Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Gorilla Trekking Uganda, Bwindi Forest Gorilla Trek

Gorilla Trekking Uganda

Being a home to almost half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas, Uganda is very ideal for Gorilla Trekking Safaris. A Gorilla Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a climax of all tours in Uganda where definitely gorillas are a main justification for many visitors flocking Uganda. Uganda being very safe and secure country, seeing gorillas in their serene environment plus doing many other tours becomes an ideal option. Out of the 10 Uganda National Parks, its only Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park where Mountain gorillas are found.

However, Gorilla tracking safaris are mainly done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and less in Mgahinga National Park. Get more information about gorilla trekking Tours aimed at seeing gorillas in the jungles, how to acquire a permit and how to arrange treks.

What company to use for Gorilla Trekking?

We are among the many credible companies one can use to book permits for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda.

When To Go for Gorilla Safaris in Uganda?

Even though tracking mountain gorillas is doable throughout the year in Uganda and Rwanda, there are high and low seasons for which the activity is favored. A Majority of visitors desire to visit gorillas from June to September and from December up to February. However, one can visit Bwindi gorillas at any period of the year. And the low-season tours are cheaper than high season one as a gorilla permit goes for USD 450 as opposed to high season permits that are at USD 700 per permit. Besides Uganda, Look out for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking or Congo Gorilla safaris.

Where To Stay During Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi?

Selecting the finest safari accommodation or lodge depends on your budget. Some lodges ask as high as $800 per night whereas low-cost/budget may pocket as low as $50 for a double room. It is all about amenities/services, food, location, urgency and so on.  Some of the lodges are Clouds Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Silver-back Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Buhoma Community Bandas and many more.

How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost?

The cheapest gorilla trek is about USD 900, slightly below or more and this is determined by the number of persons on the safari.

A mid-range range safari is between $ 1150 to 1400, also based on the number of guests on a tour. The excellent luxury tour range between USD 1500 – 2500 per individual. Those prices are usually per person, with a gorilla permit included and vary depending on the season of trekking (Low or High Season months). Other items included in such prices are accommodation, meals, transport and the tour/driver guide’s allowances.

Booking a Gorilla Permit in Uganda

In Uganda, a gorilla permit is at US $ 700. Every day, over 120 people visit the various sectors of Bwindi to see gorillas. Eight visitors are allowed to trek a gorilla group per day per trekking.

We advise you to book a gorilla safari with us in advance and we shall ensure that you get a permit for your trek. We have got competent safari guides proficient enough to handle the tours successfully.

We don’t charge you when you buy a gorilla permit through us especially when you are to use our tour services like transfers.

To get a gorilla permit, do the following to speed up reservation.

  • Inform us of your travel dates
  • Tell us the number of days you have for the trip
  • The number of people you are, single traveler, duo, trio or a bigger group.
  • We shall then send you the various safari packages with quotes.
  • Upon confirmation of the safari, we shall offer you the mode of payment (Use of Bank Account or Credit Card Payment)
  • Upon Payment, we send you an acknowledgement of receipt of the money.
  • We shall go ahead to secure a Gorilla Permit.
  • You send us the full names and nationality of each individual in a group for presentation to the reservation office.
  • Your names will be registered and then the permit will be issued, put in our safe custody awaiting the trekking date.

What to Wear?  Carry the right Clothing

Gorilla Trekking Gears include:-

Quality hiking boots, warm layers of cloth for the cool evenings and attire for misty weather since it is wet at this high altitude. Read More on Safari wear on an African safari.

Information on Uganda Mountain Gorillas; Gorilla Behavior, History, Facts of Mountain Gorillas, Predators, Habitat plus Diet:

The endangered Uganda Mountain Gorillas do not live in zoo since they cannot survive under detention and therefore there no known mountain gorillas alive in zoos. Mountain gorillas live in forests only in Africa in just 3 countries, namely Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  There are approximately 880 Mountain Gorillas remaining in the whole world with roughly half of them living in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest plus the Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda.

The western world didn’t know about Mountain Gorillas until 1902.  When Captain Von Berenge was hiking Mount Sabinyo on Rwandan side jointly with friends at 9300 foot-level, they camped and identified a group of Mountain Gorillas. Capt. Berenge shot two of them and managed to save just one.  The shot casualty was a young-male of about five years in a medium size but was larger than all primates the Germans had ever had a glimpse of.  The Bones of the dead gorilla and its skin were later presented to Berlin from where it was recognized as a mountain gorilla.

None could believe that gorillas could live in a colder and higher environment than West Africa.  The news of mountain gorilla presence attracted poachers to the region mainly in Congo where many Mountain Gorillas were and others captured alive. Essentially Prince Wilhelm from Sweden killed by shots fourteen mountain gorillas in an tour of the region between 1920 to 1921.

The Belgians did a Mountain Gorilla conservation program in Rwanda and were later followed by the English who did the same in Uganda.  For several years in Uganda, nobody was permitted to have visitors to see the Mountain Gorillas.  In Kisoro, Walter Baumgärtel was permitted to do visits for tourists to his attractive Travelers’ Rest Inn, a lodge facility which still serves visitors to date. Baumgärtel published a fascinating Book “Up among the Mountain Gorillas”. In the book, he unveils his personal encounters with the peaceful gigantic apes in Uganda.  This book points out the desirability and beauty of Uganda’s countryside and an inn and about the captivating Mountain Gorillas in Uganda.

Several Gorillas seen in the zoos are the lowlands gorillas of western Africa. Mountain gorillas are essentially subspecies identified as Gorilla beringei beringei. Mountain gorillas can only be traced in the Virunga Mountain hilltops in Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and also in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Interesting about these parks is that they positioned 48 kms away from each other.  In Uganda and Rwanda gorillas can easily be trekked but it is hard in Congo because of recent insurgent activities. Check here for more information about Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda.

There are 880 mountain gorillas in the whole world out of which Uganda boasts of half the total. Majority of these gorillas inhabit forest of Bwindi and others stay in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. However, Mgahinga gorillas at times cross over to Rwanda. The good news is the Gorillas are increasing in numbers due conservation efforts by the Uganda government together with nearby communities who benefit from a portion of the proceeds from gorilla tracking permits.