Uganda gorilla safaris lead travellers to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both in the southwest of the country and Uganda’s two homes of the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is Uganda’s leading tourist attraction and also fetches the highest revenue in the tourism sector which has made it emerge as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner in recent years. Book through Africa Adventure Safaris, the trusted travel company in Uganda
Gorilla tours in Bwindi and Mgahinga are carried out throughout the year though the experience is more attractive during the dry season of June to September and December to February. This is because the conditions for gorilla trekking are more conducive in the dry season given the dense vegetation and the rugged landscape in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda’s major gorilla trekking destination.
Uganda has the majority of the global population of mountain gorillas which is estimated to be around 1,064 individuals according to the latest gorilla census. Majority of Uganda’s mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where about 15 gorilla groups have been habituated to be visited by trekkers while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one habituated gorilla group.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes place in four different sectors including Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo. The habituated gorilla groups are equally distributed in these sectors and a group of 8 trekkers are allowed to visit a gorilla family in one of these sectors once per day in order to control congestion in the gorilla habitat and preserve their conservation.
Uganda’s gorilla trekking permit which allows you to visit the mountain gorillas is sold at $700 per person for foreign tourists. Travellers are encouraged to book gorilla trekking permit at 6 months in advance due the strict system of their issuance. Gorilla permits are always limited in availability due to the high demand and the need to promote gorilla conservation by limiting human accessibility to them.
A Uganda gorilla safari is usually supplemented with other wildlife tours to give a traveler a complete Uganda safari experience. Amazing wildlife encounters like game drives are arranged in addition to the gorilla safari to give travellers a chance to meet some of Uganda’s best wildlife species in her large savannah parks including the famous Africa “big five.” This includes lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros which can be found in large reserves like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Chimpanzee tracking is another amazing encounter added to gorilla trekking in Uganda. Unlike gorillas, Chimpanzees are evenly distributed in different reserves around the country. The best chimpanzee tracking spots in Uganda include Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Entebbe International Airport on Lake Victoria.
One of the most encouraging factor to explore all these wildlife encounters in Uganda in addition to gorilla trekking is that they are all far cheaper than the cost of the gorilla permit, going for an average cost of $200 per person.
Uganda gorilla safaris especially in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are usually concluded with an amazing and relaxing cultural tour to the breathtaking Batwa community. The Batwa live near the gorilla habitat of Bwindi and they are always ready to entertain their visitors with their impressive cultural performances.
