Gorilla Trekking Uganda
Gorilla trekking Uganda is an ultimate safari experience that travellers do take up, now more than ever as their climax to their much anticipated Africa safari tour. Gorillas, mountain gorillas to be exact, are an endangered primate species that can only be found in four destinations including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda, Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, all of which are mountainous and rainforest areas. Gorilla trekking is an activity therefore that involves travelers hiking through dense forest cover in search of the gorillas. Gorilla trekking Uganda is as mentioned earlier, one of the most amazing and fascinating activities that travelers can do while on a Uganda safari tour or Africa safari.
Where to do gorilla trekking Uganda from
Gorilla trekking takes place in the much celebrated Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
When gorilla trekking is mentioned, the first and probably the first name to come to mind is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most done of all the tourist activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi involves travelers hiking the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site recognized for its great biodiversity and inhabiting the mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts over half the total world population of mountain gorillas, with about 19 fully habituated mountain gorillas that travelers can encounter with a gorilla trekking in Bwindi safari experience, in any of the four gorilla sectors in Bwindi including Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector and Ruhija sector. The very first habituated gorilla family in Uganda, the Mubare gorilla family, is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and is one of the best and most sought after gorilla families that travellers can visit for a gorilla trekking encounter.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga gorilla National Park to many travelers comes as an afterthought when gorilla trekking is mentioned. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an equally amazing gorilla activity that rewards travelers with an opportunity to encounter the only fully habituated gorilla family in the park, the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park unlike Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a small park measuring only 33.7 square kilometres. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is just like is in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, only that Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gives travelers some levels of privacy and exclusivity especially during the peak season that falls in the months of June through September, and December to February.
What to pack for gorilla trekking Uganda
Travelers are advised to pack light but necessary items. For travelers who are to connect from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips, weight restrictions do come into play but your tour operator can actually do help with transporting your luggage from the airport to the accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park should you be doing a flying gorilla trekking Uganda safari. Gorilla trekking what to wear items include waterproof hiking boots, long sleeved shirts and trousers, a rain jacket or poncho, socks, garden gloves, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent creams and sunscreen, among so many others. Essential gorilla trekking gear like a hiking stick may be provided for at your lodge of stay or before the start of your gorilla trekking adventure after briefing.
Gorilla trekking Uganda permit price
Gorilla trekking Uganda permit price is only $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and only ugx250000 for East African citizens. This Uganda gorilla trekking permit price is per person per day, allowing travelers only one hour to spend with the gorillas once encountered.
Gorilla trekking Uganda experience
Gorilla trekking experience starts as early as 7am, with travelers arriving at the starting points in the park. Travelers then undergo a briefing in which the park officials outline the various rules and regulations to be followed during gorilla trekking, as well as what to expect. After, trekkers are placed in groups of 8, and then allocated a gorilla family to trek, after which they embark on the actual gorilla trekking adventure. During the gorilla trekking adventure, look out for other wildlife and attractions in the park, and once you do encounter the mountain gorillas, take your time appreciating their magnificence, for an hour tops, after which you shall trek back to the park headquarters. Gorilla trekking Uganda is only for persons that are 15 years and above.
Best time to go gorilla trekking Uganda
For the fact that the climate and the country’s location near the equator, Uganda is an all-year round safari destination. Though it so however, the country still receives both the rainy season and the dry season, with the dry season being the best time to go gorilla trekking. The dry season in the misty mountainous rainforests that are the gorilla destinations in Uganda do receive rainfall any time of the year, implying that even if it is a dry season, the rains can still fall though not as heavy and prolonged as could be during the wet season. The wet season in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park however also has some sunny days, with most mornings being sunny and the rains falling only later in the afternoon, giving travelers enough time to enjoy gorilla activities like gorilla habituation experiences among so many other activities. Important to note however is that the dry season is also the peak season for travel, thereby having Uganda gorilla permits selling out faster. Booking in advance is therefore important lest you missed out on your preferred date for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking is an amazing once in a lifetime Africa safari experience that any traveler should take part in. gorilla trekking Uganda can be done as a climax to your Africa safari, and for travelers on a Uganda safari tour, a gorilla trekking Uganda safari can be combined with number of other amazing destinations like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking, among so many other attractions and activities that Uganda the Pearl of Africa has to offer.
