Uganda gorilla trekking guide

As a traveler is planning to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking, it is important to know the basics precautions to guide before you book your gorilla trekking safari. All travelers have a right to know about the guide of Uganda gorilla trekking safari before their final day of traveler.

Uganda gorilla trekking permit

Travelers should know that a Uganda gorilla trekking permit is a must requirement or password to be allowed to trek the mountain gorillas. we advise travelers to book the permits in advance before the date of travel and Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs 600 USD per person per day per gorilla trekking gorilla family. The permit is not reused and it is valid for one hour given to view the gorilla family from the time you find it.

The trekking permits in Uganda is sold and issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) which is a governmental body that is responsible for tourism and wildlife conservation in Uganda. UWA allows only a maximum of 8 people to trek a gorilla family per day and it allows only a person who is 15 years of age to trek the mountain gorillas either Bwindi forest or Mgahinga national park.

Best gorilla trekking season.

Although gorilla trekking is done throughout the year from January to December due to the high demand for gorillas in Uganda and different scheduled holiday leave of many travelers. Uganda gorilla trekking is advised to be done in the dry season during the months of June to October and December to February where the trekking trails are dry and not slippery.

During the rainy season the roads are slippery, muddy and wet, this makes the hiking/ climbing difficult while trekking the mountain gorilla families that leave in the high altitude areas.

How long is Uganda gorilla trekking activity?

Uganda gorilla trekking starts early in the morning at 7:00am with briefing at the headquarters of the park which is the starting point of trekking where your told about the dos and don’ts as you go to trek the mountain gorillas. Your then grouped in the groups of 8 people according to physical   The activity can last for one hour to a whole day until you find a gorilla family which you will stay with for one hour, then as the one hour expires then you will return to the starting point where you will catch up with your driver guide meaning your gorilla trekking permit becomes invalid to reuse it.

Where to trek the Uganda mountain gorillas?

In Uganda mountain gorillas are found in only two parks, which is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is best done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and it has 17 habituated gorilla families for tourism.

The park has four sector with 3, 4 to 5 habituated gorilla families and each of these sectors has its own accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, mid-range to budget accommodation options with excellent services and facilities.  It is advisable to have an overnight stay in the sector where you are going to do your mountain gorilla trekking adventure because sectors are far from each other.

It is important to know that Mgahinga has one habituated gorilla family which has of resent settled in Mgahinga but it used to move to Congo Rwanda. There are many accommodation options both with in the park and outside the park that travelers can book to enjoy their gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.

Both during the dry season and dry season, accommodation facilities like most lodges offer discounted rates to group travelers who have visited Uganda to enjoy the gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest and Mgahinga national park.

Gorilla trekking healthy tips and physical fitness

Mountain gorillas stay in the high altitude areas of Bwindi forest and Mgahinga national park which is about 1160m-2607 m above sea level, very many travelers are allergic to high altitude areas, we therefore advise you that you should not forget your anti-altitude tablets as prepare for your Uganda gorilla trekking adventure.

It is also important to note that the rare endangered mountain gorillas are about 99.8% close relatives to the human being genetics. There is suspected that human beings can easily transmit air borne diseases to these endangered mountain gorilla species. Air borne diseases like flue and cough which can easily attack and affect the gorillas to death. We advise our travelers to treat such diseases before your gorilla trekking safari because according to the gorilla trekking rules, you may not be allowed to trek the mountain gorillas in Uganda.

About the physical fitness, gorilla trekking in Uganda involves hiking slippery and muddy grounds, long walking through the rough dense forests with thorny bushes to search for the rare gentle mountain gorilla creatures in their natural habitat. We therefore advise travelers to physical exercise activities and walking long distances so as the body can get used and becomes physically fit. This will help travelers to adjust to rough movements in the dense forest, wet and slippery grounds in the park’s jungle as they enjoy the adventurous and interest gorilla trekking experience.

Uganda gorilla trekking wear.

Travelers should know about the recommended wear for mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda. We recommend travelers to wear eco-friendly colored clothing such as grey, brown which are not so bright, and don’t attract insects, don’t get dirty very first due to the dust roads of leading to the park. The clothing should be long sleeved, both shirts and pants to protect you from wild insect bites and thorny bushes.

We also advise travelers not forget their strong hiking boots to enhance the movement on wet and slippery grounds, they should as well carry their strong sweaters for the cold weather and water proof rain jackets for the unpredictable rains while trekking, they should also carry sun glasses and hats to protect you from direct sun rays, garden hand gloves among others.

Don’t forget to carry other gargets like cameras and extra batteries, as to take pictures and videos of the trek and when you meet the mountain gorilla family and binoculars so as you enjoy bird species as you trek the mountain gorillas.

In conclusion, gorilla trekking becomes easy and adventurous when book with a genuine tour company to make for your arrangements of the gorilla trekking permit, accommodation and meals, transportation to and fro as well as other offers and options to come out the true dream of your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda. Adventure in the wild safari welcomes you Uganda, to enjoy your Uganda gorilla trekking safari with us. We have professional driver guides that we give all the necessary assistance you may require while on your trip, please contact us for planed gorilla trekking safari.