Journeys to see cheap Mountain Gorillas in Uganda – Cheap Gorilla permits at $700 per person per trek – Budget Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda
Journeys to see cheap mountain gorillas in Uganda – Gorilla trekking in Uganda is once lifetime safari experience to see the incredible Mountain Gorillas of Africa’s rainforests on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Travelers that have been on this Uganda safari highly rate the activity and will gladly tell you how no other wildlife experience in Africa matches the outstanding time you spend face-to-face with Uganda’s wild Gorillas in a natural setting.
Mountain Gorillas are found only in two far-flung rainforest jungles in East & Central Africa Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the protection of the last remaining approximately 1080 individuals is like a medieval king’s castle. Your chance of seeing the Mountain Gorillas is only by visiting any of the three sovereign nations.
Although the internet buzzes with arguments on which country is the best for a Mountain Gorilla trekking safari, the decision all comes down to your preferences, how much you are willing to spend, likes, and dislikes concerning any of the three countries’ offers.
Uganda is the best and affordable country for Mountain Gorilla trekking adventure to the savvy nature lover. If you choose to go Mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda must be excited about getting down and dirty. Through the tall, tangled scrubs and ancient trees that carpet western Uganda’s rainforest, you find your way with a machete, heavy boots, thick trousers, a ridiculous hat, patience, and a good sense of humor.
Mountain Gorillas are the world’s most successful conservation story, thanks to the Gorilla tourism introduced in 1973 and also the undying efforts of Louis Leakey and Dian Fossey’s research in the ’80s that brought the Mountain giants to the natural world’s attention.
In the 1980s, environmentalists estimated the Mountain Gorilla population to have dwindled to a meager 240 individuals. As habitat loss, poaching, disease, and other threats had exacted a costly toll on the mountain primates. Due to massive protection, intense research efforts, and funds from Gorilla tourism, the Mountain Gorilla population has grown to above 1080 individuals in just about two decades, downlisting it on the IUCN list from critically endangered to just endangered.
You can be part of this beautiful story and also get to spend a moment with the world’s most revered primates in the most beautiful natural setting. At Great Adventure Safaris, we will answer some of your questions about Mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda in the following paragraphs to help you plan your jungle experience with first-hand knowledge.
What is Mountain Gorilla trekking?
Mountain Gorilla trekking is defined as the guided hike into the rainforest jungles of the Virunga-Bwindi highlands through tall, tangled scrubs and ancient trees with a machete, heavy boots, and thick trousers.
Since these gentle giants cannot survive in captivity, the only way to see them is by trekking up to their natural habitat in the misty cloud forests that can reach altitudes of 14,763 feet (4,500 meters).
Starting at one of the five trailheads in Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority supervisor will brief a group of eight trekkers and assign them one of the habituated Mountain Gorilla families, two armed rangers, and a tracker with a walkie talkie and a machete.
The two rangers will flank the trekkers front and back. At the same time, the tracker will lead while communicating on a walkie-talkie with another group of rangers that went ahead of your group to find the Gorillas and make your trekking less challenging.
When you find the Gorillas, the rangers will allow you to observe them for one hour, in silence and at a safe distance. Sitting in silence on the cold ground of a Ugandan forest for 60 minutes might be one of life’s greatest privileges.
Where can I see Mountain Gorillas in Uganda?
There are two Gorilla trekking destinations where you can see Mountain Gorillas in Uganda which are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. There are five trailheads offering trekking excursions; Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija in Bwindi National Park, and Ntebeko in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, all under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority. All the sectors combined have 20 habituated Mountain Gorilla families, and 160 Gorilla trekking permits are available every day.
The best destination to see Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that has half of the world’s total population. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a prehistoric, montane, and lowland forest spanning 131 sq km (128 sq mi). The jungle is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its incredible biodiversity and many endangered species that find sanctuary within its protected boundaries.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park takes a 13 sq mi chunk from the more extensive Virunga habitat, which stretches across 168 square miles into Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga includes three of the eight major Virunga peaks: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo.
However, Bwindi Forest outshines all the Gorilla trekking destinations because of the high number of habituated gorilla families available for tourism. The park also has several other activities within and around the park, including bird watching, nature, walking safaris, community programs, and habituation experiences.
Which section you should choose to see Mountain Gorillas will depend on where the Gorilla permit will be available. During the peak seasons of June to August and December to February, it can be challenging to own the choice because of the scarcity of Gorilla permits. However, the low season offers you a chance to choose which trailhead suits you. Great Adventure Safaris promises to help you book a Gorilla permit in advance no matter what time of the year you want to trek the Mountain Gorillas.
Booking Your Gorilla Safari
Great Adventure Safaris makes booking a Mountain Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda very easy. We will process the Gorilla permit on your behalf, and we rarely fail to secure Gorilla permits at a
Reasonable booking date. Our safari experts will work with you to customize a safari trip that suits your taste and style of travel while immersing you in local cultures and nature. After, our professional driver/guides will take you journeys to see cheap mountain gorillas in the wilderness of Bwindi forest.
