Gorilla tracking can be a long and challenging walk, so come prepared.

• Wear shoes with good traction, suitable to step muddy slopes.
• Carry rain gear, sunscreen and a hat, as the weather is unpredictable.
• Carry (1 litre )water and food / the lodge shall arrange that

• You can also hire a porter in case you require assistance with your backpack ( recommended)
• When taking photographs, remember your subjects are black animals in dim light and use a fast film (400-800 ASA); overexpose, if possible.
• The departure is 8.30 a.m. If you are late, you lose your place and permit fee!

In order to minimize behavioural disturbance to the gorilla and the risk of exposure to human-borne disease some rules must be followed:

Gorilla rules:

• Keep your voice down or be quiet. You will see and hear more if you do.
• Do not point or wave your arms - this can be seen as a threat. Move slowly.
• If approached by a gorilla, back away slowly to keep a 5-metre separation.
• Do not use a flash - this could frighten the gorillas and bother other visitors.
• Please always keep your voices low. You will then also be able to observe the great birdlife and other wildlife in the forest.
• DO NOT leave rubbish in the park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back out with you.
• Always wash your hands before you head out to the gorillas.
• Keep a minimum of 5 meters (15 feet) from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases
• You must stay in a tight group when you are near the gorillas.
• Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is OK to ask the guide questions
• Do not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.
• Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example-crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass. Do not try and take pictures and do not attempt to run away. Running away will increase the risk.
• Flash photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.
• Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals.
• The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.
• After the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 metres from the gorillas.

General Health Rules

• Remember gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following are ways to minimize the risk your visit might pose to them:

• Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.

• If you are feeling ill, or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded your money.

• If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.

Always stay 5 metres (15 feet) away from the gorillas. The further back you are, the more relaxed the group will be.

• Do not attempt to touch the gorillas

• Do not smoke, drink or eat when you are with the gorillas

• Do not leave any rubbish (e.g. food wrappers) in the Park; foreign items can harbour diseases or other contaminants.

• If you need to defecate, whilst in the forest, please ask the guide to dig you a hole with a machete. Make sure the hole is 30cms deep and fill it in when you are finished.

Mountain Gorilla Families of Uganda, The Habituated Gorilla Groups

Meet the Habituated Gorilla Groups of Uganda

Below is a List of the Habituated Gorilla Groups and where they are located

The groups listed below are those currently available for Gorilla Tracking within Uganda

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Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

•              Mubare Group:  this Mubare group (also called the M-Group) – was the very first group to actually be habituated for tracking by tourists. the habituation started in 1991 and this group received its very first tracking visitors in 1993.  Mubare group is actually named after the stunning Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered.

•              Habinyanja Group: This Habinyanja Group was in 1997 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 1999. In the start it was a huge group, however, a family was split from it named the Rushegura Group.  These two groups crisscross each other now and again and co-exist peacefully.

•              Rushegura Group:  This Rushegura Group was in 2000 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 2002.  It is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest.

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Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – the habitat of the Bitukura Gorilla group

•              Bitukura Group:   This Bitukura Group is among of the newest groups in Bwindi Forest- it is found and roams the verdant forest within the Ruhija area. There is restricted lodging in this area – although that available is offered in moderate plus high-class lodges.

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Rushaga sector  of Bwindi Forest  – the habitat of the Nshongi Group as well as the Mishaya Gorilla Family

•              Mishaya Group:  following a family dispute- the Mishaya Gorilla family Split from the then biggest Gorilla Group in Bwindi Forest – the Nshongi Gorilla Family – which two still live within the Rushaga region in Southern Bwindi Forest.

•              Nshongi Group:  This currently is the biggest habituated gorilla family in Uganda with 25 members, at the opening of the group for visitors after Habituation it comprised of 25, and 10 left to form another family called the Mishaya Group.

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Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Forest – which is among the more physically challenging although rewarding regions in the of forest to enjoy Gorilla Tracking – habitat to the Nkuringo Gorilla Family

•              Nkuringo Group:   The accommodation facilities found at Nkuringo – offer a breathtaking worth the cost of the gorilla-permits- this is among of the most challenging hikes in Uganda – although undoubtedly worthwhile- as it is the most pleasing.  The Group comprises 19 members and is a favourite to people who have tracked over one group.

Best Time to Visit The Mountain Gorillas

The best time of the year to Visit Uganda &  Go For Gorilla Trekking

Uganda is known as a whole round travel destination for any tourist planning to travel. This is due to its climate and location to the equator. The other factor making Uganda a travel destination throughout the year is Lake Victoria and its unique weather patterns to the climate. Uganda mainly has two rainy seasons; the short season starts from October to November and the long rainy season starts from Mid-march to the end of May. When the best time to visit Uganda is a frequently asked question by the visits who plan vacations to Uganda.

The average temperatures of Uganda are at 21.5 C and 71 F, these also drop at night time to around 54 F which affects the altitude. Rainfall in Uganda ranges between 1000-2000mm every year. However, throughout the year the skies in Uganda are clear which supports most safari vacations. These climate changes have brought about changes in weather patterns hence making it harder to predict the seasons of the tourism year.

With the best months to visit Uganda, many tourists choose to travel from May to September to February since in these months, the amount of rain has reduced and it’s sunny in most of the destinations. December is one of the busiest months of the year in the most national park and it’s advisable to book the accommodation in time to avoid disappointment. During the Christmas season, most Ugandans plan to take vacations to national parks so it’s always a peak season in the month of December.

Visiting in the low season is okay for many tourists since the gorilla permits are cut from $ 600 to $ 450 to encourage many tourists to travel even though it’s a rainy season. Visiting this season also means that you will enjoy the jungle with relatively low crowds. It’s also said that February and September are good months for a safari vacation in Uganda since there are fewer tourists visiting and the lodges are not fully booked as such in the high season.

The rainy season in Uganda affects people’s travels but that doesn’t mean that they don’t completely travel since this season is combined with both rains and sunshine. This means that the sun comes out as soon as it has just rained and most safari activities are able to be carried out without any disturbance. Mountain gorilla trekking, as well as chimpanzee trekking, goes on even during the rainy season and the national parks are fully in operation.

During the low season of March to May and October to November, most of the lodges reduce their rates to attract more tourists to book with them and this is an added advantage since even the gorilla permits are reduced to attract more tourists to Uganda.

More so, Uganda has got a raised topography and this means that its climate is cool, however, if you are planning to come for a gorilla trek, it’s really important to notice the easiest trekking conditions despite the low rates in the low season, this means that the best time to come for gorilla tracking is during the two dry seasons of January and February and from June to September.

Game viewing in all the national parks of Uganda is perfect in the dry season; from February and March, September and the beginning of October.  This is mainly because the wildlife species are concentrated around water bodies within those parks. Bird watching as an activity is best carried out between November and April when the migrant birds are present in the country but can also be carried out all year round. Tourists are however advisable to avoid taking vacations during the heavy rain months of April and May to be able to enjoy their vacations in Uganda.

GUIDE TO UGANDA’S TOURISM SEASONS

HIGH SEASON MONTHS: JUNE – SEPTEMBER

DECEMBER – FEBRUARY

LOW SEASON MONTHS: MARCH-MAY

OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER

What is the best time to track gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?

Although tracking mountain gorillas can be conducted all year round in these two countries due to the somewhat damp seasons experienced by the national parks in which these gorillas stay, the majority of tourists prefer visiting from June to September as well as from December up to February.

This similarly applies in Uganda although there the rains begin in March up to May. Certainly, the rains although not very heavy make it challenging to trek the sheer landscape. During that time the rain falls for just one to two hours in about 3 days of the week and for the rest, the sun is out. However, even in the dry months of Uganda, there are some little showers experienced in Bwindi.

The seasonality of the trackers can as well be accredited to the overall weather back in the home countries. During summers for instance in Europe, the number of gorilla safari trekkers is high and then in winter it greatly lowers. Also, there are some trackers who take advantage of the seasonal discounts offered on the gorilla tracking permits. For example, Uganda wildlife Authority lowered the cost of permits by thirty percent for all non-Ugandans for the months of May and November they go for $450. The other months the gorilla tour permit goes for $600.   A number of accommodation facilities in the areas where the gorillas are found as well will offer discounts in these months.

Within Rwanda, the initial rains are experienced at the end of February, March, April as well as May, and for that reason, most of the tourists don’t visit during that time since it is muddy and pretty wet while tracking the mountain gorillas. but during these very months, since it is raining, there is a lot of food for the gorillas on the lower slopes and also the temperatures are lower on the lower slopes. Because of that, the gorillas stay on the lower slopes since food is easily accessible and it is warmer. Therefore if you choose to track in these months, you won’t have a very long trek and actually, most trackers find the gorillas just after two hours of trekking meaning by 2:00 pm they are back at their lodge.

No matter what your explanation is, experience reveals that gorilla trekking can be enjoyed all year round and you will surely enjoy a great experience.

Entebbe International Airport, Kitaasa Rd, Entebbe, Uganda