Gorilla watching in Uganda, standing ten meters across the most famous of all Africa’s beasts, the showstopper on the primate tour in forested mountain slopes of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, will leave you breathless with excitement and exertion.
If you’re looking for a unique and unforgettable adventure in Africa, you should consider gorilla watching in Uganda. Not only is Uganda a pioneer in mountain gorilla conservation, protecting over half of the last population of Africa’s great apes, but it also offers breathtaking gorilla trekking experiences that should be on everyone’s vacation bucket list. Sitting with a wild mountain gorilla family group for an hour is an experience that feels more profound than just watching wildlife from the back of a safari truck. It’s no wonder thousands of tourists flock to Uganda each year for this heart-throbbing adventure.
So, why should you trek and watch gorillas in Uganda? Here are six compelling reasons this incredible African jungle summer adventure should be on your bucket list.
A family of mountain gorillas rests after a foraging morning in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
You’ll Be Watching Half the World’s Mountain Gorillas.
Did you know that just over 1000 mountain gorillas are left in the world? These gorillas are heavily protected in two regions located in a small mountainous area in East Africa: the Virunga Volcano Mountains region (which spans the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo) and Uganda’s southwestern mountainous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Uganda is the best place to watch these gorillas, as over half of them are protected within its two National Parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, Mgahinga shares territory with Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the DRC’s Virunga National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects not only the mountain gorillas but also some of the most pristine virgin forest plants, primates, 120 other mammal species, and many endangered wildlife.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another excellent place to watch gorillas near Bwindi. The park is home to three imposing Virunga mountains: Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga (from which the park gets its name), and Mount Sabyinyo. This makes extending your gorilla tour with a hiking adventure on the Virunga Volcanoes.
Together, Mgahinga and Bwindi have 26 human-habituated gorilla family groups available for tourism in five gorilla tracking sectors, with four located around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to trek with gorillas in their natural habitat, Uganda is the place to go!
Women at a community center. In the backdrop is the massive Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You Can Contribute To Gorilla Conservation and support the Community Endowment.
Watching gorillas in Uganda is a sustainable ecotourism experience that greatly contributes to gorilla conservation and local communities. The cost of Uganda gorilla permits may seem high at $800 per person, but the funds are used to finance habitat protection, monitor gorilla health, and create a safe environment for gorillas against poachers. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species, and thanks to gorilla tourism, their population has increased from near extinction to slightly over 1000 in the last few decades.
By traveling with local operators like Anthill Safaris, your gorilla safari adventure can positively impact local communities around the gorilla sanctuaries. Anthill Safaris employs people from the local communities and runs sustainable programs that contribute directly to the well-being of women and children. Additionally, hiring a porter for your gorilla trek for just $20 can help support a family that lives on less than $1 per day.
Join the adventurers and trek and observe gorillas in Uganda, knowing that your visit is helping to protect these magnificent creatures and support local communities. Gorilla tourism is one of the most successful sustainable conservation stories worldwide, and Uganda is no exception. The gorilla permit also helps pay the rangers who work tirelessly every day to protect the rainforests from poachers.
Watching Gorillas in Uganda is Much More Affordable
Back in 1994, gorilla tourism was the only way for the Ugandan government to finance the protection of the endangered giants. However, to avoid disrupting the gorillas’ way of life within their natural setting, the number of tourists had to be regulated at a sustainable level.
In Uganda, the gorilla permit costs $800 per person, less than half of Rwanda’s charges. This affordable price tag is a good reason why many choose to trek with gorillas in Uganda instead of Rwanda. Booking your permit months in advance is necessary because there’s a long queue of tourists hoping to get that chance to see the largest primate on earth.
Expert trackers lead small groups of eight tourists per gorilla group from the starting point into the impenetrable jungles, escorted by two armed rangers, and spend at least one hour with the gorillas when they find them.
So, if Rwanda is a bit expensive for your budget, the less than half price of the permit is why you should trek with gorillas in Uganda. Plus, you’ll get to witness Africa’s mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and contribute to their conservation efforts. What are you waiting for? Book your gorilla trekking permit now!
The gorilla watching tour is an authentic, raw experience.e
As you drive through the emerald-rugged cultivated slopes of southwestern Uganda, you can’t help but be hit by the enchanting beauty of the land. But you also come to realize that getting to the mountain gorillas is not for the fainthearted. Mountain gorillas live at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet, and trekking through steep slopes to find them promises to be an authentic jungle adventure. This is just one of the many reasons why anyone should take that gorilla-watching tour in Uganda.
If you’re someone who loves adventure challenges, then gorilla watching in Uganda will serve you the right dose of the African jungle experience. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as its name implies, can only be traversed on foot. You’ll be trekking uneven terrain through a misty jungle with no used footpaths, with a local tracker clearing your way with a machete.
At first, it may seem like an impossible undertaking, but once you see the dark bodies against the green background spring up unexpectedly from the undergrowth, your seemingly tiring adventure will light up the airy jungle atmosphere.
So, if you’re up for an unforgettable adventure, go see gorillas in Uganda. It’s not just about seeing the largest primates on earth but also about experiencing the thrill of the African jungle and appreciating the beauty of this amazing country.
And More Primates Along Your Adventure
Uganda stands as the world’s ultimate primate destination. It hosts two of the four great apes — chimpanzees and gorillas — alongside dozens of other fascinating species.
In Mgahinga, trekkers searching for gorillas often spot endangered golden monkeys. These small, furry primates live high in bamboo forests, sharing space with gorillas. Adding golden monkey tracking to your gorilla experience makes your visit truly unforgettable.
Meanwhile, a relaxed walk through Bwindi reveals eleven primate species. You will see black-and-white colobus monkeys swinging above, while L’Hoest’s, De Brazza’s, red-tailed, and blue monkeys roam below. Guides lead four to nine-hour jungle walks along ancient trails bursting with wildlife.
Furthermore, Kibale Forest National Park shelters over 1,500 chimpanzees, including several habituated troops. Rangers bring visitors face-to-face with our closest living relatives in their natural home. Therefore, Uganda truly delivers an unmatched primate adventure at every turn.
Wildlife Viewing Safaris Are Excellent
Uganda is not only for primate watching but also offers classic African big-game safaris, which is another excellent reason why you should trek gorillas in Uganda. Safaris in Uganda give you the best of the rainforest, mountain, and savannah adventures that most destinations can’t offer.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, right next to Bwindi, is Uganda’s most famous safari park and offers unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities to complement your gorilla trekking adventure. As you traverse the plains, you’ll come across herds of elephants and buffalo, while lions preying on the abundant antelopes are easy to spot. A boat ride on the Kazinga channel that bisects this jewel of a park will bring you not only spectacular views of hippos and insanely giant crocodiles but also birds in bewildering profusion.
Further north of the country are two of the country’s largest savannah parks, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks, which protect some of the country’s endemic species like giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, wild dogs, and dry-country species like the caracal, aardwolf, greater and lesser kudu, mountain reedbuck, and Guenther’s dik-dik.
While your main attraction may be gorilla trekking in Uganda, you’ll find the country a fulfilling bucket list adventure destination. The possibility of seeing the great apes and observing gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural setting, combined with a savannah game-viewing experience and highly sought-after birds like the shoebill, is an eclectic African safari mix that will leave you in awe.
