Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is an exhilarating experience that beats all wildlife viewing experiences. Uganda is blessed to be a home of half of the remaining population of the world’s mountain gorillas residing in the tropical rain forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Gorilla Trek
A Gorilla Trek is a highlight of all visits done in Uganda to visit the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in the wild. You’ll discover the last remaining wild silverback gorillas as you walk paths no-one else has walked to find them as you spend an hour in the company of the gentle giants, and contribute to the conservation of this critically endangered species.
Mountain Gorillas
The park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species, with only around 1000 remaining in the wild in the whole world.
Sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans, gorillas display human characteristics, the Gorilla families are headed by a silverback – a mature male who select places for the group to eat and sleep. These great apes are highly intelligent, gentle and peaceful animals, have been observed using tools and communicate using a variety of vocal sounds
Way of life of the Mountain Gorillas
Gorillas are vegetarians and they occasionally eat ants and other insects to improvise for the proteins needed by the bodies. The daily meal consists of roots, leaves, stems and pith of herbs among other food eating up to 20 kg per day.
The Gorillas spend most of their afternoons resting and playing, they always seen to hug each other, bite, hit or wrestle till one is pulled down on the ground. This is very important in their social life, especially for young gorillas as it determines their integration into the group.
At dusk, these gentle giants start constructing a nest where they will spend their night with every single gorilla in its own nest, except for the infants who sleep next to their mothers. Nests are built on the ground or in trees and are carefully constructed by branches of bushes.
We have 18 Gorilla families that are Habituated in the Bwindi and Gahinga National Park.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
The Gorilla Habituation Experience activity can only be done in Uganda in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where you spend 4 hours with a Mountain Gorilla Family along with researchers as you follow them around as they go about their daily routine. While on this activity you are helping in the habituation of the mountain gorillas do they can keep calm even in human presence.
Below is a list of the 13 mountain gorilla families for travellers in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and they include;
Gorilla Families in Uganda
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda are found in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Park and they can be tracked on every day of the year depending on your travel time and availability of the gorilla trekking permits. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four sectors that can be tracked and they include:
Buhoma Sector
Buhoma is in the northern part of Bwindi and has 4 Gorilla groups including:
- Rushegura Family – 15 Individuals with 1 Silverback
- Habinyanja Family – 16 Individuals with 1 silverback
- Mubare Family – 6 Individuals
- Katwe Family ( new group) – 7 Individuals and is currently lead by a Black Back as the silver back went after another wild Gorilla group.
Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo is in the southern part of Bwindi has now 3 Gorilla groups including
- Nkuringo Family – 14 individuals with 3 Silverbacks, 1 black back, 2 infants, 4 Adult female, 4 sub-adults
- Bushaho Family – 11 Individuals with 1 Silver back, 1 black back, 4 adult female, 2 sub- adults and 3 infants
- Christmas Family – 7 Individuals with 1 silver back , 4 adult females and 2 infants, this group is a breakaway from the Nkuringo family
Ruhija Sector
Ruhija is in the eastern part of Bwindi and can also be accessed from Buhoma, they are 4 Gorilla families here including:
- Mukiza Family – 10 individuals with 1 silverback, 4 adult female, 2 sub adults, 3 infants and Mukiza is a breakaway from the Kyaguliro group.
- Bitukura Family – 11 individuals with 2 Silverbacks, 1 blackback, 4 adult females, 1 sub-adult, 1 Juvenile, 2 infants
- Oruzogo Family – 17 individuals with 3 silverbacks, 1 blackjack, 4 adults female, 2 sub adults, 3 Juvenile, 4 infants
- Kyaguliro Family – 8 individuals with 1 silverback, 1 blackjack, 1 adult female, 2 sub adults, 2 Juvenile, 1 infant
Rushaga Sector
Rushaga is in the southern part of Bwindi and can also be accessed from Nkuringo and has 6 Gorilla families including
- Nshongi
- Mishaya
- Bweza
- Kahungye
- Busingye
- Katu
Nyakagezi Gorilla Family
This is the only habituated group in Mghahiga Gorilla National Park with 10 members including 3 Silverbacks, 2 Blackbacks, 2 Females, 2 Juveniles and 1 Baby-Toddler.
Rules and Regulations of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking comes along with some mandatory rules to follow while in the company of the gorillas and before encountering the gorillas to ensure their conservation of these endangered species and they include:
- A maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a family of habituated gorillas in a day and 4 visitors for the Gorilla Habituation experience.
- Always wash your hands before you head out to see the gorillas.
- Do not leave rubbish in the park.
- Always keep your voices low.
- While with the gorillas keep a minimum distance of 7 meters from the gorillas.
- Do not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas.
- Sometimes the gorillas charge, follow the guide’s example by crouching down slowly, and do not look at the gorillas in the eyes. Wait for the gorilla to pass you by and do not attempt to run away
- Flash photography is not permitted
- Do not touch the gorillas, they are still wild animals.
- The maximum time visitors are allowed to spend with the gorillas is one hour.
- Each group of participants is accompanied by a ranger guide and a military guide for protection.
Why you should trek mountain gorillas in Uganda?
- Viewing mountain gorillas in the jungle is an incredible experience and a focus for most travellers on a Uganda Safari. Mountain gorillas inhabit forests high in the mountainous regions of central Africa with their small population split just over half living in the Virunga Mountains, bordering Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the remainder in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
- With the high cost of gorilla tours to Rwanda, Uganda is now a priority for thousands of travellers from all over the world to experience this face-to-face encounter with the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
- Uganda gorilla tours take you deep into the tropical rain forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park in southwestern Uganda.
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable can take up to 8 hours, with an 1 hour once you encounter the gorillas. The most exhilarating part of a gorilla safari is the time spent in the rainforest as you search for a gorilla family, follow ancient trails and discover the history of a people within the forest.
- The gorillas move to a new location in the forest every day, so as you trek along the forest trails your guide’s job is to pick up from where they were the day before and try to find them again.
When to go gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is a year-round activity. During the “long rains” of late March to early May, conditions are at their wettest and hiking at its toughest. November is the short rainy season. Peak season is July and August.
How To Get A Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda
Over 88 people travel into Bwindi to see gorillas on a daily with only 8 people allowed per gorilla family. We strongly encourage you to book your gorilla permit with a safari agent, the most prominent mistake being booking a gorilla family which is far away from your choice of accommodation.
Gorilla permits in Uganda cost USD 600 offering an individual an one hour with the mountain gorillas in a group of 8 people while the Gorilla Habituation Experience costing USD 1500 offering an individual 4 hours during the habituation process of a gorilla a group and in Rwanda at USD 1500 per person while in D.R.Congo it is at USD 400 per person.
Gorilla trekking protocol
- Wash your hands before setting out
- Do not eat or drink when near the gorillas
- Try to stay at least seven metres from the gorillas; retreat if they approach
- Keep your voice low – but feel free to ask quiet questions of your guide
- Do not trek if suffering from a cold or flu; the gorillas have no immunity
Expert tips
- Assess your fitness. A trek is not an endurance test, but some degree of fitness helps. In Rwanda, you can usually opt for a shorter hike
- Flash photography is not allowed, so prepare to take photographs in dark conditions (low f/stop and high ISO help). Protect camera gear with waterproof bags
- Go twice, if you can afford it. You will see new things second time around
What to pack for a Gorilla trekking tour in Uganda?
Below are the requirements for a successful gorilla trekking including
- Water for refreshment while trekking
- Hiking Boots to keep you comfortable on your hike
- Rain Jacket since rain may pour during the trek
- Snack for nourishment by during the walk in the forest
- Trouser and long-sleeved shirts since the forest is covered with thick undergrowth,
- A walking stick to maintain your stamina
Rules and Regulations of Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking comes along with some mandatory rules to follow while in the company of the gorillas and before encountering the gorillas to ensure the conservation of these endangered species as well achieve a memorable experience with these gentle giants. The rules and regulations include:
- Always wash your hands before you head out to see the gorillas.
- Always keep your voices low.
- Flash photography is not permitted.
- Do not touch the gorillas, they are still wild animals.
- Do not leave rubbish in the park.
- While with the gorillas keep a minimum distance of 7 meters from the gorillas.
- Do not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas.
- A maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a family of habituated gorillas in a day and 4 visitors for the Gorilla Habituation experience.
- Sometimes the gorillas charge, follow the guide’s example by crouching down slowly, and do not look at the gorillas in the eyes. Wait for the gorilla to pass you by and do not attempt to run away.
- The maximum time visitors are allowed to spend with the gorillas is one hour.
- Each group of participants is accompanied by a ranger guide and a military guide for protection.
Gorilla Trekking can be done the whole year through and is consistently as good though in the rainy season the tracks in the rain forest might be a bit thicker and your tracking might be a bit longer/ tougher rendering the dry season the best time to track gorillas.