Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda FAQs : Mountain gorilla trekking is the most popular safari activity done in Uganda. This activity that was introduced to the country over 20 years ago has over the years attracted multitudes of people to the country to see these famous apes.
Mountain gorilla trekking was originally started to boast mountain gorilla conservation in the East African region as we well know gorillas are some of the critically endangered animals in the world. So trekking activities were meant to give people access to gorillas and help them appreciate the importance of gorillas to mankind and the entire ecosystem.
To say the idea has not worked is to down play the work of the different authorities that have made it happen thus far. The idea has worked beyond measure, as of 2022, the different gorilla habitats in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo combined are housing over 1500 individual gorillas, which is a great improvement from about 800 individuals 10 years back.
So kudos to the authorities and governments that are making this happen.
That said how much do you know about mountain gorilla trekking. In this article we are going to answer most of the questions about mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda to help your knowledge and preparations.
- What is mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda involves the activity of one visiting one of the two mountain gorilla habitats in the country and trekking the terrains and eventually meeting the gorillas in their habitat.
- Where are the mountain gorilla habitats in Uganda?
Uganda has two mountain gorilla habitats and they are both located in south western Uganda. These habitats are Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi National Park, houses 3 quarters of the entire world’s mountain gorilla population.
- When is mountain gorilla trekking done in Uganda?
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is done all year round, in both habitats. However if you want to know the peak seasons for the activities; those happen during the dry seasons which run from June to August and December to February.
- How long does mountain gorilla trekking take in Uganda?
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda takes one day, that’s the time for the activity. It usually starts in the morning at 7am with a briefing and then trekker enter the forest to search for the gorillas, this climb takes about 4 to 5 hours depending on the park you are trekking in. You then spend an hour with the gorillas before you descend down the mountain to your next destination. The descend takes about 3 to 4 hours.
The mountain gorilla safari on the other hand can take from two days to 4 days depending on where you are accessing the different parks from and you entire safari plan.
- What rules govern mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda?
The rules for mountain gorilla trekking are the same world over and they include but not limited to not trekking while you are sick you can spread you sickness to the gorillas, keeping a 7 meter distance between you and the mountain gorillas while you are on a trek, not engaging in anything that can cause any harm to the mountain gorillas, do not feed the mountain gorillas, Do not cough or sneeze directly into the gorillas among other things.
- What is the cost of mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda?
The cost of mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is simply the cost of mountain gorilla trekking permits and this is 700 USD per permit per a person. This permit allows you or gives you a chance to trek mountain gorillas in any of the two habitats in the country.
