What Is it Like To Trek Mountain Gorillas And Chimps In Uganda

Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is an adventure in the untamed jungle. Most of the gorillas and chimpanzees else where in the world live in confinements and depend mainly on human supplies but in Uganda, these primates have full control of there life.

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For gorilla trekking in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only destinations. These Uganda primate destinations host some of the best adventure treasures in the country living in a forgotten jungle tangled with stripes of vines that drape down the ridges and plateaus.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda takes you to some of the few leftover rain forests with a dense canopy. At the moment, Uganda has a population of about 5000 chimpanzees living in different destinations. To do chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, there are different options of destinations you can choose to do this activity from.

 Kibale National Park with a population of about 1500 chimpanzees is home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda and a primate hub in Africa. Other Uganda chimpanzee safari destinations include Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge and more.

Booking a permit to do either gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda is a compulsory requirement. Note that the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking permits have a cap to minimize on the effects of massive tourism to these primates and their inhabitants. contact our team for more information

How To Plan Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee trekking

Choose the dates when to do gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari but it is better if they are flexible in case of any anomalies, In case there is a static reason for planning the gorilla and chimpanzee safari on specific dates, it is best to bring this forth in advance.

Find gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit availability directly or through an accredited tour operator like Encounter Africa safaris. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the only body with the responsibility of selling and regulating gorilla and some chimpanzee permits.

Reserve the gorilla or chimpanzee permit in the shortest time possible because availability changes anytime without warning. First come first served basis is the criteria used to reserve gorilla and chimpanzee permits in Uganda. No permit is reserved without payment.

To make payments on the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permits, one can fully pay for it or make instalment payment that is 30% and 70% respectively terms and conditions apply.

Lastly provide the necessary personal details including full names as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth and others.

How To Prepare For Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

When preparing for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda choose which particular destination suits your interests.

Book the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits in advance

Exercise to keep your body fit before the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking because these adventures include walking in the jagged jungle yet time of locating these primates is hard to determine.

Pack the right gorilla and chimpanzee trekking gears including safari boots, rain proof gears long sleeved shirt and convertible trousers and more. Check our list of what to pack for gorilla trekking for more details.

Reserve a seat on the international flights so that you do not miss the opportunity to get into the country in time to start your Uganda safari. In case your gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda starts on arrival, you need to be in the country in time for this.

Check your health status so that you are able to attend the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour without falling ill. In case you catch a cold or covid-19, volunteer to stay behind to protect the highly susceptible mountain gorillas or chimpanzees from massive death.

What Happens On Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Day In Uganda

• On either gorilla or chimpanzee trekking day, tourists gather at the ranger station for briefing carrying the necessary gears and packed lunch because return time may not favor getting back in time for lunch break
• At the ranger station, tourists present personal documents for verification and later briefed about how to behave during the search to find the gorillas and chimpanzees in details.
• After each tourist is allocated a gorilla family under a criteria that is hard to determine, ranger guides lead the way using the trails leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day.
• The trails in the forests tend to be wet and soggy most of the time with generally a humid ambience. Because of the thick forest canopy that allows less sunray penetration to the ground. Untimely rains fall around the forests where mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are residents.
• Even when time of locating the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees seems to be longer than anticipated, tourists are advised to keep a positive mind in order to enjoy the entire experience. Look out for other interesting forest dwellers and amazing features that you pass by.
• Finally when you locate the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees only one hour is allowed with them as a conservation measure. Get way slowly without appearing to be suspicious.

How Long Is The Walk To See The Mountain Gorillas And Chimpanzees In Uganda

From the starting point of the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda, the time you spend on the walk to find these primates varies with factors prevailing in the wilderness. There gorillas and chimpanzees keep changing their location too.

Time of finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees is influenced by factors including:

• weather conditions
• mood in the forest
• location of feeding ground
• Pace of fellow tourists and more

Some tourists have found the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in 30 minutes whereas others have spent more time.

No matter the time when you locate the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees finding them is a sure deal. It is a magical moment to many tourists filled with mixed feelings of fear, anxiety and excitement. contact our team to plan for your safari

Are Uganda mountain gorillas or chimpanzees violent

Mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are not violent primates but can charge when provoked. Mountain gorillas or chimpanzee troops are first habituated until proved ready for public viewing. While with these primates they may show some odd signs like hooting, pulling grass, chest thumping for gorillas, throwing fruits and at the extreme retreat into the deeper forest ends.

Upon noticing such behavior amongst the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, do not panic because you may escalate the situation. Wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of the matter and provide the possible solution.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are agitated because of attacks from mates, touching their infants, violating the rules of gorilla or chimpanzee safaris and more.

Adhere to the new directives including pretending to chew foliage, showing submission, trying out the gorilla or chimpanzee voices that may curb the situation and more.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda

12 years and beyond is the age limit for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda. The former was 15 years and beyond but to enable more children to participate in gorilla or chimpanzee trekking giving them an opportunity to know more about the eco systems.

Seeing the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural setting with children helps them to appreciate the relevancy of protecting these endangered primates and their habitat.

Since time of locating the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda varies, only children above 12 years may be in position to withstanding the longer time in the wilderness.

Why Book Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Uganda

The gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda are authentic because animals live freely without human intervention. Even though both gorilla and chimpanzees in Uganda undergo the habituation process, their natural traits are not disturbed.

Uganda is an African primate hub too with various options of primate destinations. Kibale National Park and Budongo forest offer an extra chance to do chimpanzee habituation experience where four hours are allowed with the semi-habituated chimpanzee community. Bwindi also offers four hours of gorilla habituation experience.

During the search for the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas while on Uganda safari, you may meet other primates including olive baboons, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and others. The forests in Uganda host a variety of birds which is a double opportunity for keen birders on gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari.

A combo of Uganda primate safaris and other wildlife safaris is possible because the country is endowed by nature. This gives you diversity of safari options during Uganda safari.

When you purchase the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit, you contribute to the conservation fund. Both gorillas and chimpanzees are still on the list of highly endangered  primates in the world with and more funds are necessary to support their conservation.

Best time to do gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

The dry season that is December to January and June to October is the most desired period to do both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda.

Even though both gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda live in dense rain forests with high humidity all year, the dry season has less precipitation. More sunlight filters through the thick layers of leaves to the ground to reduce on the amount of humidity.

The gorillas and chimpanzees spend most of their time closer to the ground during this period because up in the canopies there is competition for food with other inhabitants.

The trail in the forests also have less vegetation in the dry season that protrudes over to obstruct the way.

This is the peak tourism season in Uganda too so more tourists are expected on ground and so the cost of safari supporting logistics is high too.

During the wet season, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is open too and finding these primates is guaranteed too. The wet season which is normally March to May and Late October to November is open for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. Chances of finding infants, pregnant mothers and more during this Uganda primates safari are more possible.

What Are the guidelines of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Uganda

• No making noise before or when with the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees avoid sudden movements as this may scare the mountain gorillas. These primates are highly suspicious of unfamiliar noise.
• Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch a communicable infection like flu, covid-19, cough and more. The mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human communicable infections and may end in massive death of these primates.
• No using flash photography when with the gorillas because they may run into hiding.
• Avoid surrounding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees as this may seem suspicious so remain in a tight group. Do not litter or dump garbage in the forest because this alters the nature of the forest where the mountain gorillas and other inhabitants thrive.
• In case you wish to sneeze or cough do this in the folded arm or in a handkerchief but without facing the gorillas or chimpanzees
• Spitting on vegetation or soil is forbidden because this may pass infectious germs to these mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.
• Maintain a distance of approximately 8 meters away from the gorillas or chimpanzees  to prevent chances of contacting them. Even when they try to approach you out of curiosity get away slowly without appearing suspicious.
• Burry the fecal materials   well beyond recognition to avoid the curiosity of the forest inhabitants that may try to exhume it.
• In case you wish to eat or smoke do it at a distance of about 200 meters away from the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.
• Age limit for gorilla trekking is 12 years and beyond
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. These primates are habituated to be Infront of humans for just that time.
• Wear a clean face mask when you approach the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees as this was adopted to prevent chances of spreading any infection to these primates.

For more information about gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, get in touch with us