Christened the “Pearl of Africa”, Uganda is a home of unmatched and untouched natural wonders. There something special about Uganda that stays with you even when you are long gone. Its raw and untouched beauty, friendly and hospitable people, rich cultural diversity, awe-inspiring sceneries, diversity of wildlife and bird species totaling to over 1061 species, towering mountains and hills, adrenaline-packed activities, numerous water bodies for watersports. The indescribable beauty of the country can be well discovered/explored during Uganda Safaris.
Majority of Uganda Safaris are based within the National Parks with over 10 of them distributed across different regions. Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo Rwenzori Mountains, Kibale Forest and Semliki National Parks are found in the western part of the country, Kidepo Valley is nestled within the north-eastern corner of the country, Murchison falls National Park in north-west while Mount Elgon National Park lies in the East of Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in the south-west of Uganda. Popular tourist activities in these Parks are mountain gorilla trekking and the Habituation Experience, birding tours, wildlife/game viewing experiences, boat cruises, sport fishing, golden monkey tracking, mountain climbing/hiking, mountain biking, chimpanzee trekking and Habituation Experience, village/community walks, hot air balloon tours, experiential tours, horseback rides, guided nature walks/hiking and many others.
Gorilla Trekking Tours in the Pearl of Africa involve trekking any of the 21 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, both in south-western Uganda. Uganda shelters more than half the World’s mountain gorilla population
Chimpanzee Tours during Uganda Safaris are conducted within the incredible Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest at the extreme border of Murchison falls National Park, Semliki National Park and Kalinzu Forest in addition to Uganda Wildlife Education Center and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Wildlife tours in Uganda are done in Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo and Semliki National Parks where Rothschild giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, Lions, Klipspringers, Serval cats, common elands, leopards, lions, spotted hyenas, impalas, Uganda Kobs, cheetahs, striped hyenas, warthogs, buffaloes, Elephants and many others.
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is part of extensive Uganda safaris and conducted within Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains and the Virunga Mountains of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Village/Community visits during Uganda Safaris provide visitors with an insight into the traditional way of life and cultures of Ugandans. These include food preparation, traditional songs and dances, use of traditional medicine, accommodation in homestays, listening to tales of past events and many others. Popular visits are done in Entanda Cultural Village, Boomu Cultural Village near Murchison falls National Park, Batwa Cultural trail, Nshenyi Village tour and Karamojong village tours.
City tours especially for Kampala City tours introduces visitors to the unique nightlife as well as historical, cultural and religious sites that shape the City such as Kabaka Royal Palace in Mengo, Bahai Temple, Kasubi Royal Tombs, Namirembe Cathedral, Gadhafi Mosque, Owino Market, Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo, Craft Markets along Buganda road, Uganda National Museum and many others. You can get the chance to walk along the Uganda Martyrs Trail during Uganda Safaris. Other tours are conducted for regional Cities such as Mbarara, Gulu, Fort Portal and Entebbe among others.
You cannot talk of Uganda safaris without mentioning birding safaris where visitors visit the country solely to explore the 1061 bird species in the Top birding Areas that include the 10 National Parks, wetland Sanctuaries, Rivers, forests and many other habitats. All in all, Uganda safaris mean taking part in wildlife viewing safaris, fly-in safaris, birding safaris, Hot air balloon safaris (in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth National Parks), gorilla trekking safaris, chimpanzee safaris, mountain hiking/climbing safaris and many others.
Best time for Uganda Safaris
Uganda Safaris are conducted all year round but the season determines the experience derived from the activity. Gorilla treks for instance are less challenging in the dry season because hiking trails are not muddy/or slippery and vegetation scarcer. Because of this, this season is also the peak season. Additionally, the dry season also offers wonderful game viewing experiences as numerous wildlife species converge around water points. The wet season comes with more challenging gorilla treks due to muddy trails and wet forest floors hence it’s a low season. However, this season is perfect for birding since its avifauna breeding season.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
The only relatives’ we have in the Forest; making the Jungle vibrant, worth visiting, and a perfect destination for refreshment; now is the time to think gorilla, and Go gorilla trekking. This is a prime safari in Uganda; regarded by the former wartime British Prime Minister “The Pearl of Africa” in the east of the continent of Africa, because of its beauty, welcoming occupants, flora and fauna, and cool climate.
Countries bordering Uganda include among others; the Republic of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Rwanda. It is one of the only three countries in the world harboring the rare sought-after Mountain Gorillas, residents of the giant Virunga chain of mountains.
Researched, protected, loved, and published; Thanks to the conservation efforts by Dian fossy, a primatologist who dedicated her life to making sure the mountain Gorillas get a feel of freedom, and existence in their natural habitat, thus their present-day existence. The most recent statistics put the Number of mountain Gorillas to 1060, with Uganda having the highest numbers.
Gorillas are gentle but shy, huge and with lots of hair on their body. They share about 95% human DNA, with similar social setups, and character. They leave in families, made up of over 10 members notably; a dominant male known as a silverback (leader of the family), females, black backs, and infants. These primarily feed on foliage, such as roots, leaves, fruits, and stems among others.
GORILLA TREKKING DESTINATIONS IN UGANDA.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This is one of the most visited parks in the southwestern part of Uganda. Gorilla groups in Bwindi are over 12; spread in its four sectors; Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga. Over 36 permits are present per day for persons above the age of 15 years and disease free. One can easily connect from Kigali Rwanda and Queen Elizabeth national park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Located in the southwestern part of Uganda; next to Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you will love the Gorilla family in this park. It is the smallest park in the country, yet with the most exciting Gorilla family. Tracking them is fun, since the group is very lively, and the landscape bit flat, with not so many people.
ABOUT GORILLA TREKKING.
Tracking the Gorillas is done in the morning hours of the day; when the apes are very active, feeding, playing, and on locomotion. It starts very early in the morning, with a pre trekking briefing by the park rangers, who explain the dos and don’ts while with the Apes, verify the tracking documents, and allocate members to the different Gorilla groups. Gorillas don’t stay in one place but move each day unless others, thus the trekking follows their rhythm, with the first search being at the place the Apes were last seen, before proceeding to where they are suspected to be.
One’s trekking speed and the direction the Apes have taken determines the length of search. In the same jungle, expect to encounter several other primates, notably monkeys and baboons; Birds, unique tree species of which others are over 100 years old, and forest mammals among others. The pre trekking briefing can last for about 30mins, and then the actual hikes can last for approximately 1-8 hours, plus a bonus of one hour for you to watch the Apes play, roam, or feed.
Gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
As a move to conserve the ecosystem, and the hikers, here are some of the Gorilla trekking Rules you out to follow once in the park; Wash hands upon entrance, obey the instructions by the Guides, stand at least 7 metres from the Apes, don’t shout, don’t litter the Jungle, don’t use flashlights while taking photos, and don’t look deep into the eyes of the Apes because they hate it.
Gorilla trekking Cost.
Picked from the Uganda Wildlife Authority July 2020-2022 Tariff, a gorilla trekking permit costs 700usd for Non-foreign residents, 600usd for foreign residents and 250,000ugx for east African residents including Ugandans. This fee is channeled to conservation efforts, supporting the staff, and the community living outside the park.
Per group in the park, there are 8 gorilla permits up for grabs for adults over 15years of Age. We advise you to book your trip at least 3months in advance to enable planning. The fee is an exception for accommodation, transportation, and other trip charges.
Note; Gorilla trekking permit price is fixed, and once you miss out on your tracking day because of poor time management or change of mind, there is no refund made. The permits are valid for only the day of Gorilla trekking.
Best time to Visit Uganda for Gorilla trekking.
The Dry season is normally a best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking because their groups are firm, the jungle is visible, and not rainfall inconveniences. These seasons always run from June to September and December to February. Nonetheless, the other months are also safe and chances of encountering the Gorillas are high.
Gorilla trekking is a lifetime adventure worth undertaking, while on your honeymoon, wildlife adventure, photography trip, summer holiday, or business trip. With us, your trip memories live forever.
