Half of the population of the mountain gorillas left in the whole world  is found in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and along the dormant volcanic Virunga mountain ranges that stretches across Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A gorilla safari is a once in lifetime experience that gives you a once to trek through the tropical forests of Africa, get up close with the gorillas spend time watching them as they go on with there daily family activities.

5 Main Reasons Why you should Go Gorilla Trekking  in Uganda

• Home to Half the World’s Mountain Gorillas

There are two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where almost half of the world’s gorilla population is found and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorillas don’t pay mind to political borders, so populations across the Virungas are relatively fluid.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (also called “The Place of Darkness” due to its dense treetops) is an ancient, montane and lowland forest spanning 128 square miles. The region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its incredible biodiversity and the large number of endangered species that call it home.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accounts for 13 square miles of the larger Virunga habitat, which stretches across 168 square miles into Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national park includes three of the eight major Virunga peaks: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo. While here you can do golden monkey tracking, the batwa trail and boat ride in a traditional dugout canoe an interesting addon on your Uganda safari

• Support the local Community To avoid conflicts between gorillas and the people

Habitat destruction is the main threat to mountain gorillas. Communities around the parks are heavily populated, and residents have traditionally used land around national park boundaries for farming or logging. Since tourism industry is now one of  Uganda’s most high income earner, and the majority of tourists come to do gorilla safaris, trekkers are encouraged to use local porters who is always a local resident and occasionally a reformed poacher. The landscape within the parks is unpredictable and difficult; porters help guide trekkers through river crossings and up steep, muddy inclines. You can also get involved in community-led cultural initiatives which are so many around the park. In  Mgahinga, elders of the Batwa tribe lead visitors on a forest tour along the Batwa Trail, explaining how their self-sufficient, forest-dwelling tribe traditionally used medicinal plants.

• Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda are more Affordable

In Uganda, Gorilla permit costs used  vary depending on the season, in the low season thats  April, May and November, permits used $450. The rest of the year, they cost $600 until when the Uganda wildlife authority announced the increment to US$ 700 effective June 2020 . In contrast, permits in Rwanda now cost $1,500 year-round. gorilla tours also vary depending on the time you have from 2 days gorilla tour to 7 days gorilla safari Africa

• Experience the Challenging Terrain

One look at southwestern Uganda’s green terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes and it’s clear this area of the country is not for the faint of heart. Add in the high altitude and the challenging terrain, and gorilla trekking in Uganda promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.It requires navigating uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns, and roots. Thus the named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is only accessible by foot which is why the park rangers carry machetes . The reward seems that much better after all of the hard work.

• Chance To See Other Primates while on a Gorilla Trek

Uganda is a primate-lover’s dream. In addition to mountain gorillas, Mgahinga is home to another endangered species: the golden monkey. These furry, comical monkeys live high up in bamboo forests. Tracking golden monkeys is very similar to tracking gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.

Bwindi has not only Gorillas but also  L’hoest monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys, and blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park, commonly known as the capital city of the primates ,  chimpanzees steal the show. Patas monkeys roam around Murchison Falls National Park. Go on 3 days Uganda wildlife safari. Queen Elizabeth National Park has blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys (not to mention non-primates, like lions and elephants) see this on 3 days queen Elizabeth safari.

Visit mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with Gorilla Safari Africa