Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a top safari activity where tourists take a walk through the natural forests with moderate hikes in search of the mountain gorillas. The trek in search of mountain gorillas takes about 3-7 hours and this time is unpredictable because the search goes on until you meet the gorillas where they spent their previous night or where they are spending the day.
As you trek, the gorillas are also trekking because they are in their natural habitat and always on the move since they are not enclosed. Gorilla trekking involves hiking because the activity is done on an altitude of 2,607 meters above sea level on a rugged surface with narrow valleys intersected by rivers and steep hills.
The Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience in Uganda
Here is what a Uganda gorilla trekking experience looks like
Before start of the gorilla trekking experience, expect to have a briefing session that starts at 8:00am. During this time, you are briefed about the gorilla tracking etiquette with emphasis on your behavior during the activity. During the briefing the park rangers re-echo the guidelines on what you should and should not do in the jungle.
As you have your Uganda gorilla trekking safari briefing, you are allocated a gorilla family to trek alongside 7 other trekkers. If you have any preferences in regards to the hike or family to visit it is during this time that you communicate and get allocated appropriately.
After briefing, you start the trek to the jungle for gorilla trekking. You will be accompanied by an armed park guide who will lead you to where the gorillas are and tell you much more of all the information about the gorilla family you are trekking as well as gorillas in general.
A maximum of 1 hour is spent in the presence of the gorillas as you have the opportunity to take stunning, memorable pictures of finally coming face to face with the giant apes of the jungle. Make sure to take as many photos and record as many videos as you can. Remember to use a non-flash photography camera.
After spending 60 minutes with the mountain gorillas, you then are led by the ranger guide back to the park headquarters. Arriving at the park headquarters, you are welcomed back and then given a Uganda gorilla trekking safari certificate which is recognition for a complete trek.
Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Safe?
Mountain gorillas go through a habituation period that lasts approximately 2 years before tourists are allowed to trek. This means that they are surely accustomed to human presence and are not capable of causing any harm.
What you should be assured of is that, on a Uganda gorilla safari there’s no possibility of you going into the jungle alone. On each gorilla trek a group of 8 tourists move with two armed rangers who are familiar with the gorillas and whole forest habitat.
Being habituated it means the gorillas have been carefully exposed to human presence and have learned that humans are not a threat. However, they are still cautious and act accordingly, that’s why you should follow the gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
Before going to the forest for the trek, ranger guides will take you through the briefing session where you are told the dos and don’ts and also taught safety precautions and what to do in case of any unpredictable circumstances. With precautions, guides and surety that the mountain gorillas have been fully habituated you can have your gorilla trekking safari at peace knowing that it is safe to go for a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda
Best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda for both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the dry season when the rains are less. This is in the months of June, July, August to early September which is the long dry season and the short dry season which is December, January and February.
During the dry season, the rains are less and the trail heads are drier and easier to pass through. Since gorilla trekking is an activity that includes walking in the jungle, when it’s wet the trails become a little bit slippery and make trekking a bit harder.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda safaris can be customized and booked for you as you prefer. Contact Carmine safari & Tours experts for the best kind of gorilla safari itineraries and affordable quotations.
Uganda gorilla trekking permit
A gorilla trekking permit is a primary requirement to allow a client have access to gorillas in their natural habitat. A gorilla permit is a detailed piece of paper clearly showing the payment date, amount paid for gorilla trekking, tracking date, sector of tracking and client information. It is exclusively issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) after full payment, a government body responsible for monitoring and regulating national parks and their activities in Uganda. A gorilla permit is presented at the park office in the morning before clients head out to the forest for registration to prevent fraud.
How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?
Have you been wondering how you can book a gorilla permit here in Uganda? Worry no more, a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda can be booked in two ways. First, you can book a gorilla permit directly online through Uganda Wildlife Authority portal. The second way to book a gorilla permit in Uganda is by contacting a trusted local tour company of your choice to plan for your gorilla safari and purchase the permit on your behalf. This is the most recommended way to purchase a gorilla permit because Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) does not sell permits to individuals. Due to the high demand of the gorilla permits, travelers are advised to book gorilla permits early, about 3 months in advance to avoid inconveniences during your gorilla safari.
How much is gorilla permit in Uganda?
The price for a gorilla permit in Uganda is much lower at $ 800 per person compared to that in Rwanda that almost doubles that for Uganda at $ 1500 per person while gorilla habituation in Uganda is $1500. This makes Uganda a cheaper gorilla destination for all kinds of travelers in comparison to Rwanda. Gorilla permits in Uganda are categorized according to residence that is Foreign Resident (FR), Foreign non Resident (FNR), Rest of Africa (ROA), East African Citizens (EAC).
| Activity | Foreign non-Residence
(FNR) |
Foreign Residence
(FR) |
East African Resident
(EAC) |
| Gorilla Habituation Experience | 1500 USD | 1000 USD | 750,000 UGX |
| Gorilla Trekking | 800USD | 700 USD | 300,000 UGX |
- The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Guidelines for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Before you set out:
- Ensure to carry with your payment receipts and permits
- Do not visit the gorillas if you have a cold or other infectious illness.
- Minimum age for tracking is 15 years.
- Human waste should be buried 30cm deep
- Maximum number of visitors is eight persons per gorilla group.
When you are with the gorillas:
- Maintain a 10m distance from the gorillas
- Smoking, eating and drinking are not permitted during the trekking.
- If you must sneeze or cough cover your face and turn away from the gorillas, as they catch the cough and colds from humans.
- Visits are limited to one hour per gorilla group per day.
- Do not use flash photography.
- Do not leave litter in the forest.