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Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

4.4/5  –  396 Uganda Reviews

There are few wildlife encounters as exciting as coming eye to eye with the largest and most charismatic of the great apes, the gorilla. What makes this experience so special is difficult to pinpoint. The fact that these gentle giants are so closely related to us (the difference in our nuclear DNA is only 1.6%) probably has something to do with it. Mountain gorillas are naturally restricted to a niche area of forested highlands. Unfortunately, this already-small habitat is shrinking due to overpopulation. The income derived from tourism is crucial to secure their future. By booking a gorilla trekking safari, you have the opportunity to contribute to the fight for their survival.

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6 Questions About Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

1. How does gorilla trekking in Uganda compare to other countries?
2. Can I add gorilla trekking to a safari?
3. What fitness level is required?
4. Is gorilla trekking in Uganda safe?
5. How much will this safari cost?
6. Are gorilla sightings guaranteed?
 
 

6 Questions About Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours

Answered by Ariadne van Zandbergen

How does gorilla trekking in Uganda compare to other countries?

“Mountain gorillas have a very small range in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Between these countries, three national parks currently offer gorilla trekking: Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Unfortunately DRC’s Virunga National Park has been closed since 2020 due to political instability. Of these parks, Mgahinga has only one gorilla group that can be tracked, whereas Bwindi and Volcanoes NP each have more than a dozen. For practical purposes, this means that the decision whether to trek in Uganda or Rwanda usually boils down to a choice between Bwindi or Volcanoes NP. The trekking experience in all three parks is similar, but with some differences. While gorillas live in thick rainforest in Bwindi, their habitat in Volcanoes NP and Mgahinga is mainly bamboo forest. Although you can’t predict where gorillas will be each day, treks in Bwindi are often more demanding than in other parks. The hike is part of the experience, so if you’re physically fit, a longer trek can be a positive. Uganda is a diverse safari destination with more to offer the average visitor than Rwanda. This makes it a great choice for those who want to incorporate a gorilla trek into a longer tour within a single country. By contrast, if you want to track gorillas as an add-on to a safari elsewhere in Africa, Volcanoes NP is the more accessible option. It is only three hours’ drive from Kigali (Rwanda’s capital city) whereas getting to Bwindi from Entebbe (the main entry point to Uganda) requires a drive of at least 10 hours or booking a domestic return flight (plus up to two hours’ drive) in both directions. Last is the big difference in price for a similar experience. For foreign nonresidents, a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs US$1,500, whereas in Uganda it’s US$800.”

1

Can I add gorilla trekking to a safari?

“It is easy to add a Uganda gorilla trekking experience to a general safari in Kenya, Tanzania or elsewhere in eastern or southern Africa. A short flight gets you to Entebbe, a leafy town on the shore of Lake Victoria in Uganda. From here your journey to Bwindi continues with either a 10-hour drive or a flight by light aircraft followed by a two-hour drive on a bumpy road. You can also slot gorilla trekking into an extended Uganda safari. Other highlights of packages to southwest Uganda include Kibale National Park or Kalinzu Forest Reserve for chimpanzee trekking, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for a classic safari (it has plentiful elephant, buffalo and hippo) and the possibility of seeing tree-climbing lions. Farther afield, you could visit Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch to track rhinos on foot, and Murchison Falls National Park for a boat trip on the Nile River and more general wildlife viewing.”

2

What fitness level is required?

“You’ll need to be fairly fit for gorilla trekking in Uganda. If you’re in good health and you’re used to walking or hiking, you shouldn’t have any problems though. As a last resort, you can book a ‘gorilla chair’, where a team of strong men literally carry you on your chair to the gorillas. However fit you are, it is always important to come suitably prepared. Bwindi sees high rainfall throughout the year. So, you’ll need waterproof clothing and good hiking shoes. Gloves aren’t essential, but they are recommended to protect your hands from stinging nettles. A good walking stick always comes in handy on the slippery slopes. You might be offered a wooden stick at the start but it is probably better to bring your own if you think you’ll need it. Porters are available at the trail head. They will carry your day pack and look after it while you’re with the gorillas (no bags are allowed then). A porter will also help you on the trail. So even if you don’t need anyone to carry your bag, you should definitely hire a porter if you are concerned about your fitness or ability on the steep trails.”

3

Is gorilla trekking in Uganda safe?

“Gorilla watching is very safe. Incidents with these gentle giants are very rare. Although the gorillas are habituated and used to people visiting them, it is important to pay attention during the safety briefing at the start. It goes without saying that you should also listen to the instructions given by your guide, especially in the event of a gorilla approaching you. The biggest danger on a gorilla trek is perhaps twisting an ankle on the slippery slopes. Make sure to wear good hiking boots that have been worn in before the big day.”

4

How much will this safari cost?

“The fee for gorilla trekking in Uganda for foreign nonresidents is US$800 per person. This is the fee paid to the national park and proceeds are used to maintain and develop Uganda’s protected areas. Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most amazing wildlife experiences. Due to the limited availability, it doesn’t come cheaply. If you can afford it, it is more than worth it though. The price for a 3-day road trip from Entebbe/Kampala, including a gorilla trek, accommodations and transport, should be in the US$1,300-to-US$1,800 range per person, depending largely on the quality of accommodations. A similar 3-day fly-in safari starts at about US$2,000. Three days is really the minimum time required to travel from Entebbe to Bwindi and track gorillas. I would, however, recommend spending more time in the country as there is a lot more to see and do. The price for 5-day tours including gorilla and chimpanzee trekking start at about US$1,800 and 7-day highlights tours (including gorilla trekking) start at about US$2,200.”

5

Are gorilla sightings guaranteed?

“When going on a gorilla trekking trip, you’re almost certain to see these big apes as long as you are fit enough for the hike. I say almost because, although the gorillas are habituated, they are totally wild. They move throughout the days searching for food and they spend their nights sleeping in different locations. So, while the odds of a sighting are probably better than 99%, it can never be totally guaranteed. To keep track of the locations of the different habituated gorilla groups, trackers stay with them throughout the day until they make their nest for the night. This way, the trackers will know where to find them the next day. When they rejoin the gorillas at dawn, they send the location coordinates by radio to the guides. This doesn’t only facilitate a smooth gorilla trekking experience, it also helps to protect these endangered primates from poachers.”

6

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 396 Reviews
Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable
5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife nor such great...

Full Review

Expert
Sue Watt  –  
United Kingdom UK

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Great Apes, Great Landscapes, Great Adventures
4/5

Most people understandably come to Uganda for its gorillas. Almost half of the world’s population of around 1,060 mountain gorillas lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks, and spending that precious...

Full Review

Markus Janser  –  
Switzerland CH
Reviewed: Nov 20, 2024
What a nice surprise
5/5

We (Father with two teenagers) headed of to a nine day private Safari in Uganda to see the Gorillas. And we did not get disappointed, we spent an hour with them, an amazing experience. However, we where surprised and charmed by the...

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Jorge Camacho  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Nov 5, 2024
Awesome experience
5/5

Our recent trip to Uganda could not have met our expectations more. The country has well deserved the title of ‘pearl of Africa’, the country is impressive, the landscapes are spectacular and having an endangered wonder like the gorilla...

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Leah  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Oct 23, 2024
A beautiful country with exceptional service industry and private wildlife encounters
5/5

We travelled through Uganda and Tanzania over three weeks. The time we spent in Uganda was incredible. The country is a lot quieter to travel through, which makes the game drives feel intimate when you have the wildlife all to yourself...

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Val  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Oct 12, 2024
A new adventure every day
5/5

We toured Uganda for 17 days mid range accommodation. We took many game drives, launch trip on Kazinga Channel, gorillas and Chimpanzee trekking, plus visted Lake Bunyonyi and local villages. We had the most amazing holiday with many...

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All 396 Uganda Reviews