COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA

Gorilla Trekking is an activity that involves searching habituated Gorillas in their natural habitats and have a closer interaction and to learn more about them in the jungle. As a tourist, there are quite many questions that run through your mind when you hear about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Uganda is the best tourist destination in Africa with over half of the world’s surviving Mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The most frequently asked questions have been compiled and we’ll discuss them below.

Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla Habituation is the process of making them get familiar to the sight of human beings. This may take 2-3 years training a group of Gorillas to be cleared for trekking by the visitors.

When is the best time to visit the Mountain Gorillas?

Mountain gorillas can be visited any time of the year depending on the time you wish to have your safari.

Uganda's climate is naturally variable and susceptible to flood and drought events anytime of the day throughout the year. December, January & February – Most of the south has less rainfall, but still more when compared to June and July. It is slightly warmer with daytime temperatures of about 28°C/82°F and morning temperatures of 16°C/61°F. The north has a clear Dry season with little rain.

March, April & May – There is more rainfall throughout the country during these months, with a clear peak in April in the south. The rain makes travel more difficult since dirt roads and forest trails used for gorilla tracking can become challenging to navigate.

June, July & August – June and July are the driest months in most of the south, but it can still rain. Average temperatures hover around 27°C/81°F in the afternoon and 16°C/61°F in the morning. It will be colder at altitudes above 1300m/4265ft, including the gorilla parks and this season is more favorable for GorillaTrekking.

September, October & November – These months are comparable to March, April and May but, on average, there is a bit less rain. Daytime temperatures are around 28°C/82°F.

Basing on the above analysis of weather especially in Uganda, the best time to visit would be in the dry season where we don’t expect heavy rains that may disrupt your trek.

Is it a Guarantee to See Gorillas when you go for Trekking?

There is no guarantee to see the mountain gorillas because they live in their natural habitat, though here has not been a case of a tourist group failing to see a gorilla group during their trek. Tracker normally go into the jungle before tourists to locate the gorilla groups and radio their GPS co-ordinates to the park headquarters, so when you set off on your trek with your guide, you know where you are headed. The trackers stay with the gorillas even if they are moving. All this is done to avoid instances of trekkers failing to meet with the endangered creatures, the mountain Gorillas.

What Sort of Clothing Should I Wear?

There are requirements a number on gorilla trekking trip and here are some of them;

• Carry packed lunch and enough drinking water.
• Carry rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat (as the weather is unpredictable) and insect repellent.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes.
• Put on ear plugs for those who feel uncomfortable with the jungle sounds.
• Carry a camera for some pictures and avoid using flashlight.

How much time will be spent trekking?

The time to spent will up on the day of your trek. Depending on how far your lodge is from the park gates, departure can be between 06:30 and 07:00. Once you arrive you will be briefed by the parks rangers and guides. When the trek begins, there is no pre-determined amount of time you will spend in the forest. Time spent in the jungle is dependent on the movements of the gorillas and where they have slept for the night. Treks can last for 30 minutes or up to 5 hours. Once a gorilla family has been found, you will spend an hour with them.

How much is a Gorilla permit?

You must obtain a gorilla permit issued by the Uganda wild life Authority for you to be able to visit the Mountain Gorillas. Only 8 visitors are allowed to see a gorilla group per day, secure a gorilla permit with Kjong Safaris a trusted tour operator in Uganda at least 4 months before you intend to travel. Gorilla permits for trekking mountain gorillas cost USD 600.00. Though the gorilla permit is intend to change to USD 700.00 with effect from the next financial year.

What are the threats to Mountain Gorillas?

There are a number of threats to mountain gorillas, but the main ones are:

• Human Populations Growing: This contributes to habitat loss and human encroachment. Mountain Gorillas already live in a limited habitat range with human beings, this is puts their habitats under more pressure.
• Poaching: Bush meat is sought after by local communities as a source of protein and mountain gorillas can be poached for their meat, as well as for traditional medicines. This threatens the population of mountain Gorillas all the time.
• Disease: Despite the protection national parks offer, Mountain Gorillas are still susceptible to disease. Gorilla families are subjected to regular visits from trekkers, who can bring in diseases and pathogens. Although we share a similar genetic makeup, a gorilla’s immune system has not evolved to cope with human disease.

Where can they be found?

Mountain Gorillas are only found in the Virunga Mountains in the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Uganda holds over half of the total mountain gorillas left in the world with about 500 of them residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bwindi is the most popular place to trek the gorillas in Uganda.

In conclusion, so many questions may be asked about mountain Gorillas and some questions will be answered on site with our highly experienced guides and the game rangers.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi forest

How gorilla trekking is conducted in Uganda

Gorilla trekking is the most famous safari activities in Uganda and the population of mountain gorillas is less than 900 individuals according to the last census conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla National Park. It has been observed that the population of mountain gorillas has increased hence an addition in gorilla families up to 19 families thanks goes to various and government support efforts has put in and nongovernmental body. Gorilla trekking is conducted in only two National Parks in Uganda i.e. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla National Park.

Bwindi National Park is located in south western Uganda in Kigezi region and shared amongst three districts of Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park sites on an area of about 331 square kilometers bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the western side and Rwanda in south which takes about 460 kms from Kampala city of 8 hours drive. As their name implies, Mountain Gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet at an altitude of 1,190 to 2,607 meters above sea level. Bwindi National Park currently has 19 gorilla families available for trekking which include: Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura Katwe, Kyaguriro, Bitukura, Oruzoog Mukiza, Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas, Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bikyingi, Mucunguzi and Kutu.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda bordering Rwanda in south and Democratic Republic of Congo in West and is the smallest National Park which sites on an area of 33.7km2 making it the best spot ever for golden monkey Park to trek the rare primate species which are over 4000 golden monkeys in the jungle and best place for gorilla trekking. Mgahinga Gorilla trekking is mainly found in the mid vegetation on the Virunga volcanoes of Mt Muhabura especially in the open areas of the bamboo zone with only one gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family.

Gorilla trekking is conducted in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda every day and 160 gorilla permits are sold every day at $ 600.00 per person per trek, the day for gorilla trekking begins with an early morning breakfast at your lodge or place of resident and then you will drive to the Park headquarters for registration and joining others for a gorilla trekking briefing about the dos and the don’ts during your Uganda Gorilla trekking safari. Once this is done, you will trek through thick forest with your guides to find the Gorillas, which can take you from half an hour to six hours. The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists. On your trek, you are likely to spot other primates, birds and rare tree species. After finding the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them before trekking back to the Park headquarter. There after you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking and thus contributing to the conservation of mountain gorillas. Book your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda with Kjong Safaris Uganda

Best time for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda

Best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Uganda and Rwanda are known as a whole round travel destinations to any tourist planning to visit, being Equatorial pleasant warm and tropical climate with insignificant seasonal variations that makes it good to visit year round. The presence of Lake Victoria and its unique weather patterns to the climate with its strategic location of the Equator has made Uganda as a year-round activity plus its neighbor Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi forest

Best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which are both located in southwestern parts of Uganda. While in Rwanda, gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park in the Northeastern province of Rwanda. Mountain gorillas in both countries are trekked all year round, but knowing the best time to visit the mountain gorillas in their natural environment is amazing experience.

Uganda and Rwanda are blessed with climates made up of two rainy seasons, the short season starts from October to November and the long rainy season starts from Mid-march to the end of May. Therefore, the best time for trekking mountain gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda across the year is when you conduct gorilla trekking safaris in June, July, August and September. If that is not possible, January and February should be relatively good to visit the jungle in search of mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking safaris in High season

Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda

The gorilla trekking high season is in the months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December where there is less rainfall and sometimes even no rains at all. Most travelers choose to travel during this season because of the dry weather and it is because of this that there is a high demand for the gorilla permits in both Uganda and Rwanda during this time. This means travelers have to book their permits well in advance.

The dry season is perfect for trekking mountain gorillas, the mountain gorillas are found in the temperate weathered regions with raised landscapes, this means the climate remains cool all year round hence perfect weather for the trails.

Trekking mountain gorillas a permit in Uganda costs 600USD where as in Rwanda gorilla permit costs 1500USD all year around.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Low season

Bwindi buhoma gorilla trekking briefing center

The gorilla trekking low season is always in the months of March, April, May, October and November, during this time the region receives lots of rain hence making gorilla trekking safaris hard as most of the trails will be slippery and muddy, therefore it won’t be easy to access the jungle in search of mountain gorillas. This also becomes of advantageous to budget travelers as in most cases prices are always relatively low as compared to the pick season, During this season, sometimes Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) tends to slightly sale out gorilla trekking permits at a discounted rate of 450USD for non-resident travelers in Uganda while in Rwanda no discount for low season, visiting in this season also means that you will enjoy the jungle with relatively less crowd.

In both Uganda and Rwanda, mountain gorilla trekking is done every day not minding whether it’s raining or shining. It’s on record that for all the years that gorilla trekking safaris have been conducted, no single day has it ever been cancelled because of bad weather.

Accommodation costs in the low season are also more favorable than during high season, since the occupancy rate is low, low prices are set to attract budget travelers. To add to all the discounted rates and with less people doing gorillas trekking safaris in the low season, the few who trek are allocated to different gorilla families in Uganda, which provide them with closer and more exclusive interactions with them.

Gorilla trekking safari experience in Bwindi forest

Due to availability of Aerolink that domestically runs charter flights with in Uganda, a combined safari that enables you encounter tree climbing lions do gorilla trekking and then fly to Kenya’s Masai Mara for the additional wildlife experience is possible. If you have time restrictions a gorilla trek fly in safari would be awesome for you not to miss out the gorilla trekking experience.

You can do an instant booking by contacting Kjong safaris booking office for a great planning and reservation to your Gorilla trek safari in Uganda or Rwanda.