GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Gorilla trekking in Uganda: Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the top tourist activity enjoyed while on a Uganda safari to see the beauty that lies in the pearl. In Uganda, Gorilla trekking is enjoyed in only 2 destinations including the most visited Bwindi impenetrable national park as well as in Mgahinga Gorilla national park. Both Bwindi and Mgahinga thrill in the far south western Uganda. Uganda remains the most leading travel destination for gorilla trekking in the entire world enabling travels to spend an entire 1 hour with endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats in Bwindi and Mgahinga. This article therefore includes all the possible information about mountain gorilla trekking including the cost of the permits, the number of trekkers per gorilla family, the age limit and many more.
Well, as mentioned earlier on, Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in 2 parks of which Bwindi impenetrable national park thrills with the largest population of these habituated primates residing in 4 sectors of Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma and Ruhija. With all these sectors, tourists are rewarded with a breath taking experience as they choose which sector to trek in and sometimes even choose a gorilla family to trek as long as there is availability of permits at a particular trekking date. Bwindi has over 21 habituated gorilla families which is the highest number in comparison to all other gorilla destinations in Africa. On a daily Bwindi impenetrable national park has over 168 gorilla trekking permits.
On the other hand, Mgahinga gorilla national park has only one and only habituated Nyakagezi gorilla family thus only 8 gorilla permits are available in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
The cost of gorilla trekking permit in Uganda as of 2021-2022 is categorized into foreign residents, foreign nonresidents and East African Community member states. For the foreign Nonresidents, a gorilla permit costs $700 per person, for foreign nonresidents it goes for $600 per person and finally Ugandan Shillings 250,000 per person for all East African community member states. The permit fees changes after a stipulated period of it and it’s always communicated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is the body responsible for issuing of gorilla permits and protection of all gazette national parks in the pearl of Africa.
Gorilla trekking permits are issued out to people who are aged 15 and above thus below 15 years one is considered a minor and unable to participate in gorilla trekking adventure. These permits include park entrance fees, ranger fees and just an hour with gorillas taking photographs and watching gorillas as they play, feed, breastfeed and many more. Each gorilla family is entitled to 8 person per day which is the maximum number of trekkers for every gorilla family. For those who wish to spend more time with gorillas, Uganda is the only destination that offer gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park at a cost of $1500 per person allowing 4 hours with gorillas.
While on Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, tourists have a variety of choices for various accommodations in each sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park as well as in Mgahinga gorilla national park. These accommodations range from budget, mid-range and luxury depending on budget of the client.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can either be done from Kampala / Entebbe or from Kigali Rwanda depending of the landing point. The driving distance from Kampala/ Entebbe to Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park which are the 2 destinations for gorilla trekking in Uganda takes about 7-9 hours. However, the driving distance from Kigali Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable national park or Mgahinga takes about 3-5 hours depending on which sector one wishes to trek in.
For those who wish to get there by plane, Aerolink offers flights from Kajansi airstrip to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip.
These parks can as well be accessed from other destinations in western park of Uganda like Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo national park, Rwenzori mountains national park, Kibale Forest national park.
“Let us take you on a 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking safari all year round to either impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park”
