How many mountain gorillas are in Uganda?

Where in Uganda are mountain gorillas found?

In Uganda Mountain gorillas are dispersed into four sectors: Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south, Ruhija, and Buhoma in the northern regions of Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park. As of June 30, 2018, the four parts of Bwindi had eighteen gorilla families. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s mountain gorillas are just one gorilla family known as Nyagezi.

Both parks feature more wild mountain gorillas as these groups consist of habituated mountain gorillas used for human presence and daily observations of their movements indicate that these groups are still unknown.

Given the recent baby boom in Bwindi, which occurred during the 2020 covid-19 shutdown and resulted in the birth of five young gorillas in six weeks, environmentalists for mountain gorillas have great optimism for further numerical increase.

In northern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the Buhoma sector. Four gorilla families available for hiking call it home; they are Rushengura, Katwe, Habinyanja, and Mubale. Following the park’s declaration as a UNESCO world heritage site, Buhoma became the first destination for gorilla trekking in Bwindi in 1993. One may reach this area via Lake Bunyonyi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Eastern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains Ruhija sector. Families of Bitukura, Kyanguriro, Mukiza, and Oruzogo gorillas call it home. Given most of the gorillas in Bwindi are closer than in other locations, Ruhija is one of the best places for trekking.

Rising 2350 meters above sea level, it is the coldest place in Bwindi. Ruhija is also fantastic for birding in Mubwindi Swamp, spotting different primates including monkeys and animals like antelopes and elephants. With this, you may stay at Lake Bunyonyi and hike gorillas in Ruhija in one day, the nearest region.

Rushaga sector is situated in the south park of Bwindi impenetrable National Park; eight Gorilla Families call Rushaga home; by far, this is the most of any sector in Bwindi; Trekking gorillas finds the terrain simple compared to Nkuringo and Ruhija, which stand at higher altitudes.

Available for monitoring and accessible to visitors are Gorilla families in Rushaga: Busingye, Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, Muchunguzi, and Kahungye. For individuals who are interested in both experiences of typical gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience, the Rushaga area is the only one in Bwindi that provides such possibility. One may find Rushaga from Rwanda and Kisoro.

Nestled in the southern Bwindi region, Nkuringo sector has Kuirngo and Christmas gorilla families accessible for gorilla treking. This area is higher elevational, hence it is more difficult and demanding for gorilla trekking.

We advise it to people eager in difficult gorilla treking and explorers. Traveling two days with a one-night stopover via Rwanda, Nkuringo is the closest sector to Rwanda. Only one gorilla group allowed for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Nyakagezi gorilla group. Given that there are only 8 permits available daily for hiking, you will have to plan ahead, three to four months.

FAQ about mountain gorilla hiking in Uganda nowadays

For what purpose is gorilla trekking?
Uganda is home to over 50% of the total number of the only surviving mountain gorillas in the world. Gorilla trekking is an activity whereby one hour encounter with the habituated mountain gorillas is photographed and more about their habits is learned by walking through the forest following a given path. Mountain gorillas do not live in zoos for you to witness these unusual apes, hence you will have to go into their native habitats to come across them.

Where in Uganda one can find mountain gorillas?

Two national parks—that of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park—that contain mountain gorillas exclusively found in Uganda Comprising the districts of Kanungu, Rubanda, and Kisoro, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park lies southwest Uganda. The park also runs along the Uganda-DR Congo border.

Found in the four major gates/sections Ruhija and Buhoma in the north and Rushaga, and Nkuringo in the south, it is home to 19 habituated gorilla families available for gorilla trekking. Located in the Kisoro area in far southwest Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Among the three primary national parks in the Virunga mountains are Mgahinga; other two national parks are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Two gorilla families call Mghainga home: Nyakagezi and Hirwa. Nonetheless, the Nyakagezi gorilla family is mostly responsible for the trekking as Hirwa is difficult to locate and unstable.

For seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda, which national park is best?
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Mountain gorillas are in the Virunga/hills with mostly bamboo as the main vegetation while in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, these mountain gorillas are in a tropical rain forest with varieties of trees and plants.

The whole truth is that both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park have mountain gorillas and the experience gotten after your gorilla trek is almost the same. There are 98% chances of seeing gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; hence, wherever you travel, you will be able to observe these amazing animals in their natural habitat.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gorillas are said to be easily visible due to their kind of flora, which provides many obvious choices for photographers. This is appropriate as bamboo is not particularly dense compared to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park tropical rain forest.

Going gorilla trekking in Uganda costs how much?
Apart from various services to assist you for the gorilla trip, including transportation, driver guide, lodging among others, you will need a gorilla permit to go gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Three days are the minimum days to travel for gorilla trekking in Uganda; the USD 1300 per person itinerary is Only Bwindi forest, a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the semi-habited mountain gorillas under the direction of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the regular trekking. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also gives you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas via Gorilla habituation experience.

For what length of time is a gorilla trip in Uganda?
About 3 to 7 hours is spent gorilla trekking in Uganda; the kind of trail you choose to complete will decide how long it takes to reach the gorillas.

The nature of the trail you choose will also affect the weather that day the gorillas are most likely to be seen on. Starting at 7:45 with a briefing on the dos and do’s while in the forest with gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park assign you a ranger guide to take you for the trekking once you locate the gorillas you will be spending one hour with.

Uganda allows how many visitors to view a gorilla family?
Only 8 people are permitted to hike each gorilla family for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; this is one of the set precautions to minimize the behavior disturbance of the mountain gorillas as well as the risk of spreading different diseases to the gorillas.

In what sense is a gorilla permit?
Any tourist interested in hiking mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is awarded a gorilla trekking permit, a paper or card. This is only good one day and offers you one hour interaction with the mountain gorillas.

That is for you to travel mountain gorillas in Uganda for more than one day; you will need to get more than just a gorilla permit. Along with a unique booking number that indicates the validity of the permit particular to a specified trekking area in Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma in Bwindi or Nyakagezi, a gorilla permit comes with

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs how much?
A Gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person for the Foreign non-residents, $700 per person for residents, and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan), so providing you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Where in Uganda can I purchase my gorilla permit?
One may directly get gorilla trekking permits in Uganda either via Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable travel company such as Katland Safaris.

Can elderly visitors to Uganda see mountain gorillas?
At $400–500, sedan chairs may be rented either ahead of your gorilla trip or on the day itself.

For gorilla treking in Uganda, what is the minimum age?
The least age required for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is fifteen years; your degree of fitness will determine your maximum age. youngsters under 15 are not allowed gorilla trekking as their conduct is erratic and unruly, which might disrupt the trip. Furthermore, youngsters are prone to illnesses they could get from the gorillas.

When would be the ideal time to view Ugandan mountain gorillas?
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is January, February, March, early April, and June to early September; this will help one to travel to the corresponding national park and obtain a clear view of mountain gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown. Comparatively to the months of April, May, and November, this period there is less rain. Usually receiving rain, it makes the walk difficult.

What should one bring and dress for a Uganda gorilla trip?
You will want a comfortable, tough, hard-wearing pair of walking shoes or boots for gorilla treking. When it rains, the forest’s usually somewhat muddy weather conditions. Additionally fairly difficult and steep is hiking in the forest. To guard against the undergrowth, stinging nettles, and biting ants, it is therefore preferable to wear a long sleeve cotton shirt and lightweight long pants.

Insect Repellent, Torch/Floodlight – and Spare Batteries, Wet Wipes, Water Bottle, Camera, lenses, Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking, Sandals/strops/walking shoes, Hat and Sunscreen, Rain Jacket, Sweater/fleece, Comfortable walking/hiking boots & socks, Swimwear and Binoculars for bird viewing among others.

Where should one stay while on a gorilla expedition in Uganda?
From low-cost, mid-range to luxury choices, there is a great spectrum of lodging available. Among other things, they provide services and amenities like WI-Fi, local and foreign cuisine, cozy lodging, gorilla treking. Among others are Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, Bakiga Lodge.

Why go with Katland safaris?
Contact us and we will guide you on the booking process. Katland Safaris will assist you to schedule your gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo. We can also arrange for you several gorilla trekking safaris ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury choices including the gorilla permits. Visit our travel advisor evaluations and read from a community of contented customers at will.

You may relax knowing that Uganda safari tour will be unforgettable with us. Our first priorities are giving great client pleasure and service. Our staff of outstanding tour guides is always ready to assist with all your safari queries. With us, you are assured a fantastic gorilla trip in DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.