Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Uganda is happens to be host half of the mountain gorilla population on the entire planet. uganda’s mountain gorillas are distributed in majorly bwindi impenetrable forest national park and in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Guide to Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is one of the most adventurous safari activities offered on the African continent and Uganda is one of the 3 countries where this thrilling and memorable safari can be done. Mountain gorillas live in 2 populations and one population is found in Bwindi impenetrable national park which is the largest mountain gorilla population – half of the world’s population, because of the huge mountain gorilla population. Uganda is recognized as the best place to do gorilla trekking in the whole world.
Gorilla trekking is a guided hike in the rainforest jungles of Bwindi highlands through the tall, tangled scrubs and ancient tree on unclear pathways in attempts of finding mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking experience is the only way to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, to reach the gorillas you pass through tall, tangled scrubs and ancient trees with a machete, heavy boots and thick trousers covering your legs. To reach the habitat of Mountain gorillas you hike through rugged, steep and the thick and misty jungles reaching 14,763 feet above the sea level.
Gorilla trekking starts as early 08:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters, the briefing is conducted by a senior ranger who takes you through the rules and regulations to follow while in the forest and in the presence of the gorillas. You are then grouped into 8 people and assigned a gorilla group to trek, together with an expert tracker and two armed rangers you will trek into the thick forest to meet the gorillas. Your tracker guide stays in communication with another group of rangers who go out to find the gorillas before they leave their nests and stay with them throughout the day. The rangers send the coordinates which make trekking less challenging.
When you locate the mountain gorillas, you are required to keep a maximum level of silent and keep a distance of 10 meters from the gorillas, you will stay in the presence of mountain gorillas for one hour and for those interested in taking pictures you can take them as long as your flashlight is off.
Where to do gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is offered and done in two Uganda safari destinations (national parks) that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. These two national parks are located in the South Western region of Uganda and they part of the only 4 destinations in the world where gorilla trekking is offered.
Note: Uganda hosts the largest population of mountain gorilla with half of the world’s population.
Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the south-western part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley, the park covers an area of 327 square kilometers of impenetrable forests and mist-covered hillsides. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a home to over 1006 population of Mountain gorillas according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (2018) – approximately half of the mountain gorilla population in the world, Bwindi is also a habitat to over 346 bird species, 120 mammals with primates such as baboons and chimpanzees, over 200 species of butterfly and 324 species of trees with ten of which are only found in the areas in the whole Uganda.
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable national park are categorised into two groups that is habituated gorillas and wild gorillas. Habituated gorillas are the gorillas which are open for gorilla trekking, these gorillas where taken through habituation process to make them friendly with human presence.
In Bwindi impenetrable national park there is a total of 12 habituated gorillas families with 12 gorilla families open for gorilla trekking experience, Bwindi impenetrable national park is divided into 4 sectors that is Buhoma sector, Rushaga sectors, Ruhija sector and Nkuringo sector, each of this sector has its own mountain gorilla groups which are encountered on gorilla trekking.
Bwindi sectors and Gorilla Families
Buhoma sector
- Mubare gorilla family
- Habinyanja gorilla family
- Rushegura gorilla family
- Katwe gorilla family
Ruhija Sector
- Bitukura gorilla family
- Mukiza gorilla family
- Oruzogo gorilla family
- Kyaguriro gorilla family
Rushaga sector
- Nshongi gorilla family
- Mishaya gorilla family
- Kahungye gorilla family
- Bweza gorilla family
- Busingye gorilla family
- Rwigi gorilla family (yet to be habituated)
Nkuringo Sector
- Nkuringo gorilla family
- Christmas gorilla family
How to get to Bwindi national park
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in South western Uganda and it is accessible from Kampala by road and air, By road it is a journey of about 8-10 hours using several routes including Kampala – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma route, Kampala – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi – Buhoma route, Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma and Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo.
By air domestic and chartered flights are offered Entebbe international Airport in Entebbe and Kajjansi airfield in Kajjansi, the park is served by 3 airstrips that is Kihihi airstrip, Kayonza airstrip and Kisoro airstrip.
Mgahinga gorilla national park
Mgahinga gorilla national park is another great mountain gorilla trekking destination in Uganda located in the South Western Uganda in Kisoro district and is recognised as one of the smallest national park in Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla national park is part of Great Virunga Conservation Area made up of other gorilla destinations that is Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Mgahinga gorilla national park hosts many mountain gorilla individuals with only 1 habituated gorilla group which is Nyakagezi gorilla group a family of 10 individuals with 3 silverbacks.
Nyakagezi gorilla family is known for frequently moving across the borders between Uganda, DRC and Rwanda, however since November 2012 the group settled in Uganda.
How difficult is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is difficult and this is due to the challenging terrain, impenetrable jungles and unpredictable weather conditions in the two destinations where gorilla trekking is done. While on gorilla trekking experience you will be hiking at the high altitudes of aboyt 2,600 m (8,500 ft).
Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Bwindi Forest national park are found in the Southwestern region of Uganda which comprises of emerald terraced hills and rugged landscapes. The landscape in this area makes gorilla trekking an activity for not faint – hearted and a touch work to reach the mountain gorillas as it requires navigating uphill or downhill through the thick tangles of jungle vines, roots and thorns.
Accessing Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park is only done on foot, in the forests there are no paths, no signs and no directions and more often there are no clearings. The clearings are often done by the rangers who carry machetes. However the reward for the hard work is mind blowing, and a once in a lifetime adventure.
At the trailheads, there you find a group of young informed men and women offering services as porters and it is highly recommended you hire a porter to assist you in carrying your daypacks. Porters charged about US$ 20. Porters are often former poachers or individuals who would have looked to the protect the forests for livelihood, with work and any way of earning a living within gorilla conservation. Many of them might be forced to return to poaching of gorillas for bush meat and illegal wildlife trafficking trade
How difficult is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is difficult and this is due to the challenging terrain, impenetrable jungles and unpredictable weather conditions in the two destinations where gorilla trekking is done. While on gorilla trekking experience you will be hiking at the high altitudes of aboyt 2,600 m (8,500 ft).
Mgahinga Gorilla national park and Bwindi Forest national park are found in the Southwestern region of Uganda which comprises of emerald terraced hills and rugged landscapes. The landscape in this area makes gorilla trekking an activity for not faint – hearted and a touch work to reach the mountain gorillas as it requires navigating uphill or downhill through the thick tangles of jungle vines, roots and thorns.
Accessing Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park is only done on foot, in the forests there are no paths, no signs and no directions and more often there are no clearings. The clearings are often done by the rangers who carry machetes. However the reward for the hard work is mind blowing, and a once in a lifetime adventure.
At the trailheads, there you find a group of young informed men and women offering services as porters and it is highly recommended you hire a porter to assist you in carrying your daypacks. Porters charged about US$ 20. Porters are often former poachers or individuals who would have looked to the protect the forests for livelihood, with work and any way of earning a living within gorilla conservation. Many of them might be forced to return to poaching of gorillas for bush meat and illegal wildlife trafficking trade
What are the chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda?
Chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda are very high at 99%, recorded occasions of trekkers not being able to see the incredible primates are very few. The high chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are because the Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers, researchers and guides close monitor the mountain gorillas on a daily basis. During the trekking experience, the trekkers are in close contact with the field workers from dawn to dusk every day.
However, there is no guarantee as gorillas are wild animals. An overnight thunderstorm or unexpected encounter with predators may cause a troop of mountain gorillas to unexpectedly in a completely different direction most especially during night when no one is there.
Before the trekkers set off on a mountain gorilla trekking experience, a team of scouts go out to follow the gorilla tracks and stay with the gorilla family once found. This is why your group’s guide carries a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with the scouts for directions.
Uganda gorilla trekking safari packages
3 Days Bwindi Gorilla & Lake Bunyonyi
5 Days gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari
The Uganda primate safaris consisting of 5 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee safari starts with a drive to kibale forest national park in Kamwenge District, kibale forest national park
8 Days uganda gorillas, wildlife & chimp safari
8 Days uganda gorillas, wildlife & chimp safari consist of three major wildlife excursions in Uganda i.e. gorilla trekking safari, wildlife safaris and chimpanzee trekking
