Want to meet mountain gorillas? Well, here are some tips for gorilla trekking that you should know. Uganda, known by many as the adorable “Pearl of Africa”, is not only coveted for its stunning scenery but also for its world-renowned beautiful and friendly people, breathtaking wildlife, towering mountains, lush vegetation, rivers and lakes, and the numerous rare and endangered primates it harbors, such as chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are one of the world’s most threatened species of primates, thriving in the Virunga conservation area, a larger region that spans three iconic East African parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Volcanoes National Park respectively.
These national parks, together with Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, provide shelter to up to 1000 mountain gorillas (2018 census) and offer endless opportunities to track these mighty giants in their natural habitat. A gorilla trekking experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that allows one to have an epic one-hour encounter with the world’s most endangered ape.
In Uganda, mountain gorilla trekking happens in two national parks: Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, both offering opportunities to encounter over 17 gorilla families that are well habituated to entertain tourists throughout the year. To undertake a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda, one must buy a permit costing $800 per person.
A gorilla permit allows an individual to trek and have a one-hour face-to-face encounter with a family of mountain gorillas. Apart from gorilla trekking, Uganda provides visitors with the option of gorilla habituation, allowing travelers to spend up to 4 hours with a semi-habituated group of gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are a special species of great apes in the genus Gorilla, which includes the eastern lowland gorillas, western gorillas, and riverine gorillas, but mountain gorillas are restricted to the volcanic ranges of East and Central Africa.
Tips for Mountain Gorilla Trekking:
- Please note that these gorilla trekking tips benefit both visitors and the mountain gorillas themselves, as trekking them requires sensitivity. When searching for them deep in the forests, one should observe these simple rules:
- Mountain trekking experiences require a minimum age of 15 years.
- Visitors must be in good health, free from contagious illnesses such as coughs, colds, flu, diarrhea, and other communicable diseases that could be transmitted to the gorillas.
- Visitors must maintain a distance of at least 8 meters from the mountain gorilla family to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
- All visitors must attend a pre-trek briefing and follow the instructions of the rangers and guides during and after the trek.
- Cameras with flash are not allowed as they may scare or provoke the gorillas.
- Provoking or attempting to initiate contact or a fight with the gorillas is strictly prohibited.
- Eating, drinking, or smoking in the presence of gorillas is not allowed to prevent indirect transmission of diseases.
- Casual clothing such as shorts, sleeveless tops, sandals, flip-flops, and light sneakers are not suitable. Instead, wear sturdy clothing like raincoats/jackets, strong hiking/trekking boots, hats, garden gloves, long-sleeved shirts/blouses, and long pants. See the full packing list here.
- Wear relatively light clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for forest conditions, as trails may pass through boggy jungles. Carrying a walking stick is recommended, and hiring a porter to carry heavy luggage is advisable.
- The maximum time allowed in the presence of a gorilla family is strictly one hour, though habituation experiences may last up to 4 hours. If gorillas become agitated, rangers may end the visit early.
- Before entering the jungle to meet mountain gorillas, disinfect your hands and feet to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
- Carry appropriate trekking equipment, including binoculars for clear vision, cameras for memorable photos, enough snacks, sufficient drinking water (1.5 liters recommended), sunglasses, and a lightweight backpack to carry these items.
Mountain gorillas are undoubtedly some of the most amazing and highly sought-after primates that no traveler should miss encountering on their safari in Uganda.
