Mountain gorilla trekking is currently the most desired primate trekking adventure in East Africa. Mountain gorillas are primates of the Apes family that live in the forested mountains of East and Central Africa. They live in families of up to 20 individuals that are headed by a dominant male gorilla called Silverback. With over 95% DNA similar to humans, mountain gorillas are among man’s closest primates. It is because of this that many adventure lovers seek to trek the forested mountains to meet them.
On the Entire planet, mountain gorillas only live in the Virunga mountains, a chain of volcanic mountains along the Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo border and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western Uganda plus the adjacent Sarambwe reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The mountain gorilla population is currently estimated at 1000 individuals which is critical of any wildlife species. Mountain gorillas are still threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and climate change effects. This could see their population reduced if not well conserved and preserved.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Destinations
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s leading mountain gorilla trekking destination. The park has over 450 mountain gorillas which is almost half of the entire mountain gorilla population. Mountain gorillas live in families and are evenly distributed in the four different sectors that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has. The sectors include Buhoma, in the north of Bwindi with 6 mountain gorilla families. Buhoma is the oldest sector of Bwindi where the first mountain gorilla family was habituated and opened to tourism.
The Ruhija sector is located in the eastern part of Bwindi. It has a total of 4 gorilla families that are habituated and open for tourism. Ruhija is about an hour’s drive from Buhoma and therefore one can track mountain gorillas coming from Buhoma. You would however have to wake up early in the morning for the transfer so that you arrive at the park headquarters in time for the briefing.
The Southern Sectors of Bwindi
Rushaga sector is located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park. The sector has 8 habituated gorilla families which is the highest. Rushaga has an ongoing mountain gorilla habituation with provision for the gorilla habituation experience. Only four people are allowed to take part in this gorilla habituation experience. It takes you behind the scenes following the life and daily routine of the mountain gorillas.
Nkuringo sector also located in southern Bwindi. The sector has 4 habituated mountain gorilla groups and offers an exclusive gorilla trekking experience. The terrain here is steep and requires some level of fitness to be able to manage gorilla trekking. Nkuringo is about an hour’s drive from Rushaga. It is possible to spend a night in Nkuringo tracking gorillas in Rushaga if you are physically fit to hike the hills of Nkuringo.
Mgahinga Gorilla Park
Mgahinga Gorilla Park is the other gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. It is located in southwestern Uganda in the Kisoro district. Mgahinga Gorilla Park has three dormant Volcanic mountains that are Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Sabyinyo. These are part of the Virunga massif, a volcanic mountain range along Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC border.
The Virunga mountain ranges are home to over 600 mountain gorillas distributed amongst the 3 mountain gorilla parks in the massif. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has the highest number with 20 gorilla families. Virunga National Park in DRC has 10 gorilla families though it has been closed because of insecurity issues in the area.
Mgahinga Gorilla Park has one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi. This family used to cross the border to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It eventually stabilized and can now be tracked in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The Mountain Gorilla Trekking experience
Mountain gorillas have over 95% DNA similar to human beings. They can easily adapt to human beings’ behaviors or even contract illness. With this, there are strict set rules and regulations where only 8 tourists are allowed to track a mountain gorilla family per day. These set rules and regulations are followed for the safety of both the gorillas and the individuals trekking.
You are expected to be at the park headquarters by 7:00 am for a briefing. Here you are briefly told about the mountain gorillas, instructed on the do’s and don’ts while in the forested mountains and in the presence of the mountain gorillas. After this briefing, you are guided in the forest by the park ranger guides with your packed lunch.
The trek takes 2 to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas. On getting to them, you are given an hour to observe, learn more, and take photographs if interested. This is all done by keeping a distance of 7 meters away from the mountain gorillas. Once the hour elapses you are guided back to the park headquarters where you are allocated your certificates of participation.
Our Uganda Discovery Journeys feature mountain gorilla trekking safaris in the two mountain gorilla national parks in Uganda. These tours range from 2 to 10 days or more depending on your preference. Mountain gorilla trekking is the highlight of our safaris as well as other wildlife species including birds and chimpanzees.
The 2-day Uganda Gorilla tour is ideal for those with limited but who would like to visit mountain gorillas. It starts and ends in Rwanda because of the short drive distance from Kigali when compared to coming from Kampala. It takes a 9 to 10-hour to drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga gorilla parks which is long compared to the 4 to 5-hour drive from Kigali.
The 3-day Uganda gorilla tour is doable starting and ending in Uganda. For this package we recommend a flight to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips that are near Bwindi. Kihihi Airstrip serves the northern Sector of Bwindi and Kisoro Airstrip serves Mgahinga and the Southern sectors of Bwindi. Our 10-day Uganda Discovery Journeys is extensive and features the Big Five mammals, chimpanzees and mountain gorilla treking.
Join us for gorilla trekking adventures and Discovery Journeys to Uganda’s ultimate mountain gorilla trekking destination.
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