Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda offer captivating and awesome adventures within the heart of Africa. Uganda is renowned for its gorilla trekking experiences in the thickets of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Uganda hosts almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world and to trek them, you need to have obtained a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Under the guidance of experienced tour guides, you are able to encounter these primates in the thick forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga.
Trekking can really be tiresome and demanding due to some weather changes but the reward is so much fun and worth every effort that you invest in. Uganda gives you a chance to do either trekking or habituation, but you can as well do both making you have a complete Uganda gorilla safari.
Gorilla trekking is done in two places;
Bwindi National Park located in southwestern Uganda offers a remarkable encounter with mountain gorillas within their natural habitat. Bwindi hosts almost half of these primates in four sectors where you are able to trek your favorite gorilla family.
Trekking in Bwindi demands fitness and flexibility because it can be challenging with tough terrain taking about 2 hours depending on where gorillas will be found, once you get to encounter them, you are given one hour to be in their presence as you see how they hunt for food, take care of their young ones, and making their nests as you enjoy awesome picture moments to create memories.
Mgahinga gorilla is another destination to encounter gorillas in their natural habitat, it is located in southwestern part of Uganda offering ultimate gorilla trekking experiences.
Trekking in Mgahinga is similar to Bwindi because the terrain can be challenging and demanding but the reward is worth it. The activity takes about 3 hours depending on where the gorillas will be found, once you get to see them, you are given one hour to observe their behaviors, and how they feed and take care of their infants and juveniles.
Different Gorilla Trekking Seasons in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking can be done throughout the whole year but there are two seasons that tourists always consider before carrying on this activity. These seasons are,
Dry season.
The dry season ranges from the months of June, August, December and February. This is considered to be the best season and time to do gorilla trekking because it is the peak season due to favorable weather conditions consisting of clear skies, and dry trails within the national parks.
During the dry season, you are able to observe gorillas clearly and take awesome photographs because of the less undergrowth of vegetation. You are also able to encounter less muddy paths which makes your experience comfortable.
Wet seasons.
Wet seasons range from March, May, September and November and it has some advantages like lower prices of gorilla permits and accommodations which makes it a budget-friendly season.
You also get to enjoy privacy, quiet and exquisite gorilla trekking experiences since fewer tourists carry out trekking during this period of time, and get to enjoy the lush and green vegetation of the forests. During the wet seasons, trails through the thick forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are muddy and slippery hence difficult to navigate through.
Gorilla trekking packing list during dry and wet seasons.
Rwanda is yet another best spot for sighting mountain gorillas in their natural habitats and is considered the safest country to visit. All gorilla trekking activities in Rwanda are done in the iconic Volcanoes National Park dominated by bamboo forests, Afro montane, Savannah grasslands, and some volcanoes.
1. Gorilla trekking permit and other documents.
2. Lightweight clothes of long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
