Organizing Gorilla tracking safari in Uganda

Organizing Gorilla tracking safari in Uganda – Plan your holiday now – Secure Gorilla permits in advance

Are you organizing  Gorilla tracking safari to Uganda? Or planning to go for Gorilla tracking in Uganda? This blog post contains important information for those travelers that want to trek the Mountain Gorillas in the tropical rainforest of Africa. Great Adventure Safaris is here by listing everything you need to know to organize your Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.

The Mountain Gorillas

Mountain Gorillas are one of the world’s most endangered apes and it is estimated that there are only a mere 1080 Mountain Gorillas left in the wild. Almost half of the world’s population can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Gorillas are BIG. The spine-tingling feeling that you get being so near to one of our closest relatives is a life time experience and hard to describe.

Where can I trek the Mountain Gorillas?

Many travellers visiting Uganda, Mountain Gorilla trekking is the highlight of their trip. In Uganda, you can trek the Mountain Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Bwindi Impenetrable is Africa’s oldest tropical rainforest and has beautiful ridges, steep valleys and waterfalls.

Be prepared for some steep hikes and slippery trails. Both National Parks protects an estimated 550 Mountain Gorillas, including 19 habituated Gorilla families which can be tracked. There are four trekking trailheads in Bwindi Forest which are: Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the East, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the South. Ruhija region is the most accessible trekking location, whereas in Rushaga you can find the largest number of Gorilla families. Mgahinga is much less visited, since there is only one Gorilla family and it occasionally decides to hop the border to Rwanda. But not to worry, if you don’t find them, you get a replacement ticket for Bwindi Forest.

Short Gorilla trekking Safaris in Uganda

Gorilla and wildlife safaris offered by Great Adventure Safaris

Best time for Gorilla tracking

Uganda is nice to visit all year-round and has a very pleasant climate. The average temperature year round is about 26 degrees Celsius, and it hardly gets hotter than 29 degrees.

The rainy season is from March till May and October till November. Light down pour occurs around November to December. The climate is slowly changing but the normal dry seasons are from December to February and June to August. Even during the rainy season your travel will not be hindered too much as the rains can be heavy but are typically short and sunshine will follow.

The warmest regions in Uganda are around Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls National Parks and everything further north. The cooler regions are obviously at higher altitudes around Mountain Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, Bwindi/Virunga National Park and Lake Bunyonyi.

Probably the best time of the year for Gorilla trekking would be December to late February and from June to September. But that’s also peak season. Although the National Parks don’t feel crowded whatsoever, you have to reserve your Gorilla permits and accommodation in advance enough. Despite being dry a season, it is always humid in Bwindi, as Gorillas live in a montane rainforest. So be prepared for steep, muddy hikes.

How to obtain Gorilla trekking permits?

If you are organising to visit the Gorillas or Chimpanzees, it is recommended that you reserve the permits well in advance. The Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala issues the permits only upon cash payment in full (no pre-booking). Gorilla Permits cost USD700 per person per trek and Chimpanzee Permits cost USD200 per person per trek.

Great Adventure Safaris can arrange the Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits for you if you book one of our all-inclusive packages with us. In order to do so, we need full names corresponding with your passport, nationality, date of birth and passport number of all the people tracking, preferred starting location and date, second best date in case the preferred date is fully booked. Once proof of payment has been sent, we will purchase the permits on your behalf. Kindly note, that Uganda Wildlife Authority does not have a refund policy in case of any cancellation or change of date. Note that the minimum age for Gorilla tracking is 15 years.

What to expect on my Gorilla trekking day?

You will probably get up in the dark to get ready, have breakfast and make sure you arrive at the trekking location at 07:45 AM. Depending on where you sleep, that can still be an hour’s drive off-road or less and sometimes a walk able distance. The Uganda Wildlife Authority guide will give an introduction. Every group consists of maximum 8 tourists and an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority staff for your safety in the Forest. You can opt for a porter to take your bag. Don’t feel obliged to ask. These are local men and women who can earn some income by carrying your things while trekking in the Forest.

The hike starts at 8.30AM. Depending on where the Gorillas were the previous day, the tracking can take from 30 minutes to 3 quarters of the day. Once the rangers have found the Gorillas, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour viewing and photographing the Gorilla family. The 1 hour watching starts when the whole group is together, so don’t feel hurried by fellow trekkers who want to reach there quickly. Gorillas are wild animals and the Uganda Wildlife Authority would like to keep it that way. For them not to get too much used to human interaction, the Mountain Gorillas are left without any human presence for 23 hours a day.

Some practical tips for your Gorilla trekking day

Wear long sleeved clothes to protect yourself from scratches and insect bites as you are walking through thick bush.

Go on good walking/hiking shoes that are comfortable for handling slippery slopes.

Gloves can be great addition as you need to grab a lot of twigs and trees.

To put in your bag: waterproof jacket / poncho, insect repellent, sunscreen, enough water ( 2L) and food for during your tracking

Has it rained? Grab a walking stick at the beginning of the tracking

Close-ups are very appealing; try a close-up of a hand, feet or face.

Take some time to watch the gorillas without taking pictures. Put your camera away and simple realize where you and enjoy. Organizing gorilla tracking safari in Uganda and get the best experience with Great Adventure safaris.

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