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