Gorilla Destinations in Uganda
Gorilla Destinations in Uganda: It is one of the few East African countries endowed with mountain gorilla populations, making it a true haven for gorilla trekking. The country has two gorilla parks gifted with lush montane forests and rugged terrain with a diverse ecological diversity and home to over 500 mountain gorillas. These two gorilla parks, Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, are located in southwestern Uganda and provide an in-depth exploration of mountain gorilla destinations in Uganda. Out of the two gorilla parks, the largest population of mountain gorillas worldwide is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The primary reason why nature enthusiasts travel to see these mountain gorillas is that, according to research, these gentle giants share 98% of our DNA.
Furthermore, mountain gorillas are the only subspecies found in Uganda; they are exclusively found in the gorilla parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga. Additionally, mountain gorillas can be observed in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. But if you want to get up close and personal with mountain gorillas, you should get a gorilla trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Trekkers undergo a briefing at the sector headquarters that covers the rules for trekking or habituating mountain gorillas. Under the guidance of armed rangers, the tour around the park’s numerous trails takes 2 to 7 hours. The time it takes to locate mountain gorillas is usually determined by the speed of the trekkers and the group’s location. After the gorilla family has been located, trekkers spend an hour with the group to observe mountain gorillas as they study their behaviors and lifestyles while taking memorable photos.
Gorilla destinations in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the two gorilla destinations in Uganda. and the best place to see mountain gorillas. The national park is home to more mountain gorillas than any other place on Earth. Bwindi Gorilla Park, has more than 500 mountain gorillas and about 21 mountain gorilla groups. In Bwindi Gorilla Park, mountain gorillas can be seen in four different sectors each is home to a different family of mountain gorillas. The Rushaga section in the southern portion of the park is home to the mountain gorilla families Kutu, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Nshongi, and Busingye. The Nkuringo sector in the southern part of Bwindi Gorilla Park is home to the Nkuringo, Bushaho, and Christmas gorilla families.
The Buhoma sector, located on the northern edge of the park, is home to gorilla families such as Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushengura, Muyambi, and Katwe. Bitukura, Kyaguliro, Oruzogo, and Mukiza are among the mountain gorilla families that call the Ruhija region on the park’s eastern flank home. There is a 99% possibility of seeing mountain gorillas in the wild, and the experience is the same in each of the Bwindi Gorilla Park’s sectors. Bwindi Gorilla Park is the only destination where tourists can carry out mountain gorilla habituation. The unique experience is held in the southern portion of the park, specifically in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sections. Only two gorilla families have been bred for habituation: the Bikingi and Bushaho.
Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla Park is Uganda’s second place to see mountain gorillas. The national park, which is 33 square kilometers in size, is located in the southwest of the country in the Kisoro area. Within the national park are a few Virunga volcanoes, such as Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the national park is adjacent to Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park. As part of the Virunga conservation region, Mgahinga National Park is situated alongside Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In Mgahinga National Park, a few mountain gorillas can be found in the bamboo jungle and on the slopes of Sabyinyo, Mgahinga, and Muhabura. Mgahinga National Park is home to just one habituated mountain gorilla family, the Nyakagezi, which consists of nine individuals and is led by a silverback. The gorilla family can only be trekked with 8 persons per group.
Gorilla permits in Uganda?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority offers gorilla trekking permits to visitors over 15 years of age for both the Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks. Gorilla trekking permits cost $800 for non-foreign residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. In Bwindi Gorilla Park, gorilla habituation permits cost UGX 750,000 for East African citizens, $1000 for foreign residents, and $1500 for non-foreign residents.
How to book Uganda’s gorilla permits
Gorilla trekking is exclusively done in Bwindi Gorilla Park and Mgahinga National Park, the two areas in Uganda where mountain gorillas may be found. The Uganda Wildlife Authority or a respectable local travel operator are the direct sources of gorilla permits. You can reserve gorilla trekking permits by emailing the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your preferred local tour operator. Your email must indicate the national park you want to visit, the month, and the year. The trekking permits will be issued based on your financial details, and you will be notified by email as soon as they become available.
Things to pack on a gorilla safari in Uganda
Among the things to pack for a gorilla safari in Bwindi Gorilla Park or Mgahinga National Park are a portable backpack, a camera, binoculars, a hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts and pants, a rain jacket, a sweater, a pair of gaiters, waterproof hiking shoes, cotton socks, insect repellents, energy-boosting snacks, and a bottle of water.
Best time to see mountain gorillas in Uganda
Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks experience two dry seasons and two wet seasons. The best times to see mountain gorillas in Uganda are during the two dry seasons, which run from June to September and December to February. They are distinguished by their dry hiking routes that receive little to no rainfall, their short, dispersed foliage that offers pleasant views of the mountain gorillas, and their usable roads that lead to the park.