Gorilla parks in Uganda: Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks are the two gorilla safari parks in Uganda. Some of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas reside in the two conservation reserves. Situated near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda, the gorilla parks are situated in the southwest region of the country.
According to the ICUN, mountain gorillas are endangered apes that have 98% of human DNA in common. There are roughly 10,180 mountain gorillas in several national parks across the globe, with Bwindi Gorilla Park having the largest number and Mgahinga Gorilla Park having the lowest.
The most popular activity in gorilla safari parks is gorilla trekking, which visitors an hour-long opportunity to interact with fully habituated mountain gorillas. Through a process known as “gorilla habituation,” which is exclusive in Bwindi gorilla forest park, tourists can spend four hours with mountain gorillas and help them become used to human presence. Any time of year is a good time to explore Uganda’s gorilla parks, but you need a valid gorilla trekking permit to do so.
Gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi Gorilla Park
The most well-known location in Uganda for trekking mountain gorillas is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the Gorilla Safari Parks. Situated in the southwestern region of Uganda, the park covers 331 km³ and is lush in tropical rainforest. With its gazetted status in 1992, Bwindi Gorilla Forest Park is home to the largest number of mountain gorillas in both Uganda and the entire world. There are two semi-habituated and 19 completely habituated mountain gorilla families in the park.
The four areas of the Bwindi Gorilla Park that shelter mountain gorillas are Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. There are currently 21 gorilla families spread across the many park sectors of Bwindi Gorilla Forest Park. Gorilla groups found in Ruhija trekking sector of Bwindi are Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushengura, Katwe, and Muyambi.
The families Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguliro, and Mukiza are sheltered in Buhoma gorilla trekking sector. Christmas, Nkuringo, and Bushaho are the gorilla families can be tracked in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi. Nshongi, Bikingi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Kutu, Mucunguzi, and Rwigi gorilla groups are accommodated in Rushaga gorilla trekking of Bwindi.
Mahinga Gorilla Park
Uganda’s smallest national park, Mgahinga Gorilla Park, is situated in the southwest of the nation. One of the four luckiest locations in the world to see mountain gorillas is the park. With a total area of 33.7 square kilometers, Mgahinga Gorilla Park is the smallest gorilla park globally. There is only one mountain gorilla family available for trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla Park, which has the lowest population of mountain gorillas among all the gorilla parks.
In the Mgahinga Gorilla Park, the Nyakagezi Gorilla Group is the only family of mountain gorillas that has adapted for tourism. In Mgahinga Gorilla Park, only eight individuals can go on a mountain gorilla walk in a single day. The Nyakagezi gorilla family began their habituated phase in 1991, and in 1994 they allowed hiking. The family of ten gorillas, which was once dispersed around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, has now established in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Trekking with gorillas in Gorilla parks in Uganda
In Uganda, one can undertake gorilla trekking just in gorilla safari parks. The two gorilla parks are situated in Uganda’s southwest, and visiting any of them offers the same experience when it comes to gorilla trekking. Anyone above the age of 15 who has a valid trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority is permitted to go mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Mountain gorilla trekking begins early in the morning at various park offices in both Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks. Trekkers must rise early for breakfast at their lodges because trekking in all parks begins at eight in the morning.
Park wardens inform tourists on the guidelines for the activity, check the validity of gorilla trekking permits, and organize groups of no more than eight people during the briefing. Gorilla habituation occurs in Bwindi Gorilla Park, where four individuals are paired to trek a semi-habituated family. The entire walk is led by armed ranger guides who protect the hikers safe from potentially deadly wild creatures.
In Uganda, how much does gorilla trekking cost?
A valid gorilla trekking permit is necessary for gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks. A traveler can trek with a habituated gorilla families in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park with a gorilla trekking permit, which is a card provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks is $800 for non-resident foreigners, $700 for residents of other countries, and shs250,000 for inhabitants of East Africa.
Only at Bwindi Gorilla Park are gorilla habituation permits available. They cost $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $1000 for residents of other countries, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East Africa. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sells gorilla permits, which are also available at the same price via reputable local tour operators. Before visiting a nation park to engage in gorilla trekking, a visitor must arrange a gorilla permit in advance.
The count of gorilla families in the Gorilla Safari Parks in Uganda
When looking at other nations with mountain gorillas in their national parks, Uganda has the most gorilla families. In Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks in Uganda, there are twenty habituated mountain gorilla families in Uganda, and in Bwindi gorilla park, there are two semi-habituated gorilla groups. Every day Travelers can reserve and hike the critically endangered mountain gorillas with 800 gorilla trekking permits and 8 gorilla habituation permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
obtaining permits for gorilla hiking in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks
Travelers can reserve their own Gorilla trekking permits for the Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks,alternatively they can book through a trusted local tour company. Travelers who possess a Uganda Wildlife Authority permits can arrange for their own gorilla trekking permits. In order to verify if permits are available, travelers must contact UWA with the national park, the days, and the year they wish to visit.
The reservation office at Uganda Wildlife Authority will then respond to the email. When the gorilla permits become available, you will receive an email with your banking information. Once you have completed the payment and the permit is received, your account will be reserved.
In order to arrange for gorilla trekking permits, tourists might seek out a reliable local operator such as Alive Adventure Vacations. To book a trip, a traveler simply needs to email us with the gorilla park, the month, and the desired travel year. When the permits are available, our knowledgeable team will utilize these dates to check with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. We will then send you an email with your banking information. We will schedule the permission for you and email you a scanned copy as soon as we receive the payment.
lodging on a gorilla safari in Uganda
The following lodging options are available in the Buhoma sector: Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, and Bwindi View Bandas.
The following lodging options are available in the Rushaga sector: Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Rushaga Gorilla Camp.
The following lodging options are available in the Nkuringo sector: Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Campsite, Mutanda Eco Community Center, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge.
The following lodging options are available in the Ruhija sector: Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.
The following accommodations are available in the Mgahinga Gorilla Park: Sabyinyo Guest House, Virunga Campsite and Backpackers, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Lake Chahafi Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Air Land Hotel, Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, and Gorilla Hills Eco-Lodge, among others.
When is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?
While mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is possible throughout the year, some months are preferable than others. The best times to travel to Uganda for gorilla trekking safaris are during the dry months, which start from June through September and December through February.
The roads to the parks are passable, the park’s vegetation is low, providing excellent photography opportunities and unobstructed views of mountain gorillas, and these months are marked by little to no rainfall, which leaves the hiking routes dry.
Rainy season travelers can still take advantage of steep lodging savings by visiting gorilla safari parks. However, trekking mountain gorillas during the rainy seasons that run from March to May and October to November is quite challenging because of the constant heavy rainfall that turns the forest trails muddy and slippery, the dense vegetation that obstructs the clear views of the gorillas, and the impassable roads that lead to the park.