Find out What Makes Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Unique

Which is the best and most unique tourist activity in East Africa? It’s definitely gorilla trekking but have you ever asked yourself why it is the most desired and exceptional activity? Well, it’s because the activity is conducted from only and only three countries-Rwanda (within Volcanoes National Park), Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park).

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

There are currently more than 1000 mountain gorillas inhabiting the thick Tropical rainforests of the mentioned National Parks. Gorilla trekking usually begins with a pre-tracking briefing at the Park Headquarters before trekkers finally head to the jungles to locate the allocated gorilla family.

You have to be prepared because it is quite hectic and involves going through areas of high elevations, thick vegetation with thorns and stinging nettles, muddy/slippery trails (especially during the rainy season) and unclear paths that have to be created during tracking.

The activity usually lasts about 30 minutes to several hours but once sighted, trekkers are given only one hour to spend with the gorilla family to see them feed, play and groom as photos are being taken (with non-flash cameras) to have memories of the trip alive. Once the beautiful pictures of the giant apes are shown to friends and family members back home (countries of origin), they will also wish to visit in order to see the mountain gorillas.

Much as gorilla trekking is conducted within three African countries, there is an exceptional experience tourist get from Uganda and not the other two countries.

All in all, the former offers a remarkable and out of the ordinary experience because of a number of reasons. Firstly, there are over 17 habituated gorilla families in Uganda that can be tracked by enthusiastic tourists and they include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Christmas, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro, Bishaho, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bikingi, Busingye, Bweza, Nkuringo and Katwe in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Nyakagyezi family found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

As earlier mentioned, there are four countries from where the mountain gorillas can be tracked but based on tourists’ views, Uganda is so far the best because it offers the most extraordinary experience. But the question now is “what makes tracking the giant apes from Uganda unique?” The answers to this question lie in the reasons provided and these include:

There are two gorilla Parks

Uganda unlike other countries where mountain gorillas are found has two places where these endangered giant apes can be tracked. If you don’t wish to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can actually opt for Mgahinga National Park where the ever-mobile Nyakagyezi family is found. Rwanda and DRC on the other hand have one destination each thus making Uganda very unique (or rather) and the best gorilla trekking destination.

Highest mountain gorilla population

Uganda is where you will find the highest population of the giant apes because there are currently more than half of these mountain gorillas with most of them being in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. There are presently more than 500 of the total 1000 mountain gorillas in the two Conservation Areas where they are found.

More habituated gorilla families

Uganda is home to more than half the World’s population of mountain gorillas, obviously making it the country with more habituated gorilla families. There are currently 17 habituated gorilla families in the country with 16 of them being in Bwindi and one (Nyakagyezi) being in the adjacent Mgahinga National Park. Therefore if you visit the former, expect to track Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Christmas, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro, Bishaho, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bikingi, Busingye, Bweza, Nkuringo, and Katwe. This means that at least 128 gorilla permits (excluding the ones from Kyaguliro because it is reserved for research purposes) are available per day compared to Rwanda where only about 80 permits are sold per day and DRC with about 48 permits available per day.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into sectors/regions

Of all the three countries with mountain gorillas, it’s only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that you will find sectors or regions. Because the Park is divided into different sectors, most tourists don’t know this fact or sometimes even get confused because if you are to book for permits from a particular region, even accommodation facilities have to be from the same area. The regions are Buhoma (home to Rushegura, Habinyanja, Mubare and Katwe families), Rushaga (home to Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza, and Bikingi groups), Ruhija (Kyaguliro, Bitukura,       and oruzogo) as well as Nkuringo (with Nkuringo, Christmas and Bishaho groups).

It’s possible to combine gorilla trekking with other wildlife safaris

Uganda being known as a Pearl of Africa is not just a joke or hoax but because of its diversity of wildlife species. On top of gorilla tracking, you can also go for nature walks within the same Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, game drives in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Park where species like giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, Topis, elands, Uganda kobs, impalas, lions, leopards and hyenas can be spotted. Much as DRC also offers numerous wildlife species, it is unstable and unsafe.

Wonderfully warm climate

If you take a look at the climate of the three countries, you will agree that Uganda has so far the best climate any tourist to Africa would love and enjoy. Much as tracking the mountain gorillas involves hiking through areas of thick vegetation, unclear trails and muddy trails, Uganda offers the most unique destination for the activity due to good and conducive climate. It is undeniable that the rainy season is always not preferred for gorilla trekking but it should also be known that it usually shines immediately after raining, thus not disrupting the activity.

Affordability and guaranteed security

The Democratic Republic of Congo offers affordability but is insecure, Rwanda on the other hand is secure but quite expensive while Uganda is affordable and secure at the same time. Even with the scrapping of discounted gorilla permits by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Pearl of Africa still remains a cheaper gorilla trekking destination and thus a unique place to relish this life changing experience. Rwanda charges $1500 for permits, Uganda is now at $600 while DRC which would have been the cheapest at $400 per person is actually not preferred because of insecurity.

Conclusively, intending gorilla trekkers have not to be worried about which destination to go for gorilla trekking but rather choose Uganda because it is affordable and secure, has more mountain gorillas, more habituated gorilla families, offers two gorilla trekking Parks and makes it possible for tourists to combine gorilla trekking and other wildlife safaris.