Going on a gorilla safari in Uganda
Going on a gorilla safari in Uganda: Uganda has two places that host mountain gorillas, and these are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. They are both located in the southwestern part of the country near the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were both gazetted in 1991 to protect mountain gorillas, which were becoming extinct at the time.
Looking for a perfect destination for a gorilla safari in the world? Visit Uganda, where you will have two options to trek mountain gorillas from. Mgahinga National Park currently has one Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family trekked by 8 people a day. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has over 20 mountain gorilla families to trek, and these are located in different park sectors.
Gorilla trekking is best done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which has the highest population of these apes in the world. Tourists get to encounter many mountain gorillas in one family during the trek. On a safari to Uganda, tourists need to choose a gorilla safari in Bwindi so as to have a great time around the mountain gorillas.
Safety on a gorilla safari in Uganda
Mountain gorilla trekking starts with a briefing where trekkers are taught the rules and regulations of the activity. Among these are how to behave around the mountain gorillas. When clients follow the rules, they will finish their activity successfully, which is everyone’s dream come true. The mountain gorillas are habituated and used to human presence around them, which means they are peaceful unless disturbed.
Meeting the mountain gorillas on a safari
Mountain gorillas are located with the help of armed ranger guides who lead trekkers in the jungle and search for where they could be. It takes 2 to 5 hours to locate these primate species, which are always moving around the jungle carrying out daily activities like looking for food, nesting, and much more.
Trekking takes tourists through several trekking trails where they get opportunities to see other forest attractions. Once the mountain gorillas are located, trekkers get to spend time around them, which could be one hour with the fully habituated or four hours with semi-habituated ones.
While around the mountain gorillas, trekkers get to watch the members hunt, play, breastfeed, make nests, mate, and do a lot more. Trekkers who carry out habituation do become part of the activities that make the mountain gorillas get used to human presence. After the activity, trekkers are awarded certificates for participation and gorilla conservation.
Is a gorilla permit needed to see the mountain gorillas?
Yes, to encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park, you need a gorilla permit. These are documents issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority allowing tourists to visit mountain gorillas. Tourists must be aged 15 years and above to get these permits, for they are believed to be strong enough to complete the trekking exercise.
A gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for the rest of Africa, and UGX 300,000 for citizens of East African Member States. Tourists are advised to purchase their gorilla permits 6 months or even more before the safari to avoid last-minute disappointments.
There is gorilla habituation currently taking place in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi, where trekkers get involved in activities that make the gorillas get used to human presence around them. Only one gorilla family is available for the activity, and only 4 people are allowed to be part of the exercise every day.
A gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 for foreign residents and $1000 for foreign residents and the rest of Africa, while citizens of East African member states pay UGX 750,000. Tourists need to know that only 4 permits are sold in a day, and this calls for advance booking to avoid disappointment.
When to go to Bwindi
Tourists can go on a gorilla safari to Uganda at any time of the year because the country is open for visits all year. The driest months, June to September and December to February, are, however, the best times for a safari. This is because of the good weather characterized by little or no rainfall and plenty of sunshine.
Gorilla trekking is more enjoyable during the dry season when the trekking trails are dry and easier to walk through, when the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of the mountain gorillas, and when the roads leading to the park are in good condition. The clear views of mountain gorillas also lead to clear photography
A gorilla safari in Uganda can still be done in the rainy season, which occurs from March to May and October to November, for the parks are always open. Tourists intending to travel should know that it’s always rainy in these parks, which makes the activity less interesting. The trekking trails are muddy and slippery, and the vegetation is tall, which leads to unclear views of the attractions.
Drive or fly on a gorilla safari.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park can be accessed by both air and road transport. Luxury travelers and those who hate traveling long distances can fly to these parks, while those who are okay with road transport or those who can’t afford flights can drive to the parks.
Many roads lead to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The shortest journey, which takes 3 to 4 hours, is from Kigali, where tourists cross to Uganda using the Kyanika or Katuna borders. The longest journey of about 9 to 10 hours is from Entebbe to these parks. Tourists drive through Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, or Kisoro to the parks.
Gorilla safari packing list
When you decide to trek mountain gorillas, you need to ask your tour operator what you need on safari so that you don’t end up packing unnecessary stuff. Things to pack include a light backpack, waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, long cotton socks, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellents, drinking water bottles, energy-giving snacks, a camera, and a pair of binoculars, among others.
