Gorilla Uganda adventures in Bwindi forest
Gorilla Uganda adventures in Bwindi forest, Uganda Mountain Gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in the south western part of the country. Bwindi National Park has half the number of the Mountain Gorillas remaining in the whole world. Gorilla Uganda Bwindi is the only National Park in the World where Chimpanzees co-exist with Mountain Gorillas. To visit Uganda Gorillas, one needs a Gorilla permit that costs USD700 per person per trek. Kindly note that with effect from 1st-July-2020 Uganda Wildlife Authority will increase the cost of Uganda Gorilla Permit to USD700 per person per trek.
Gorilla Trekking is a captivation and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi Forest and trek through. Bwindi National Park has eighteen habituated Gorilla families that are tracked by tourists. Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo are the trail heads where Gorilla Trekking Adventures starts from.
Gorilla habituation experience is another way of spending more time with Uganda Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and this is an initiative aimed at having more time with the Gorillas to those who can afford. Gorilla habituation experience permits cost USD1500 per person per trek in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and each Gorilla family under habituation is visited by a maximum number of four people.
Bwindi can be cold especially in the morning and at night, the annual average temperature range is 70C-200C with the coldest period being June and July. Warm clothing is required plus wet weather gear since Bwindi receives up to 2390mm of rain/year. This is concentrated during two wet seasons, short rains in March-May and heavy rains in September-November. Instead of short tropical deluges, rain in Bwindi often falls as long hours of soft drizzle.
In Uganda a maximum of eight tourists visit a family of habituated Mountain Gorillas a day. This is done to ensure minimal behavioral disturbance to the Gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases.
Make sure that you wash your hands before your tracking exercise
Please always keep your voices low. You will also be able to observe the great bird life and other wildlife in the forest. Gorilla Uganda adventures in Bwindi forest rules and regulations.
DO NOT litter in the National Park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back out with you.
You will be taken to where the guides observed the Gorillas the day before. From there you will follow the Gorilla’s trail to find them. Look out for the Gorilla’s nesting sites along the way.
When you approach the mountain Gorillas, the guides will inform you to get ready.
A 7 meter (21 feet) distance should tried to be observed at all times from the Gorillas. The further back you are, the more relaxed the group will be.
You must stay in one group while you are near the Gorillas.
Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is okay to ask the guide questions.
Do not smoke, drink or eat when you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.
Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example (crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass). Do not attempt to run away because that will increase the risk.
Flash photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.
Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals.
The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early. After the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 meters away from the Gorillas.
Remember that mountain Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following rules are ways to minimize the risk your visit might poses to them:
Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the Gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.
If you are feeling ill, or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded your money.
If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.
If you need to go to the toilet while in the forest, please ask the guide to dig you a hole with his machete. Make sure the hole is 30 cm deep and fill it in when you are finished.
Wear comfortable hiking shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes.
Put on ear plugs for those who feel uncomfortable with the jungle sounds.
Carry a packed lunch and enough drinking water.
Carry rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat (as the weather is unpredictable) and insect repellent.
Using flashlight on your camera is not permitted so we recommend using films of 400-800 ASA.
Contact us to book your Gorilla Uganda adventures in Bwindi forest as we secure gorilla permits and check availability for our clients.