Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Uganda has long been an awesome safari destination for gorilla trekking, among other Uganda safaris. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in two destinations, one being Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the other being, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both destinations guarantee an encounter with the mountain gorillas. Gorillas are the largest primates, and they live in families of 5- 13 individuals headed by the alpha males, also known as the silverbacks.
A Beginner’s Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
If you’re an adventurous traveler looking for a unique and unforgettable experience, gorilla trekking in Uganda should be at the top of your list. Uganda is home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and tracking them through the lush jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about gorilla trekking in Uganda.
When to Go
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. During the dry season, the trails are less slippery, and the gorillas are easier to find as they tend to stay closer to the trails. However, it’s worth noting that Uganda’s tropical climate means that rain can fall at any time of the year, so it’s best to be prepared for wet weather no matter when you visit.
Booking Your Trek
To trek with the gorillas in Uganda, you must book your permit in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The permits cost $700 per person per day, but the money goes towards conservation efforts, including the protection of the gorillas and their habitat. It’s recommended that you book your permit at least six months in advance, as they can sell out quickly, especially during peak season.
Getting There
The starting point for most gorilla treks in Uganda is the town of kabale, which is located near the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kabale is around 10 hours’ drive from the capital city of Kampala, but you can also take a domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airport, which are both around an hour’s drive from Kabale.
What to Pack
Gorilla trekking can be a physically demanding activity, so it’s important to be prepared with the right gear. Here are some essentials to pack:
- Hiking boots with good ankle support
- Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect your skin from nettles and bugs
- Waterproof jacket or poncho
- Daypack to carry water, snacks, and a camera
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Gloves for gripping onto vegetation while hiking
- A good pair of binoculars to see the gorillas up close
The Trek
On the day of your trek, you’ll meet with your guide and fellow trekkers at the park headquarters for a briefing. Your guide will give you an overview of the trek, the gorillas’ behavior, and the rules to follow while in their presence. It’s important to follow the rules, as gorillas are susceptible to human diseases, and their numbers are already threatened.
The trek itself can take anywhere from one to eight hours, depending on where the gorillas are located. The trails can be steep and muddy, and you’ll need to navigate through dense vegetation to find the gorillas. However, the experience of being in the presence of these majestic creatures is well worth the effort.
When you finally find the gorillas, you’ll have one hour to observe them up close. You’ll be amazed at how human-like their behavior is, and it’s not uncommon for them to approach you and inspect you out of curiosity. It’s an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for these endangered animals.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda for seniors and people with disabilities
Gorilla trekking is an adventurous and one of the most famous activities in Uganda which involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their habitat.
Uganda is one of the most visited gorilla destinations in Africa, and trekking is done in two destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both located in south south-western region. Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari for seniors and people with disabilities? This article will guide you on how to plan a successful gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
How to plan a gorilla trekking safari for seniors and people with disabilities
When planning a gorilla trekking safari for seniors and people with disabilities there are a number of things that you should consider for example trekking a gorilla family that is near therefore you should inform your tour consultant and driver guide so that they allocate you a gorilla trekking group that is near to trek.
Another thing to consider when planning a gorilla trekking safari for seniors and people with difficulties is hiring a sedan chair where you will be comfortably carried by four porters in a sedan chair from the park headquarters to where the gorillas are located and then carry you back after the one hour with the gorillas. Hiring a Sedan chair costs between $300 to $500 and it should be booked in advance through your tour operator.
Seniors and people with difficulties are also advised to hire porters when going for gorilla trekking because porters will give you a push or pull during trekking and will also help you to carry your camera and backpack. Hiring a porter costs about $10 to $20 and it’s also a way of helping the community as some of the porters have families while others are students.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda
A permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits for seniors and people with disabilities can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris, where you will contact our tour consultants on email or telephone with the date, month and year when you wish to visit the mountain gorillas. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
If there are permits available on your preferred dates, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once we receive the payment, we will be able to purchase the gorilla trekking permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly, especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February.
What is included in a gorilla trekking permit
A permit in Uganda includes one hour with the mountain gorillas, services of an experienced park guide, security in the form of armed park rangers, a certificate after tracking, and park entrance fees to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking for seniors and people with disabilities
Seniors and people with disabilities can go for gorilla trekking safari all year round, though the best time is during the dry season in June to September and December to February, because during this period there is less rainfall in the national parks, therefore gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable, which makes trekking easy.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari
There are a number of accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park where seniors and people with disabilities can stay during gorilla trekking safari. The accommodation range from budget, midrange and luxury and you are advised to book accommodations that are comfortable and near the park headquarters or briefing point including Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Bwindi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Ichumbi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge among others.
How to get to the gorilla destinations
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are located in south southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by air transport means, where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive in a comfortable safari vehicle.
You can as well access Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park from Kigali Rwanda where travellers will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Uganda via cyanika border in Kisoro or katuna border in Kabale which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
What to pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
There are a number of essential items that you should pack when going for gorilla trekking in Uganda including insect repellent, long sleeved shirt and trouser, hiking shoes, long cotton socks, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket/ poncho, warm sweater, camera and extra batteries, energy snacks and drinking water, a pair of binoculars, walking stick, facemasks, back pack among others.
Tourists interested in booking a successful gorilla trekking safari for seniors should reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various gorilla trekking packages.
