Mountain Gorilla tracking Safaris in Uganda
Mountain Gorilla tracking Safaris in Uganda – Identification: A huge tail- less ape covered with black hair. Females are relatively smaller than males. The older males develop a high crown and heavy brow ridge and a silvery mantle.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Tracking these great apes in Uganda is a lifetime experience as it involves walking in the wilderness of either Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in search of these great apes.
The activity is too challenging and you need to be physically fit. An interesting Uganda gorilla tracking safari should not present a serious physical change to any reasonable fit adult whatever their age but a visitor is required to be physically fit to be able to cope up with the adventure.
The excitement devoted to first setting eyes on the wild mountain gorilla is difficult to describe. These are huge animals which weigh up to three times as bulky as the average man. Too interesting, their body size is overstated by a shaggily lush coat despite their impressive appearance. Gorillas are curiously very peaceful creatures of the aggressive character of nature like vervet monkeys or baboons.
Gorilla Permit Booking Procedure
To track gorillas in Uganda, you need to obtain a gorilla permit which is obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority Head offices in Kampala located just after the Uganda Museum on Kiira Road.
The offices are opened from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in the evening. All gorilla permits for all gorilla families are sold. Please contact us for your gorilla permit which we can pre-purchase for you. You will be required to send us your details including your names, passport number and Nationality. This will enable us to obtain for you a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority in time.
When to book a gorilla Permit
You are advised to contact us in order to book your gorilla permit. You need to book your gorilla permit 5 months in advance during the high season, while in low seasons, you can even book it there and then. In Uganda, high seasons are June, July, August, September and early November and then December.
You should note however that permits tend to be very scares and if you intend to trek these great apes, you need to book them in advance. Do not hesitate; contact us for gorilla permit booking. We will secure it for you at no extra cost once you book a gorilla tour with us.
Gorilla families to track in Uganda
There are 11 habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and 1 in Mgahinga Gorilla Park which are readily available for tourists to track.
Bwindi National Park
Buhoma Area: Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushega gorilla
Ruhija Area: Bitukua, Oruzogo and Kyaguriro gorilla groups
Nkuringo Area: Nkuringo Gorilla group
Rushaga Area: Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza and Busingye gorilla groups
Mgahinga National Park: Nyakagezi gorilla group
Only one group of eight tourists is allowed to stay with a gorilla group each day .You ought to be in good health. In order to ensure that requested dates are available you should book at least 3 months in advance. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi could lead you to long walks through rain forest therefore physical fitness is an advantage.
Equipment required for tracking gorillas
- Good trekking shoes and rain jacket
- Sunscreen lotion, hat, insect repellant
- Lunch
When tracking gorilla, you must adhere to the following rules:
- You are not allowed to enter the park with communicable diseases
- Gorilla trekking groups have to stay together in the near of the gorillas with a distance of at least 7 meters (21 feet).
- If you are below 15 years, you are not allowed to track gorillas
- You are not allowed to flash while photographing gorillas
- You are not allowed to eat or smoke within a distance to the gorillas of 200 meters, do not leave litter anywhere.
Payments Terms
The acceptable payment methods in Uganda include;
Cash which can be in Uganda shillings, US dollars, Great Britain Pounds and Euros. Note 1. US $ notes below $ 100 should be 1990 and above.
Us $ 100 notes should be 1997 & above Transfers Bank Transfers (net of the bank charges)
Traveler’s Cheques (Present receipt of purchase at point of sale & 1% charge
Time Limit
The tracking time is limited from 8:30 a.m to 7:00 p.m. All visitors are expected back at the campground by 7:00 p.m.
Feel free to talk to any of us
Tel + 256 -041 4231454
0772636412
Email: maranathatours@gmail.com