Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris
UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING TOURS
Uganda is a prime destination for primates, it is known for the mountain gorillas (gorilla beringei), hosting half of the population of gorilla species living in the dense forests of Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park and the rest in the democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park. Gorilla safaris in Africa are packaged together with other primates including chimpanzees, golden monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys among the 13 species living in different national parks. Gorilla tours can start in Uganda or Rwanda. You can have an option of tracking gorillas two times in both countries as these are close.
Most popular safari
Mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park are found in four sectors Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma each of which having habituated gorilla families and one gorilla family Nyakagezi in the Mgahinga national park, Visiting Uganda gorillas is limited to 8 tourists per gorilla family per day observing the gorilla trekking rules and guidelines given by the Uganda wildlife authority concerning conservation of mountain gorillas, a gorilla encounter in Uganda is a wonderful experience as you get to meet the majestic creatures in their original home steads, they don’t live in captivity.
Mountain gorillas display human characteristics, the family groups are led by a male silver back weighing up to 120 kg, it guards the family against any attacks, it is highly intelligent, gentle and has been observed with the ability to use tools like any other great ape, it is a herbivorous animal feeding on plants specially mimlopsis and mushrooms. A gorilla experience begins with a briefing at the park headquarters in different sectors where visitors are allocated in groups of eight per gorilla family, guided by an experienced Uganda wildlife authority ranger lead lasting for one hour. Taking time to interact with nature, take photos and videos, you can’t help it but fall for their innocent and playful nature. For a better experience, Uganda offers a gorilla habituation experience which takes a longer time with the mountain gorilla on a Uganda gorilla safari.
Uganda gorilla tours come along side cultural experiences like the Batwa(pygmies) a community of the last short structured people in the Uganda, they lived in harmony with the other forest apes until the government evacuated them to neighboring villages for conservation purposes, Batwa present their culture inform of traditional songs, dance, medicinal teachings, they are regarded as the keepers of the bwindi forest guiding through their eyes because they lived inside of the thick impenetrable forested area. Tourists have a chance to see birds of different species like the African green broad bill which is an indigenous species only found in the Ruhija sector of the national park.
Gorilla trekking tours range in different days depending on what one wants a gorilla safari in Uganda to include 2 days gorilla trekking bwindi, 3 days Uganda gorilla safari, 4 days gorillas and lake bunyonyi tour, 4 days fly gorilla experience, 11 days wildlife and gorillas, budget gorilla trekking Uganda safari, African adventure Rwanda gorilla safari, 15 days chimpanzees,wildlife and gorilla trekking safari among others, these tour packages are typically handmade selecting the best routes to view wildlife and any other Uganda adventures with accommodation within the national parks to enhance the experience.
Bwindi gorilla trekking tours can begin in Entebbe taking to approximately an 8 hour’s drive from Entebbe international airport passing through beautiful rolling hills, banana and tea plantations or a domestic flight directly from Entebbe to Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips, or the trip could start from Rwanda to Uganda. The national park stands at an altitude 1160m-2607m above sea level managed under the Uganda wildlife authority, it was gazette in 1991 and declared a UNESCO world heritage site by 1994 as a way of protecting the critically endangered species of mountain gorillas.
Uganda gorilla permit goes for 700 USD and 1500 USD for the Rwanda gorilla permit, it is advisable to purchase permits in time to avoid inconveniences, carry warm clothes, long sleeved shirts and trousers, water proof covers for phones and cameras in case of rainfall, hand gloves ,boots and any other personal material needed for an African safari. The best time to track gorillas in Uganda on a gorilla trekking safari is during the dry seasons of the year between December – February and June to mid-September.
There is available accommodation in bwindi impenetrable narional park ranging from to the best budget, for example, Buhoma gorilla lodge, Lake Mulehe gorilla lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, Ichumbi gorilla lodge, Buhoma community camp, midrange accomodation bwindi include Gorilla mist camp, Nkuringo gorilla camp, Gorilla valley lodge, Engagi lodge bwindi, Silver back lodge bwindi among others where as luxury lodges in bwindi include . It is Nkuringo bwindi gorilla lodge,Buhoma lodge, Volcanoes bwindi lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest lodge, Mahogany springs among others it is always advisable to book accommodation in advance and in locations where one is going to track these gorillas.
