Gorilla Safaris in Uganda : Discover mist-roofed mountains in quest of the most enormous living apes, like Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is an extraordinary and overwhelming experience to witness the enthralling and sophisticated family connections of the iconic mountain gorillas in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tracking gorillas in Uganda is one of the best wildlife safari tours in East Africa safari holiday. Our safari guides are the best, with extensive knowledge about gorilla behavior and their natural habitat. Their experience enhances the delivery of outstanding tour services in Uganda.
Where to do gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Uganda has two perfect places to do gorilla tracking: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park remains the best choice over other areas and is easily accessible for those who want to do a family fly-in safari. Also, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts many safari lodges and hotels.
Southwest Uganda boasts many of Uganda’s safari destinations, which makes it possible to include wildlife savannah safaris with gorilla tracking safaris in a one Uganda safari itinerary to bring about lifetime African safari experiences.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;
Uganda’s main gorilla trekking place is Bwindi National Park; there are four head trails to access the habituated families in the park: Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.
You will depart from one of the trekking trails on the outskirts of the Bwindi National Park. From there, you will join another group of trekkers and start tracking for the 11 habituated gorilla families; usually, the maximum group for trekkers comprises 8 people. Please remember that each trailhead comes with its characteristics and difficulties.
You should let your mind accept walking through terrain and steep valleys, tracking the animals for 4 hours.
The tracking is supervised by professional trackers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority; this ensures your safety.
You must purchase gorilla permits in advance; a year before traveling is recommended. The number of permits is limited daily; June to September and January to February are the busiest. Please be aware that permits are non-refundable once issued.
Usually, after sightseeing gorillas, you will spend about an hour with them, and you will be required to stay seven meters from them; taking pictures with primates is the best safari experience in Uganda.
When is the best time to see gorillas in Uganda?
The temperature in Uganda remains steady throughout the year because the country is situated in an equatorial climate. Seasons can only be differentiated by rainy seasons, both short and long. March to May is long and heavy rains, while short rains span from October to November.
Gorilla permit prices are fixed throughout the year; if you need an affordable gorilla trekking safari, consider visiting from March to May when the accommodation prices are relatively low.
Gorilla trekking prices
The price per person for sightseeing gorillas in 1 hour is 700 USD at the time of writing; this can sound cheaper than neighboring Rwanda Gorilla trekking, which costs 1500 USD per person. If an hour isn’t enough, you may book a habituation gorilla trekking and spend up to 4 hours with a gorilla, which is conducted in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and costs 1500 USD per person.
What to pack and wear during the gorilla trekking?
You will always need a cloth to keep you warm; remember you’re on the equator no matter if you’re traveling during the dry season; weather changes over time. Trails can be slippery and muddier during the rainy season. It is essential to have a good hiking boat, raincoats, long sleeves, waterproof pants, and rehydration salts. Water is provided during the treks, but bringing any choice of energy drinks could keep you hiking for a long time.
However, gorilla sightseeing in Uganda isn’t guaranteed, with the highest population of apes in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga. National Park, the chance of seeing them is extensive; you must accept to work for it someday. Finding them takes up to 6 hours, and the trackers and guides communicate to locate these primates. Unfortunately, the chance for a full refund is impossible if you don’t see any gorilla. In some scenarios, the Uganda Wildlife Authority may refund you 50% of your payment, but this only happens sometimes, and at East Africa Safari Guides, we can’t promise you that.
Where to stay for Gorilla trekking in Uganda?
There are many safari lodges and hotels, both budget and luxurious. While in Buhoma, there are various budget lodgings like Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and Birdnest Resort, all providing comfy and tantalizing experiences.
At East Africa Safari Guides touring company, we strive to ensure we provide the best experience possible; booking with us means you guarantee yourself the best Ugandan wildlife safari experiences.
