Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Gorilla trekking Safaris are amazing excursions that spice up your holiday tour. Enjoy Tours in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, the only homes for Mountain Gorillas in Uganda. While in Rwanda, gorilla tracking takes place at the Volcanoes National Park, the home of gorillas in Rwanda. Uganda is in the world over is known as the major home for the endangered Mountain Gorillas and boast of half their population. Gorilla Tours in Uganda are commonly done at Bwindi Impenetrable forest where gorillas are organised under various Families/groups. Each gorilla family is visited by 8 tourists per day. Get some of our packages for gorilla trips in Uganda.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has more than half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorilla population. So, if you’re planning to do a gorilla safari in Africa, Bwindi impenetrable forest national is the best option for you because you cannot miss out on seeing any mountain on your which is possible to other destinations in Africa where these primates are found. It has been noted that only one tourist has been recorded not have seen a single gorilla on the first day of gorilla trekking but the second day of tracking was able to see them. 

Bwindi forest also hosts a lot of bird species mostly water species and forest bird species. This forest is the best place to do montane-forest bird watching in Africa with over 350 bird species, whereby among these bird species 14 are endemic to the park and only 23 are found in Albertine rift. These are some of the bird species one can see while visiting Bwindi impenetrable forest for bird watching include. Chestnut-throated Apalis, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Dusky Twin Spot, short-tailed warbler, Western Green Tinker bird, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Kivu Ground-Thrush, Africa Green Broadbill, Africa wood owl, Black-breasted Barbet, Handsome Francolin, strange weaver, Collared Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, and among others.  

The best trail with an amazing experience in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are Mubwindi swamp trail, Buhoma waterfall, and Bambo zone. 

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park covers over 478 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda and it takes 7-8 hours of driving. This journey will take you through a smooth surface and a dirt murram road into the park. You can also access Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Queen Elizabeth national park through the Ishasha sector which takes 3-4 hours of driving. 

You can use daily buses from Kampala to kabale, Kisoro and Rukungiri via Kihihi. From those towns, it is easy to access Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or you can connect with a professional local guide and pick you up. Domestic flights are also available, flying from Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips. 

Chances Of Seeing Mountain Gorillas In Bwindi Forest

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has more than half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorilla population. So, if you’re planning to do a gorilla safari in Africa, Bwindi impenetrable forest national is the best option for you because you cannot miss out on seeing any mountain on your which is possible to other destinations in Africa where these primates are found. It has been noted that only one tourist has been recorded not have seen a single gorilla on the first day of gorilla trekking but the second day of tracking was able to see them. 

Other wildlife found in bwindi impenetrable forest national park; jackals, colobus, forest elephants, red trailed monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, forest duikers, several insects, a lot of bird species, and among others. 

Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has more than half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorilla population and these primates are an endangered species. Only 4 gorilla population censuses have been carried out in Bwindi impenetrable forest since 1991 when it was gazetted. The first census was carried out in 1994 and 300 mountain gorillas were confirmed, another census was conducted in 2002 and it indicates 320 mountain gorillas, the third one was carried out in 2006 and 300 gorillas were confirmed, in 2019 census was also conducted but samples are still being analyzed. Therefore Bwindi impenetrable forest national park still holds half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas while the rest of the half of mountain gorilla population is found in DR. Congo (Virunga national park), Rwanda (volcanoes national park), and Uganda ( Mgahinga national park).

Cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda. 

Most tourists who plan to visit Uganda for a gorilla safari tour have a lot of questions like what is a gorilla permit. How can I get a gorilla permit? How does it cost? How can I book a gorilla permit and many other questions? A gorilla permit is a document that allows a tourist to participant in gorilla habituation experience and gorilla trekking in any destination of Uganda which inhabits these primates. So, if you are interested to do gorilla trekking and enjoy this amazing experience you must have a valid gorilla trekking permit. 

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is conducted in two national parks is Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Permits for gorilla trekking cost 700USD for foreign nonresidents, 600USD for foreign residents, and 250,000 citizens of East African. The habituated gorilla families are 13 and only 8 tourists are accepted to trek the mountain gorillas each day. It is also very important to book your gorilla permit three months before travel. 

Booking gorilla trekking. 

On the continent of Africa, gorillas are only found in three countries and the biggest number of gorillas are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both in Uganda. Other national parks are Virunga national park in DR. Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. 

One to do gorilla trekking in any destination above must have a gorilla trekking permit which allows you to hike the forest and searching the gorillas. The trek takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours to meet these unique species but this depends on the spend of trekkers and where gorillas last fed. After meeting mountain gorillas, you’re given only 1 hour and interact as well as getting a chance to know more about their lifestyles like feeding, nesting, and others. 

How can one book a gorilla permit? 

For tourists who are planning to do a gorilla safari in Uganda, it is best to book a permit at least 3 months back before your travel date to avoid disturbance. This is because mountain gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park do sell out very fast, as many travelers looking to encounter the few remaining mountain gorillas. Therefore, booking your permit earlier is useful to you. One can ask a question that how can I book gorilla permits in Uganda, the answer is all gorilla permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are there at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offices in Kampala the capital city of Uganda or you can book it through a trusted tour operator like Africa Adventure Vacations.  

What safari company should one use?

Choosing a genuine safari company that will provide you a wide range of services that will fit your suit is also important if you want to enjoy your safari with no disturbance. Those who will be able to offer you a professional guide and suitable transportation. So, Africa Adventure Vacations Ltd is available to offer you good services that you will never forget in your entire lifetime.