Best place for gorilla trekking

Best place for gorilla trekking, Uganda? Rwanda? Or DR Congo

Gorillas are primate animals as well as apes that survive in the natural environments of African countries. They are counted among the rare and endangered wildlife species that are not easily found especially in captivity places like Zoos in the world.  Gorilla trekking is one of the great exceptional activities in Africa that a number of travelers all over the world would like to enjoy on their visit to Africa. Gorilla trekking activity is extremely interesting in the African jungle and it gives incredible lifetime experiences and the fact is that almost everyone in the world would like to make their lifetime dream come true by participating in the awesome gorilla trekking adventure.

Where to go gorilla trekking?

Mountain gorillas are found in only three African countries, such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. There are about 880 mountain gorilla population remaining in the world and the population is shared by the three African countries. All these countries offer gorilla trekking adventure experience in its designated national parks that harbors the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Uganda has been ranked as the top gorilla trekking destination in Africa due to that fact that she has the largest population of the mountain gorillas and gorilla trekking experience in Uganda is cheap and affordable. Uganda has only two national parks that are home to the mountain gorillas, such as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga forest national park that is situated in south western Uganda.

In Uganda Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is known as the best destination for gorilla trekking due the fact that it harbors almost half of the mountain gorilla population that is found in the world. The park is home to about 400 mountain gorillas and Mgahinga forest national park has about 80 mountain gorilla population.

There about 18 habituated gorilla families and Bwindi forest is a home to  17 habituated gorilla families while as Mgahinga has only one habituated mountain gorilla family. Bwindi forest has about four sectors where gorilla trekking is done. Such as Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector and ruhijija sector. Among the four sectors Buhoma is the best and preferred sector for gorilla trekking experience with about four habituated mountain gorilla families. Gorilla trekking permits for Buhoma sector are on a very high demand that is why we advise travelers to make advise booking such that they can trek in one of the best sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Uganda is the best destination that offers save and affordable gorilla trekking safari in Africa, this is because the gorilla trekking permit for Uganda costs 600 USD per person compared to that of Rwanda that costs 1500 USD per person. Gorilla trekking is one of the key activities that contribute greatly to the Uganda revenue therefore the government of Uganda has deployed both the military forces and tourism police that work together to ensure the safety of all travelers that come to Uganda for gorilla trekking experience. The tourism police move up and down, day and night hunting rebels with in and outside the park as well as ensuring that all travelers that come to enjoy Uganda safari are safe while they are on their gorilla trekking gorilla trekking experience.

Although gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest involves hiking and climbing of the wet, muddy and slippery rolling hills and it might require physical fitness to trek a gorilla family since gorillas live in the high altitude areas, the adventure activity turns out so fascinating giving travelers great and life time memories in the true African forest jungle.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda is among the African countries that harbor the remaining mountain gorilla population in one of its national parks which is known as volcanoes national park. Volcanoes national park is part of the volcano massif conservation area that is also home to Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda as well as Virunga national park in Congo. Volcanoes national is located in the northern region of the Rwanda in musanza village which is about 2 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city.

Rwanda in the previous years has been known and ranked for the best gorilla trekking safaris before it raised its gorilla trekking permit from 750 USD to 1500 USD person per day for all foreign nonresidents. The country offers luxury gorilla trekking safaris due to the fact that it gorilla trekking permit is expensive compared to the rest of other countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Uganda is a home to 17 habituated gorillas, Rwanda has about 15 habituated gorilla families that open gorilla tourism throughout the year. Some of the habituated mountain gorilla families include, Umubano, Amahoro, Agashya, Sabinyo, Karisimbi, Bwenge, Isimbi family, Titus among others.

Despite the price cost of gorilla trekking permit for Rwanda gorilla trekking experience, Rwanda is the best option for travelers who have limited time in Africa and would like to enjoy gorilla trekking. This is due to the fact that it takes about 2 hours to drive from Kigali international airport to volcanoes can national park. There for travelers looking for gorilla trekking excursion safaris, Rwanda is the best spot destination where travelers can do the trekking and later embark on their way home in just one day.

Gorilla trekking Congo

The democratic republic of Congo is another destination where gorilla trekking safaris can be done in Africa. There are two national parks in Congo that harbor the mountain gorillas, such as Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park that open for gorilla tourism throughout the year. It is only in Congo where travelers will get an opportunity to trek both the lowland gorillas as well as the mountain gorillas that live in the high altitudes areas of Virunga national park.

Virunga national park is part of the volcano massif conservation area and it is a home to about 8 habituated gorilla families which are always available for gorilla trekking experience and the park is located eastern region of Congo. Some of the habituated gorilla families include, Lulengo, Humba, Rugendo, Bageni, Kabirizi among others families.

Kahuzi Biega national park is the only destination in Africa where travelers will find the lowland gorillas. The park has about 5 habituated mountain gorilla families such as the Mpungwe, Mugaruka, Chimanuka, Nganwa, and Bonnani family.

The democratic republic of Congo is the only destination that offers the most affordable gorilla trekking permits as well discounted gorilla safaris in the low season. Gorilla trekking permit for Congo costs 400 USD per person per day and during the low season the permit is charged 200 USD per person for all travelers who would like to enjoy the gorilla trekking in Africa. Gorilla trekking experience in Congo favors a lot of budget travelers who would prefer to enjoy gorilla trekking in all seasons since it has the cheapest gorilla trekking permit compared you Uganda and Rwanda.

It is important to note that for all the three countries, the gorilla trekking permits allows travelers to spend one hour with  the gorillas from the time they meet the gorilla family and a maximum of 8 people are allowed to participate in the gorilla trekking experience since the gentle creature are critically endangered species.

In all the three countries, the gorilla trekking permits are sold at the headquarter offices of the government bodies that govern tourism in the country except in Rwanda where the permits can be purchased online. For all permit bookings and inquires we advise travelers to book with safari expert in any of those above country who will assist to organize your gorilla trekking safari in any of the above mentioned destinations. We advise travelers to make advance booking at 6 months before travel due to the fact that gorilla trekking permit are on competition thus they get sold out especially in the peak season where very many travelers are coming to Africa for gorilla trekking.

What is the best time for gorilla trekking?

For all the national park in the three countries, the best time for gorilla trekking is during the dry season which normally referred to as the peak season during the months of December to February, June to October when there is little rain expected to interrupt with the trekking experience in the jungle and trekking trails are not wet and slippery thus hiking the natural forest and rolling hill becomes easy while trekking for a gorilla family.

Best place for gorilla trekking, Uganda? Rwanda? Or DR Congo