Destinations for gorilla trekking in Uganda : Gorilla trekking in Uganda is among the popular activities which are carried out in 2 destinations in the country. Uganda is known for being home to over half the world’s population of mountain gorillas which can be seen during gorilla trekking tours around Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and in Mgahinga national park.
Tourists visiting Uganda to see he mountain gorillas can choose between the two destinations for gorilla trekking which offer unique encounters with the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is done in the different sectors of the national park where different habituated gorilla families live in the dense tropical rainforest.
Bwindi national park is located in the south western part of Uganda and provides unforgettable memories with the mountain gorillas in the dense forests.
Before engaging in gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park, tourists are briefed about the activity at the park headquarters to get to know about what to do and not of during the trek and in the presence of the gorillas.
Gorilla permits are also required prior to the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi National Park and they can be booked through licensed tour operators. Across the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, these gorilla permits are issued to individuals above the age of 15 years.
The cost of a permit for gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for citizens from other African countries and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
After the briefing at the park headquarters in Bwindi national park, tourists move with ranger guides to start the gorilla trekking experience. During the activity, the dense forests of Bwindi are explored in search of the mountain gorillas.
Tourists get to spend 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas in Bwindi national park after finding the gorilla family and during this time they can observe the gorilla behavior closely, take photos and record videos of the gorillas.
Sectors of Bwindi national park
The four sectors of Bwindi national park where gorilla trekking is done include Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector and Ruhija sector.
- Buhoma sector
Buhoma sector is found in the northern part of Bwindi national park.
- Rushaga sector
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi national park and is the sector where tourists can engage in gorilla habituation experiences in the national park.
- Nkuringo sector
Nkuringo sector is also located in the southern part of Bwindi national park.
- Ruhija sector
Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of Bwindi national park.
Gorilla families in Bwindi national park
There are different habituated gorilla families which tourists can visit during gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park and they include Nkuringo gorilla family, Rushegura gorilla family, Habiyanja gorilla family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Bushaho gorilla family, Nshongi gorilla family, Mubare gorilla family, Bweza gorilla family among others.
Each of the sectors of Bwindi national park has different habituated gorilla families.
Other activities to do in Bwindi national park
Apart from gorilla trekking, tourists can also engage in activities such as gorilla habituation, guided nature walks and hiking, bird watching across the sectors of Bwindi national park and also cultural tour with locals such as the Batwa people.
How to get to Bwindi national park
During gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi national park, tourists can get to the national park by flying from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip for visits to Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector while tourists use the Kihihi airstrip for tours to Buhoma sector and Ruhija sector.
Another way to access Bwindi national park is driving from Kampala which takes about 8 to 9 hours using the western route via Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park in the south western part of Uganda is another destination where gorilla trekking is done.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park offers a unique experience across its forests which are home to one habituated gorilla group known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Tourists engage in a less strenuous trek during the gorilla tour in Mgahinga national park while enjoying views of the Virunga mountains.
Another popular attraction in Mgahinga national park apart from the mountain gorillas is the golden monkeys which can be seen during golden monkey trekking experiences across the bamboo forests at the destination.
Permits for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park can also be booked through licensed tour operators and they cost 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for citizens from other African countries and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
Since only 1 habituated gorilla family is found in Mgahinga national park, it is important to book permits in advance to avoid missing out on the gorilla trekking experience at the destination. This is because only 8 people are allowed to visit the gorilla family each day.
Briefing for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is done at the Ntebeko park headquarters. After the briefing, tourists head into the forests to search for the mountain gorillas which they will spend 1 hour with.
Other activities to do in Mgahinga national park include golden monkey trekking, hiking, guided nature walks, bird watching and also community tours.
During golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park, tourists spend time with the golden monkeys in their natural habitat and also see many other primates around the forests.
Hiking in Mgahinga national park is done in the Virunga mountains found at the destination which include Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.
How to get to Mgahinga national park
Tourists can access Mgahinga national park by flights from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip or driving for about 10 hours from Kampala using the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route.
From the Cyanika border or Gatuna border, tourists can also drive to Mgahinga national park for the gorilla trekking tour.
