Gorilla trekking safari is a unique activity in Uganda . Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda 2024 where people go into the tropical jungle to look for gorillas and then spend an hour with them in their natural habitat once they find them. In Uganda, gorilla trekking takes place in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has the most mountain gorillas, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is also in the southwest. Gorilla trekking safari can also be done in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park, and Kahuzi Biega National Park where eastern lowland gorilla trekking takes place.
Gorilla trekking safari experience in Uganda 2024.
One habituated gorilla family, Nyakagezi, resides at Mgahinga gorilla national park, while over 23 habituated gorilla families live in Bwindi impenetrable national park and are open for trekking every day. Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, laws, and expectations for gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you’ll be split into groups of eight. Each group will be given a family of habituated gorillas to trek with and an experienced park guide who knows the different trails for gorilla trekking. Mountain gorilla trekking safari in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours, based on where the gorillas are. This is because gorillas like to move around in search of food, so they can be in one place one day and somewhere else the next. During gorilla trekking, you can see different kinds of birds, monkeys, plants, and trees, among other things. Once you find mountain gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. This will give you a chance to learn more about their habits, watch them do things like feeding, breast feeding, and take pictures and record videos to show people back home.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda 2024.
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card that Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) gives to anyone over the age of 15 who wants to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda 2023/2024 costs 700 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 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 2024.
Booking gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done through a trusted tour company like Primate Holidays. You will need to tell us the date, month, year, and gorilla destination that you want to visit. After you call us, we’ll check to see if permits are available on the dates you want. If they are, you’ll be asked to pay a deposit for the permit. As soon as we get the cash, we’ll buy the permit for you and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as proof.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, on the other hand, should be booked 3 to 6 months before the date of the trek. This is because they are popular and often sell out quickly, especially from June to September and from December to February, which is peak season. If you want to avoid disappointment at the last minute, you should book in advance.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
There are a number of things you should pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. These include insect repellent to protect you from biting insects, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers to keep you warm, hiking boots to keep your feet dry, garden gloves, a warm jumper, a light waterproof jacket to protect you from rain, a facemask and hand sanitizer, energy snacks and drinking water to keep you hydrated, a camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos.
Gorilla trekking is a unique safari activity that you shouldn’t miss on your vacation in Uganda in 2023 or 2024. It can be done alone or with complementary safari activities like Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Contact us at Primate Holidays for more information or to book a gorilla trekking permit or gorilla trekking safari plan.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda 2024.
- Gorilla trekking safari can be done all year in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, though the best time is in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, during the dry season. During the dry season, it doesn’t rain much or at all in the national parks, so the access roads and gorilla trekking paths are dry and easy to use. This is in contrast to the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery, making trekking hard.