The best gorilla trekking tours in Africa are organized from Uganda and Rwanda. The D.R.Congo is the third home of mountain gorillas however due to insecurities, gorilla trekking in the Eastern part of the country has over time been antagonized by rebel activities in this area.
The gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda start from 3 day gorilla trekking and Rwanda 2 day gorilla trekking safari and beyond. You can also spend more time in the gorilla safaris destinations to more time with these gentle primates where you can decide to do gorilla trekking more than once. Request For A Quotation
Another alternative is gorilla habituation experience where 4 hours are allowed with semi-habituated mountain gorillas but these primates are unpredictable so expect the family to retreat any moment.
Popular Gorilla Trekking Packages in Africa
3 Day Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
5 Day Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking In Uganda
6 Day Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda
3 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda
5 Day Gorilla And Game Safari In Rwanda
6 Day Fly In Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda
12 Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee And Game Safari
Gorilla Trekking Destinations In Africa |Where To Do Safari
In Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
More than 20 gorilla trekking families are open to the public in Bwindi impenetrable National Park in Southwestern Uganda. Bwindi Forest is a vast misty biosphere reserve sitting on approximately 327 square kilometers of rugged landscape and tangled foliage.
Bwindi forest is primeval even though has a dense network of tracks via which tourists search for the mountain gorillas, its nature is unaltered. Other than the mountain gorillas, Bwindi is home to other 9 primate species including chimpanzees, more than 310 butterfly species, 51 reptiles, over 350 bird species, over 200 tree species and more.
For better administration, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is subdivided into four sectors that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each of these Bwindi areas has gorilla families registered to it however when booking the permits, these four areas are the ones reserved.
Mgahinga National Park
For untamed gorilla trekking experience, Mgahinga National Park offers the best experience since it is less visited with the gorilla families likely to lose acknowledgment of humans over time. Nyakagezi gorilla family currently the only open gorilla trekking family of Mgahinga forest.
Mgahinga National Park topography is composed of three significant mountains that is Mountain Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhavura. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga forest is steep because the mountain gorillas at times spend time in the valleys or slopes of these highlands with draping vegetation over deeply fissured steep, slippery slopes, draughty ridges and more.
Other than the mountain gorillas other residents of Mgahinga forest include golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vevert monkeys, blue monkeys and others. Over 115 bird species are confirmed as residents of Mgahinga forest.
In Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park in North wester Rwanda is the only home to the rarest, vulnerable and endangered mountain gorillas in the world. The journey of conserving mountain gorillas started in Rwanda with the fallen American Primatologist Diane Fossey at the lead. Evidence of her research still preserve in Karisoke Station and a basis for most recent research about the mountain gorillas and more other primates.
Volcanoes National Park currently hosts more than 12 gorilla trekking families including Susa, Hirwa, Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Karisimbi and more.
Over 200 bird species including Albertine rift endemics are recorded as residents of Volcanoes forest such as Shelley’s crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco and more. Several mammals can also be spotted while searching for the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes forest like forest elephants, duikers and more.
Cost Of Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Rwanda
The cost of gorilla trekking permits for Uganda and Rwanda cuts across all packages that is luxury, midrange or basic.
The Uganda gorilla trekking permit cost is currently $800 and Rwanda gorilla permits $1500. These gorilla permit costs include 1 hour with the fully habituated gorillas, ranger guide fee, park entrance fees and more.
Other safari costs normally included in the gorilla trekking package may involve cost of accommodation, transport cost, enroute meal costs and more.
Average Cost of accommodation to use during gorilla trekking rages from
- Luxury $250 and over
- Mid-range $ 200 and over $270
- Basic $70 to over $170
Ensure to carry some extra cash during this gorilla safari to use for on grown personal expenses as credit cards are not a common means of exchange used in Africa,
What To Expect During Gorilla Trekking Tour In Africa
Gorilla trekking tour in Africa is shared with other tourists no matter the package category you travel. Gorilla family allocation is randomly done with no appropriate criteria used.
Every tourist is expected to attend compulsory briefing before gorilla trekking and missing without convincing details may end in getting penalized.
Searching for the mountain gorillas is in a dense jungle with several rivers and streams crisscrossing the ground, rough jungle and more. Dress in the right gorilla safari attire that is jungle friendly.
Mountain gorillas co-exists with other animals like forest elephants, olive baboons, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and more. Prepare your camera to catch photos of these primates and more
Rain falls in Virunga area without warning no matter the season so carry rain proof gears and safety safari boots. When rain falls in the Virunga area, it may take almost an entire day.
No toilet structures where you can take breaks while on gorilla search so you have to request for help from the ranger guide who will dig a hole for your atleast 30 meters deep afterwards cover well.
How long Does gorilla Trekking last
Whether gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, time to take on gorilla safari varies with factors prevailing in the jungle. Even though some tourists have confirmed seeing the mountain gorillas 30 minutes after starting time while others spend more time.
Maintain some level of patience as you await to find the mountain gorillas because this is their free space with no rules to stop them from proceeding to wherever they wish to get to.
Shift your focus from just finding the mountain gorillas and open your mind to seeing other unique features in the forest including sparkling water falls, meandering streams and rivers, unique plants and more. Enjoy the restless monkeys that hope from tree to tree, birds and much more that unfolds as you move along.
As you approach the location where mountain gorillas are spending the day, you hear them murmur as though trying to communicate with each other as you approach. The gorilla family may continue feeding as though pretending not to care about your presence however do not be fooled to act odd.
Time to spend with fully habituated mountain gorillas is standard one hour to later let the mountain gorillas proceed with their day’s programs. Human presence also interferes with mountain gorillas’ procreation opportunities
Best Time Do Gorilla Trekking tour in Africa
The best time to do gorilla trekking tour in Africa is the dry season when the forests receive lesser precipitation. The dry season is normally June, July, August, September and December to January when this area is expected to receive less precipitation.
The Virunga area where mountain gorillas live normally experiences high humidity from the regular rains that fall and dense forest canopy that allows less sunrays to sip through
Mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers move through the forest and can even be through the leaves as more sunlight penetrate to the ground. The more sunlight the better the ambience in Virunga area for taking great nature inspired photos and film the wild dwellers.
Note that competition for gorilla safari in the dry season is high as the number of tourists is over the top too.
Gorilla trekking in the wet season is still fine with 99% chances of finding the mountain gorillas too however, they spend most of the time in sheltered locations.
The destinations where Gorilla safaris in Africa happen are not affected by extreme weather conditions that may stop activities in the jungle so plan to visit when you most feel comfortable.
What Guarantees Seeing Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking Tour In Africa
Chances of finding the mountain gorillas in the dense jungle are 99% even though they are unrestricted from exploring the forest. Mountain gorillas live as family and can only move when there is a reason like vigorous attack from another gorilla family, insufficient food and more.
Each day a team of ranger guides patrols the mountain gorillas to find where they nested, estimate possible direction they take for the day and keep communicating with rangers with tourists on radio call.
Mountain gorillas leave behind some clues that may unrecognized by unfamiliar trekkers and these rangers guides use to trace the direction of these primates. Some of the clues include freshly leftover foliage, foot prints, hairs, listen to murmurs and more.
Even when mountain gorillas move, they do not go far from their previous location because of the size of their bodies that is a fully grown male can weight about 200 kilograms and the female almost half this weight. This enables tourists to catch up with the gorilla family.
Gorilla Trekking Guidelines On An African Safari
- Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch a communicable infection like flu, cough as these may be spread to the mountain gorillas that are susceptible to such infections and may end in their massive death.
- Stay in a tight group when you meet the mountain gorillas and avoid surrounding them because this may be miss communicated for trying to attack the family.
- Maintain a distance of 8 meters from the mountain gorillas to prevent chances of passing an infection from either way.
- Wear a clean face mask when you find the mountain gorillas a measure adopted after the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Do not spit on the ground or plants along the way because this may contaminate the food of these primates.
- In case you need to sneeze or cough, do this away from the mountain gorillas or use a handkerchief
- If you need to take a long call, ask for assistance from the ranger guide who will dig a deep hole for you atleast 30 centimeters deep and cover well beyond recognition.
- Carry all rubbish you come with in the forest because dumping it alters the nature of the forest
- Try not to make noise or make sudden movements when with the mountain gorillas as this is suspicious.
- In case you need to eat or smoke when with the mountain gorillas, do it in 200 meters away from them. Feeding the mountain gorillas is forbidden as they are wild animals that must depend on the forest supplies rather than human handouts.
- Only tourists aged 12 years and above are allowed to do gorilla safaris in Uganda or 15 years and above in Rwanda.
- One hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them as they are habituated to be around humans.
Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Or Rwanda Which Is A Better Destination
Whether Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, the experience is unique and varies from one gorilla family to another.
The few differences between gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda may come with
The cost of gorilla permits which is currently $1500 in Uganda and $800 in Uganda
Rwanda offers the shortest time on gorilla trekking safaris which is 2 day gorilla trekking as to get from Kigali to Volcanoes forest is about 3 hours whereas in Uganda the least time is 3 day gorilla trekking.
Uganda offers more safari optional to combine with gorilla trekking some include a visit to the source of River Nile, white water rafting, gorilla habituation experience, game safaris and more. Rwanda has limited other safari options but interesting too like chimpanzee trekking, game safaris and more.
Drive time to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park from Kigali is about 3 hours while drive time to Bwindi from Kampala or Entebbe is about 8 hours to 9 hours with possible detours along the way.
Uganda has over 20 gorilla trekking families whereas Rwanda currently has about 12 gorilla trekking family options
No matter where you go for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda enjoy the encounter with these primates to the best of feeling as you create memories.