Uganda is one of the three countries where you can track mountain gorillas in southwestern Uganda’s dense forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Come face to face with our humanity giant cousins, the mountain gorillas! Most tourists who visit the Rushaga area - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park come to see the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat; there are approximately 1007 mountain gorillas in the wild, about half of the remaining populations of Mountain gorilla live in Uganda in two national parks namely Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park totaling up to 467 habituated Mountain Gorillas in Uganda.
Fly-in Gorilla Safari in the Rushaga Sector
Rushaga sector is located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Park is known for the largest number of habituated mountain gorillas groups. At Rushaga there are seven habituated mountain gorilla groups namely Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bikingi, Muchunguzi, Nshongi, and Bweza. Rushaga is the most focused gorilla tracking site for tourists who either want to trek mountain gorilla for one hour or encounter gorilla habituation for four hours and the only sector where one can encounter gorilla habituation experience in the whole world, gorilla habituation permits cost USD 1,500 per person. This gorilla sector has the most gorilla population, there are several gorilla families in the Impenetrable forest that are under habituation, big thanks to conservationists and well-trained guides who train these mighty cousins to get used to human presence.
Uganda is exceptionally diverse! This is largely due to its location in east-central Africa, in a zone of overlap between ecological communities’ characteristic of the dry East African savanna, and West African rainforests. It is also partly the result of the country's great topographical diversity,
When you fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip you have an opportunity to see the rolling Volcanoes Mountains namely Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. On arrival at Kisoro Airstrip, you meet our experienced driver-guide who will transfer you to Rushaga Gorilla sector, a drive which usually takes 2 hours to your lodge, check-in at your lodge, and relax. On the drive to the Rushaga area, you will be thrilled with a breathtaking encounter of the mountains, hilly terrain that will amaze you.
When is the best time to see Mountain Gorillas?
The best time to visit mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat is June to September and December to February, forest trails in these months are drier making Gorilla tracking encounter enjoyable and easier compared to visiting in the wet months of March to May and September to November when the weather is characterized by heavy daily rainfall, making the forest trails bushy and slippery. In Uganda, it is hard to predict when it is going to rain or not simply because the country is crossed by the Equator, thus experiencing an equatorial climate and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the Western Rift Valley with good terrain for travelers who would love mountaineering the Majestic Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. In conclusion, Gorilla Safaris in Uganda can be visited throughout the year.
What to pack on your Gorilla Trek
This the most asked question for travelers intending to track mountain gorillas, Gorilla tracking is a unique adventure in the whole world – for one to trek gentle giants, travelers are required to possess a valid passport, valid gorilla permit, hiking boots, long-sleeved shirt, waterproof trouser, sweater, gloves, headgear or a hat, sunglasses, good camera, snacks, packed lunch, drinking water, a walking stick, and binoculars, when these items are in hand with potential travelers, mark it as a successful gorilla trek and a memorable once in a lifetime experience you will leave to tell!
How many hours will you spend with Mountain Gorillas?
In Uganda, gorilla tracking starts at 8:00 am, usually before tracking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, on this expedition you will gather with a group of other travelers who are going to track mountain gorillas at the briefing point where you be briefed about what you will see, expect and what you should not do while in the park environs. When you track mountain gorilla in Uganda you are allowed to spend 1 hour with the Gentle Giants. In Uganda, we have two activities for travelers who love primates one being Gorilla Tracking, and the other Gorilla Habituation - this expedition allows visitors to be with the gentle giants for up to 4 hours.
Addition expeditions on your Safari
Uganda is a birders haven, there are many bird species to encounter on your safari to see mountain gorillas namely Black Eared ground thrush, Blue-headed Sunbird, Mountain masked Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin, Regal Sunbird, African broadbill, secretary bird, Woodland warbler, Kivu Ground thrush, strip breasted tit among others, culture and breathtaking scenery which you will leave to tell.
When you book with Adyeri Creations Limited on your Fly-in Gorilla Safari, we can assist you to get a gorilla family that is not so far in the jungle depending on your physical fitness, you are advised to inquire about the gorilla family of your interest after reserving a gorilla permit in the Rushaga sector and depending on your physical fitness since the families are located in different topography. For more info about Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Safaris in Uganda, kindly contact us so we can tailor your remarkable dream come true with your number one tour operator in Africa!
