Uganda Safaris

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is undeniably a life changing adventure experience that offers enthusiastic primate lovers on Uganda safari a great opportunity to enjoy a close encounter with the highly endangered mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. To most visitors, gorilla trekking is described as a lifetime or a thrilling experience that is why it is a bucket list adventure on most of the safari holidaymakers in East Africa.

How to plan for a luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

Gorilla permits

Gorilla trekking is a lifetime wildlife encounter and to be allowed to engage in it, a valid gorilla permit is required. For luxury travelers on gorilla safari in Uganda, the cost for gorilla permits differs depending on the visitor category; FNR (Foreign Non Residents) pay USD700, FR (Foreign Residents) USD600 and East Africa Citizens UGX250,000. You can reach out to our reservation team to book your Uganda gorilla trekking permit or deal directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

What to expect on a day of Uganda gorilla trekking?

A day of your gorilla trekking in Uganda all starts early in the morning after breakfast from your respective lodge. You transfer to park offices for briefing from Uganda Wildlife Authority official where you get to know more about the rules or regulations for gorilla trekking and the family to go to trek. All visitors are expected to be at briefing center at 7:00am and later, you will be put into groups of 8 visitors each group will be allocated to an experienced park guide.

When/Best time to travel for gorilla trekking- Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a year-round primate experience. But majority of trekkers prefer the dry season due to the favorable weather conditions characterized by bright sun, less or no rains, clear vegetation and drier trails/steep slopes. The dry season begins from June to September and December to February.

What to carry for gorilla trekking in Uganda?

The essentials to consider on your packing list for gorilla trekking in Uganda include rain jacket, camera without flashlight, long sleeved shirt, daypack, insect repellent, sunglasses, sweater, gardening gloves, walking stick (these are available at the park offices or you can request/hire one at the lodge) and others.

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is amazingly an exceptional out-door activity offered only in the lush tropical forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The2 beautiful gorilla safari parks protect about half of all of the world’s remaining 1063 mountain gorilla population making Uganda an outstanding gorilla trekking destination in Africa and the world at large.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are all located in the far Southwestern Uganda, approximately 8-9 hours’ drive off from Kampala capital or 3-4 hours’ drive starting from Kigali capital of Rwanda. In Uganda alone, gorilla trekking is done in the 21 habituated gorilla families-of these, 20 gorilla groups are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and only one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Kabale district has 4 regions where Uganda safari holidaymakers begin their gorilla treks from. In every region, there are habituated gorilla family groups and only one is trekked by a maximum of 8 visitors per day. The 4 regions or sectors or trail-heads of Bwindi National Park include Buhoma region in the North, Nkuringo and Rushaga regions in the South, Ruhija sector in the East.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, gorilla trekking starts from Ntebeko area after briefing from the park official on rules or guidelines to follow while on a trek to mountain gorillas. Interestingly, treks in Mgahinga are slightly distinct from Bwindi in that, visitors navigate through the bamboo zone.

How to get there

While on gorilla trekking in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are easier to access by road and by air. By road, a 4×4 safari vehicle serves best and you set off from Kampala via Mbarara-Kabale or Kisoro for about 9 hours or start from Kigali to Kabale via Katuna or to Kisoro via Chanika border about 3-4 hrs. By air, you can be part of the charter or scheduled flights that set off from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi airstrip.

Gorilla families in Uganda

The 21 gorilla families or groups in Uganda; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla groups as per gorilla trekking regions or sectors. Gorilla families in Buhoma trail-head/sector include Mubare, Habinyanja, Katwe and Rushegura mountain gorilla family; Ruhija sector gorilla group families are Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Oruzongo and Mukiza.

Gorilla families in Nkuringo trail-head/sector include Nkuringo group, Bushaho and Christmas group; Rushaga gorilla families include Bikingi, Rwigi, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Mishaya, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye and Nshongi. In Mgahinga, Nyakagezi group is the only family of mountain gorillas currently open for gorilla trekking.

Top places to stay on gorilla trekking in Uganda

When it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda, there is no reason to worry about where to stay. All categories of accommodation facilities are in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park where gorilla trekking in Uganda is conducted. The luxury accommodation options to stay on Uganda gorilla safari include Mahogany Springs, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge etc.