Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2023/2024
Gorilla trekking in Uganda 2023/2024; Gorilla trekking is an exceptional activity that involves visitors moving into the tropical rainforest in search of the tropical rainforest and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern part of Uganda. Apart from Uganda, Gorilla trekking is also done in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking experience
Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of one habituated gorilla family Nyakagezi while Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of over 22 habituated gorilla families which are available for trekking on a daily basis. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with different gorilla trekking trails. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view different bird species, other primates, plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn more about their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda 2023/2024
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card or document that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to any visitor that is above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their environment.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda 2023/2024 costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda 2023/2024
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability on your desired dates and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once the payment is received, we will purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are advised to book in advance.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda 2023/2024
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda
There are a number of items to pack for your gorilla trekking in Uganda including Insect repellent to protect you from biting insects, long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm, hiking boots to keep your feet dry, garden gloves, warm sweater, light waterproof jacket to protect you from rainfall, facemask and hand sanitizer, energy snacks and drinking water to keep you hydrated, camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos, a pair of binoculars, waterproof back pack to carry your trekking essentials, walking stick among others.
Gorilla trekking is an exceptional activity that shouldn’t be missed during your safari in Uganda 2023/2024 or combined with other interesting activities like Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park. For more information, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris to book your gorilla trekking permit or gorilla trekking safari package.
