Combining gorilla trekking with other activities in Uganda

Combining gorilla trekking with other activities in Uganda is one of the best ways to experience the country beyond primate viewing. Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is an exciting safari experience that anyone must include on their bucket list when visiting the country, especially for those in love with primates. Uganda also sometimes referred to as the “the Pearl of Africa” is one of the only three countries in the world that inhabit the endangered mountain gorillas, with the other two being Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population, that lives in its two Gorilla trekking National Parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the primary destination for gorilla safaris in Uganda, hosting about 20 habituated mountain gorilla families, that can be visited each day. Mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a major highlight of a Uganda Safari holiday, a must-include if you would love to experience the best of this amazing country.

In case you are wondering? Can I combine gorilla trekking with other activities in Uganda? Yes, you can combine gorilla trekking in Uganda with a number of different safari activities. This will however require one to spend at least four day and above. Gorilla trekking alone will require at least 3 days in case you are planning to land in Entebbe and transfer to Bwindi. Even on a 3 Days gorilla safari, you can also pair gorilla trekking with a cultural experience to the Batwa communities or go for a nature walk in the afternoon after gorilla trekking in the morning.  Combining mountain gorilla trekking with other activities will give you a fulfilling Safari experience in Uganda.

Best Activities to combine with gorilla trekking in Uganda

There are a number of safari activities that can be combined wit Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. When visiting Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari holiday, these are some of the best activities to combine with your gorilla trekking adventure;

Batwa Cultural experience (Batwa Trail experience)

The Batwa Pygmies are an indigenous group of people who used to inhabit the forests of Bwindi however, due to conservation efforts, they were evicted from the National Park and as of today, they live in areas that are adjacent to the park. While on a gorilla trekking tour, it is possible to pair your safari with a visit to their community for an opportunity to experience the unique Batwa Cultural. The Batwa Pygmies are know for their unique cultures and way of life that you can immerse yourself in during your Uganda Gorilla Trekking tour.

The Batwa are hunter-gatherers known for their unmatched knowledge of the forest, hunting and gathering skills. Initially, the Batwa lived within these forest in a semi-nomadic lifestyle, where they kept looking for shelter and food within the forest. They were however evicted from the forest and resettled in the adjacent areas from where several communities have settled and established themselves.

Visiting Lake Bunyonyi

Gorilla safaris in Uganda are often combined with a visit to Lake Bunyonyi.  This lake is one of Africa’s Deepest and most scenic Lakes, home to a number of exciting safari adventures like boat cruises, canoeing, cultural tours, and Kayaking among others. This breathtaking safari lake is a popular destination for safaris in Uganda. The Lake features a number of small islands and unique birdlife.

Combining gorilla trekking with Wildlife Safaris in Uganda

Although Uganda is generally famous for mountain gorilla trekking and primate adventures in general, the country is also home to all iconic wildlife species. From the popular African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephants) to the elusive nocturnal, Uganda is a truly remarkable destination for wildlife viewing. Uganda is home to 10 National Parks, that host about 345 different wildlife species.

Wildlife species in Uganda include primates like; mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, and various types of monkeys among others. Mammal species including the famous African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) among others. A Uganda safari can combine both primate tracking and wildlife viewing. This will allow you to explore different national parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park for wildlife viewing.

Combine your gorilla trekking safari tour with wildlife viewing in Uganda and experience beyond primate tracking while on a safari to Uganda. Most our packages allow visitors to combine gorilla trekking with wildlife viewing, starting from the 5 Days Uganda Safaris Package.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Besides trekking mountain gorillas, you can also go chimpanzee trekking while in Uganda. Many visitors choose to combine both experiences on the same trip and the experience is usually one to live to remember. Even though you can’t do them in the exact same place, it’s still easy to plan and enjoy both mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, regardless of which one you start with.

There are three main destinations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda: Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. When visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking, you can tailor your journey to allow you visit the either Kibale Forest National or the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth which are the closest chimpanzee trekking destinations. Kibale Forest National Park is however the best place to see chimpanzees in Uganda, also referred to as “the primate capital of the world”.

Just like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking is an exciting adventure. It gives you the chance to walk through the biodiverse forests and search for these amazing primates in their natural home.

Golden Monkey Trekking

Golden Monkey tracking is another top experience that can be paired with gorilla trekking, especially for visitors planning to go gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also dubbed ‘‘the place where silver meets gold’’ because of the presence of both golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. Just like the mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys are an endangered primate species found only in Uganda and Rwanda. You’ll enjoy watching these primates in their natural habitat as they go by their day.

Book your Gorilla Trekking safaris in Uganda with us and experience the very best of Uganda.