Uganda gorilla trekking from New York in United States of America is a self-rewarding safari that anyone who wishes to track gorillas from USA should engage in and it is a lifetime activity that will leave you with undying memories where you have to be close to the mountain gorillas in their natural forests.
Gorilla trekking experience involves hiking up and sloping down in the valley while you are looking for gorillas, during this experience, you have to embrace the heights and the thick forests which you will be tilling to get to the mountain gorillas.
How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda
For one to track gorillas in Uganda, you need to have a permit which you have to buy at least 3months ahead. You can only book a gorilla permit through a trusted tour operator who will have to go to UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) to purchase it for you after you transferred the money to his account. Uganda Wildlife Authority is the body that governs the operation of all protected areas in Uganda, for you to be sure about your gorilla trekking experience in Uganda you have to book a permit in advance this is because permits always get sold off and this should be at least 3 months ahead.
When going to track gorillas, 8 people are always allowed to visit a gorilla family and you are always allowed to spend one hour in the presence of gorillas, however you can also engage in gorilla habituation experience where you have to spend more than 4hours with the gorillas. Gorilla habituation is a bit different from gorilla trekking in that, for gorilla habituation you have more time that you spend with the mountain gorillas and you will be very close to them compared to gorilla trekking where you will have to keep a 10meter distance.
Where to track gorillas in Uganda
Uganda has two gorilla destinations that are Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, these national parks are located in the southwestern Uganda. Bwindi has four gorilla sectors that are Nkuringo, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga and people prefer trekking gorillas in Rushaga because the sector has many gorilla groups. Bwindi has over 25 gorilla families and Mgahinga has one Nyakagezi gorilla family and it is ready for trekking. Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi and Mgahinga are not so different, the difference is that gorillas in Bwindi are found in thick tropical rain forests while those tracking gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park you have to go through bamboo forests.
Gorilla trekking can be combined with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Chimpanzees are different from mountain gorillas starting from the body size and their family establishment, when trekking chimpanzees, you take about 1hour to meet the and you are given another hour to spend with them which is not the case with the gorillas where you have to spend about 4 hours looking for the gorillas. A chimpanzee permit is 250$ for Foreign Non-Residents which cheaper compared to 800$ for the gorilla permit for Foreign Non-Residents which are all booked and bought from UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority). Foreign residents who want to track chimpanzees can only get a permit at $200 while for the gorilla permit for the foreign residents costs $700, gorilla permit for the Rest of Africa is 500$ and for East Africans it is 300,000Ugx. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can also be combined with birding safari where by Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home to over 180 bird species including the Albertine rift endemics, therefore this can be an ideal place for the birders to watch birds, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a home to over 350 bird species an ideal place for the birders while they enjoy gorilla trekking.
What is the best time to track gorillas in Uganda?
For one to best track Uganda gorillas in both gorilla destinations that is Bwindi and Mgahinga, you need to visit in the months of June to October, December to March this is when the terrain is dry, penetration in to the thick forests becomes very easy and also you can look far while tracking the gentle giants. In wet season that is April to May, then November, there is always less people tracking and it is always in these months where you can get a discounted gorilla permits in Uganda. The vegetation can be very green during these months, birders and photographers these are always their best time to enjoy the parks.