Here is the Best place for Gorilla Trekking in Africa

Are you looking for where to go see the Gorillas in Africa, here is the Best place for Gorilla Trekking in Africa. One of the best places for gorilla trekking in Africa is undoubtedly Bwindi Impenetrable National Park found in Uganda. This park is renowned for its population of endangered mountain gorillas and offers an incredible opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda and is home to approximately half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. The park’s dense forests provide a unique and challenging trekking experience, making it a memorable adventure for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi typically involves guided hikes led by experienced trackers and guides. The treks can vary in difficulty and duration, but the experience of encountering gorillas in the wild is unparalleled. It’s important to note that gorilla trekking permits are required and need to be obtained in advance, as a limited number of visitors are allowed to visit the gorillas each day to minimize human impact on their environment.

Here is the Best place for Gorilla Trekking in Africa. Another notable location for gorilla trekking is Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This park is also home to a population of mountain gorillas and offers a similar trekking experience. The terrain is less dense compared to Bwindi, and the gorilla groups are often found at higher altitudes, making the trek a bit more strenuous.

Both Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks provide an opportunity not only to observe gorillas but also to support their conservation efforts through ecotourism. These experiences contribute to local communities and help raise awareness about the importance of protecting these incredible animals and their habitats.

Another trending and the best place for gorilla trekking in Africa is Kahuzi Biega National Park found in Bukavu DR Congo. Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo was created in 1970 and the first Lowland Gorilla trekking was done in 1973, when it come to Lowland gorilla trekking it ranks high, it was gazzeted to conserve the Grauer’s gorilla species the world’s largest gorilla species. The Eastern Lowland gorillas also known as Grauer’s gorilla is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies, trekking Eastern Lowland gorillas is done in Kahuzi Biega National park located in Congo 30kms from Bukavu town the can be accessed by road and air.

The park was gazetted in 1970 and the first lowland gorilla trekking was done in 1973, this type of trekking is only done here and this makes the park rank high when it comes to the lowland gorilla trekking. The Park has 12 gorilla families and out of these only 2 gorilla families are habituated and they are open for visitors to trek. The families are called Chimanuka and Mugaruka both named after a dominant silverback, Chimanuka is famous for many visitors given it consists of one of the largest gorilla families in the world with over 36 gorilla individuals.

Contact Eco Adventure Safaris to help arrange and book for you a Gorilla Tour to any country of your choice.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in Uganda

The Gorilla permit in Uganda Costs $700 Per person per trek for Foreign nonresidents, $600 Per person for residents, and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda has 17 habituated gorilla family groups with 16 found in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga this means 136 Gorilla permits are available every day for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also gives you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through Gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Bwindi forest, gorilla habituation permits costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the semi habituated mountain gorillas under the guidance of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the normal trekking. Getting gorilla permits in Uganda can be done directly by booking them through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator in Uganda like Eco Adventure Safaris.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in Rwanda

The Gorilla permit in Rwanda Costs $1500 Per person per trek for the Foreign nonresidents, $500 Per person for foreign residents and $200 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda has 12 Gorilla families hence 96 Gorilla permits are available each day for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Getting gorilla permits in Rwanda can be done directly by booking them through Rwanda Development Board or through a trusted tour operator in Rwanda like Eco Adventure Safaris.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in DR Congo

Gorilla tracking in Congo is done in Virunga National Park for Mountain Gorillas and Kahuzi Beiga National Park for Lowland gorillas. A gorilla permit in Virunga National Park costs $400 per person per trek for the high season months of Mid-December to mid-march then June to October and then $200 for the low season months of mid-march to mid-May and then mid-October to mid-December every year. A gorilla permit in Kahuzi Beiga National Park costs $400 for foreign non residents, $200 for East Africa Residents and $20 national resident. Getting gorilla permits in Congo can be done directly by booking them through Virunga National Park or through a trusted tour operator like Eco Adventure Safaris Ltd.

P.S When booking your gorilla permit it is important to note that the gorilla permit price excludes accommodation, air tickets, ground transport, meals and other expenses, you will need to get more details of the package you are booking with your tour operator.

What is the age limit for Gorilla Trekking in Africa?

The minimum age limit for Gorilla Trekking is 12 years and above for Uganda and DR Congo, 15 years and above for 15 years and above and the maximum age depends on fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for elders is now made possible especially in Bwindi forest through the provision of sedan chair carriers, these chairs are used to carry those who feel unfit and are unable to walk into the forest at the time of their trek, you will be carried by potters to and from the forest during your trek, hiring the sedan chair can done in advance or at the day of the trek and price ranges from 400-500 dollars.

What is the best time for Gorilla Trekking in Africa?

Gorilla trekking in Africa is done throughout the year and the best time to do a gorilla trekking in Africa is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

What to pack for Gorilla Trekking?

During gorilla tracking, you will need a comfortable, hard-wearing, pair of walking shoes or boots.  Conditions are generally very muddy in the forest when it is raining. There are uphill sections which may be quite steep and strenuous.  It is also advisable to wear a long sleeve cotton shirt and lightweight long trousers to protect yourself from the undergrowth, stinging nettles and biting ants.  Suggested Items to pack for Gorilla trekking;

• Insect Repellent                      

• Torch/Flashlight – and Spare Batteries

• Wet Wipes                             

• Water Bottle                              

• Camera, lenses etc

• Comfortable walking/hiking boots & socks       

• Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking

• Sandals/strops/walking shoes    

• Hat and Sunscreen

• Rain Jacket

• Sweater/fleece

• Swimwear

• Binoculars (game/bird watching)

Why book your gorilla trekking safari to Africa Through Eco Adventure Safaris?

Eco Adventure Safaris boasts of a professional office and field team that takes care of all your requests and inquiries. We are highly recommended on trip advisor. Our website is one of the best and most reliable points to help you start preparing for your tour, we have the best and most update information that you can rely on. Eco Adventure Safaris is owned and run by Ugandans who have well explored Uganda for many years and as such, you will be dealing with a team that sells what they know. Please feel free to contact us here is the Best place for Gorilla Trekking in Africa.