Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

November 25, 2024
Bwindi, Gorilla trekking, Gorillas

Gorilla trekking is a guided experience involving hiking through the tropical rainforests in search of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The experience takes place in only three countries in the whole world – Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, the gorilla safaris are done in two far habitats – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western Uganda and Mgahinga National park along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. Gorilla trekking is one of the trendiest safari experiences for most travelers that flock to Uganda and Africa at large. A gorilla permit is the most needed ticket so as to have an escorted hike into the jungle of the habituated gorilla groups or families.

In southwestern Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable national park has got the highest population of the mountain gorillas in the world thus probably marking it as the best safari destination for gorilla trekking. The UNESCO park derives the name Impenetrable because of the thick tree canopies in the forest that abstract the sunlight from penetrating to the ground.

Bwindi impenetrable national park habituates 19 gorilla families in four different sectors of Rushaga in the south of the park habituating 8 gorilla families, Buhoma in the northern park of the park with 4 gorilla families, Ruhijja in the east of the park with also 4 gorilla families and lastly Nkuringo gorilla sector in the south with 3 gorilla families. Among these sectors, Rushaga sector has the highest numbers of gorilla families thus being the most visited. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park is only done when having a ticket known as gorilla permit costing $700.

The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable national park is done throughout the year though more challenging during the rainy seasons because of the muddy surfaces and overgrown vegetations. So, it’s much better to visit the park for this experience during the dry seasons.

Besides the gorilla safaris, Bwindi impenetrable national park offers a variety of other attractions like the bird species, Batwa pygmy community and other primates like chimpanzees. With chimpanzees, this makes the park more unique since it is the only safari destination in Uganda inhabiting both the mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees.

Accommodations at Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park has affordable and comfortable accommodations like campsites, lodges and cottages ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury. As below;

Rushaga gorilla haven lodge- budget

Gorilla mist camp – budget

Buhoma haven lodge – budget

Ruhijja gorilla safari lodge – luxury

Chameleon hill lodge – luxury

Still in the southwestern part of Uganda along the borders of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Mgahinga national park habituates only one gorilla family for tourism purposes. The family is known as Nyakagezi family with about 80 mountain gorillas and two(2) silverbacks making it one of the best gorilla groups for gorilla tracking.

Mgahinga national park is not only a mountain gorilla destination but also has other attractions especially primates- golden monkeys which can only be sighted in Mgahinga national park, colobus monkeys and others. The park is also a habitat to different animal species – leopards, buffalos, tortoises, bushbucks and others, the cultural trails like the Batwa people who originally lived in the forest, bird species since the park is a home of about 100 bird species including the barred long tailed cuckoo, blue headed sunbird, olive pigeon, bronze and among others.