Gorilla trekking is an amazing experience and Uganda is a great place to see these fascinating animals in their natural habitat. It is home to half the world’s mountain gorilla population and offers the best chance of encountering them; in addition, it has the advantage of slightly cheaper permits than Rwanda. Many people are so moved by their experience with the Gorillas that they become their advocates upon their run and many also look into a Bronze Wildlife Sculpture of their new found love. A Wildlife Sculpture from Gill Parker may be the perfect option for you to remember your trip by. Why not start planning your big adventure today?
Choosing your tour
When selecting a gorilla trekking holiday, you have to bear two important factors in mind: the cost of the permit and the tour price. Uganda has two national parks where mountain gorillas are found: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. More gorilla groups are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Tours with larger groups tend to be less expensive than those with fewer people due to the proportionately decreased transportation costs. Whichever tour you choose, even the three-day tours, you are almost guaranteed to see a gorilla family, as they are constantly tracked and monitored by rangers for the tour operators.
Tours can be booked through a variety of companies and most tours allow you to spend just an hour in the company of gorillas; however, you can book a holiday that includes a gorilla habituation experience whereby you get to spend a whole day with a gorilla family. Some travellers prefer to wait until they arrive in Kampala to find a tour operator and book a tour.
The gorilla trekking tour
The tour usually begins with a day’s drive from Kampala to one of the cities close to Bwindi National Park: Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga or Ruhija. You will spend the night here before an early start in the morning. Once you arrive in the national park, the rangers will brief you on the procedure and you will be reminded that the gorillas may approach you but you are not allowed to approach them.
According to the WWF, conservation efforts in recent years have resulted in an increase in the number of mountain gorillas, despite poaching, civil conflicts and the encroachment of human populations.
Tracking the gorillas can take between 30 minutes and eight hours, depending on their movements. Once they have been located, you will be able to enjoy one of the most memorable and unique experiences of your life.
