All You Need To Know About Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Uganda’s star attraction has always been the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi forest & Mgahuinga mountains, with less than a thousand surviving gorillas left on the planet, an encounter with these infamous apes has been ranked among the best wildlife encounters on the continent of Africa. A guided gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi forest offers you a unique nature and adventure experience worth every penny you pay. Most travelers will visit Uganda for a chance to see the Big Five, explore the Nile, experience different culture, hike mountains but there is no greater feeling for a savvy traveler than meeting a gorilla in the wild for the first time.

There are two parks in Uganda where you can have gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, the  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest  and the Mugahinga National park, both destinations can be perfect for memorable adventures but the latter is famously visited than the former. Bwindi and Mugahinga are both prime destinations for mountain gorilla viewing, both give you the opportunity to encounter the animals so it is important to understand the differences between the two places before deciding which one to visit.

Gorillas are divided into categories and species, categories include, wild gorillas, research gorillas and tourist gorillas. Wild gorillas essentially have no human contact, research gorillas are approached and observed strictly for research purposes and the research gorillas are habituated to tolerate short visits by people to generate income for conservation and community development. The species include the Eastern gorilla (gorilla beringei) and the western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). Gorillas in Uganda also have families in which they render themselves superior.

Gorilla families move continually within their greatly defined mountainside areas. Your trekking will last as long as it takes to get to their current location through the mountain paths and hills. It is beautiful walking in the wild especially when there are large numbers of the tourists, guides will also generally assign hikers to different gorilla families. Some of the gorilla families include; Mubare Group:  this Mubare group was the very first group to actually be habituated for tracking by tourists, Mubare group is actually named after the stunning Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered. Habinyanja Group: This Habinyanja Group was habituated for tracking and received tourists in the early years. In the start it was a huge group, however, a family was split from it named the Rushegura Group.  These two groups co cross and they coordinate very well and peacefully. Rushegura Group:  This Rushegura is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest. Not exhausting all of them those are the famous ones that you will need to know and endeavor to trek for.

Travelers embarking on a gorilla trekking adventure can expect to journey to be a rough one should be ready to face anything, moving through the mud, jungles and bamboo forests to seek out mountain gorilla families, therefore one needs to know what to pack for a gorilla trekking tour. Hiking Boots; One of the most important items that should be included in your gorilla trekking gear are hiking boots. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Volcanoes National Park involves trekking/hiking in search for the endangered mountain gorillas. Because of the nature of the forest plus the altitude and terrain, you need light weight hiking boots for this activity. 

Garden Gloves; You will be required to have gloves to protect your hands during your gorilla trek. As you move in this forest, remember that it can get slippery and somehow you need to hold on something just in case such a thing happens. If you happen to touch some itching plants, trees or even climbing trees, you may be harmed. These gloves will therefore protect you from germs and other items that may scratch your hands. Consider including Garden Gloves in your gorilla trekking packing list.

Rain Jacket; Consider including a rain jacket or poncho in your gorilla trekking packing list as it is very crucial in as far as gorilla trekking gear is concerned.  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a tropical rain forest and as such, rain is received throughout the whole year. You will never tell when it is going to rain so you need a rain jacket in order to be protected from rain, so having a rain jacket or poncho may be necessary.

Hat and Sun Glasses; If it is hot, please carry a hat to protect you from the strong sun rays. You may also need to carry some sun glasses too for clear vision.

Those are some of the few things you can pack for a Uganda gorilla trekking tour , if you want to Every client wants to know the price for a gorilla tour or gorilla trekking Uganda costs and indeed this is an interesting questions that has been discussed in forums such as trip advisor and lonely planet.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs US$ 700 per person for foreigners and only UGX 250,000 per person for East African residents. You can purchase the permit online through a trusted travel agency or visit the UWA office in Kamwokya just close to the Uganda museum.

Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda this season, then the above information will give you an insight of what to expect. You can get in touch with us today by sending an email to info@ugandacarrentalservices.com or call us now on +256-700135510 to speak with the reservations team.