Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda: Experience the Magic

Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda is Truly a Once in a Lifetime Experience

The day I got to stand face to face with a gorilla was probably the best of my life to date. And yes, that includes my wedding day.

I wouldn’t normally start by talking about myself, but please indulge me here because I need you to know just what a treat you are in for.

Trekking with gorillas is not an activity for the faint hearted. It requires some physical activity. It involves meeting them in their habitat.

But all of it is so worth it to see these magnificent beings in the wild.

An Added Bonus

Anyone who has done any wildlife watching knows that it’s hit and miss.

You can spend hours looking for an elusive tiger and see nothing but deer. You can cross your fingers and hope to swim with a whale shark but there’s no guarantee.

When you take a trip trekking with gorillas, it is almost guaranteed that you will see them.

As a seasoned eco-tourist I nearly fell over when I was told this.

It’s possible because human trackers are assigned to a family group and will have found them every morning before you even arrive. They know where they nested the previous night (yep, you heard right- gorillas sleep in nests) and can easily picked up their trails the next day.

It’s unlikely that you won’t get your moment with the gorillas, but always remember the nature is unpredictable.

Types of Gorillas

There two main species of gorilla: Eastern and Western.

These are split into several different sub species, some occupying mountains and some in the lowlands.

In Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo you will be able to see Eastern mountain gorillas.

The Logistics

Where to Go

You can go trekking with Gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.

War in the DRC means that for most, this option will probably rule itself out, so you’ll likely find yourself weighing up Rwanda vs. Uganda.

My decision was fairly straight forward, as I was part of a larger tour of Kenya and Uganda, but you might want to consider a few things.

At the time of writing, permits for trekking in gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda are US$800 and US$1500 respectively. Bear in mind that there are a limited number of permits available each day. They can and will sell out. If you want to guarantee your spot, booking ahead is essential.

Visa costs are similar for both countries.

Uganda is home to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Volcanoes National Park is your only option in Rwanda.

None of these options are particularly easy to reach. The drive from the international airport in Rwanda is significantly shorter, so this may factor in. In either case I would recommend booking a full tour with transfers sorted for you.

I went this tour with Intrepid which included safari and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. I would highly recommend it, but more of that later.

If a tour is not for your, Bea Adventurous has some great information on where to stay in the area.

You will need to dedicate multiple days of your trip to this activity. It’s not something which can be done in a day.

If you’re feeling really ambitious and want to try both, the Eastern African Tourist visa lets you move between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for three months.

When to Go

The summer months from June to September are your best times to book a gorilla trekking tour.

These months are generally drier.

This is also a great time to spot chimpanzees. If you fancy a separate trip for that during your stay in Uganda, there’s more to come in a future blog post.

Conservation Questions

The Ethical Dilemma

Eco tourism always come with an ethical question mark.

Is it right to allow people in such close proximity to wild animals?

You might be surprised to know that gorilla trekking is actually held up as an example of where eco-tourism could have been key to saving the species.

If you want to take a more in depth look at the topic this blog post will be your friend, but here’s a very quick run-down of the reasons why:

Employment of Poachers

Like it or not, humans will be involved in the lives of gorillas one way or another.

Their habitats are threatened by farming and development. They get mixed up in the cross fires of war. But perhaps most poignantly, they are threatened by poaching.

Gorilla trekking has provided employment for ex- and would-be- poachers as trackers, guides and porters, removing them from illegal trafficking and trade businesses.

Tourism has meant that the financial value of a wild, living gorilla, outweighs the monetary value of a dead one for the first time in history.

This is huge.

Limiting Visitors

In order to allow the gorilla families to live naturally, and not disturb their behaviour patterns, governments issue a highly limited number of trekking permits per day

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park allows only 8 visitors to approach each family each day. Once contact is made, you are strictly limited to one hour of time with the group before you must move on.

This allows the operation to have the best of both worlds- an income and protection for the animals.

What’s It Like?

A Day in the Life Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda

Your itinerary will look like some variation on the following:

• Prepare for an early start to get you to the National Park itself. You can expect stunning views along bumpy roads!
• Upon arrival, you will gather in a briefing area. Nip to the loo, decide if you want a porter and/or walking sticks, then listen closely to your group guide. They will explain the whole process and some important rules.
• Set off on your trek! For us, this was a short thirty minutes, but another group on our tour took over 4 hours. This part was mainly on a pre-cut path, but it still involved some steep climbs and scrambles and plenty of mud.
• At some point you will meet your trackers. This means you are close to the gorilla family! It’s time to pop your face masks on, put your walking sticks down and head off the path into the densely packed undergrowth.
• You will have one hour with the gorilla family, to watch and take photos. If they move, you move with them.
• When your hour is back, you return to your starting point and collect your certificate.

Conditions

We are talking about a trip to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The names tell you all you need to do.

The setting for your trip is in the mountains in a cloud forest. You should expect some steep sections of the climbing, though these were mostly brief.

Once you come off of the “path” you will be moving through untouched undergrowth. The trackers will use machetes cut a path for you, but the terrain is uneven, and you may not always be able to see where you are putting your feet.

Movement is especially difficult if you are trailing a moving group of gorillas who appear to bound so effortlessly across steep slopes.

However, the guides, porters and trackers do an incredible job of helping you through and keeping you safe.

We visited in August. It was reasonably humid but never too hot due to the higher altitude.

Trekking with gorillas in Uganda is by no means easy or relaxing, but it’s so worth it.

How fit do I need to be?

You do need a reasonable level of fitness for this activity.

That said, there is no need to be an ultra-marathon runner or seasoned mountaineer to enjoy it. It should be accessible to most healthy adults with enough cardiovascular fitness to jog a couple of kilometres or walk a moderate incline.

One member of the group that took 4 hours was in her 70s and she did great (although I think she slept well that night)!

It’s probably not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.

Porters are an amazing support if you are worried. They are super attentive to your needs and highly experienced in their jobs.

Ultimately, the fitter you are the more you will probably enjoy the experience, but don’t let it put you off if you’re not in the best shape of your entire life.

Time Spent with Gorillas

You are limited to one hour with the gorilla family you are tracking.

This is strictly upheld by the guides and trackers.

During this time, you go where they go. They may sit still in a clearing for you, posing for perfect photos, but they may choose to move.

It’s plenty of time to enjoy in their presence, though it flies by!

Is it Scary?

In summary, not as scary as I expected!

These gorillas are habituated. They are very much still wild, but have been gradually exposed to human presence, to the point where they are now used to it.

It would be highly unusual to experience any aggression from these animals. In actual fact, once the adrenaline wore off, I felt a profound peace in being with these gentle giants.

Just always be aware that you are stood in front of a hugely powerful mammal, against which you are not winning in a fight!

As long as you remain respectful of their space, they are happy to share it with you, but don’t push it! Listen to the rules. Stay quiet. Stay calm. And most of all, listen to your guides.

Don’t be alarmed that you are escorted by policemen bearing rifles. They are there to keep you safe. They will not shoot at the animals, but rather fire into the air to scare anything causing any danger.

You are sharing the forest with forest elephants and non-habituated gorilla groups, and whilst sightings are rare, your guides are prepared.

My Tour with Intrepid

My tour called Gorillas and Game Parks– a two-week East African extravaganza, taking in Kenya and Uganda, with an optional day trip into Rwanda and an extended version taking in Tanzania.

It incorporates safari and gorilla trekking, as well as additional opportunities to see chimpanzees or golden monkeys and to go white water rafting in the Nile among other things.

It was hands down the best tour I have done, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to go trekking with Gorillas in Uganda, and especially those who, like us, are enjoying the African continent for the first time.

It’s primarily a camping trip. Watch this space for a future post on what it’s like to take an overland tour with Intrepid for more details.

Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda: Is it worth it?

Yes, yes, 100% yes.

This is a wildlife encounter like no other.

There are few opportunities in the world to get in such proximity with such majestic animals in their natural habitat.