How long do you stay with gorillas on a trek?
Gorillas are endemic to the African continent. Uganda is one of the three most popular destinations for gorilla trekking. Uganda is a paradise to over half of the Gorillas and offers unique and extraordinary gorilla trekking expeditions in the region. The country is ranked the safest and best place to see gorillas in Africa after Rwanda and Congo.
Gorilla trekking is one of the outstanding reasons why Uganda receives many tourists from different parts of the World. The activity involves moving in a group following the permanently established trails heading to the Jungle with interest to meet Gorillas in the wild. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes you to Bwindi’s impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only two spots where to trek the gorillas in the wilderness of Africa.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Spanning three districts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers 331 square kilometers. The park is occupied by the thick Bwindi impenetrable forest. It is inhabited by over 450 individual mountain gorillas which make up almost half of all the mountain gorilla. Meeting in the wild for an up-close look with these giants is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling moments in this park.
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Park is offered in its four sectors Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga. These sectors have several habituated gorilla groups (over 17 families) where gorilla trekking can be done.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also offers gorilla habituation an exciting activity similar to Gorilla trekking differs in the time spent with the apes in the wild. Visitors are allowed to stay with the Gorillas for four hours or a full day in the wild during habituation grants them a chance to follow the movements of these apes while taking photos and videos in different localities. This remarkable experience is done in the Rushaga sector.
Mgahinga National park.
Located in the Southwestern part of Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is one of the prominent parks in Uganda. It is home to the three volcanic mountains Mount Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura which are also shared with Virunga National Park of DR Congo and Volcanoes of Rwanda.
Apart from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tourists can also see Gorillas in Mgahinga. The park is home to 80 mountain gorillas, with only one gorilla group being inhabited and open to tourists, the Nyakagyezi family. This group has settled in Uganda for three years. It attracts fewer crowds because only eight gorilla permits can be sold in a day to give visitors a great trekking experience.
Hours spent with Gorillas
Before the trekking journey, visitors are briefed and highlighted on how to behave while in the wild, and only eight trekkers in a group are allowed to trek one Gorilla family per day to limit overcrowding.
Visitors are strictly allowed to be in the presence of these great Apes for only one hour. Time taken and distance moved depends on the location of the Gorilla family you are searching for. You are advised to come with your packed food and drinking water from the lodge as the search might take up a few hours before locating the Gorillas.
Gorilla permits in Uganda cost US$800 per person and can be purchased at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is open year-round, the best times being in the Dry seasons (December to February and June to September) because dry seasons make tracking and viewing wildlife easier. There are also fewer trekkers so less competition for gorilla permits.
in conclusion, During a gorilla trek in Uganda, visitors are allowed to spend one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas after locating them in the wild. This time limit helps minimize human impact on the gorillas and reduces their stress.
However, if you’re participating in a gorilla habituation experience, which is only available in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can stay with the gorillas for up to four hours. This unique experience offers more extended observation and the chance to follow the movements of a gorilla group being habituated to human presence.