Mountain Gorilla Tracking
In the foggy tropical forest of Uganda and Rwanda
Top Mountain Gorilla Tracking Tours
Custom made mountain gorilla tracking tours to Uganda and Rwanda, all-inclusive with the gorilla permit, accommodation, transfers, and meals.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking
in Uganda & Rwanda
Mountain Gorilla Trekking is a highlight to every dream traveler for primate encounters in Africa. The three countries —DR Congo in the Virunga Mountains, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park, and Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park—actively conduct this exercise to protect the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Statutory bodies implement extensive conservation efforts to prevent the primates from extinction, leading to a significant rise in their population. These efforts ensure the possibility of human encounters with the Gentle Giants of the jungle.
Gorilla Habituation
The remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world live only in four recognized national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. Among these, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the only park where Gorilla Habituation takes place. A Gorilla Habituation Safari offers a unique opportunity to visit Bwindi and spend four hours with a gorilla family undergoing the habituation process, which takes 2-3 years before the family becomes open to visitor tracking in the forest.
Gorilla tracking
This activity offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It involves hiking or walking through the forest with ranger guides to search for habituated mountain gorillas. Upon finding them, you spend one hour observing and learning about these incredible primates. Each trekking group is limited to 8 visitors per day. Before visitors can trek, the gorilla groups undergo a 2-3-year gorilla habituation process, during which experienced ranger guides and researchers teach the primates to interact peacefully with humans.
What To Carry
Gorilla Trekking safaris in Uganda are an unforgettable amazing experience that you will last in your memory for a life. Below is a list of the things you may need on your adventure in the jungle.
- A walking stick for the steep terrain
- Jungle shoes suitable for steep muddy slopes.
- Rain gear, since it is a rainforest and rain, may come down anytime
- Insect repellent for protection from jungle bugs.
- Long Sleeve shirts and trousers
- Your camera gear
- Garden gloves to avoid touching thorny plants on your hike
The Gorilla Permit
Gorilla trekking permits are one of the thoughts of and key essentials when planning to encounter mountain gorillas in Uganda. A gorilla permit is a document that allows visitors to get access to trek gorillas in the defined tracking points. Therefore each visitor must purchase a gorilla trekking permit either through a trusted local tour operator or directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the regulatory body responsible for issuing permits and conserving the great apes in the jungle.
Among all the national parks offering gorilla trekking, Uganda provides a safer and more affordable experience. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 700 per person per trek, compared to USD 1,500 in Rwanda and USD 400 in DR Congo, where habituated gorilla families are less stable.
Gorilla trekking rules
Several rules and regulations guide the gorilla trekking adventure, aimed at protecting the endangered mountain gorillas and promoting sustainable gorilla tourism.
- Keep a distance of a minimum of 5 meters from the gorillas while in their presence.
- Do not eat or drink near the gorillas.
- Flash photography is not permitted.
- In case of an emergency toilet, dig a hole of 30cm and fill it up after use.
- Don’t drop litter in the park.
- No smoking near the gorillas.
- If you must sneeze or cough, cover your face and turn away from the gorillas, and if you have a cold or an infectious disease, do not visit the gorillas.
- Children below the age of 15 years old are not allowed.
- Do not look at the gorillas directly into the eyes.
Gorilla Trekking is one of the main tourist attractions in Uganda which can be supplemented with wildlife safaris and or birding safaris.
When to go for gorilla trekking
The best time for gorilla trekking is, most importantly, when you can get a permit to do so. They are like gold dust, but that is where specialist tour operators like Gap Travel Safaris step in. We’re like the Willy Wonkas who give out golden tickets into the magical worlds of gorillas. Worlds where it rains all year round, but much more so between November or between March and May. Tourists tend to stay away during those times, but the gorillas are always there.
The gorilla sanctuaries
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga NP (in Uganda), and Volcanoes National Park (in Rwanda) are open for gorilla trekking all year long, but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February.
At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier.
High Season: June to September (Gorilla permits need to be booked long in advance at any time of the year)
Low Season: March, April, May, October, and November (Some lodges and camps close down).
Habituated Gorilla Families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
The following are gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park open for visitors all year round for trekking experience and each of them has its history, and characteristics and offers a unique experience along the trek.
NOTE: Bwindi organizes its gorilla groups by location: the Buhoma area has 4 groups, the Ruhija area has 4 groups, the Nkuringo area has 2 groups (one dedicated to the habituation experience), the Rushaga area has 5 groups (one dedicated to the habituation experience), and the Nyakagezi family lives in Mgahinga National Park.
Mubare Gorilla family
Mubare is the oldest habituated gorilla group in Uganda. It was found in the Mubare hills, deep in the Bwindi forest, and was fully habituated in 1993. The family has 9 family members led by one Silverback gorilla
Rushegura Gorilla Family
The Rushegura gorilla family was brought together in 2002 after one of the silverbacks from the Habinyanja group decided to break away. It derived its name from “Ebishegura” – a tree species that was abundant in the home area of the new family with Mwirima as the lead silverback. The family has got 18 members including one silverback.
Bitukura Gorilla Family
This gorilla family has a fascinating story whereby it was normally sighted around headquarters and it took only 15 months for visitors to visit it, unlike the normal process which takes 2-3 years. Bitukura is a peaceful family including 12 members and 4 silverbacks.
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
The Habinyanja group was first visited by tourists in 1999. The name comes from a local word “Nyanja” which means ‘body of water’ where it was first sighted. The family is blessed with 18 members including 2 silverbacks but under the leadership of Makara.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
The Oruzogo group is the second habituated gorilla family living in the Ruhija area and was habituated for trekking in 2011. The group consists of 23 individuals and is led by Silverback Tibirikwata. It’s one of the most popular families’ playful and energetic juveniles.
Kanye Gorilla Family
The group was opened for visitors and gorilla tracking in 2011 after being habituated. Kanye Gorilla Family is led by Rumanzi and there are a total of 17 individuals including 3 silverbacks, 3 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adults, 3 juveniles, and two infants.
Christmas gorilla family
Christmas has become a third gorilla family in the Nkuringo sector alongside the Nkuringo and Bushaho gorilla families. The family is headed by Christmas as a dominant silverback, which some people believe, was born on Christmas. The family has a total of 9 members including 3 adult females, 3 black backs, and two babies.
Katwe gorilla family
This is a new family in the Buhoma sector north of Bwindi’s impenetrable forest national park. Katwe family joins the other three families of Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura making a total of habituated gorilla families in Buhoma to four. It comprises 7 members in the family with one dominant silverback.
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
The Nkuringo group was named after the Rukiga word for “round hill” and was launched in 2004, currently, the family consists of 19 members including 2 silverbacks.
Mishaya Gorilla Family
This family split from the Nshongi Gorilla family to make up its own family with the supreme silverback known as Mishaya who later died in 2004 and was succeeded by Mwine. The family comprises 12 family members.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
The Oruzogo group is the second habituated gorilla family living in the Ruhija area and was habituated for trekking in 2011. The group consists of 23 individuals and is led by Silverback Tibirikwata. It’s one of the most popular families’ playful and energetic juveniles.
Kanye Gorilla Family
The group was opened for visitors and gorilla tracking in 2011 after being habituated. Kanye Gorilla Family is led by Rumanzi and there are a total of 17 individuals that including 3 silverbacks, 3 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 3 sub-adults, 3 juveniles, and two infants.
Christmas gorilla family
Christmas has become a third gorilla family in the Nkuringo sector alongside the Nkuringo and Bushaho gorilla families. The family is headed by Christmas as a dominant silverback, which some people believe, was born on Christmas. The family has a total of 9 members including 3 adult females, 3 black backs, and two babies.
Katwe gorilla family
This is a new family in the Buhoma sector north of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Katwe family joins the other three families of Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura making a total of habituated gorilla families in Buhoma to four. It comprises 7 members in the family with one dominant silverback.
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
The Nkuringo group was named after the Rukiga word for “round hill” and was launched in 2004, currently, the family consists of 19 members including 2 silverbacks.
Mishaya Gorilla Family
This family split from the Nshongi Gorilla family to make up its own family with the supreme silverback known as Mishaya who later died in 2004 and was succeeded by Mwine. The family comprises of 12 family members.
Nshongi Gorilla Family
The Nshongi group initially comprised 36 members, making it the largest group ever habituated. However, after Mishaya and Bweza broke off to form their own families, the group was reduced to 26 members.
Bweza Gorilla Family
The Gorilla group is located in the Rushaga sector with 9 individuals including 1 silverback known as Bweza. Bweza split out from the Nshongi family where it started its own group.
Bikyingi Gorilla Family
This group, whose name is also spelled as Bikyingi has 15 members including 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 semi-adults, 2 juveniles, and 5 infants. Bikyingi Gorilla Family is one of the two gorilla families in Bwindi available for Gorilla Habituation Experience
Busungye Gorilla Family
This Gorilla Family is a splinter group from the Kahungye Gorilla Group – an event that happened in August 2012. The family has a total of 9 family members
Mucunguzi Gorilla Family
This is yet another gorilla family found in the Rushaga sector with 8 family members and dominated by females. The family is led by the dominant silverback Mucunguzi “meaning Savior “named after breaking off from the Bweza family.
Kyaguriro Gorilla family
The Kyaguriro Gorilla Group, located in Ruhija, consists of 20 individuals with a fascinating history that attracts many visitors. The group, known as Kyaguriro Group A and B, was habituated in 1995 for research purposes. The Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Evolutionary Anthropology initiated the research to study endangered primates, focusing on their traits, behaviors, biology, and reproduction.
Apart from Bwindi which boasts numerous gorilla families, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one gorilla group for trekking. The group is led by Mark, the dominant silverback, who likes traveling and keeps on crossing borders between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group resides in Uganda with a population of 10 gorilla families including three silverbacks living together in the family.
Weather in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has a tropical type of climate with the annual mean temperature ranging from a minimum of 7–15°C to a maximum of 20–27°C Its annual rainfall ranges from 1,400 to 1,900 millimeters. Peak rainfall occurs from March to April and from September to November.
Best time of the year to track mountain gorillas
You can best track mountain gorillas in Uganda by choosing the season that aligns with your holiday or preferences for trek conditions. The peak seasons for gorilla tracking, considered the best months, are June, July, August, September, and then December, January, and February.
What are some of the tailor-made activities on a Gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi?
Visiting the Batwa Community
People believe the Batwa pygmies were the indigenous inhabitants of the mountain slopes of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and they call them “The Keepers of the Forest.” In the 1990s, authorities evicted them from the forest, relocating them to communities around the park. This relocation aimed to help them survive in their new environment and benefit from tourism, improving their community’s living standards after losing their traditional forest-based way of life. Given the fact that many visitors are undertaking gorilla trekking experiences, it’s more likely to arrange a cultural encounter with some of the natives work like craft shops, cultural walks, and enjoying cultural dances where you can directly support community projects and improve the standards of living of the natives.
Bird-watching experience in Bwindi
Bwindi hosts over 347 species of forest birds, including at least 70 of the 78 montane forest bird species found in the Albertine Rift region, as well as 22 of the 36 endemic species in the area. This makes the area another birding destination amidst other catchment areas for birds in this park expect to see seasonal migration birds depending on the weather. Birdwatching peaks during the rainy season, providing opportunities to spot numerous bird species, including the rare shoebill stork, green-breasted pitta, dwarf honeyguide, fine-banded woodpecker, African green broadbill, grey cuckoo-shrike, Shelly’s greenbul, yellow-streaked greenbul, red-throated alethe, Archer’s robin-chat, white-bellied robin-chat, African wood owl, Rwenzori nightjar, bar-tailed trogon, black bee-eater, and western green tinkerbird, among others.
Gorilla Trekking Destinations
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