Mountain gorillas put Uganda among the likely destinations to be visited

December 9, 2015

Mountain gorillas put Uganda among the likely destinations to be visited

The mountain gorillas living in Uganda are some of the few leftovers of them in the world. The presence of the mountain gorillas places Uganda in one of the top positions among the best primate safari destinations in Africa. tourists have gorilla trekking in Uganda on their bucket list but keep waiting for that opportunity to secure the Uganda gorilla permit

Of late, it’s quite hard to locate pristine destinations that still bare the authentic natural feel. This is because of factors like human encroachment on their habitats and climate changes worldwide.

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Uganda hosts about half the total number of mountain gorillas and as of the current census about 1000 mountain gorillas are existing in the entire world. These gorillas have about 96% human DNA and their habits are slightly similar to those of humans.

They live in families under the leadership of a dominant silverback. Their succession sometimes is a battle or may be passed on by the predecessor.

For a wild gorilla family to be opened for tourists to see, it has to first be habituated for about 2 years and above depending on how it adopts. Gorilla habituation is the process of getting a wild gorilla group used to the presence of humans without altering their nature. After the gorilla family has passed all the mock tests, its members are identified by name and given a name too.

At the moment about 19 gorilla families are open for tourism purposes but their gorilla permits are sold according to the area in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Mgahinga national park bares only 1 gorilla family called Nyakagezi so far.

Where To Find Mountain Gorillas In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi’s impenetrable National park lies in the rugged Kigezi highlands of south Western part of Uganda. This park occupies about 327 square kilometers of land filled with tangled vegetation that has culminated in its list of species for over 25000 years. During the arid conditions of the ice age era that swept through Africa this forest protected a huge amount of fauna and flora

Some of the species include about 10 primate species like chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s, olive baboons, red-tailed, and others. More than 350 bird species are residents of Bwindi impenetrable National Park including 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics. The Ruhijah area of Bwindi is the prime birding destination of this forest.

More than 51 reptiles, 200 tree species, 88 months, and others are residents here.

Each of these areas has accommodation close to it or within it that we recommend booking first so as to avoid waking up early to catch up with briefing in another area.

Mgahinga National park

Some of the still virgin forests in Uganda is this small forested National Park occupying about 33.7 square kilometers of land. Mgahinga National Park’s topography has a backdrop of three distinctive volcanoes namely Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga and Mountain Sabyinyo.

Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in this area but also its authentic and beautiful scenery is unmatched. With a hike on one of these volcanoes for a round trip of about 8 hours, you get to enjoy this great scenery including the view of the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo from the same point.

Mgahinga National Park has other primates like golden monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, and others.

Its lower zone is filled with grass and bush because it had been encroached on by farmers but currently getting back to its nature. The park has undisturbed vegetation with montane woodland, a bamboo zone, a montane forest, and an Ericaceous zone with giant tree heathers

More than 39 mammals are living in this park, more than 115 bird species and others

Because of its unique landforms, the Mgahinga National Park has the Garama cave running about 342 meters which the Batwa used to retreat to after raiding Bafumbira farmers. At the moment these caves provide an atmospheric setting for a performance of the Batwa.

How To Buy Gorilla Trekking Permits For Uganda

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the mountain gorilla permit-selling and regulating body in Uganda.

You must have a date when you wish to do gorilla trekking in Uganda before enquiring about this safari. Having the number of people you hope to travel with for this tour is an advantage.

After sending us an enquiry, our safari consultant has to check availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list per your date of preference.

In case the status of the gorilla permits is positive, we recommend our clients purchase theirs as soon as possible to prevent last-minute panic in obtaining some.

We request some personal details like your full name as indicated on the passport, nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date, and others.

What are The Gorilla families in Uganda?

So far uganda has about 19 gorilla families but the gorilla families in Bwindi Impnetrable National park are booked according to the area. On the day of trekking, the tourists are allocated the different gorilla families within the area where they were booked.

These areas in Bwindi’s impenetrable National Park include the Buhoma area, and the Ruhija area both in the Northern part of Bwindi. Rushaga area and Nkuringo area in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Some of the gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include

The Buhoma area is composed of the Rushegura gorilla family, the Mubare gorilla family, the Habinyanja gorilla family

Ruhija area is so far made of Oruzogo family, Bitukura family, Kyaguriro family and Mukiza family

Rushaga area so far has the Busingye family, Kahungye family, Bweza family, Nshongi family, Mishaye family, and others.

The Nkuringo area has the Nkuringo family as of now.

Mgahinga National Park has only one gorilla family open for tourism which is called Nyakagezi gorilla family. This family used to meander into Rwanda because in the wild they do not know political boundaries. This is the reason why in the past the gorilla permits for this area were sold according to availability of the mountain gorillas. At the moment the gorillas are steadily in Mgahinga National Park

When is the best time to book gorilla trekking permits?

Advance booking of the gorilla trekking permits is required at least 6 months in advance but can also consider 90 days from the date of the trek. Some also book their gorilla trekking permits 1 year in advance. When you purchase your gorilla permit in advance, you may be allowed to pay in installments but remember to top up 90 days to the trekking date. Failure to do this may cause you to lose your gorilla permit.

Although last-minute gorilla permit booking may be possible, it’s risky and disorganizing because you have a lot more to book like accommodation, vehicle higher, driver guide booking, and others.

Some people prefer to book gorilla trekking safaris in the drier months that is June to September and December to January. Because they are usually drier months and less humid is received in the forest. Even the other forest dwellers are more active during this time.

The low seasons that is March to May usually attract fewer tourists because of the severe rains that fall in the Virunga area. The cost of the services like accommodations, vehicle hire, and driver guide hire may be discounted during this season. you may have a chance of using some high-end services because of these discounted costs.

Trekking gorillas as a solo tourist is more possible in the low season because demand is less for these services.

How To Get To The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Destinations

By Road

Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu to Buhoma

Depart Kampala city or Entebbe on a tarmac road for about 414 km. the road continues with a curving marram road for about 120 km through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo

Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma

When you book a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park you can connect for gorilla trekking using this route. Bwindi forest is about 160 km from Mweya and 64 km from Ishasha sector all in Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route chances of spotting tree-climbing lions are high.

Kampala to Kabale to Rujija to Buhoma

This unfinished road goes through Kabale to Rujiha and Buhoma for about 95 km.

Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma

For approximately 8 hours from Kampala excluding stops the road takes you to Rukungiri for about 390 km. From Rukungiri continue on a murram road to Buhoma for 82 km.

Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo

From Kabale, Nkuringo is about 150 km lasting about 4 hours on a winding murram road

Enjoy a stopover in Kisoro which is 80 km from the Nkuringo gorilla trekking area. From Kisoro a road is about 35km so anyone can overnight here and do gorilla trekking the next day. Before the briefing, you have to drive approximately 1 hour and a half.

By Flight

Daily domestic flights are available from Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe airport. You must know the destination you wish to book like is it to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip.

You may charter from either Kajjansi or Entebbe Airport but must reserve a transfer vehicle because the airstrips are not located within the National Parks.

Which Accommodation To Book For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

The accommodation to book for gorilla trekking is graded according to luxury accommodation, Mid-range accommodation, and Budget accommodation.

In Bwindi Impenetrable national park, you may book some of these accommodations but you must first know the area where your gorilla permits are booked.

Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla safari lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Mahogany Springs, Engage Lodge, Buhoma Community Bandas, Silverback lodge, Volcanoes Lodge, Lake Kitandara Tented Camp, Trekker’s tavern and others

Mgahinga National Park accommodation includes Gahinga Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Traveller’s Inn, Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Majambere Iwachu, and others in Kisoro town.

Rules Of Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Surrounding the mountain gorillas when you meet them is forbidden because it makes them feel ambushed by their visitors. When they get agitated, they may go into hiding.

In case you catch a communicable infection like flu, Covid 19, or cough you may need to volunteer and stay behind so as not to pass this infection to the highly susceptible mountain gorillas.

Eating or smoking 200 meters from the gorillas is forbidden because the effect of the smoke may cause the gorillas illness as time goes on or even the gorillas grab what you are eating and start depending on humans. They are wild animals that must search for their own food.

When you meet the mountain gorillas, only 1 hour is allowed to be with them because they are habituated to be in the presence of humans for just that time. Later you have to leave them alone to go about there day today activities.

Littering in the forest is forbidden so that it is left to thrive in its natural setting. Mountain gorillas feed on foliage throughout their lives. Throwing plastic wraps, soda cans, and others that do not decompose may alter the nature of the forest with time

When taking photos do not use flash photography because it may scare the mountain gorillas which are usually scared of new occurrences in their vicinity. The camera must be soundproof too so as not to cause tension within the gorilla family.

Spitting on the vegetation contaminates it which may infect the mountain gorillas with human infections. It is also unhygienic.

Provoking the mountain gorilla when you find them may agitate them and push the family into hiding. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates that are very conscious of their surrounding.

8 meters from the gorillas is the distance permitted to be apart from them. This is to reduce the chances of passing an infection. In case they approach you, slowly retreat back without them recognizing your moves.