Gorilla Trekking: Hiking in the Search for Mountain Gorillas in their Natural Habitats
Gorilla Trekking is a wild tourist activity where people go into the forest looking gorillas. The term is mainly applied to refer to the hiking in the forest in search for Mountain Gorillas. The mountain gorillas live in the forests of Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga in Uganda. They also inhabit the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking is a term that is synonymous to Gorilla tracking, Gorilla safaris, gorilla tours or visit gorillas. All those terms point to the same meaning regarding Mountain gorilla tourism. Gorillas in Uganda are organized into families and eight visitors are limited to each gorilla family per day. To do gorilla tracking, one must have booked a gorilla permit that enables him to enter the park for a wildlife encounter.
Seeing gorillas in wild and coming to them at a close range is a splendid and breathtaking experience that every person should do at least once in a lifetime. The trekking of gorillas in Uganda is usually done in a safari of 3 days. Many tourists choose to do gorilla trekking supplemented with other wildlife safari activities in Uganda or Rwanda depending on the available time for the trip.
Gorilla Trekking Tours
Read about a complete guide to trekking gorillas, where to find them, tracking guidelines and rules, the process of getting a gorilla permit and taking the right safari decision.
When To Go for Gorilla Trekking ?
You need to trek the gorillas and you are not sure of the best periods of the year to visit Uganda, check our advisory by our principal tour advisers.
Getting There
Bwindi has got numerous gorilla groups in different places, mind about staying at an accommodation close to the trekking group.
How to Reach There?
You may decide to charter a flight to Bwindi from Entebbe. Or else, you may take some hours on road as you enjoy the green scenery of Uganda from Kampala to the park. Another alternative may be to do gorilla safari in Uganda from Kigali. The trip from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga takes only four hours. Get more information here on how to trek gorillas in Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking Regions of Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has got four different areas where one can visit gorillas. These include Ruhija in the east of the park, Buhoma in the north, Nkuringo and Rushaga Sectors of Bwindi in the south. Any of the these areas has safari lodges and accommodation facilities close to the tracking areas. Get the details about the gorilla trekking regions of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
How To get a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
Visiting gorillas in Uganda necessitate that you acquire a tracking permit at a price of USD 600. From July 2020, a Uganda gorilla permit will be increased to USD 700. A permit for gorilla habituation experience is costing USD 1500. These permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Contact your tour operator for all the necessary gorilla permit bookings.
Which is the Best Gorilla Trekking Safari Company to use in Uganda or Rwanda?
In case you find it hard to make a decision on which tour firm with whom to book your safari? Contact Speedway Safaris, a company with a wider experience in wildlife safaris and tours including gorilla trips in Uganda and Rwanda.
What To Wear on Gorilla Trek?
Gorilla Tracking Gear guide, superior hiking boots if attempting any climbs or even ascents, warm clothes for the usual cold evenings and outfits for misty weather conditions. Don’t forget that it turns into cold and showery at such elevation. Though in the day times, the sun is strong enough to offer adequate heat even when overcast, for that reason every time recollect wear sunblock plus a sunhat. In addition, you may carry waterproof bags to protect cameras and vital additional items for the trek. Snacks plus Water are supplementary suggested packages and a packed lunch for persons doing long-day tours.
Gorilla Families
A list of habituated gorilla families and their locations in Bwindi.
Where to See Mountain Gorillas Africa?
Apart from Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda, you may visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Rwanda and Congo. Check here for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours. Going to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is another outstanding chance to see almost the other half of the world’s remaining gravely endangered mountain gorillas. Tour the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda for safari tours to Rwanda.
Nature Walks in Bwindi area
Nature walks, visit the Batwa, Munyanga River plus so many more.
Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are amazing. Bwindi found in south western Uganda on the edge of a Rift Valley. The hills of Bwindi covered with; sheltered by rain forests that date back to over 25,000 years ago with about 400 diverse vegetation types. An important point to note, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest protects an estimated 480 mountain gorillas, close to half of the world mountain gorilla population.
Gorilla enthusiasts for Uganda Tours from different angles of the globe enjoy this adventure Uganda Safari, Mountain Gorilla tracking / trekking in the Impenetrable Forests of Bwindi. The term ‘Bwindi’ locally refers to ‘darkness’ and therefore having a trek to this superb jungle will undoubtedly reveal to you the justification of why the forest was baptized like that. At the same time, you will be able to tell immediately the reason the forest is considered Impenetrable. One must be convincingly fit substantially to participate in the mountain gorilla trekking undertaking as it may encompass ascending a steep landscape.
3 Days Gorilla Tours in Uganda
Besides to the endangered extra ordinary mountain gorillas, Bwindi also has 346 bird species, around 200 species of butterfly, about 324 types of trees, of which ten are only found in this area in entire Uganda. Bwindi and its attractions is indeed an area to discover. The forest has habituated Gorillas (gorillas trained to endure people presence and not expected to revenge or attack). In fact, time granted to view them is limited to one hour and the permit for this is at a cost of $700 per single person. Every person spending time with the charming Mountain Gorillas in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is contented with the trekking results. Bwindi is one of the most spectacular tropical forests anybody will ever find in the world. Discover more on this gorilla safari trekking blog.
Bwindi, an ecologically diverse area offers accommodation to other 120 mammal species, of which are numerous primate types for example baboons, chimpanzees as well elephants and antelopes. The forest also boasts of around 350 species of birds sustained in the woodland, of which 23 are Albertine Rift endemics. The neighbouring areas Buhoma and Nkuringo offer an outstanding assemblage of superfluity lodges, budget campsites, countryside bandas plus craftsmanship shops besides guiding services. A day gorilla trekking tour will offer abundant Chances to adventure the nearby Batwa (Pygmy) and Bakiga cultures. These inhabitants properly display cultures in performances and work spaces and on guided walks in villages or communities. Check this 9 Days Uganda safari for more safari expedition choices.
Besides watching mountain gorillas in Uganda, you can as well do a safari to Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Mgahinga, Rwenzori, Mount Elgon and Lake Mburo National Park. Plus many more attention-grabbing tourist destinations which are worth visiting. Find out more Uganda Tourist areas here.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1942 and later in 1992, the area was elevated to a park status and named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where in 1994, it was acknowledged to a World Heritage Site in Uganda by UNESCO. Trekking through this impenetrable forest is in pursuit of the endangered mountain gorillas, ranks well among the world’s best wildlife happenstances. A good number of tourists on East African trips combine Rwanda Safari adventures with gorilla tracking in Uganda. Others do wildlife safaris in Uganda at different destinations. People combine Rwenzori Mountain Trekking, Chimps Tracking in Kibale, Safaris in Mburo, Murchison or Queen Elizabeth National park with Gorilla Tracking. Bwindi is an area that may be visited alone or in mix with tourist attractions in Uganda and Rwanda to one’s holiday safari satisfaction.