Uganda gorilla tours are all about visiting the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are located in the southwest of the country. The rest of the mountain gorilla population is found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and in Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts over 95% of all the Uganda gorilla tours given its abundance of the habituated gorilla families. On the other hand, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one seasonal habituated gorilla family which is periodically visited after confirming its presence in the park. The group is known for interchanging habitats by crossing borders to Rwanda and back to Uganda.
Key information about Uganda gorilla tours
Uganda gorilla tours are the leading tourist attractions in Uganda with thousands of travelers visiting Bwindi and Mgahinga to see the endangered mountains gorillas. Gorilla trekking is also Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earner in the tourism industry contributing millions of dollars to the country’s economy each year.
Uganda gorilla tours are carried out throughout the year though the dry season of June to September and December to February is the most ideal for this breathtaking experience. The primary requirement for a Uganda gorilla tour is the gorilla permit which is sold at $700 per person to foreign non-residents and $600 to foreign residents while East African citizens can purchase it at Uganda Shillings 250,000.
How to prepare for a Uganda gorilla tour
The first step in preparing for a Uganda gorilla tour is booking a gorilla permit which is best done through local tour agents. The agent makes a booking for the gorilla permit on behalf of the traveler and fully purchases it as the trekking day approaches. For a good
Gorilla trekking experience, travelers may need to pack a few items including essential trekking gear like a pair of gloves, pair of trouser, a rain jacket, jungle boots, and a camera if possible. Other necessities on a gorilla trekking trip like snacks and drinking water are always provided to the trekkers by their accommodation providers.
Gorilla trekking rules
Early on the trekking day, trekkers gather at park headquarters to be briefed about the dos and the don’ts of gorilla trekking. These include not getting so close to the gorillas, maintaining silence while in their presence, avoiding direct eye-contact with them, among others.
What else can be done and seen on a Uganda gorilla tour
Uganda gorilla tours are usually combined with other wildlife experiences like game viewing, birding and chimpanzee tracking. This can be done in a 4-5-day Uganda wildlife tour with a trip to either Murchison Falls national park or Queen Elizabeth national park for game viewing, chimpanzee tracking and birding experiences. Some of the common species to be viewed in these parks include big game like lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, while small game include, antelopes, warthog, hyenas, impala, among others plus a variety of bird species. Most popular primate species to see in Uganda in addition to gorillas include chimpanzees, golden monkeys, colobus monkeys, baboons, among others.
For more information about Uganda safaris or booking for a Uganda gorilla tour, please contact us.