How Much to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
How To Consider Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is fantastic and it’s adventurous one shouldn’t miss in his life as you think for the great experience in Africa. The heaven sky of the trekking through the tropical forest is fantastic. With collective step to your expectation builds and the reward of seeing the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world is enormous. The setting, Bwindi National Park, is arguably one of the most supernatural forests in all of Africa. Solo Tour in Uganda and some parts of Africa is highly recommended.
Why Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done either in Bwindi or Mgahinga but Bwindi Impenetrable Park has the bigger mountain gorilla families compared to Mgahinga. The trek involves getting tiresome and dirty through the tropical rainforest with an experienced ranger guide you will have the great chance to find a group of habituated gorillas.
Where Are the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda?
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda can only be found in Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Uganda holds over 75% of the total mountain gorillas left in the world, with about 700 of them exist in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is the most popular place to trek the gorillas in Uganda. The park is situated 400Km away from the capital city of Uganda (Entebbe airport) in the Southwestern part of Uganda and is one of the most assorted national parks in East Africa.
How To Consider Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
The Bwindi national park is divided into subsectors, in Buhoma there are five family’s groups
Buhoma Sectors; Katwe, Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura
Ruhija sectors; Oruzogo, Bitukura
Rushaga; Bweza, Nsongi, Mishaya, Bunsingye
Nkuringo; Xmas, Nkuringo. The selection of the accommodation will be based on the purchase of the gorilla permit. You can book your accommodation where your gorilla trekking permit is issued. Or contact your Tour Operator to help arrange your permits.
How To Consider Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Buhoma section is the most popular sector for trekkers. There are five groups of gorillas near Buhoma that are habituated to tourists. The group names are Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Katwe groups. But all the sectors offer almost the same experience of Gorilla trekking. Trekking starts at a designated meeting point at 8 o’clock so you have to be a little bit earlier before 8 o’clock in order not to miss a briefing from the ranger guide. In each group consist of no more than 8 persons. Small numbers are easier to manage and do not overwhelm the gorillas.
The trek may be tuff or difficult, but it’s worth it after encounter face to face with the mountain gorillas. We would recommend that if you are in a good health a gorilla trek in Uganda will prove pleasurable.
If you’re worried about health or physical fitness we would recommend you to the local porters. The porters are the locals from the surrounding villages and cost $15 per person per head.
What to do while with gorillas
Keep a minimum distance of 7 meters, and observe silence when close to the gorillas, stay calm and don’t use flash while taking pictures, avoid direct eye contact with gorillas stay calm when gorillas charge at you. No drinking or eating around the gorillas is prohibited. You are allowed only 1 hour with gorillas.
Gorillas share about 98% DNA with humans and they are highly susceptible to social diseases so persons should not walk closer than seven meters from the gorillas.
The Best Time to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a whole year-round activity and permits are issued every day. However, getting the permit may be tricky due to high demand so, you have to book it 6 months earlier, most people prefer to trek gorillas during the dry season. In Uganda’s dry season, which is May to September and January to Match. Bright and sunny days are more noticeable during these months and visitors are much less likely to experience unexpected rains in Africa.
The low season in Uganda can as interesting as you may think. Less tourists, and rates can sometimes be cheaper. You may involve in rains, but not much much as you may think that it can interrupt your activity. permits are reduced during the rainy season from $700 to $450 to increase more tourists in Uganda.
How Many Mountain Gorillas Are There in The World?
Due to the high demand for natural resources and overpopulation in Africa, poaching, war, disease, it is estimated that there are only around 1000 Mountain gorillas left in the Virunga ranges. The good news is that the conservation effort between Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC lead to the increase of their numbers.
How Much to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Ugandan gorilla permits cost $700 per head for a day. While in Rwandan gorilla permits double the cost to $1500, and DRC gorilla permits cost $450. It’s your choice to choose where to go gorilla trekking, apparently, Uganda is the answer as it’s a safe and stable country. Besides that Uganda has more gorillas than bordering countries, there is plenty of other attractions to see in the country! Such as the second biggest waterfalls in Africa, the source of the river Nile and plenty of Savannah national park that contained the big-5 and the tree climbing lion in Ishasha the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park.
In the offseason, (April, May, and November), permits run for a discount. The cost is $450 but not.
How to Acquire a Gorilla Permit?
The easiest way to acquire gorilla trekking permits in Uganda is to go with a local operator. A packaged deal that includes your lodging, transport, food, and permits will save you a lot of time and headache when booking. However, it is possible to do the trek by yourself if you have your own transport or take a local Ugandan bus and can get to Bwindi.
It is not advisable to show up to the park without gorilla trekking permits, as they only issue a set number per day and during high season it can get busy. Instead, I suggest contacting the Ugandan Wildlife Authority at least one month before your arrival to Uganda to set up your gorilla trek on your own. If this is not an option to check out their office in Kampala to see if you can get a gorilla trekking permit in person.
How To Consider Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
For ease and convenience, we recommend going with a company like Wild Experience Africa to do all the work for you. Although they are a bit expensive, it’s good to know that for every booking they receive they donate $100 to conservation and local communities. Although we ended up driving to Bwindi ourselves we stayed at their beautiful Bwindi Lodge and they specifically cater to guests that are going on a gorilla trek.
What Should I Pack to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Come prepared for muddy and wet conditions. It’s a pretty green forest, meaning things get a little moist.
What to wear for a gorilla trek?
- Lightweight and waterproof safari clothes
- long sleeve shirt
- I would recommend also bringing a rain jacket in case you get caught up in a morning shower.
- Garters or long hiking socks
- Safari boots.
- What to Bring Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
- Walking Stick:
- Binoculars.
- Gardening gloves
- Insect repellent
- Good carry-on sized backpack
- Camera!
Where to Stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
There are a variety of accommodations in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park ranging from best Budget to High end. When you book your safari with a local tour operator then you expect to get a great discount as some of them have accommodation in all the national parks around the country. They provide a full board with non-premium drinks, comfortable beds, free massages, and laundry.
The lodge is eco-friendly and generates power by solar panels and heat its water with solar tanks. It is a ten-minute walk to the park entrance as well. For the best budget-friendly accommodation option ranging from Budget to luxury high-end are listed here.
- Entebbe Airport
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
- Lake Bunyonyi
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Kidepo Valley National Park
How Can I Help the Last Mountain Gorillas?
Planning and booking safari to Uganda is one way to give support to the last mountain gorillas in Africa. The price to see the gorillas for just one hour is worth it. However, it’s important to know that gorillas are critically endangered primates. 25% of the money got from gorilla trekking in Uganda goes back to the marginalized communities. And the bulk of the permit contributes towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas.
Safari in Uganda brought a lot of tourists to Africa and managed to donate towards the conservation of the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. Gorilla trekking is not only an unforgettable Wild experience in Africa but a donation to rural communities and wildlife conservation.
Safari in Uganda
Usually, you could book a safari in Uganda through an international travel agent and have them book your African safari. It’s no longer works that way in Uganda and the rest of Africa. In every country, you will find the Association of tours operator and governed by the tourism board of the particular country and you can place your Safari booking through them direct. They will suggest for you the type of accommodation in particular national parks based on your safari budget.
We have a variety of travel platform that allows you to select the lodges you’d like and see the pricing per day that way you can select the good travel agent for an African safari. They will then craft for you the itinerary based on your safari budget and help you through hotel reservations.
Check Out Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
What to Pack for an African Safari?
Packing the gear for your safari in Uganda is always a decent idea, but it’s never essential because you can wear whatever you want. We also go in-depth on the women travelers wear as well. The most common wear on your safari in Uganda could be T/shirt with long pants (trousers).
What to carry on your safari to Uganda?
- Travel Insurance: We would highly recommend acquiring your insurance from your country. Or you can insure with Nomads.
- Travel Water bottle:
- Camera Gear:
- Safari Clothes:
- Safari Hat:
- Safari Bag
- Safari Pants
- Safari Shirt
- Travel Adapter: You’ll need some special travel adapter accessories for Africa. For more information, you can inquire from your tours operator.
