How to Trek Gorillas in Uganda

On How to Trek Gorillas in Uganda, find the various available option. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in the two parks in south western Uganda. These include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla trekking is the major tourism activity at these holiday destinations. The endangered primate species in Uganda are organized into gorilla families where each group is visited by 8 guests every day. Bwindi has got about 19 gorilla families and Mgahinga is endowed with one group, the Nyakagezi gorilla group. The habituated gorilla families in Bwindi are spread across the four gorilla safari sectors. To tour gorillas in Uganda, you need to have a gorilla permit issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). When you successfully trek gorillas, you will be issued a gorilla trekking certificate to confirm that you participated and accomplished the adventure. Trekking gorillas in Uganda is a strenuous and enjoyable adventure that any tourist should not miss at least once for a lifetime.

You may be where you are in any part of the world and wondering on how to trek gorillas in Uganda. Worry no more, Speedway Safaris has laid down for you the different ways you can use to reach the park for tracking. These options include the routes to take to reach the gorilla parks. The routes I mean going to the park by either passing through Entebbe/Kampala in Uganda or flying into Rwanda and connect to Uganda. The options also entail the mode of transport like transferring to the parks by either road or flying.

The gorilla trekking options also look at the issue of accommodation categories or safari lodges in Bwindi such as budget, midrange or luxury classes. The tour category also determine the class of vehicle to use. In short, some people opt for the cheapest ways to see gorillas and other take the luxury option. When deciding on the gorilla trekking dates, you need to also have in mind the number of days to spare for the safari. If you are taking gorilla trips from Kigali, you are lucky that you can have as short as 1 day tour, 2 days gorilla safari or maximum 3 days trip to Uganda. The budget and time you have in mind will help you determine what to do. Below are the different ways of how to trek gorillas in Uganda:-

1. Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali

This is where you go through Kigali, the Capital City of Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda. From Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga in Uganda, you may go through either Cyanika or Katuna border posts. This is determined by the sector of the park where to track gorillas. The drive from Kigali to the parks in Uganda usually takes about 4 hours.

2. 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safaris Uganda

Under this gorilla trekking option, you choose from the several 3 days gorilla safaris. You may decide to either begin from Kigali to Uganda or Entebbe to Bwindi. In this section, we give you alternatives that include flying to Bwindi by chartered or scheduled lights or by road. Under he, you will find all safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga plus gorilla habituation experience.

3. Fly into Rwanda Trek Gorillas in Uganda

To see mountain gorillas in Uganda, you have mainly two routes including from Entebbe or Kigali. Under this one, you fly into Rwanda and drive by road to Uganda, trek gorillas and drive back to Kigali to fly out. This option is what facilitates all the gorilla trekking trips to Uganda from Kigali. Gorilla tours from Kigali to Bwindi include those for one, two and three days trekking safaris.

4. Cheapest Way to See Gorillas in Uganda

When planning a gorilla safari, budget may be your concern. Worry less because there are affordable ways of trekking gorillas in Uganda. These include take shorter safaris from mainly Rwanda. These most affordable ways of seeing gorillas also include staying at budget lodges, use of cheaper transport means and visiting in low season months.

5. Fly in Safaris to See Gorillas in Uganda

These are also a kind of luxury gorilla tours. Since flying is more expensive that driving, they are opted by not many people. You may fly from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip or Entebbe to Kisoro, trek gorillas and return by same means. All gorilla trips from Kigali to Uganda are not part of this safari option.

6. Gorilla Habituation Experience Uganda

Under the gorilla habituation experience, you stay 4 hours with the mountain gorillas in the jungle. During this period, you will observe closely, keenly and critically the endangered animals. You will learn a lot regarding their biology and lifestyles. A permit for Gorilla habituation experience is at USD 1500. In all the three countries including Uganda, Rwanda and Congo where mountain gorillas live, it is only in Uganda where the habituation experience concept is offered.

7. Charter Flights from Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga

You have no time to sit for hours by road Bwindi or to wait for a scheduled flight, just charter a chopper or fixed winged plane. Fly to Bwindi to Bwindi, trek gorillas and return to Entebbe.

Type of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Tracking gorillas in Uganda is mainly of two types. These include ordinary gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. The ordinary gorilla trekking is where you hike to see the endangered species and spend one hour with them. This kind of gorilla safari is done with any gorilla groups in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park.

Gorilla Habituation Experience is where you do gorilla trekking with specialized groups and spend 4 hours with them in the jungle. Because of the speciality of this kind of adventure, there are two gorilla families in Bwindi designed for this. These include one in Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors of Bwindi.

Gorill Permit Booking

You have to book a gorilla permit after decidding that you are going to trek gorillas in Uganda. A gorilla permit is an entry card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to enable you visit gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga. A permit in Uganda is at USD 600, an amount that will stop by June 2020. From July 1st 2020, a Uganda gorilla permit will be increased to USD 700. It is always recoommended that you secure a permit at least 6 months in advance. This is because gorilla permits in Uganda are very competitive in the region.