Uganda gorilla safari adventures and Journeys of Discovery are popular and makeup over 80 percent of Uganda Safari experiences. The country is among the only three countries on the planet with endangered mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas just like their name live in the forested mountains. They are among man’s closest primates with over 95% DNA similar to humans.
Because of civil war, poaching, and habitat loss, the mountain gorilla population had drastically reduced in the 1980’s. It is because of this status that mountain gorillas were listed as endangered by the IUCN. Over the years, there have been efforts to ensure mountain gorilla conservation and with the stability of the region and wildlife protection, the mountain gorilla population has increased steadily.
The current mountain gorilla population is estimated at 1100 individuals. These live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Sarambwe reserve plus the Virunga Mountains. The Virunga mountains have three main gorilla parks that are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in DRC.
Uganda gorilla safari adventures are thereby held in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks. These are located in southwestern Uganda and are also home to other wildlife species.
Planning your Uganda Safari
When planning your Uganda Gorilla Safari Adventures, you need to first know where you will be tracking. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the largest gorilla park with a land area of 321 square kilometers. It has four major sectors which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each of these sectors has a habituated gorilla family open to tourism.
In the Uganda gorilla safari adventure planning stage, it is therefore important to know your gorilla trekking sector. With this, you are guided on the accommodation to book as on the day of the trek you are expected to be at the park headquarters at 7:00 am.
Uganda has seasons where from June to September it is a peak tourist season. During these months gorilla permits get fully booked a couple of months in advance. You must therefore ensure that your gorilla trekking permits are purchased in advance. December being a festive month it is also a busy season. From January to March, the tourist numbers on Uganda Gorilla Safari adventures are also usually high.
Mountain Gorilla trekking is done in the forested mountains and therefore expect hiking. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has an elevation of 1,190 to 2,607 meters above sea level. Mgahinga Gorilla Park on the other hand has an elevation of 2,227 to 4,127 meters above sea level.
The Hike on Uganda Gorilla Safari Adventures starts at 7:00 a.m. and can last up to 6 hours. This all depends on the movement of the mountain gorillas. There are some gorilla families that can be got to after shorter times of hiking. Because of the variation in the hiking times, you are advised to carry a packed lunch that is enjoyed in the forest.
Rainfall can occur anytime. The relief and vegetation cover of the Uganda gorilla parks in convenient for rainfall formation. You can therefore expect rainfall any time of the day. With this, you are recommended to have a raincoat or poncho and waterproof pants. It is also important to carry a cover for your camera just in case it is needed.
Uganda Gorilla Safari Adventures are guided by national park ranger guides. These are well knowledgeable about the gorillas since they monitor them daily. On the gorilla trek, you are also escorted by an armed ranger to scare away other wild animals like forest elephants in case you find them while on the trek.
Uganda Gorilla trekking safari packages
There are many customized Uganda gorilla trekking safari packages. These range from a 3-day Uganda gorilla tour to combined safaris of up to 10 days and more. There is a gorilla habituation experience in the southern sector of Bwindi that gives you more time with the gorillas. You can therefore book a 3-day Uganda gorilla habituation tour and learn more about the rare apes.
The 4-day Uganda gorilla Tour features a gorilla trek in Bwindi and a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In case you want to explore Mgahinga Gorilla Park then you can opt for the 4-day Mgahinga Gorilla Tour. This tour beyond gorillas also features golden monkey trekking.
To truly explore Uganda we often recommend combined safaris. These feature leading Uganda safari destinations and other adventure activities. Chimpanzee trekking In Kibale National Park tops the list. The park has the highest chimpanzee population in East and Central Africa. A 5-day Uganda Primates safari and 7-day Uganda wildlife safari feature chimpanzees and mountain gorilla trekking. In case you want more time with the chimpanzees you can opt for the chimpanzee habituation experience.
Other notable Uganda Gorilla Safari Adventures packages include an 8-day Rwanda Uganda safari and a 10-day Uganda Discovery Journeys adventure.
Other Uganda wildlife experiences
Destination Uganda has a lot to offer from cultural tours and open savanna wildlife adventures. Birding Uganda safaris are recommended as you get to explore the various bird species the country has. A 7-day Uganda birding journey is amazing and the 13-day Uganda Birding safari is even more enjoyable.
Uganda has several mountains that avid hikers are usually keen to explore. Mount Rwenzori along the Uganda DRC border is among them. You can hike from 4 to 7 days depending on your hiking abilities. Our 11-day Rwenzori Hiking safari mainly focuses on that.
Our Discovery Journeys adventures beyond Uganda can lead you to several classic safari destinations. The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration safari adventures in Northern Tanzania are a must. Here you journey with the wildebeest and see the major big cats in Serengeti National Park. Kenya safari tours to Amboseli National Park are also incredible. In Rwanda, you can trek to the mountain gorillas or Visit Nyungwe National Park a World Heritage Site.
Rwanda will at the end of this month host the WTTC Global Summit and after the summit, you can explore the land of a thousand hills.
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