The World’s Extraordinary Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris
The World’s Extraordinary Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris & Packages For Every Travellers, Recommendations, Cost, Permits, Packages, Best Time, Videos, Reviews. Enjoy a world-class and once-in-a-lifetime Uganda gorilla safaris experience. Giving you a bespoke and personal Uganda Gorilla trekking experience. Experienced local guides. Best Uganda gorilla trekking tours.
Uganda is a top destination for mountain gorilla trekking, offering the unforgettable experience of observing endangered gorillas in their natural habitat within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The trek involves a guided hike through dense, mountainous terrain, with a permit costing $800 USD. You’ll spend up to one hour observing a single gorilla family, following strict rules to protect the gorillas, such as wearing masks. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons (June-September and December-February).
Uganda Gorilla trekking a Once in a Lifetime Experience. Uganda gorilla safaris and Best Uganda gorilla trekking tours are in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. The Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda Costs $800 USD, Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a hike into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Why do you need to see Africa’s Mountain Gorillas in Uganda?
Uganda Gorilla Safaris. Uganda hosts more than half of the remaining Mountain Gorillas. There are many frequently asked questions about Mountain Gorillas tours, Trekking, habituation, cost, recommended itineraries, best time, and many more. Rashfa Tracking Safaris. offers the latest information on all the relevant and must-know facts about Uganda gorilla trekking. Whether you would love to keep it in the know or want to plan your next trip, here is the most important information on Uganda Gorilla trekking.
Our Top Pick: Uganda Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the most moving & exclusive experiences in the world. With our expert advice, we can tailor-make a dream gorilla trekking experience for you.
12 Days Uganda Safari Holidays
12 Days Uganda Safari Holidays offer the ultimate adventure for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers seeking an in-depth exploration of Uganda’s most iconic destinations. Over nearly two weeks, travelers experience a carefully crafted itinerary that combines gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, savannah safaris, and cultural encounters, all guided by knowledgeable local experts.
14 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari
14 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari offers a comprehensive and immersive adventure through Uganda’s most remarkable landscapes and wildlife habitats. Over two weeks, travelers experience a carefully curated itinerary that combines gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, savannah safaris, birdwatching, and cultural encounters, all led by experienced local guides for an authentic and personalized journey.
16 Days Best Uganda Birding Safari
16 Days Best Uganda Birding Safari is the ultimate adventure for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering an extensive exploration of Uganda’s rich avian diversity. Over 16 days, travelers will discover a wide range of habitats—from tropical rainforests and wetlands to savannahs and mountainous regions—guided by expert local ornithologists and safari guides.
10 Day Bwindi and Masai Mara Safari Adventure
10 Day Bwindi and Maasai Mara Safari Adventure is a thrilling journey that combines the best of Uganda and Kenya’s wildlife experiences. Over ten days, travelers explore lush forests, expansive savannahs, and iconic national parks, witnessing some of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife in their natural habitats, guided by experienced local safari experts.
13 Days Uganda Tour & Rwanda Safari
13 Days Uganda Tour & Rwanda Safari is the ultimate East African adventure, combining Uganda’s lush forests and savannahs with Rwanda’s iconic gorilla habitats. Over 13 days, travelers experience gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, savannah game drives, and cultural encounters, guided by expert local safari guides for an immersive and unforgettable journey.
3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda Kibale
3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda – Kibale National Park is an exciting short safari designed for wildlife enthusiasts eager to experience Uganda’s rich primate diversity. Over three days, travelers explore the lush tropical forests of Kibale, guided by experienced local trackers, for an unforgettable encounter with wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
3 Days Travel to Murchison Falls National Park Safari
3 Days Murchison Falls National Park Safari is a compact yet thrilling adventure that showcases Uganda’s wildlife, landscapes, and the spectacular Murchison Falls. Over three days, travelers explore the park’s savannahs, riverbanks, and forests, guided by experienced local safari guides for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Mburo Wildlife Safari
4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Mburo Wildlife Safari is a thrilling short safari that combines Uganda’s rich primate encounters with classic savannah wildlife experiences. Over four days, travelers explore the misty forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the open plains of Lake Mburo National Park, guided by experienced local guides for an unforgettable adventure.
7 Days Best of Uganda Tour
7 Days Best of Uganda Tour is the perfect adventure for travelers who want to experience the highlights of Uganda’s wildlife, landscapes, and culture in a week-long journey. Over seven days, guests explore lush forests, savannahs, wetlands, and rivers, guided by expert local safari guides for an unforgettable and immersive experience.
15 Days Uganda Primates & Kenya Wildlife Safari
15 Days Uganda Primates & Kenya Wildlife Safari is the ultimate East African adventure for wildlife enthusiasts, combining Uganda’s lush forests and primate encounters with Kenya’s iconic savannah wildlife. Over 15 days, travelers enjoy gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, thrilling game drives, and cultural experiences, guided by expert local safari guides for an immersive and unforgettable journey.
21 Days Uganda Rwanda Kenya Tour
21 Days Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya Tour is the ultimate East African adventure, offering an extensive exploration of some of the region’s most iconic wildlife, landscapes, and cultures. Over three weeks, travelers experience gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, savannah game drives, birdwatching, and cultural encounters, guided by expert local safari guides for a deeply immersive journey.
10 Days Birding Uganda And Game Drives
10 Days Birding Uganda and Game Drives is the perfect safari for bird enthusiasts and wildlife lovers seeking an immersive East African adventure. Over ten days, travelers explore Uganda’s diverse habitats—from tropical forests and wetlands to savannahs—spotting rare and endemic bird species while also enjoying thrilling wildlife encounters on game drives.
1. Which Gorilla Specie is in Uganda?
Gorillas are predominantly herbivorous apes that are ground-dwelling inhabiting the forests of central sub-Saharan Africa. The world has one genus of Gorilla which is divided into two species. These are the eastern and western gorillas. The Eastern and Western Gorillas are further divided into the Mountain and Lowland Gorillas. The Mountain Gorillas live in the Albertine Rift montane forests of the Virunga Volcanoes and Bwindi Forest. Uganda hosts the Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) a sub-specie of the Eastern gorillas. These are the largest living primates sharing about 95-99% DNA with humans coming the third closest to humans after Bonobos and Chimpanzees. Up to date, Gorillas live in their natural habitats with several unsuccessful attempts of keeping them in zoos.
2. How do Mountain Gorillas look like?
Mountain Gorillas are more darkly colored (the darkest of all) than the western gorilla. With the dark color, the mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair with a longer face and broader chest.
Looking closely into the eye of a mountain gorilla, their eyes are dark brown in color with the iris framed by a black ring.
Gorillas move by what is known as Knuckle walking and rarely move bipedally (upright) for short distances, especially during defensive situations.
Some mountain gorillas are also known to use knuckle-walking as well as use other parts of their hands especially the back.
Male wild adult gorillas can weigh about 136 – 195 kg whereas adult female gorillas weigh about half of the adults with about 68 – 113 kg. With height, adult males are about 1.4 -1.8 m tall and females a little shorter at 1.25 – 1.5m tall.
3. Where can I go for Gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda live in their natural habitats of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are good Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda destinations situated in southwestern Uganda close to the border with Rwanda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest Gorilla families of all the four gorilla parks in the world. 19 Gorilla families are fully habituated as well as a Gorilla family available for gorilla habituation. The park has 4 different Gorilla trekking sectors from which tourists can trek Gorillas depending on the available Gorilla permits. Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include;
| Buhoma Sector | Ruhija Sector | Nkuringo Sector | Rushaga Sector |
| Rushegura gorilla family
Habinyaja gorilla family Mubare gorilla family Katwe gorilla family | Bitukura gorilla family
Kyaguriro gorilla family Mukizo gorilla family Oruzogo gorilla family | Bishasho gorilla family
Nkuringo gorilla family Christmas gorilla family | Nsonji gorilla family
Mishaya gorilla family Bweza gorilla family Kahunjye gorilla family Businjye gorilla family Rwiji gorilla family Muchunguzi gorilla family Bikyinji gorilla family |
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only 1 habituated gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. The Nyakagezi gorilla family of Mgahinga has three silverbacks, two adult females, 2 black backs, and 2 infants making a total of 9 family members. This is one of the easiest Gorilla families to trek while on a Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda since they prefer to have a narrow home range for feeding and nesting. The group is also playful and attractive to see while tracking.
4. What is Gorilla tracking and how is it done in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking is the process where tourists go to the natural habitats about 2,607 m above sea level in search of the gorillas. Mountain gorilla trekking is referred to as so because it requires hiking and searching for these rare animals in an unpredictable time frame.
They are locomotives and therefore as you trek they could also be on the move making trekking itself an experience. Gorilla trekking is only for the trek of already habituated gorillas with a total of 8 trekkers only tracking a single gorilla family.
Gorilla trekking is done each morning starting with an etiquette briefing program at 8:00 am. During the briefing, each family is allocated a gorilla family to trek depending on their hiking ability. Each group goes for the trek alongside an armed park ranger.
On meeting the gorillas, a maximum of 1 hour is spent in their presence for photography and a moment of their social life. They will always amaze me with their lifestyle and a lot of unexpected acts. At the end of the 1 hour, your gorilla safari Uganda experience comes to an end and you return to the park headquarters. Here you receive an Uganda gorilla trekking safari permit then be driven b your safari guide to your next destination.
5. Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda Vs Congo
Uganda is definitely the best destination in the world to trek Mountain gorillas. The reason why Uganda is best for gorilla trekking is that the country is safe and stable from any kind of political unrest.
The other reason is that Uganda gorilla trekking permits are cheaper than those or Rwanda. An Uganda gorilla trekking permit is almost half the price of a Rwanda gorilla tracking permit.
A Ugandan permit costs 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, as well as that of Rwanda, costs 1500 USD. Congo sells out their gorilla permits at a less cost than Uganda about 500 USD however, the country is politically unstable, and therefore you can not predict what happens before your trek day. Uganda is host to almost half of the remaining Mountain gorillas which makes it an amazing and sure sighting destination.
19 Gorilla families have been habituated for both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park trekking. Mountain Gorilla habituation is only possible in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park unlike all of the other parks that have habituated all of their gorillas. The habituation experience offers a chance to spend more time with the gorillas, learning their behavior and understanding how they actually behaved in the wild before getting used to human presence.
6. How much does it cost to go Gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most expensive activities in Uganda. The cost for Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda is applicable for both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla trekking costs in Uganda are as follows;
| Foreign non-residents | Foreign residents | East African citizens | |
| 2019 -1st July 2020 | 600 USD | 500 USD | 250,000 UGX |
| 1st July 2024 onwards | 800 USD | 700 USD | 300,000 UGX |
And the Rest of Africa: 500 USD
Updated on January 26 – 2024