Best Tour to See Gorillas in Uganda

Best Tour to See Gorillas in Uganda

Gorilla trekking safari is the best tour for you to embark on to see gorillas in Uganda. A gorilla trekking safari in Uganda introduces you to the spectacular Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park to see gorillas in the wild. There are multiple tour packages worth considering for you to book and introduce you to any of the two destinations to explore a family of mountain gorillas.

The best tours to book for you to see gorillas in Uganda

Visitors with plans to witness mountain gorillas in Uganda can book any of the gorilla tour packages below, and you won’t regret it.

3-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari. The three-day gorilla tour can introduce you to the magnificent Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. Spending three days in any of these destinations is a splendid chance to interact with a group of mountain gorillas.

The short 3-day gorilla tour to explore Bwindi or Mgahinga includes day one for transferring from Kampala or Kigali to Southwestern Uganda. Traveling from Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga comes with more opportunities to explore other sites en route. The likely sites to explore en route include the Equator crossing around Kayabwe in Mpigi, or visit the Mpambire Drum makers to learn locals make how traditional drums. The drums made here aren’t just ordinary ones, but signify the instrumental tools in the cultures of Uganda.

Never miss community tours on a gorilla safari

After the glorious moment in your sights, expect to proceed to Igongo Cultural Centre for a lunch break or make a stopover in Mbarara for lunch. From Mbarara, your professional driver guide can then connect you to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. Day one of a gorilla tour like this one involves traveling by road to Bwindi or Mgahinga, a journey that can run for 8 to 9 hours.

Day two mainly focuses on the actual gorilla trekking adventure. You must assemble at the respective park offices, where a park official will brief you on gorilla trekking rules and allocate gorilla families for you to explore.

On this day, expect to embark on the search for gorillas in the wild, and this will be done with the presence of an experienced park ranger guide. The search for gorillas can run for 2-6 hours, which also includes an hour for the magical encounter –a moment for you to have a close observation of how these large apes behave and take photos.

When you get done viewing mountain gorillas, you will return to the park offices where you departed. This is to allow you to receive a gorilla trekking certificate, and then you continue to your safari lodge. After you have had adequate rest, you may visit the Batwa pygmies’ community in the afternoon.

The long but rewarding Journey 

Last, day three can mainly focus on returning to Kampala or Kigali. It marks the end of a special and enriching 3-day tour to see gorillas in Uganda, either in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Other best gorilla safari deals worth booking for you to see gorillas in Uganda include a 5-day gorilla tour to Bwindi, 7-day Uganda gorilla tour, 8-day Uganda safari, 10-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour, and more. The long gorilla tours offer a chance for you to also explore other destinations like Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, and more.

Gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga

Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are Uganda’s leading gorilla trekking destinations. It is in Bwindi and Mgahinga that makes Uganda home to over half the mountain gorilla population. During the actual gorilla trek adventure, expect to explore five regions. The gorilla trekking regions in Uganda include Ntebeko, Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sectors.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga were all gazetted in 1991. The primary purpose of the establishment of the two parks was to ensure the safe protection of mountain gorillas and their habitats.

Today, the world boasts of over 1063 individuals with an estimated population of about half of them residing in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. The largest concentrations of habituated families of mountain gorillas live in Uganda.

During the actual trek with mountain gorillas, expect to explore gorilla groups such as the Rwigi group, the Mishaya, Mubare gorilla group, Habinyanja, Binyindo, Katwe gorilla group, Rushegura gorilla family, Mukiza group, Bitukura gorilla family, Kyaguriro group, Oruzogo, and Mucunguzi. Additional gorilla families to visit in Uganda include the Busingye gorilla group, the Tindatine gorilla group, Kahungye, Christmas, Bweza, Bikingi group, Nkuringo, Posho gorilla family, and others.

Cost of the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda.

You must secure valid gorilla permits in advance. The gorilla permits are available for booking at varying rates, depending on the visitor category. The cost is USD 800 per person for foreign non-residents, UGX 300,000 per visitor for East African citizens, USD 700 for all foreign residents, and USD 500 for other Africans. Contact our reservation team to assist you in securing a gorilla permit for you to embark on a journey to encounter mountain gorillas. Secure essential tools like gorilla permits well before your flight to track gorillas in Uganda.

How early should you book a tour to see gorillas in Uganda?

While it is possible to arrange a gorilla tour any time of the year or months, it is saved to book your trip at least 2-6 months prior to the actual visit to interact with mountain gorillas. Securing a gorilla tour in advance provides you adequate time to plan for so many things essential to make your vacation unforgettable, including booking transportation, accommodation, and other amenities. Get in touch with our reservation team to kick start every step necessary to book a remarkable gorilla trekking tour.

Who is eligible to see gorillas in Uganda?

Eligibility to explore mountain gorillas in Uganda begins from the stages of booking for gorilla permits. Uganda only allows visitors over 15 years old to obtain gorilla permits and trek to see gorillas.

What to pack for a tour to see gorillas in Uganda

Packing list for gorilla tours in Uganda includes waterproof daypack, long-sleeved shirts, a safari hat, a camera, waterproof and sturdy hiking boots, strong gardening gloves, a raincoat or jacket, energy giving snacks, extra camera batteries, a sweater, a first aid kit, insect repellents, bottled drinking water, and long trousers.

Accommodation options for staying

The safari lodges and camps to book for overnight stay in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park include among others Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Orugano Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Nshongi Gorilla Lodge/Camp, Chameleon Hill, Gift of Nature Lodge, and Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Other accommodation options include Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Kisoro Homely Suites, Mondi Lodge Kisoro, Ride 4 a Woman, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Lake Mutanda Resort, and more.

How to get to Bwindi/Mgahinga to see gorillas

You must plan for your connectivity to and from Bwindi/Mgahinga. By road, a 4×4 safari vehicle is essential for a smooth navigation to Bwindi or Mgahinga. It takes visitors between 8 and 9 hours to navigate from Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga.

A visitor may also reduce the number of hours by setting off from Kigali city via Katuna or Chanika border to Uganda, or take a flight from Entebbe Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips.