The Ultimate Guide to Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
Gorilla tracking is one of the world’s top wildlife experiences and the one we receive the most enquiries about: Am fit enough to track gorillas? What is the best time of year to track gorillas? How do I obtain gorilla tracking permits? In this blog post we provide the answers to these questions and more to enable you to book your gorilla experience with confidence, as part of your wildlife safari.
Let’s Talk Gorilla Tracking
Mountain gorillas are among the biggest of the great apes. They share 98% of our DNA, making it uncanny when you see some of their features and behaviours; they’re just like us – only hairier!
They exist only in the mountainous forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, straddling Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and in Bwindi Impenetrable forest, in Uganda.
As an endangered species, there are just over 1,000 remaining, but recent conservation efforts have been successful, and numbers are slowly increasing. Unlike lowland gorillas, mountain gorillas do not survive in captivity, so you can only see them in the wild.
In this blog, we explain how we can help you do that.
A Very Special Wildlife Experience
Your super exciting tracking day looks something like this:
You’ll start at around 07:30am with a briefing at the park/sector HQ. Afterwards, you’ll be allocated to a group to track a specific gorilla family and begin by heading to where that family was last seen the day before.
Your group will have up to 8 trackers, a park ranger, any porters that members have hired and possibly any other researcher or vet that may want to visit that gorilla family. The rangers will be armed in case they need to scare off any wildlife. They also carry radios for communication.
As you walk through the rain forest, tracking the gorillas, look out for mammals, tropical birds, and some fascinating vegetation. Your ranger will be happy to tell you all about them, the local community and the Batwa tribe that used to live in the forest.
When you find your gorilla family, you will spend one magical hour with them. You may find a Silverback eating, a female grooming or infants playing. Perhaps the whole family will be moving or even fighting. Your ranger will be on hand to keep you safe, get you the best views and let you know when photography is allowed. What a privilege to be allowed into the gorillas’ world and observe their natural behaviour in their natural habitat.
Trackers usually bring a packed lunch and there will be time to eat this and learn more about the gorillas from your ranger on your way back. What cherished memories you will have of this exciting yet humbling experience.
Should you wish to spend more time with the gorillas, there is a habituation experience lasting around four hours where you enter the forest with rangers who are habituating gorillas (getting them to accept a human presence). Many people, especially photographers, also opt to track twice as each day is different and so is each gorilla family, but there is a 90%+ chance that you will see the gorillas when you are tracking, so you do not need to track twice.
Obtaining Tracking Permits
About half of the world’s gorillas live in Uganda, so, naturally, we think Uganda is the best location to track gorillas. 😊
To track mountain gorillas in the wild, you need a permit from the local authorities. Tracking is difficult in DR Congo because of the security situation. The cost of a permit in Rwanda is USD 1,500pp, but in Uganda it is USD 800pp.
You can track gorillas in two parks in Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 1 habituated gorilla family and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 different forest sectors and 21 habituated gorilla families. We can recommend the location that best suits clients’ itineraries and needs.
In Uganda, permits can only be bought through a licensed Ugandan tour operator, so, as such, Venture Uganda is able to secure gorilla tracking permits for our clients. These must be paid for, in full, in advance and are non-refundable. There is a charge to reschedule them.
Am I Fit Enough to Track Gorillas?
The answer is probably yes. Only a normal level of fitness is required. Although, in parts, the terrain can be steep and slippery with thick vegetation, you can move at your own pace.
There is no pressure to go fast or keep up, and you can rest whenever you need to. Rangers are on hand to help you and we recommend hiring local porters to carry bags and physically support you in moments where you need a hand (or shove!). It’s all very good humoured.
We have a few tricks up our sleeves, too. We can select the most appropriate forest sector for you when buying permits and, on the day, we can request that anyone with difficulties/injuries is allocated to the group tracking the nearest family. There is even a service where you can be carried by porters in a special chair for all, or part, of the trek.
The trek takes anywhere from 2-8 hours but, in our experience, 3-5 is more normal. Some even find their family within one hour! But be careful what you wish for; many people like to think they have put in a bit of effort to earn the reward of spending an hour with these gentle giants.
When Is the Best Time to Track Gorillas?
Gorilla tracking in Uganda is a year-round activity but it may be slightly less wet and slippery in the rainforest during the dry seasons – approximately March – May and June – September.
What Should You Wear to Track Gorillas?
There are footpaths in the forest, big and small, but you are also likely to have to head into thick vegetation to reach your gorilla family. Footwear is important in a wet, slippery, muddy rainforest, so a pair of walking boots or good trainers is essential.
You’ll also need long trousers tucked into socks to prevent scratches from vegetation and to stop creepy-crawlies heading where you don’t want them!
A long-sleeved shirt can also protect your arms from scratches. Dark, natural colours are best. Some people wear gaiters, others a little cotton neck scarf.
A rain jacket with a hood is useful, just in case it rains, but rain jackets can be hired from the Park HQ on the day. You will also be offered the loan of a walking stick. Don’t forget your camera or phone with enough storage space and possibly a spare battery. Oh, and you might want to bring insect repellent too.
Can I add gorilla tracking onto my holiday to Africa?
The answer is, yes, you can and we are happy to design a programme that works for you.
How do I get to the Gorillas?
Gorilla experiences are usually part of a wildlife safari to Uganda but we can also add them as an extension to a holiday elsewhere.
The journey from Entebbe to South western Uganda, where the gorillas live, takes about 9 hours, by road. A road trip can often be such fun as you drive through the villages and countryside of rural Uganda, cross the equator and gain an insight into daily life. However, we prefer to break the road journey with a stopover at the fabulous Lake Mburo national park where you can take a game drive, safari walk, mountain bike or horseback safari to look for mammals like giraffe, impala, eland, leopard, buffalo and more. There is also a boat cruise on the lake which is particularly good for birders.
You’ll need to spend a night near Bwindi or Mgahinga national parks so you can join the daily briefing at 07:30 before tracking. Your track could take between 3-6 hours, on average, so you’ll need another overnight stay before returning to Entebbe the next day. You could possibly stop again at Lake Mburo but this time to enjoy some great community activities like visiting the Ankole long-horn cows of the Bahima people.
Depending on your international flight connections, you may need another night in Entebbe. There is plenty to do in this quiet town including visiting the island chimpanzee sanctuary, botanical gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria or taking a sunset boat cruise to the equator line.
We are happy to use our expert knowledge of the country to design a wonderful gorilla tracking break for you. A rare and special wildlife experience.
There are some important rules to follow when gorilla tracking:
- Photography is allowed and your ranger will tell you when it is appropriate. However, to minimise disturbance to the gorillas, flash photography is not allowed.
- Remain with the group. Be patient and do not hog the best views.
- If a gorilla charges, crouch down, and avoid eye contact. Do not try to run away.
- Keep voices low when near gorillas.
- Maintain a distance of 7 metres from the gorillas.
- If you need to go to the loo in the forest, dig a hole and bury it.
- Do not leave any rubbish in the forest.
Otherwise, follow your ranger’s instructions at all times.
How Can I Support Gorilla Conservation?
Simply by tracking, you are providing income to the Uganda Wildlife Authority which looks after the gorillas. Their work includes providing veterinary services, deploying rangers to protect the gorillas, conducting monitoring and research activities, and delivering community conservation education.
- Support community members who, in turn, value and protect the gorillas.
- Stay in community-owned lodges, hire porters to carry your bags and help you while on the trek.
- Book your holiday with a company that uses local guides for activities like birding or community nature walks.
- Buy some local coffee to take home. The proceeds support gorilla conservation, local NGOs/charities and community groups.
- Spread the love. Tell friends and family all about your experience tracking mountain gorillas. Encourage them to visit Uganda and track gorillas or to support gorilla conservation charities.
- Do not go gorilla tracking if you are ill. Even the flu or a cold can be transmitted to the gorillas and could be fatal. All trackers may be required to wear a face mask.
And let’s hope you don’t pay for a permit only to have the gorillas show up in your hotel garden!
Watch this amazing video of mountain gorillas touching a human!
