Welcome To
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
In the misty jungles of Uganda and Rwanda
Uganda Gorillas & Golden Monkey Tracking
This 4 Day Uganda Gorillas & Golden Monkey Tracking Tour will take you on a tour of ‘gold and silver’ in one trip to Uganda. Take an African countryside 9 hour drive in one of the most beautiful places on the continent dubbed the “Switzerland of Africa”, rolling hills and valleys showing off picturesque landscaped like in an enchanting dream.
Your 9 hours drive in the west will lead you into the mountain gorilla jungle, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you’ll track the elusive creatures and spend an hour in their presence. Then head over into Mgahinga trails to track the golden monkey, another endangered primate, and then exit in Kigali Rwanda’s capital.
Highlights
Gorillas live in families of around 10 individuals though just like humans the number keeps varying according to births, deaths, and when the black backs decide to leave the group to form their own.
A gorilla family is led by the most powerful silverback with the rest of the group comprising females and younger males.
The silverback makes important decisions for the group and protects them from danger.
While Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga and Volcanoes National park, you stand a chance of seeing other wildlife since the forest contains many other animals including 90 species of mammals,10 primate species such as the black and white colobus monkeys, green monkeys, Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys, and duiker.
What To Carry
Gorilla Trekking safaris in Uganda are an unforgettable amazing experience that you will last in your memory for a life. Below is a list of the things you may need on your adventure in the jungle.
- walkingstick for the steep terrain
- Jungle shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes.
- Rain gear since it is a rainforest and rain may come down anytime
- Insect repellent for protection from the jungle bugs.
- Long Sleeve shirts and trousers
- Your camera gear
- Garden gloves to avoid touching thorny plants on your hike
The Gorilla Permit
You’ll need a gorilla trekking permit to allow you an escorted hike into the jungle to see the mountain gorilla. Each gorilla permit allows one individual to one gorilla family and spend one hour in their presence. A gorilla permit cannot be transferred and will expire once the stamp date expires or is used.
Gorilla Permit Costs:
Uganda Gorilla Permit Costs US$800 per person per day (starting 1st July, 2024)
Rwanda Gorilla permit Costs US$1,500 per person per day
Gorilla permits are issued by the government authorities (UWA in Uganda and RDB in Rwanda) and no one else. We and other operators process the permit on your behalf. Our gorilla tours are all inclusive with the gorilla permit so don’t have to process it yourself.
Gorilla trekking rules
Some several rules and regulations guide the gorilla trekking adventure and they are aimed at protecting the endangered mountain gorillas as well as streamlining gorilla tourism and sustainability.
- Keep distance of minimum 5 metres from the gorillas while in their presence.
- Do not eat or drink near the gorillas.
- Flash photography is not permitted.
- In case of an emergency toilet, dig a hole of 30cm and fill it up after use.
- Don’t drop litter in the park.
- No smoking near the gorillas.
- If you must sneeze or cough, cover your face and turn away from the gorillas and if you have a cold or an infectious disease, do not visit the gorillas.
- Children below the age of 15 years old are not allowed..
- Do not look at the gorillas directly into the eyes.
Gorilla Trekking is one of the main tourist attractions in Uganda which can be supplemented with wildlife safaris and or birding safaris
The Gorilla Permit
The best time for gorilla trekking is, most importantly, when you can get a permit to do so. They are like gold dust, but that is where the specialist tour operators like Gap Travel Safaris step in. We’re like the Willy Wonkas who give out golden tickets into the magical worlds of gorillas. Worlds where it rains all year round, but much more so between November or between March and May. Tourists tend to stay away during those times, but the gorillas are always there.
The gorilla sanctuaries: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga NP (in Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (in Rwanda) are open for gorilla trekking all year long, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February.
At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier.
High Season: June to September (Gorilla permits need to be booked long in advance at any time of the year)
Low Season: March, April, May, October and November (Some lodges and camps close down)
Gorilla Trekking Destinations
Bwindi Impenetrable NP
Volcanoes National Park
