Gorilla trekking is a great adventure one can do in Africa. It’s an immersion through the forest to find mountain gorillas where they live. Uganda is one of the places in the world where you can do this and makes it very special for people who love animals and the outdoors.
The perfect places to go for gorilla trekking are two national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks are known for their thick forests, big mountains and lots of different plants species and animals.
MEANING OF GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is walking through the thick forests with guides and trackers to find a group of mountain gorillas.
Starting gorilla trekking needs very early in the morning, then meeting at the park headquarters to get information before heading to the forest. The walk can take hours, sometimes the whole day depending on where the gorillas are.
When we find the gorillas, we get to spend one hour with them while watching what they do, taking photos learning about how they live. Uganda is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas which makes it one of the best places to see them.
THE GORILLA TREKKING PARKS IN UGANDA.
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is famous for gorilla trekking in Uganda. It’s a special place with lots of thick trees and many gorilla families.
Bwindi has areas where we can go trekking:
- Buhoma
- Ruhija
- Rushaga
- Nkuringo
Each area has different gorilla groups and we are always assigned to one based on if there are permits available.
MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is smaller and part of the Virunga Mountains and shares borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This park has one group of gorillas that one can visit called the Nyakagezi group. It’s not crowded as Bwindi which makes it a good choice if you want an adventure.
Mgahinga National Park also has views of the volcanoes and it is home to golden monkeys and other wildlife.
COSTS OF GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS.
To experience gorilla trekking in Uganda, we need permits for the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The cost of gorilla permits in 2026 are:
• USD 800 per person (non-resident foreigners).
• $700 per person (resident foreigners).
• US dollars 500 per person if living in another country but in Africa.
• UGX 300,000 per person from East Africa.
The permit price includes;
• Entrance fees to the park.
• A guide / park ranger.
• One hour with the gorillas.
• People to keep us safe and help us find the gorillas.
GORILLA PERMIT BOOKING OF PERMITS.
Booking permits ahead is important because there are a few available each day. You can book directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a tour operator.
It’s always good to book at least three to six months in advance especially during the busy seasons because the permits sell out quickly.
Tour operators can be very helpful because they also arrange transportation places to stay and guides.
BEST TIMES FOR TREKKING.
We can go for gorilla trekking any time of the year but sometimes are better than others.
The dry seasons are:
- June to September
- December to February
The wet seasons are:
- March to May
- October to November
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT DURING THE TREK?
Gorilla trekking can be amazing but sometimes steep. The walk can take 2 to 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are.
The guides and trackers show us the way and talk to trackers who follow the gorillas in the morning.
When we find them, we always have to follow some rules.
- Staying at least seven meters away from them.
- No touching the gorillas
- Being quiet
- Only staying with them for one hour
This helps keep both us and the gorillas safe.
ESSENTIALS TO CARRY FOR GORILLA TREKKING.
We need to be prepared for the adventure. Here are some essentials to carry:
- Strong boots for hiking.
- Long pants.
- Rain jackets.
- A good camera without flashes.
- A backpack.
CONVERSATION.
Gorilla trekking is safe because we use guides who know what they are doing.
The money got from the permits take care of the gorillas and parks. Because of this, there are gorillas now than there used to be which makes a great story in protecting animals.
CONCLUSION.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is something you will never forget, you get to see mountain gorillas in the wild and explore the forests and mountains.
The two parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, they are the greatest national parks for gorilla trekking in Uganda where you will capture great moments.
With great planning, booking ahead of ahead of time and the right gear, you can have an amazing adventure close to our endangered mountain gorilla relatives that 98% of our DNA.
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