drinking water to keep you hydrated during trekking
Camera and extra batteries to take photos while in the presence of the mountain gorillas and record the moments to show people after the safari.
A pair of binoculars for clear viewing of wildlife species like birds, chimpanzees, mammals and other primates.
Insect repellant to protect your body from biting insects such as mosquitoes and tsetse flies.
Backpack to carry your gorilla trekking essentials such as sanitizer, energy snacks, camera, insect repellent among others.

For more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for affordable gorilla trekking packages.