Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is surreal and without a doubt one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences. The thrill of a close encounter with the reclusive mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is unlike any other experience in Africa.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi
Uganda offers the best chance of viewing these delightful apes with the fact that it boasts two parks where they have been habituated for human visits; the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which harbor over half of the remaining world mountain gorillas.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established in 1991 and is located in the Virunga Mountains, encompassing three inactive volcanoes: Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Gahinga, and Mt. Sabyinyo. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has the best elevation for mountain gorilla trekking. It is part of the Virunga Massif, which is shared among Uganda, Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park), both of which harbor the endangered mountain gorilla in their natural habitat.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park started as a wildlife sanctuary before being declared a national park in 1991. The Batwa people resided in the forest alongside mountain gorillas but were forcefully evacuated to protect the gorillas, which were at the brink of extinction in the wild. The park is now managed and protected by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body responsible for the protection of all national parks in Uganda.
Mountain Gorillas
Mountain Gorillas can only be found in the Virunga mountains in the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. Uganda holds 60% of the total mountain gorillas left in the world with about 400 of them residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is the most popular place to trek the gorillas in Uganda. The Park is located in the Southwestern part of the country and is one of the most diverse national parks in East Africa.
Gorilla Trekking
Most trekking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi, where there are multiple starting points and several gorilla families to track. The time spent tracking gorillas depends and varies from half an hour to eight hours depending on the gorilla movements.
This activity starts with a briefing at 8am at the park headquarters of any sector you are booked to track, and after the tracking, you set off to the forest with the guide of the rangers who guide you to the spots where the gorillas may be found. Visits are led by park rangers and groups of 8 are allowed to observe the gorillas for one hour, in silence and at a safe distance. You are allowed only one hour in the midst of these great apes so as not to distract their behavioral patterns.
It takes persistent effort to reach the gorillas. It requires navigating uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns, and roots. The appropriately named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is only accessible by foot. There are no paths, no signs, no directions—and more often than not, no clearings (which is why the park rangers carry machetes).
Monkeys
Bwindi also has L’hoest monkeys, dark cheeked mangabeys, and blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park, chimpanzees capture everyone’s attention. Patas monkeys meander around Murchison Falls National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park has blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys (not to mention non-primates, like lions and elephants).
Golden Monkeys
Uganda is a primate-lover’s paradise. In addition to mountain gorillas, Mgahinga is home to another endangered species: the golden monkey. The park earned the slogan “Where Silver Meets Gold” from these monkeys. Golden monkeys are known to be the most stunning and attractive primates in Uganda, often found in large troops of up to 100 individuals. These furry, comical monkeys live high up in bamboo forests. Tracking golden monkeys is very similar to tracking gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a year-round activity and permits are issued every day. However, most people prefer to stay dry and travel during Uganda’s dry season which is May-September and January and February. Bright and sunny days are more prominent during these months and visitors are much less likely to experience those rains down in Africa.
Birds
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park harbors a wealth of bird species, with over 185 species recorded, including species endemic to the Albertine Rift, forest birds, migratory birds, water birds, and many more.
Volcanoes
Mgahinga National Park protects three stunning volcanoes, including Mt. Gahinga, which lies within the park, and Mt. Muhavura (also referred to as Muhabura), which is shared with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Flora of Mgahinga National Park
The park boasts stunning vegetation, filled with rolling hills, forests, and more. Mgahinga National Park’s vegetation consists of afro-montane forests, covering a small area as a vegetation type on the continent. The vegetation in Mgahinga includes woodlands, with only a small area of pure montane forest remaining at the base of Mt. Muhabura, following encroachment in the 1950s. Montane woodland is an open forest with dense ground cover.
Other Attractions
Other fascinating tourist attractions include mammals like elephants, buffalos, forest hogs, warthogs, and many other sites such as the Garama Caves. These caves are crucial to the Batwa people as a sacred place that was used for hiding during attacks and invasions. They also served as a parliament for their leaders.