A deal to go gorilla trek in Uganda is a big in the wild. The most admired and salable that transpires for great African adventures. When drawing a list of thrilling adventures for your gorilla safari holiday in Uganda, gorilla trekking should top. With all adventure manner a trip to trek mountain gorillas is a lifetime memory.

When opting to trek gorillas, it’s in line of tracing man’s origin that scientists speak about that happened about 40 million years ago before man’s evolution. Pre-planning for the adventure is also a long queue of requirements, and we believe this equitant write-up will summarize it all.

Uganda is first and foremost the top gorilla trekking destination.

The statement is backed up by many evidences. The only country with two gorilla parks, has the highest population of gorillas in the world, and has the highest number of habituated gorilla families that are ready for trekking. Gorilla trekking safaris means having your permit and rolling into the forests to search for the apes.

Where in the world to go for gorilla safaris?

Mountain gorillas are endangered species that are endemic to a certain kind of ambiance. These gorillas can’t survive under captivity making it impossible to be found elsewhere in any zoo. Gorillas are only residents of central African forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Virunga Conservation Areas.

The Virunga Conservation Area is shared among three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. With three national parks of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and here you can experience the short gorilla trekking tours, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda and Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo. All the three gorilla parks share on the remaining half of the gorilla population in the world and the other half resides in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda and Virunga Conservation Areas shared among three countries i.e., Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda are global lucky winners by creation to host the mountain gorillas. The world Mountain Gorilla Parks are;

For the case of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga are the only destinations to experience the adventure.

Cost of Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Without a permit you can’t trek gorilla. About gorilla permits, the permit demand to trek gorillas is higher than the availability. The permits are possibly reserved about three months before the trekking date. And this is attributed to their demand. So, to secure a permit to trek gorillas, one should have to book at least 3 months before the designed trekking date.

Permit in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority. And the best way to reserve a permit is through several local tour operators registered with Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).

A permit to trek in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park a permit costs US$700 per permit to trek per day. And those interested in gorilla habituation a permit costs $1,500.

Processing for the gorilla safari

Gorilla trekking safaris need prior preparations considering a lot of issues. Where to trek gorillas, when to trek, and which park, and what to carry. When processing your permit, it’s more advisable to use tour operators to avoid inconveniences. The tour operator helps in arranging and setting ground tasks including booking a permit, arranging transportation which is probably a 4×4 safari vehicle, accommodation reservation and advising where necessary.

The best time to go gorilla trekking

Mountain gorillas are static in their natural habitat and it’s better to study their environment before trekking. Being inhabitants within tropics, then variation in weather matters a lot. The good news is that gorilla trekking is possible all year around. But this gorilla zone experiences two weathers seasons of low/rainy season and peak/sunny/dry season.

The dry/sunny weather season is characterized by limited rain. The variations double a year including that of December to February and June to September, the dry season experience a great influx of trekkers that all trekking sectors at all parks are almost filled daily.

And the wet/rainy seasons are so challenging trek gorillas, these months are characterized with heavy down powers. The forests are moist, muddy, and slippery and I don’t discourage to trek, it’s an extraordinary experience trekking gorillas amidst heavy showers. There is always a low turn-up of trekkers at all parks and if opting to trek with limited number of trekkers then the wet month of March to May and September to November are available.

What to carry for Gorilla Trekking Safari

With gorilla trekking one has to find their own path through the impenetrable. Walking through the intact, muddy, slippery and moist forests calls for enough preparations. Alongside your permit, then must as well know what to carry in your packages. These are essential for any trekker including; enough drinking water, sugary simple eats, walking stick, sunscreen, insect repellent, Binoculars, Camera.

And have to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirt (green, Khaki, and dark colors that match with the forest), waterproof jacket, struggle jungle boots, long hiking sock, head socks, and gardening gloves.

Gorilla Trekking Etiquette

Gorillas are endangered species that are endemic to only the limited Mgahinga and Bwindi in Uganda. The gorillas have a very weak immune system, and their life delicate. There are a lot of set safety measures for trekkers to ensure that the gorillas remain safe.

So, any gorilla trekking starts with a briefing on the trekking etiquette that summarizes the behaviors of all trekkers when on the hunt. The briefing is done by park warden starting at 7:30am each day of trekking. Trekking etiquette are aimed at seeing that both trekkers and gorillas are safe from each party.

Gorilla are giants, and very aggressive, in case of any threat, these species can react by attack which might be dangerous. These are the trekking etiquette to follow;

• A group of eight trekkers trek one habituated gorilla family a daily under the lead of an armed ranger guide
• When searching for the gorillas you don’t shout, don’t through any litter.
• On finding the gorillas no eating, no smoking, no shouting
• When watching the gorillas keep 7m away from the gorillas, trekking during the Covid-19 you keep 10m
• Don’t allow a direct eye contact with the gorillas or start an interaction with the gorillas
• At finding the gorillas you have exactly 1 hour before the apes
• Taking photographs, the camera flashlight must off

A walk to search for the mountain gorillas

Gorilla trekking safaris are not for the faint hearted but for the brave adventurous. The adventure starts as a talk, and the proceedings with energy has trekkers have to walk through the unmade path, thick and impenetrable forests, slopes and highs before finding the giant apes. Traversing through the unspoiled slops of bamboos valleys and the thick hikes is a great energetic activity.

A walk starts with a briefing with all your day bag package at the bag. Then, the armed ranger will guide you through the impenetrable and the thickness of the jungle. Nature calls for nature, remember you have to find your designated habituated gorilla family. This can possibly last for about 30 minutes to about 4 hours walking through before finding the gorillas.

Tracking right from where they were last seen the previous day, then, the search starts by looking for the flash dung, forage breaks, and sounds. Everything on gorilla trekking is natural and very exciting, after a short or long hours of searching then the gorillas are here for you. The chances of finding the gorillas are 99%.

On finding the gorillas, observe the set etiquette, with your camera in a silent manner creator memories. Gorilla realizing your presence, are ready to offer uncalculated moments. The young ones keep entertaining in tree branches, jumping around, the silver back the amazement of the hour lousily gazing at the you as they can make their awkward roars and beating them just to show their mightier.

Finding the gorilla, trekkers have a limit of one hour period of strictly of watching the gorillas. Then have to understand from the journal mountain gorillas are good neighbors, have to walk back to the starting point.

About Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla Habituation is an exercise done on wild gorillas to make them familiar with human presence. Mountain gorillas are known for being aggressive mammals that can reactively attack in case of any threat. In case to cease their aggressive manner, procedures of habituation where found helpful. All gorillas before are ready for trekking first undergo habituation.

With habituation, wild gorilla family is kept under monitoring for a period of not more 02 years. The daily monitoring is done by rangers, and zoologists who keep close contact with the apes, studying family behavior, and characters of each member of the family. During the process, these family individuals are named, and even the family is given a name of identify.

In Uganda at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park there is an opportunity for trekkers to engage in the habituation process. A limited group of 4 trekker joins research to spend almost a full day with the gorillas.

Gorilla habituation experience only available at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park at Rushaga with only one gorilla family under study. Gorilla habituation experience costs US$1,500 for a daily experience.

Comparing gorilla trekking safaris and Gorilla Habituation Experience. It’s all about rolling into the untamed volcanic tropics and start a search for the gorillas. However, the two experiences of gorilla habituation and gorilla habituation differ.

With gorilla habituation, gorillas are watched and followed almost for a full day, when before the gorillas’ trekkers have 4 hours of studying the species. However, with gorilla trekking, trekkers have a limit of an hour of just enjoying excites of the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking goes at US$700 and gorilla habituation experience is for US$1,500. Gorilla trekking is done in all gorilla parks and countries but gorilla habituation experience only remained for Uganda at only Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park at Rushaga trekking sector.