Where to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?

Uganda is one of the three countries in Africa that host the endangered mountain gorillas, with the other two being Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of Congo. Where to go gorilla trekking in Uganda? Uganda has two gorilla trekking destinations, the main one being Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, hosting about half of the remaining mountain gorilla population and the other one is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. When planning Uganda safaris, mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after safari activities by most travelers. Gorilla trekking Safaris in Uganda are a major highlight of Uganda Safari Holidays. When planning your Uganda safari, you may wonder, where exactly does gorilla trekking in Uganda take place? Or Where to go gorilla trekking in Uganda? In this article, we discuss the gorilla trekking destination in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park), their location, gorillas families and how to reach there.

Uganda in general is home to 10 National Parks, with 2 of these National Parks hosting the mountain gorillas. Uganda Gorilla Safari Holidays will take you to these National Park for an opportunity to encounter habituated gorilla families and enjoy their company. But it is only possible to see the gorillas in Uganda’s National Parks after you book a gorilla trekking permit.

Unlike other top wildlife species in Uganda like the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) and other savanna wildlife, mountain gorillas are endemic to high altitudes and live in dense impenetrable jungles with thick vegetation. They are endemic to the Virunga Region that stretches across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In this complete guide you’ll be able to understand where to see gorillas in Uganda (Where can I go gorilla trekking in Uganda?).

Uganda Gorilla National Parks – Where to see gorillas in Uganda

The Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are an endemic species and can only be found in three countries in East Africa, and that is Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the whole of Africa, there are only four National Park where you can see mountain gorillas. In Uganda, Mountain gorilla trekking is done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park ( home to half of the remaining gorilla population)

Located in the southwestern part of Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the primary gorilla trekking destination and the best place to see mountain gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular gorilla trekking destination during gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, hosting several habituated gorilla families. This National Park is located near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley.

This National Park covers a total land area of about 321 km2, encompassing of both montane and lowland impenetrable forest, which offer a suitable habitat for the gorillas. Bwindi is known to have the largest number of mountain gorillas with up to 550 individuals living here as per the last gorilla census, This there for makes it a premier destination for Uganda Gorilla Trekking safaris. The remaining gorilla population lives in the nearby Virunga Massif that stretches across Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in D.R Congo & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to about 20 habituated gorilla families that can be visited each day. The National Park is made up of four gorilla trekking sectors including Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. Each of these sectors have habituated gorilla family that you can trek during your Uganda gorilla safari holiday tour.

About 152 gorilla permits are offered by UWA every day, allowing visitors to enjoy the trek in all sectors in Bwindi. Apart from the normal gorilla trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also known for offering the unique gorilla habituation experience. The Gorilla Habituation is a process of introducing gorillas to human presence, during this process, interested visitors can join a team of researches and trekkers for a full day experience with the gorillas.

Each day around, only 8 habituation permits are offered to interested visitors.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, within the wider Virunga Conservation Area. This National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Uganda, covering about 33.9 square kilometers. If you are thinking about where to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Mgahinga is considered the second best destination after Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Even though it is not as well-known as Bwindi, Mgahinga is still home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The Park gives visitors a chance to enjoy an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. It has more than 30 mountain gorillas living in the park, spread across three groups, although two of these groups are not yet habituated. The main habituated group is the Nyakagezi family, which has around 19 members.

Unlike Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has many habituated gorilla families, Mgahinga has only one. This means only a small number of permits about 8 per day are available to travelers interested in visiting this National Park.

Other Gorilla Trekking destinations in Africa

Apart from Uganda, you can also trek mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and Virunga National Park in D. R Congo. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a popular gorilla trekking destination all over the world, and has about 10 habituated gorilla families that you can trek on your safari. In total, there are about 80 gorilla permits available each day in Volcanoes National Park.