Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

When you trek to see the gorillas, you get to see a number of interesting animals that you might have seen the packs in case you have a game safari before. Gorilla trekking in Uganda requires you to book a gorilla trekking card with some of your details like the names in your passport, nationality, age, expiry date, date of birth and so much more CONTACT US

Gorilla Trekking Tour

In Rwanda, you must also book a gorilla trekking permit which is a paper that you present before trekking to see the gorillas at the ranger station.

Compared to Uganda, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done on uniformly steep slopes and only 8 people are allowed to be with the gorillas per family per trek for conservation reasons. Even in Uganda, gorilla trekking starts with booking a gorilla trekking permit card which you present to the ranger guide at the start of your tour. 

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are sold at $ 700 per permit per trek. This money is used to support the conservation of the mountain gorillas which are highly protected by UNESCO. As per the last census in 2011, about 880 mountain gorillas are thought to be existing in the world. Uganda harbors the biggest number of mountain gorillas whose home is in Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. 

How To enjoy gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Having secured your gorilla tracking permit, you are ready to enjoy a tour to the mountain gorillas. Ensure that you have the below requirements readily packed in your suitcase or travel bag.

Tracking boots

The ground is wet and boggy throughout the year so you need to protect your feet from soaking, piercing sticks and so much more. It also assists you to get better stamina as you hike to find the gorillas.

Long trouser and shirt

You walk through the wilderness to see the gorillas where you by pass itchy surfaces, long sticks, sharp sticks to mention but a few and these may not be good for you. You need to protect your skin from search things using trousers and long sleeved shirt.

A rain coat

It rains at any time in this Virunga region whether trekking gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, you have to note this. Carry a rain coat or poncho for such occurrences to avoid getting wet and cold on your way to see the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking Uganda

Some energy bites

Since the trek to see the gorillas varies according to the family, you need to keep going since you do not know the time you might take to find the gorillas. They are very mobile creatures that keep moving from one area to another as they look for food. There delicacy is the bamboo shoot. 

Garden gloves

These are so much relevant during your trek because you need to support yourself on the close by branches in order to pass some spots.

Gorilla trekking Rules to follow

While you trek to see the gorillas do not liter the forest so as to conserve nature.

In case you wish to dispose off some waste, ensure that you ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you and cover afterwards to avoid ant trace.

Keep with the rest of the group so that you do not miss out on any details.

Do not feed the gorillas while with them and avoid eating in there presence.

In case you wish to sneeze, do it away from the gorillas and for those with a cold, volunteer to stay behind because this is a highly contagious communicable disease which will affect the animals.

Birding on Gorilla trekking Safari In Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is not only a memorable experience but also a double opportunity to meet several other wild creatures that live freely in the forest like the birds, monkeys, butterflies and several other inhabitants. During gorilla trekking, you have the chance of asking your ranger guide to stop and explain about the bird sounds that you listen too even identify the birds that you come across. This is a double chance for those interested in birding. CONTACT US

Birding In Uganda During Uganda safari

Bwindi forest being one of the prehistoric forests is home to several birds that roam around. A number of other insects also live freely in the forest. This area is known for harboring the unique albertine indemics. During gorilla trekking, you may spot some of these birds and take shots of them like the saker falcon, Nahan’s Francolin, Black-Rumped Bottonquail, Denham’s Bustard, African green broadbill, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Oberlaender’s ground thrush, Basra Reed Warbler, Turner’s Eremomela, southern Hyliota, chapin’s flycatcher and so much  more

On the way, you have another chance of meeting primates like the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangebey, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, chimpanzees that roam freely in the forest. As you trek to see the gorillas, they keep entertaining you with there acrobatic styles which keeps you moving and the time of finding the gorillas is not known.

Uganda Birding Tour

Birding In Bwindi forest Uganda

For those interested in entirely birding safari in Uganda, it can also be possible in Bwindi Forest without considering going gorilla trekking. Uganda is endowed with over 1057 bird species and has about 34 birding sites where by Bwindi forest is the top most birding site. It was awarded by the African Bird Club the top destination for birding in Africa. The Pearl of Africa harbors about 47% of Africa’s bird species which makes it the birder’s haven in Africa.

While in Bwindi Forest, there are areas where birds can easily be identified like the Ruhija area in the Mubwindi swamp which is at an altitude of 2340m to 2050m above sea level. It is the best spot to find the Albertine endemics like African Green broadbill, Arcer’s Robin- chart, Rwenzori Apalis, African hill babbler to mention but a few.

Some more birds to identify in Bwindi Forest include

Yellow eyed black-flycatcher, Cassin’s rey flycatcher, African hill babbler, Blue headed Sunbird, Northern Double collared sunbird, grey headed sun bird, Mackinnon’s fiscal, oriole fich, scare swift, waller’s starling, mountain buzzed, African wood owl, Toro olive-green broadbill, olive thrust, Grauer’s rush-warbler, Red faced woodland-warbler, grey cuckoo-shrink, red sheeted owlet, Handsome fracolin, sooty boubou, African hill babler, Dusky crimsonwing, strange weaver, Rwenzori batis blck and white shinke-flycatcher, bar tailed trogon, blue throated brown sunbird the list is endless.

How to book a birding safari in Bwindi forest Uganda

When you wish to do birding in Uganda, you have to send us detail of which birds you wish to see. We shall advise you where they can be found and then we reserve a birding guide for you. In your inquiry, we need to know if you are a keen birder  

Kindly advise the number of people you are travelling with and the kind of accommodation you wish to book for your nights.

State the number of days you wish to do your birding experience and we shall advise accordingly.

Birding Tour In Uganda

Other Birding sites in Uganda

In case you wish to do birding in other areas too in Uganda, some of the common birding areas in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National park on Kazinga Channel. Although there is a boat that takes tourists on a launch cruise provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, it is best to book a private boat so that you take your time identifying the birds at the shore of Kazinga channel and Murchison Falls National Park

Lutembe Beach and Botanic gardens in Entebbe are also very interesting biding destinations in Uganda, Mabamba Swamp is renowned for the rare shoe bill stork, Mpanga forest, Mabira forest, Mgahinga gorilla national Park, Makanaga Swamp to mention but a few

Uganda is indeed a birder’s destination in Africa because you can never run out of count for the various bird species. As you go gorilla trekking, listen observe and do not forget binoculars for a clear view.

Gorilla trekking Safari for 3 Days And Recommedations

Trekking to see the gorillas in 3 days is a memorable adventure taking you very close to the great apes of Africa whose life has many decades and centuries of existence. In the entire world, only about 800 mountain gorillas are still surviving in 3 countries that is to say Uganda habours the biggest number, Rwanda and DR. Congo. This is briefly what we can say about the mountain gorillas CONTACT US

3 Day Gorilla Trekking

Day1: Drive to Bwindi Forest National Park

After breakfast, your driver guide will pick you from your overnight hotel and drive you to Bwindi national park. This is the home of the mountain gorillas. The drive is quite long but rewarding as you have the chance of seeing interesting sites like the undulating highlands of Kigezi, Kisoro, by pass several monkeys, rich bird life, friendly people and so much more. This drive is about 8 to 9 hours for over 500km and have meals enroute. When you finally get to Bwindi forest, get into your room and relax. Enjoy your dinner and overnight at the lodge of your preference.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking

As you start off your day with briefing at the ranger station, you are escorted into the forest by a ranger guide. On the way, you may have the chance of spotting other primates like the blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey checked mangabey, black and white colobus and several birds that roam around the forest. While you walk, you bypass a number of streams, ask the ranger guide to make you a walking stick in case you cannot support yourself anymore. Beware of the creeping plants and water dripping from the tree leaves. Remember it may rain any time because Bwindi Impenetrable is an equatorial rain forest and also leaves fall and cover the ground to keep it wet and soggy throughout the year so be conscience. When you finally get to see the gorillas, enjoy there presence but at a distance of about 7 meters and do not feed them. Watch them search for food in the vines and play with each other. After this fantastic hour, return to your lodge.

Day 3 Return flight

Having enjoyed your 3 days gorilla trekking safari, get into the safari vehicle to catch up with your flight back home.

Safari recommendations

• Ensure you have booked your gorilla trekking permit in time and flight so that none of these deprives you the chance of meeting the mountain gorillas.
• With the help of a gorilla trekking packing list, ensure you do not miss out on any of the most relevant items like the tracking shoes, rain coat, long trouser, garden gloves and so much more.
• If you are travelling with an infant, make it a point to move with the nanny so that you are not worried about whom to take care of it.
• The age limit for one to qualify for gorilla trekking is 15 years
• There is an option of a flying gorilla trekking safari but you must book a ticket in time and a transfer vehicle
• In case you book this gorilla trekking safari by yourself, make it a point to book accommodation in the area where your gorilla permit is booked to prevent driving for a long time on the day of gorilla trekking.

How I escaped from The Mouth Of a Gorilla

I worked and saved money to be part of my longtime gorilla trekking dream. I booked  gorilla permits in both Uganda and Rwanda as I desired to experience gorilla tracking in both countries. I packed my bags using the list of gorilla trekking gears that is displayed on a blog that I came across. It had items to pack for gorilla trekking as its title and some of the gears I packed included garden gloves, tracking boots, poncho, adjustable trouser with a zip, sun screen and so much more. Contact Us

Gorilla Trekking Tour

My tour operator was very helpful in updating me about the weather conditions of both countries so that I could not bring excess unnecessary baggage since one of mu segments had a fly-in safari. Iam poor at exercising but for the sake of gorilla trekking, I joined a gym and had early morning jogging so as to keep fit and ready for this trail as many seem to write that it is tedious. I did not consider my self being among those who will fail to make it after paying $ 750 in Rwanda and & $600 in Uganda. This is quite pricey.

At my age, I wished to do adventures that many have crowned difficult so gorilla trekking was another of my expeditions. I was asked to apply for a visa in Rwanda and Uganda but I considered the East African tourist Visa which would allow me travel through both countries with little disturbance at the immigration. 

Gorilla Tracking Tour

On arrival, I was picked by my safari guide who later drove me to Mountain Gorilla View Lodge where I had my overnight. As we drove, I kept gazing at the undulating hills of Rwanda and the green vegetation we passed by. I could not compare this site to anywhere else I have visited. To be sincere, it is amazing!

Finally I was checked into my room but as I lay down on my king-size bed, I started thinking about my reaction when I get face to face with the gorillas. As I had time to read about the mountain gorillas, many websites explain that they have a sheer size, dark fur covers there yes and the walk in a knuckle way. I developed goose pimples whole over my body and had a quick shiver. My room had a picture of gorillas which seemed to be complementing my imagination. 

On the day of gorilla trekking, I was still with memories of what I will do upon seeing the mountain gorillas. We were briefed with other tourists and each of us was given a family to trek in a group of 8. We progressed into the thick forest where we kept meeting steams and boggy surfaces, enchanting monkeys and birds. We walked for many hours but my heart was not yet calm and ready to meet the gorillas. As we got closer, the ranger guide warned us to lower out voices as we were in there territory.  Finally we were face to face with the huge apes but like my imaginations had not yet deserted me, they are gigantic, huge and dark. This was a family of 12 members as explained by the guide. I felt like hiding behind the ranger but at the same time desired to watch the family. 

Gorilla Tracking Tour

One of the giant gorillas opened its mouth to yawn but because of its loud noise, I had lost my mind and stood motionless not thinking about what to do next. By this time, my small body was entering through its mouth and then pushed down into its stomach, I wondered what I would be mingled with since by the look of its belly it had eaten a lot. I wanted to shout for help but who could save me from this horrible nightmare. I realized it was only my imagination my dream had finally come true as I stood face to face with the gorillas.

Gorilla trek Uganda