Things I wish I Had Known Before Gorilla Trekking, Uganda
Dreams of seeing mountain gorillas face to face come true in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A few travellers have had a grand opportunity to experience this magical moment and they refer to it as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience”
Where to see gorillas in the wild? There are only about 1,064 mountain gorillas left and they all live in Rwanda, Congo, and half of them in Uganda. To take part in gorilla trekking, you need to purchase a gorilla permit to allow you spend one hour with them in their habitat. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs US $800.
Where Do Gorillas Live?
Unfortunately mountain gorillas are endangered species with only about 1,064 remaining in the wild. A huge percentage of gorilla permit fees helps with their conservation and supports the local communities in order for them to look after the forest as well as the gorillas.
Gorillas in Uganda live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, here you will find 13 gorilla families that tourists can visit. Over the course of 2-4 years, mountain gorillas are slowly habituated and get used to people, both for tourism and research purposes through a process termed as Gorilla Habituation.
The remaining 22 gorilla families in Uganda are un-habituated which makes them aggressive towards humans or quite skittish. Also, they roam freely through the park and can be hard to find.
Typical Day of Your Gorilla Trek
On the day of your trek, you will be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. At any given day no more than 8 people are allowed to trek one gorilla group and for only 1 hour. Depending on where the families lives you will need to trek through the jungle. Before leaving to find the gorillas in the mist a team of trackers is already on the go looking for them. Picking up from where the gorilla group was seen the previous day they are now tracking them to communicate their location to your guide.
Gorillas are very mobile as they do not stay in one place, so you have to hike through misty forest of Bwindi looking for them.
Gorilla Trekking & Gorilla Tracking
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is usually done in the morning before it rains but you may still get well. Because of the tropical forest dominating the park, it can pour any time of the day and year.
If you don’t mind some mud and rain, come in March, April, May or November. In these months you get to enjoy discounted rates on accommodations.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is called impenetrable for good reason. Guided come armed with a rifle and machete because there are no roads in the jungle. It also means, there are no toilets and you should be reasonably fit and sure-footed. Gorilla trekking can last from 30 minutes to Five hours, depending on the gorilla family you are assigned to and you will have to make your way through streams, up and down hills, over roots and through the shrubbery.
And obviously, gorillas are not the only animals living in the forest. Other animals to lookout for include forest elephants, chimpanzees, and snakes among others.
The hike is absolutely stunning, you will get a testament that Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries. Gorilla trek is strenuous but not impossible as your guide will set a moderate pace and gave you enough breaks to enjoy the scenery and catch our breath. It ain’t a walk in the park but you will truly feel like Jane in the Jungle (only Tarzan was sadly missing) and be comfortably out of your comfort zone.
Helpful Tips for Gorilla Trekking, Uganda
Need some help to get through the forests? Take a walking stick! They are incredibly helpful to get you up and down slippery hills. In addition to your guides and trackers, you can and should also hire a porter. It is recommended that you take two litres of water as well as photography equipment, gloves, and a rain jacket. You also need a small backpack to carry your essentials like cameras.
Porters are available to help you carry your backpack, hold your walking stick if you need to take a picture and also help you through the jungle. Whether you need a hand so you don’t slide down a muddy hill or a literal push to get up. The porters from the local community, so hiring a porter will directly benefit the local communities.
While there is a time to put your camera down and cherish the moment, a gorilla selfie is something you will want to have. If you have a camera with a decent zoom lens take it because gorillas can sit quite high above your head in the trees. Mind you, ultimately the best camera is the one you have on you and you can use. Make sure you know how to work your camera in low light, with moving objects and on different settings before you start your gorilla safari – once you are with your gorilla family you will only have an hour and now is not the time to learn how to adjust your camera’s ISO or search for the autofocus.
Fun Facts About Gorillas
- Gorillas are vegan, they only eat leaves, roots, insects and fruits
- Young gorillas like picking their nose and eating buggers