Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris is a multi-award-winning safari and tour experience for Uganda. Uganda offers some of the most unique and thrilling wildlife experiences with its renowned gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park and a wealth of other wildlife activities across the country.
A Uganda tour that focuses on gorillas and wildlife provides an unforgettable adventure with opportunities to see rare species, dramatic landscapes and vibrant cultures.
In Uganda, we have got two gorilla experiences that’s to say gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation. All these can be experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
For anyone to engage in these gorilla experience, he or she has to get permission from Uganda Wildlife Authority by buying a permit. Permits are usually booked in advance due to high demand most especially during the peak season. These permits can be booked through a trusted tour operator (Nature Adventure Africa Safaris) by depositing some money.
According to Uganda Wildlife Authority, gorilla trekking permits cost USD800 per person and gorilla habituation permits cost USD1500 per person.
The gorilla trekking experience starts with a briefing at the park’s headquarters where trekkers are advised about the rules and regulations to follow while trekking. It’s at the briefing where tourists are divided into small groups of 8 members in each.
After the briefing, each group is led by an experienced guide to set in the forest to start trekking these giants. The length of time to spend in the forest depends on where the groups to trek were last seen the previous day.
Upon seeing the targeted gorilla group, you will be allowed only 1 hour to interact with these giants but at a far distance. Here, you will learn on how they spend their day-to-day daily life. You will also watch them as they feed their littles, play with their fellows among others. You will have your picnic lunch and then meet your driver to take you back to headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate indicating a successful trek before you leave the park.
Gorilla habituation experience usually involves a group of trackers, guides, and researchers who approach a chosen gorilla group in a non-threatening manner. Gorilla habituation needs more time since the gorillas have to be trained more on how to live closer to people as they continue with their day-to-day lives.
Gorilla habituation experience is special because it allows 4 tourists a chance to spend four hours with the gorillas. The experience is managed by Researchers and very experienced trackers. This is different from gorilla trekking where 8 people are assigned to each gorilla group and can only watch the primates for one hour.
During the gorilla habituation process, tourists are given more time to learn about their way of life, take more photos, watch them interact, feed, build nests and groom themselves. Tourists also get to understand the role each individual plays in the family.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority so far has approved only one gorilla group (Bikyinji family) in Rushaga open for the gorilla habituation experience. Visitors booked for gorilla habituation experience gather at the Rushaga sector for briefing by park officials very early in the morning before the activity starts.
The minimum age for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda is 15 years of age. One needs to be fit enough to take part in the gorilla habituation process. This is because the activity may include hiking through steep and dense parts of the forest.
Apart from gorillas, there are also other wildlife animals you can see during the game drives. Game drives in Uganda present a great opportunity for wildlife lovers to enjoy sight of big game animals, small mammals, birds among others while in the wild. The best places to visit for guided game drives in Uganda include; Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. Some of the animals that can be spotted during the game drives include; lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, impalas among others.
