Unveiling the Ultimate Guide: Planning a Thrilling Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Uganda

Planning a thrilling gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda; Embark on the adventure of a lifetime as you venture into the heart of Uganda’s dense rainforests to witness the majestic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers a thrilling and unforgettable experience that will leave you in awe of these incredible creatures.

In this article, we will guide you on how to plan and prepare for your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, ensuring that you make the most of your trip. From obtaining permits and choosing the right tour operator to packing essentials and understanding the trekking guidelines, we cover everything you need to know to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Planning a Thrilling Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Uganda

As you delve into the enchanting world of gorilla trekking, you will discover the beauty of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These protected areas are home to over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla population, giving you the incredible opportunity to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat.

So, lace up your boots and get ready for an extraordinary adventure as we guide you through the planning process for your gorilla trekking expedition in Uganda.

Planning a Thrilling Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Uganda

Gorilla trekking is one of the best and most memorable experiences that most tourists look at when they are on their trip to the Pearl of Africa. This can be made possible with proper planning, and this should be at least 6 months before the adventure and can be made possible with the help of a reliable tour operator. This experience in Uganda is done in two national parks located in the south-western part of Uganda: Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. There are four sectors in Bwindi National Park where successful gorilla trekking can be done: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Rushaga is the only sector in Bwindi where gorilla habituation takes place. There are also gorilla families in each sector, and these are described as follows:

The Buhoma Sector

The gorilla families include Katwe, Habiyanja, Mubare, and Rushegura. In the Nkuringo sector, there are Nkuringo, Christmas, and Bushaho gorilla families. In Ruhija, there are the Kyaguriro, Oruzogo, Mukiza, and Bitukura families, while in Rushaga, there are Mishaya, Bweza, Nshongi, Bikyingyi, Mucunguzi, Kahungye, and Busingye, respectively.

The Rushaga Sector

The good news from the Uganda Wildlife Authority is that there are some gorilla families that have been opened following thorough research that has been done for years. These include Binyindo and Muyambi gorilla families in the Buhoma sector, Rwigi and Tindatine in the Rushaga sector, as well as Posho in the Nkuringo sector. This is an added advantage to the tourism industry as well as the tourists visiting, and they are flexible enough to visit any gorilla family at their convenience. There are procedures that must be followed for one to have a successful gorilla trekking experience, and these are as follows:

Booking permits

This is done with the help of your tour operator, who will go to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to purchase permits on your behalf. You will therefore be required to provide the tour operator with copies of your passport

Tracking dates

This is usually determined after drafting the itinerary. The tour operator in charge of purchasing the gorilla permits should be careful to choose the right dates that match with the gorilla tracking day

Time

Tourists, along with their tour operators, should always keep time so that they are able to reach the briefing point on time. It is also advisable for the tour operator to book accommodation near by the briefing point so that tourists can get all the necessary information from the game ranger

Trekking Location

Since Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has four sectors, the guide or the person in charge of purchasing permits should clarify more about the sector that they are choosing for this experience. For example, if the tracking is happening in Buhoma sector, the tour operator should make sure the accommodation location is also in Buhoma so that it helps the guide arrive on time in the morning on the day of trekking

Briefing

Before the tourists set off to the jungle to search for mountain gorillas, they are always first briefed by a ranger, whereby they are given rules, regulations and guidelines of gorilla trekking, such as the distance to be maintained from the gorillas while in the field, the number of people that are allocated to every gorilla family and also safety precautions just in case a mountain gorilla charges at you

What to pack and carry

Mountain gorilla trekking may take long hours depending on the movement, as they don’t stay in one place since they move looking for food. Tourists are advised to carry with them a packed lunch, enough drinking water, a long-sleeved shirt such that it is able to protect you from the thorns and trees, a hat to protect you from direct sunlight, and a rain jacket for protection from the rain since the weather in Bwindi is so unpredictable.

Tourists should also consider comfortable shoes so as to make their adventure memorable, biodegradable tissues, a pair of binoculars, spare batteries, and cameras to take good photographs. Tourists are therefore required to bring with them a walking stick as well and if not, they can hire one from the UWA station where they have got the briefing from

Trekking Season

There are two seasons in Uganda: the wet season and the dry season. The best months to travel for this adventure would be to visit in the dry months of the year, that are December-January and May-September, because this is the season where one moves into the forest with so much confidence as the trails are passable, unlike the wet season when the trails are slippery and impassable

Cost of the Gorillas permit

Tourists should be aware that the permit prices vary with time. Effective the beginning of July 2024, the normal gorilla trekking permit will cost USD 800, of which in the previous 2 years it has been selling at USD 700. The difference is brought about by the change in government taxes. For your gorilla trekking adventure, look no further, as we are here to make your experience memorable.