With Travelmonke, opportunities to experience only the best sites in Uganda and East Africa are endless. We present the perfect Gorilla trekking safaris to suit even the most laid-back adventurer. Mountain Gorillas are a rare delight that you will not just find anywhere other than in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Therefore, with our top-notch Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking tours, you get to observe these giants amidst their natural habitat characterized by thick undergrowth and dense green Canopy. Primate safaris further stretch to allow you to track Chimpanzees and golden monkeys in Uganda’s evergreen forests and top national parks.
There is no telling what you might run into on our savannah game drives across East Africa. We are talking rare wildlife occurrences such as the Great Annual migration of the Mara, the tree climbing Lions of Queen Elizabeth and special sightings of animals like the Nubian Giraffe. Travelmonke tailors’ special tours such as gorilla trekking Uganda and wildlife safari in the Serengeti plains.
Boat cruises are never just about sailing in a boat along the water course for us. Get ready to spot some Shoebills at the Albert Delta in Murchison Falls, Hippos and Nile crocodiles in the Kazinga Channel and an arrangement of islands atop Lake Bunyonyi. You also get to cruise to the source of River Nile at Lake Victoria; the perfect East African gorilla trekking safaris indeed!
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is the ultimate adventure plan for a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park. The park is home to almost half of the world’s Mountain gorilla population with 12 habituated families. The Forest is divided into four sections; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga with each section presenting a unique feel to Gorilla trekking tours.
Trekking these apes within their natural habitat can prove to be quite the task since they tend to live at altitudes above 2,000m above sea level. The whole experience starts with an early morning rise on this day of your Gorilla Trekking Uganda safari followed by some breakfast and packed lunch before heading to the park headquarters for briefing.
After a short briefing about what to expect and how to conduct one self, trekkers are led through thick undergrowth to where the gorillas are spending their day in a group of 8 people. Stand within 8 – 10 meters of the giants and observe how they feed, groom and play. Always stay still when Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest.
Visitors to the park are urged to adhere to certain set rules such as turning off camera flashes, no littering, refraining from making any noises and unnecessary movements. Children below 15 years are not allowed to trek and neither are persons with any illnesses such as flu since these can be spread to the apes.
It is important that while you plan for Uganda Mountain gorilla trekking tours, you book for your permit atleast 6 months before your trip. The permits often cost about USD 700 for foreigners and UGX 300,000 for East African residents and can get finished due to high demand before you get your hands on one.
Apart from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the other destination to indulge in Gorilla trekking Uganda tours is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is located within proximity of the Virunga Mountain range. In fact, three of the Virunga Volcanoes are located within the park premises; Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhavura.
Unlike Bwindi, Mgahinha has only one habituated Gorilla family named Nyakagezi with 9 members; 4 silverbacks, 2 infants, 2 adult females and 1 juvenile. This Gorilla family is highly mobile and can often be recorded in Rwanda as well. This means that the family might not be readily available for trekking all the time.
Consequentially, Bwindi remains the top destination for Gorilla trekking trips and like Bwindi, there are rules you ought to follow at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for Gorilla trekking Uganda tours such as;
Apart from Gorilla trekking Uganda, Mgahinga further offers golden Monkey tracking within its premises. These intriguing monkeys spot golden fur on the cheeks and parts of their bodies and you can get to spend between 1-2 hours with them in the wild. Be ready for some physical test as you tread the forest path in order to find these primates.
At the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable forest, are the Batwa people; an ancient community that presents with outstanding and remarkable history. The batwa are a pygymy race that is believed to actually be the original inhabitants of the forest. Upon Bwindi becoming a national park, these locals were forced to exit the forest and thus lost some farm land.
This however, didn’t deplete their love for the forest and they continued to use it to support their day to day lives. With Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest you get to meet the batwa, learn about their culture and way of life. They are often eager to pass on some ancient knowledge through folk tales and songs.
Once in the Batwa community, you will encounter several show stations such as the traditional healer’s “spa” where you might watch the “medicine man” use concoctions made from plants to treat local ailments. Other stations will include an arts and crafts centre that features a display of necklaces, sandals, bracelets and many more.
Meeting the local Batwa community is nothing more than an experience aimed at capturing your intrigue. You might have the opportunity to tour the local school where the batwa children go and also taste some local cuisines prepared by the local women. Feel free to carry some souvenirs after your Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable forest.
Within the undulating hills of south western Uganda lies Lake Bunyonyi, a fresh water lake that was named for its abundance of birdlife. It is surrounded by massive local farmland featuring banana and tea plantations near the border of Uganda and Congo. This unique setting provides for some of the best scenery you will ever see.
Gorilla trekking Uganda safaris feature canoeing trips on Lake Bunyonyi with such breathtaking views of its 29 islands and surrounding villages. Prepare yourself for a visit to famous islands like Bushara and Punishment Island where local girls who got pregnant before they were married were dumped to starve to death or drown while attempting to escape.
There is still a significant number of birds such as Papyrus Gonoleks along the Lake’s shores and within the marshes surrounding the Islands. Therefore, after your Uganda/Rwanda gorilla trekking tours, retire to Lake Bunyonyi for a relaxing canoe trip featuring bird watching, swimming and community visits.
Complete off your mountain gorilla trekking Uganda trips with a journey to top national parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley for the best game drives and wildlife sightings ever. Hop into an open roof vehicle along with your tour guide and a game ranger as you scour the savannah plains for wildlife.
Game drives are often conducted in three phases; morning, afternoon and night game drives with the first two being the most popular. Experience the tree climbing Lions adventure in Queen Elizabeth, Nubian Giraffes and Defassa waterbucks in Murchison Falls and Stripped hyenas, Aardwolf, Caracal and wild dogs in Kidepo Valley.
We guarantee that savannah game drives are the best way to shake up any mountain Gorilla trekking tours while in East Africa. Morning game drives introduce you to how animals start their day while afternoon game drives will feature game viewing along the water’s edge. Night game drives are mainly to catch some nocturnal animals like Leopards hunting.
While seeking to experience an exhaustive primate safari back up your Rwanda/Uganda gorilla trekking trip with a visit to Kibale National Park; Uganda’s primate capital. There are 13 primate species in Kibale including L’Hoest’s monkeys, Chimpanzees, Olive Baboons, Ugandan red colobus, Vervet monkeys and Mantled Guereza among others
Chimpanzees are the typical highlight of primate safaris in Kibale National Park. Wake up to an early morning briefing before heading out with a guide in a group of 6 people. The adventure might take about half a day between tracking down the Chimps and observing how their lives are programmed in the wild.
It is of great importance that you observe all the rules laid out for you to avoid upsetting the Chimpanzees such as taking pictures without Camera flashes and standing still and quiet. Chimpanzees are always moving so expect to enjoy a light trek as you attempt to keep up with these primates after your gorilla trekking trips.
For more primate safaris, head to the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is an 11km corridor of dense undergrowth and untamed Canopy. The thick forest covers the gorge cutting off direct sunlight and giving the primates room to flourish. Spend hours with about 29 Chimpanzees in this isolated natural wonder.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is uniquely blessed with two types of Gorillas; the popular Mountain Gorillas and the lowland Gorillas. Within the Virunga range of Virunga National Park, Mountain Gorillas are more abounding and the lowland Gorillas can be found in Kahuzi-Biega national park located on the western bank of Lake Kivu.
Mountain Gorillas and Lowland Gorillas are both endangered species with greatly differing features. For example, Mountain Gorillas are bigger with a thicker black coat while Lowland Gorillas are smaller with a grayish thinner coat. Rwanda/Uganda Gorilla trekking can be mashed with a visit to the DRC.
Gorilla Trekking in Congo is a diverse phenomenon with visitors taking a choice between Mountain Gorillas and lowland Gorillas. A visit to Virunga National Park is an exhilarating experience that will offer a window into the lives of Mountain Gorillas in the wild. Prepare for some hiking specials such as a glimpse of the active Virunga volcano; Nyiragongo.
Volcanoes national park is located in north western Rwanda along the Virunga Mountain Range which is famous for harboring Mountain gorillas. It encompasses 5 of the Virunga Volcanoes; Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi and Bisoke). The park is covered in afro montane forest, bamboo, swamps and savannah plains.
There isn’t an experience quite like Volcanoes Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The thrill of standing before a Mountain Gorilla and observing them as they go about their normal lives in the wild is an adventure that you will not just find anywhere on the planet. You have the opportunity to see one of the 10 habituated Gorilla families of Rwanda.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking tours are specifically designed to start off in the morning with a light hike to the steep verdant forest of the Virunga volcanos and finally come into the presence of the gigantic apes. Caution must be taken to avoid abrupt movements and disrupting noises that may upset these Apes.
While permits for Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking trips are limited to 80 per day, visitors are urged to book for one within a 6 months’ or more time frame so that they are not disappointed when they can’t go for Gorilla Trekking Rwanda. Permits go for USD 1,500 in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Nyungwe Forest remains one of Africa’s oldest and well-kept forests. It has survived seasons and ages of harsh climate preserving with its diverse plant species and wild animal life. While in Rwanda for Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking trips, it is such an opportunity to check out Nyungwe Forest National Park as well.
With two Chimpanzee groups; one having about 30 individuals and the other 60, Nyungwe Forest is a top Chimpanzee tracking destination in Rwanda. After Gorilla trekking Rwanda tours, see more Rwandese primates in the Cyamudongo area of Nyungwe Forest; one of the largest Afro Montane forests in Africa.
While you enjoy Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the guide will keep pointing at unique plant and animal life that is endemic and can only be found in the Albertine rift. After this primate trip, settle down for a canopy walk to seal off Uganda/Rwanda Gorilla Trekking trips.
The Canopy walk features a suspended bridge above a ravine within the Afro montane canopy of Nyungwe Forest. The bridge is 70m high and 160m long offering visitors a fresh new take and perspective of the park and Rwanda as well. This exhilarating adventure is the perfect way to meet some birds and primates up in the canopy.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda safaris are not complete without a tour of Kigali; one of the cleanest cities in Africa! A one-day tour of the city can be conveniently coupled with Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking trips as you embark on journeys around East Africa for a true African cultural and traditional feel.
Spend the day exploring top sights around Kigali city such as the Kandt house; a natural history Museum, Kigali commercial center where major players in trade meet and the Rwanda Genocide Memorial where a dark history of Rwanda is often retold to visitors for Volcanoes Gorilla Trekking tours.
Make it a point to make a stop at top 5-star hotels within the city for some top-notch African Cuisines. Most hotels within the city offer great meals prepared by top chefs entailing local and international recipes. After your Uganda/Rwanda Gorilla trekking trips, you can relax at recreation centers in the city such as art museums.