Uncovered Travel Initiative Africa

Introduction.

Gorilla trekking refers to a guided walk in the forest accompanied by armed ranger guides to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats for an hour. This is the most treasured tourism activity in Uganda. This is because it generates a significant amount of income from selling the gorilla permits to foreign tourists.

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species only located in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is a premier destination for gorilla trekking. This is because it hosts the largest number of mountain gorilla individuals. About half of the world’s population is found here. These live in over 25 habituated families and are situated in Bwindi and 1 habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga.

Gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is primarily done in only two destinations. These are Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks. These are located in the South-western part of Uganda along the Virunga ranges.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. It shelters about 25 habituated gorilla families. These make up about half of the world’s gorilla population. Bwindi is divided into four sectors: Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Ruhija. The Rushaga gorilla sector hosts the largest number of gorillas. Each of these sectors has different trails and gorilla families to trek. They also have different accommodation facilities for the tourists trekking respective gorilla groups.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also a gorilla trekking destination famous for hosting both gorillas and golden monkeys. This is why it is known for its slogan “where Silver meets Gold”. Mgahinga National Park accommodates only one gorilla family called the Nyakagezi group situated near the Virunga Volcanoes. It offers an easy trekking experience with less crowded vegetation and an easy trail to locate the mountain gorillas.

Accessing the gorilla destinations

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed by road via a route that goes from Kampala through Mbarara to Kabale using a 4-wheel drive car. Mgahinga National Park is also accessed using the same route but goes up to Kisoro, taking about 8 to 9 hours. There is also an option of a flight from Entebbe International Airport to either Kisoro for Mgahinga or Kihihi airstrip for Bwindi, which requires a one-hour drive to the parks.

How is gorilla trekking done in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda starts early in the morning with a briefing at the visitor centre conducted by the ranger guides. It starts at 7 am and takes one hour before the real trekking into the forest starts. After the orientation, the tourists are divided into groups of 8 people escorted by the ranger guide. The trekking experience starts at 8 am, and it takes between 2 and 8 hours to locate the gorillas. This depends on the specific gorilla group and how far it is in the forest.

The tourists are helped by the armed ranger guides who offer protection and help locate the gorillas in the wild. When you find the mountain gorillas, you are strictly given one hour of observing them in their natural habitats and studying their behaviours.

Each gorilla family is visited once a day, and only one hour is given to the tourists to observe the gorillas.

What makes the gorilla trekking experience unique in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking is a unique activity in Uganda worth a life experience because it enables you to see the majestic, endangered mountain gorillas. These are only found in the Virunga ranges. It also offers a hiking experience along the volcanoes and the Batwa trail experience with a diverse cultural history.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers a chance of viewing other primates along the trekking trails. These include vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and the colobus monkeys, among others. Visitors can spot numerous bird species dotted across the forest and along the dense trails.

Difficulties encountered with gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi encounters some hardships, like the thick vegetation where the gorillas hide, which is also hard to penetrate. The trekking takes long hours to locate the gorillas. It also includes hiking along the slopes of the volcanoes, and sometimes the soil is soggy, where mud sticks to the shoes.

The booking process and cost of gorilla permits in Uganda

The entire booking process can be done through a licensed tour operator by the Uganda Tourism Board. The gorilla permits are purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a local tour operator. After confirming availability of the dates, submit your personal details, including full names and a scanned copy of your passport to verify your identity.

After submission of your details, secure your permit by making payments online via bank transfer and Visa card. The tour operator will purchase the gorilla permit and send you a scanned copy as confirmation of the purchase.

The gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost 800 US dollars for foreign non-residents per person, 700 US dollars for foreign residents per person, and UGX 300,000 for local East African tourists per person.

It’s advisable to book the gorilla permits several months before the travel time, especially when you plan to travel during the peak seasons.

The gorilla permit will be presented to the park on the day of gorilla trekking. The park officer will verify the permit the visitor is allowed to trek the gorillas.

Important information for a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.

You are required to put on a mask and keep a distance of 8 metres away from the mountain gorillas to prevent transmission of infections. Please don’t use cameras with flashlights in the presence of the gorillas.

Ensure your body is physically fit by doing some physicals throw jogging, to ensure your body gets used to walking long distances. It’s better to mind the health of your body.

Tourists with health complications should alert the tour guides and park authorities to their health status before the trekking begins. Those with asthma should carry an inhaler in case of any breathing complications while in the wild.

Pack list for gorilla trekking in Uganda.

While going for a gorilla trekking experience, you are required to carry a walking stick for support while on the trail. A 2-litre water bottle is enough for the day, and a lightweight rain coat for emergency weather changes. The tourists are advised to put on waterproof hiking boots, trousers with gaiters, long-sleeved shirts, and gloves. The tourists are required to carry a packed lunch. This is because the activity takes long hours, and they may not be able to go back to the lodge in time for lunch.

In order to keep memories of the trekking experience, you are advised to carry digital cameras and phones to capture pictures of the mountain gorillas. This helps to keep memories of the trekking experience. The tourists are required to carry insect repellents or body sprays to protect themselves from insects such as mosquitoes. These may cause infections and allergies.