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Guide to Gorilla trekking to Uganda

GUIDE TO GORILLA TREKKING TO UGANDA

This Mountain Gorilla trekking guide to Uganda provides information about Mountain Gorillas which are an endangered primate species that can only be found in the Forested areas of the Virunga Massif stretching from Uganda, Rwanda to DR Congo. In Uganda, there are two protected national parks where you can see the endangered mountain gorillas; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both located in southwestern Uganda.

The current mountain gorilla population stands at about 1004 individuals, half of which are found in Uganda. Gorillas are gentle Giants and are closely related to humans since they share up to 96% of their DNA composition with Humans. Unlike the lowland Gorillas, the mountain gorillas have never been able to survive in captivity and therefore no mountain gorillas are found in Zoos outside of Africa.
Guide to Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla in Bwindi Forest

Gorilla Tourism and Conservation

To see the Mountain gorillas, you must come to Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo and trek through the dense tropical rain forests the Mountain gorillas call home. In the late 1960s-80s, the Mountain gorilla population reduced drastically due to poaching, disease, civil wars and encroachment of the gorilla habitat by Humans. However, with efforts through Gorilla Tourism and Conservation, with the creation of protected areas and national parks, the mountain gorilla population has been increasing steadily over the years. In the 1990s, the protected areas were opened up for Gorilla tourism and some of the mountain gorilla families were habituated to allow tourists to trek them. At the moment, there are close to 20 habituated mountain gorilla families in Uganda, which are all available for tourists to visit.

Gorilla trekking permit

In order to visit the Gorillas, you are required to purchase a Gorilla trekking permit and this has to be done in advance to ensure that your slot is guaranteed. The gorilla trekking permit can be purchased through a local tour operator, or directly through the Uganda wildlife authority if you are already in Uganda. The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 dollars for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and Shs 250,000 for East Africans. The Uganda gorilla habituation Permit Costs $1,500 dollars for foreign nonresidents, $1,000 for foreign residents and Shs 750,000 for East Africans which money greatly helps with the Gorilla conservation. The government of Uganda uses proceeds from the sale of gorilla trekking permits to further conservation and intervention efforts as well as building infrastructure.

The local communities also receive a percentage of this money through the Uganda wildlife Authority, as well as allocation by the government to the local governments in areas where the national parks are found. Therefore, by coming for Gorilla trekking in Uganda, you greatly impact the conservation of these great species of primates.

When to Visit the Gorillas

Gorilla trekking can be done all year round, however, the most recommended period is during the Dry season months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During this period, there is very little rainfall and therefore the conditions are conducive for hiking through the densely forested landscapes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.

You can combine your Uganda wildlife safari with a Gorilla trekking Safari to the mountain Gorillas and visit other national parks within Uganda for an authentic African wildlife experience. Other popular national parks in Uganda are Murchison falls national Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo national park, Semuliki National Park, Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Mt. Elgon National Park.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Vs Rwanda, Vs Congo

The only three countries in the world where you can see the mountain gorillas are Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. However, visiting the Gorillas in Uganda is more recommended than gorilla trekking in Rwanda or DR Congo because of two main reasons, the permit price in Uganda is $700 while the Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 for the same experience! This makes Uganda the better option as compared to Rwanda.

On the other hand, the DR Congo Gorilla permits cost only $400. However, due to civil wars and guerillas near the Virunga national park, it is not safe and therefore Uganda is still better than Congo as your security while on a gorilla safari is guaranteed unlike in Dr Congo’s Virunga.

Accommodation and transport

There are a lot of accommodation options near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. These range from Camping, basic budget, Average to luxurious lodges and therefore, every tourist is sorted based on their Budget. As for transportation you can reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road or fly, Charter with internal flight providers. Accommodation, Transport and Gorilla permit booking can all be arranged for you by MuAfrika Adventures Limited.

best time for gorilla trekking
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What is the best time for Gorilla Tracking?

Regardless of mountain gorilla trekking being an all year round adventure, a number of questions have been raised concerning this lifetime experience. Among many questions, most tourists are left asking themselves when is the best time for gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; When is the best time to track the rare mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo others are still confused which month should they travel for gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which months are ideal for mountain gorilla tracking? All these have been raised but majority of travelers are still not satisfied due to limited up to date information concerning this lifetime adventure in Africa and thus leaving it the most debatable questions across travelers.

What may seem the best time to you may turn out to be the worst time to another traveler! The fact remains that mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo is an all year round experience however, most tourists tend to dodge wet season forgetting that these protected areas lie within the Equator and there are higher chances of it raining at any time whether wet or dry season.

In the whole world, the rare mountain gorillas are only inhabited in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda, the Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is conducted in the thick tropical rain forests in the above countries and there are fewer than 900 individuals that are still surviving in the whole world, however Uganda and Rwanda take the largest population compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Whereas this fascinating adventure can be done at any time of year, tourists need to consider the climate or seasonality of three countries.

Across the 3 destinations where the rare mountain gorilla tours are conducted, there are 2 wet (rainy) seasons from which the trails tend to be muddy and the steep slopes become slippery but at times it doesn’t rain in almost the entire day.

The wet season starts in March to May and October to November. During this period, trekking is really challenging but adventurous tourists still come to achieve their dreams in Africa. When it is raining during, the ground becomes slippery and this makes it too challenging for tourists to track gorillas during the wet season and for those who may prefer traveling during this period, a 4 by 4 safari car is very ideal for your safaris. The vegetation also tends to thick and may make photo taking a bit challenging. On the other hand, the habitat is drier in the month of June and September and December to February.

This means that it is easier tracking these Great Apes during this season as it is simpler for tourists to hike through the thick jungles and steep slopes of these magnificent wild creatures.
For tourists who are planning their safari to Uganda Rwanda and DRC for this lifetime experience, the dry season is best time to visit any of the mountain gorilla destinations (June, July, August, September and December, January and February. However, with the ongoing global warming, it is hard to predict whether it is going to rain or not and this calls for you to be prepared at all times. Even during the dry season it can rain given the nature of the gorilla habitat.

Usually the first rains come late in February through March, April and May and during these months the ground is muddy and it explains why most tourists tend to dodge traveling for gorilla trekking. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no trekking for these Great Apes in Uganda, Rwanda or DRC. The advantage with the wet season is that there is plenty of food and most of the gorilla groups are kept within the base of the park making it easier for visitors to catch a glimpse of these dramatic creatures in the wild. For those who are planning their safaris to Uganda Rwanda and DRC, they need long sleeved shirts/T-shirts, waterproof hiking boots or gumboots that are light weight, insect repellents, gardening gloves, hat, rain jackets and many more.

In conclusion, when it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, it is best to travel during the dry season which falls from the month of June to September and December to February. However, gorilla trekking is also conducted during the wet season and visitors who come during this season; they equally get rewarded with astonishing encounters while in the natural habitat with these rare apes.