Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tours

Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Africa

Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Africa : A Gorilla Trek is a highlight for most of the safari visits done in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, mountain gorillas are the major reason to why many people from all over the world visit these 4 mountain gorilla destinations found in 3 countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Find more information about gorilla trekking holidays to see mountain gorillas, gorilla destinations, how to acquire mountain gorilla permits among others.

Gorilla Trekking is defined as a hiking activity through the tropical forests of African in search for mountain gorillas which you will see in their natural habitat.

Where Can I See Gorillas In Africa?

You can see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo, some tourists think that you can find mountain gorillas in Tanzania and Kenya which is wrong, however these two amazing destinations (Kenya and Tanzania) can be an addition to your gorilla safari for the great wildebeest migration where millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles cross the Mara river in the plains into the Serengeti plains.

Mountain gorillas are the most uncommon primates in the entire world with less than 800 surviving only in the Africa wilderness, mountain gorillas are considered endangered

Where to go for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Uganda has 2 destinations / national parks for gorilla safaris namely Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there 18 gorilla families or group in Uganda and you can only trek one group a day.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi impenetrable Forest hosts 17 gorilla groups found in the 4 gorilla sector, the park also hosts 90 mammal species, 11 primates including black and white colobus monkeys and 346 bird species.

Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Groups

Ruhija Trek/sector: with gorilla families, Mukiza, Oruzogo, Bitukura and Kyaguliro

Buhoma Trek/sector: Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura

Nkuringo Trek/sector: Christmas, Nkuringo, Bushaho

Rushaga Trek/sector: Kutu, Bikingi, Mishaya, Bushigye, Kahungye, Rwigi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mucunguzi

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park hosts only one gorilla family that is Nyakagezi group which leaves on the slopes of the 3 volcanoes found in the park namely Mt. Muhavura(4,127m) Mt Gahinga (3474m) Mt. Sabinyo(3645m).

Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Africa
silverback in the misty forests of Virunga

Where to go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda has 1 gorilla destination that is Volcanoes national park with 10 habituated gorilla family / group, the park hosts approximately 380 mountain gorillas.

Habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes national park – Rwanda include

  • Susa Gorilla Group (Susa A Family)
  • Karisimbi Gorilla Group (Susa-B)
  • Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
  • Amahoro Gorilla Group
  • Umubano Gorilla Group
  • Agashya Gorilla Group
  • Kwitonda Gorilla Group
  • Hirwa Gorilla Group
  • Bwenge Family Group
  • Ugenda Gorilla Family

Where to Go Gorilla Trekking DR. Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo has one mountain gorilla trekking site which is Virunga national park with 8 habituated gorilla families that are

  • Kabirizi Family
  • Bageni Family
  • Mapuwa Family
  • Rugendo Family
  • Lulengo Family
  • Munyaga Family
  • Humba Family
  • Nyakamwe Family.

What Country Provides The Best Option For Seeing The Mountain Gorillas?  Comparing Uganda Vs Rwanda

Picking the best option for seeing the mountain gorillas between Uganda and Rwanda is very tricky since all mountain gorillas live in the forests which is almost the same environment, comparing Uganda to Rwanda is not a good idea since Uganda hosts more wildlife than Rwanda.

On a gorilla safari in Uganda, you can visit Murchison Falls national park, Kibale forest national park and other destinations.

If you try to compare the cost of the gorilla permit, Rwanda’s gorilla permit is costed 1,500$ which is higher than 700$ for a Uganda gorilla permit.

Gorilla permit – a gorilla permit offers you one hour of being with mountain gorillas, through buying this permit you will be contributing to the conservation of mountain gorillas and the local communities leaving around the parks.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Africa
Packing list for gorilla trekking in Africa

Packing List For Gorilla Tours In Africa

  • Waterproof hiking boots.
  • Day pack.
  • Insect repellents.
  • Light weight rain jacket.
  • Poncho
  • Binoculars,
  • Bottled water
  • Boots: hiking boots,
  • Gloves, old pair of gardening gloves
  • Long pants or trousers
  • Energy snacks.

How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking?

Gorilla Trekking has a numerical rating of 50 to 100

Difficult Rating: Moderate Hike

There are many factors that influence the difficulty of gorilla trekking and the commonest factor is your physical fitness, other factors include

  • Weather conditions
  • Your pack weight

It is important to ask for a gorilla group that will march your fitness levels, also a porter is important.

Gorilla trekking is not every hard and some people in their 60’s and 70’s have done it.

 How Strenuous is The Hike?

60% of Bwindi Impenetrable National park has an elevation of over 6,600ft and the entire park’s elevation is from 3,904 to 8,553 ft. it has steep slopes in some areas and the experience takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family assigned to you.

What to Expect on a Gorilla Safari

On the day of your gorilla trek, expect to leave your lodge early enough and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing by 07:30 am. After briefing, tourists will be allocated different groups, each 8 people. Then head in to the forests in company of guides and rangers in search for gorillas, in the forest you may see monkey species, butterfly species, mammals and so much more.

Hiking through the forest is very challenging and a good level of fitness will be required, at the end of the day expect to be muddy and sweaty.

Once you see the gorillas, it is okay to take pictures with your camera or I phone, however flash photography is forbidden as it may cause gorillas to charge. After the trek, you will be rewarded gorilla trekking certificates then head to your lodge or op for a cultural village experience of the Batwa pygmies.

How about the Gorilla Habituation Experience?

Unlike mountain gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience offer visitor 4 hours of being in the presence of mountain gorillas and going researchers and park rangers in training mountain gorillas in what is referred to as gorilla habituation experience.

Gorilla Habituation Experience is the training of wild gorillas to get used to humankind, gorillas are trained by research and park rangers for a period of 3 years. It is during this training that visitors get to join researcher and park rangers.

Only 4 visitors are allowed and the cost for a gorilla habituation permit is $ 1,500.

The beauty of gorilla habituation experience is that you get to actively engage in the gorilla habituation.

How to Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit

 In Uganda

In Uganda gorilla trekking is conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park, liked already note each visitor needs a gorilla permit to participate in gorilla trekking.

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $ 700 for gorilla trekking and 1,500$ for gorilla habituation.

East African and Ugandans – 250,000 Ushs.

Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and on a single day, 8 gorilla permits are issued per day. Visitors are encouraged to book a gorilla permit for a family which is in the same sector with your accommodation facility, you can book for your permit through your agent or tour operator.

When booking a gorilla permit most especially for travelers visiting on their own, you can book your permit through a tour operator.

In Rwanda

In Rwanda gorilla permits costs $ 1,500, volcanoes national park hosts 17 gorilla families with 8 gorilla permits issued per group.

In DR.Congo, a gorilla permit costs 400 $

When to Go to See the Mountain Gorillas in Africa?

Gorilla trekking can be conducted all year round in Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo. The best time to go gorilla trekking is during the months of June, July, August, September and December. This is because these months receive less rains and the parks are drier making it simple to hike and see mountain gorillas.

In Bwindi impenetrable national park the average temperature throughout the year is 11°C/52°F in the morning and 23°C/73°F in the afternoon.

January and February (Low season) – offering less huge crowds. Very little or no rain.

March, April and May – a lot of rain is received during these most, the trek is more challenging during these months as the slopes are slippery.

June, July & August (Peak season) – weather condition is at its best favoring gorilla trekking and is known to be the best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda and DR.Congo. In this period, it is important to book / secure your gorilla permits as they run out.

Where to stay?

Choosing the best safari lodge or accommodation to stay during your gorilla trekking experience depends on how much you can afford, accommodations in gorilla destinations in Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo are categorized as Luxury, Midrange and Budget.

Best 5 Gorilla Safari Lodges in Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park)

Bwindi impenetrable national park

Mgahinga Gorilla National park

Best 5 Gorilla Safari Lodges in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park)

Best 5 Gorilla Safari Lodges in DR.Congo

  • Kibumba Camp
  • Mikeno Lodge
  • Bukimia Tented Camp
  • Mikeno Lodge
  • Lulimbi Tented Camp

How Much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in 2024?

The cost of a gorilla safari depends on a gorilla package you are interested in, gorilla packages range from budget gorilla package, Midrange gorilla package, Luxury gorilla package and Super Luxury gorilla package.

Budget and midrange gorilla packages are more affordable gorilla packages costing between 1,500$ – 2,000$, luxury and super luxury packages range from $ 4,000 to $ 6,000 per person.

Note: in the low season, costs are lowered.

As a visitor planning to go for gorilla trekking, you may wonder why a gorilla trek safari is expensive and whether it is worth the money. Here is the breakdown for the cost for a gorilla package.

A gorilla trekking permit

In Uganda, a gorilla trekking permit costs $ 700, in Rwanda it costs $ 1,500 and in Congo, it costs $ 400. 75% of the funds raised for he permits goes to conserve the gorilla surviving population, the government takes 15% and 10% is meant for the local communities around the parks. As you purchase a gorilla permit, kindly note that the cost for the permit includes park entrance fees, gorilla watching for an hour, advance trackers and ranger fees.

Other trekking costs to consider

  • Cost of food
  • Transport costs
  • Visa and border crossing
  • Cost of porters

 Tips on Cutting Costs on Gorilla Safari

  • Do not travel alone.
  • Stay in best budget lodges.
  • Choose Uganda over Rwanda.
  • Avoid public transport buses do not leave on time.
  • Avoid chartered flights.
  • Book your gorilla tour during low season.

 

 

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