Luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda is determined by several factors including the accommodation type, means of transportation, and others. Luxury Uganda gorilla trekking safari offers tourists a complete immersion into the wild to search for mountain gorillas. A luxury gorilla safari in Uganda goes beyond mere viewing gorillas but also allows you to have a deep insight into the various behaviors of these large apes while in their natural habitat.
Embarking on a gorilla trek is a lifetime privilege any nature enthusiast must be part to interact with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild. These apes do not exist all over the world except only 3 countries including Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Where to go for luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda
The iconic places to consider visiting to experience the best of luxury Uganda gorilla trekking adventure include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Luxury gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi is where over 459 endangered mountain gorillas all reside with over 23 habituated gorilla families available for tracking. A luxury gorilla tour in Bwindi involves exploring already habituated families of mountain gorillas in the 4 regions or trailheads. They include Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma area.
The available habituated families of gorillas in Bwindi include among others Mukiza, Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Muyambi, Christmas, Binyindo, Bitukura, Happy, Kyaguriro, Oruzogo, Busingye, Kahungye, Nshongi, Bweza, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Mishaya, Nkuringo, Posho, Bushaho, and Rwigi gorilla families.
Each of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi is tracked by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests. An experienced park ranger guide will be present to accompany you on your search for mountain gorillas.
Luxury accommodation in and around Bwindi
Choosing the right luxury lodge for overnight during your gorilla tour in Bwindi is key. A checklist of luxury accommodations to book for an overnight stay in Bwindi includes Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Heights, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, and others.
Luxury gorilla tour in Mgahinga
Mgahinga National Park is a special location in Uganda where you can also experience the best luxury gorilla trekking adventure. Lying in Kisoro district, southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shelters only the Nyakagezi group of mountain gorillas. The park covers the smallest area of 33.7 sq. km which makes it easier to be explored.
Luxury gorilla treks in Mgahinga begin with a briefing at the Ntebeko region. It is here you get assigned to an experienced guide. Visitor overnight stays can be in the luxurious Mount Gahinga Lodge. This is the only luxury accommodation available for visitors to stay before or after engaging in the trek to see gorillas or other safari experiences.
What to expect on a luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda
The actual gorilla trek starts with a briefing at the park offices. The park official does the briefing where visitors get to know the set gorilla trekking rules and regulations. It is around the same period when trekkers are assigned to gorilla groups to track and each group of gorillas is visited by a maximum of 8 guests. There is only a single gorilla trek conducted in all the gorilla safari parks in Uganda.
When you exit the park offices, expect to embark on an actual walk or trek through the hills steep areas, and rainforest to search for the gorilla group. Present to lead you will be an experienced park ranger guide who is part of the team trained under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
As you trek through the jungle, ensure that you respect the park’s instructions and guidelines. A distance of 8-10 meters should be kept away from the family of gorillas. Once you have met a gorilla family, your guide can permit you to spend a maximum of 1 hour with gorillas and also includes taking photos.
The cost of a gorilla permit
Whether you plan to go on a luxury or budget gorilla tour, a valid gorilla permit is essential. Booking a permit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is possible at USD 800 per person for foreign nonresidents, USD 700 for foreign residents, USD 500 for the Rest of Africa travelers while East Africans/Ugandans are charged UGX 300,000 per person.
A permit for gorilla trekking in Uganda can be safely booked through the local tour company. Reserve your valid gorilla permit in advance at least 2 months before the actual planned date for you to visit any park to track mountain gorillas. The price of gorilla permits covers the park entry fees, the actual trekking experience or encounter with a family of mountain gorillas, and guide fees.
The best time to go for a luxury gorilla trekking tour in Uganda
The dry season is without the best period of the year to experience the most mountain gorilla treks in Uganda. On the travel calendar of Uganda, the two phases of the dry season run from June to September, and the other phase begins from December to February. It is around the dry months when the gorilla trekking parks experience very low rainfall or no rain. These conditions favor visitors’ movement in the jungle as they search for a family of mountain gorillas.
Trekking mountain gorillas can be done even during the wet or rainy/off-months of the year that is from March to May or October to November. The challenge with the rainy months is that the destinations where gorilla treks are done experience heavy rains thus disrupting the normal search for gorillas.
What to take for your luxury gorilla trekking expedition in Uganda
Early preparation for your luxury Uganda gorilla trekking tour is essential. This includes packing right for your expedition. The essential items to include on the packing list of a luxury gorilla trekking tour; waterproof hiking boots, a waterproof daypack, long trousers, a sweater, a rain jacket, a camera, a torch, an insect repellent, a safari hat, snacks, and adequate bottled drinking water.
How to get there
All luxury gorilla trekking expeditions in Uganda are enjoyable in Bwindi or Mgahinga, the stunning protected areas set in the extreme Southwestern end of the country. Getting to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks is possible by road where you can drive for about 8-9 hours starting from Kampala or Entebbe.
In case you are in Kigali, you can also cross to Bwindi/Mgahinga to track gorillas, and takes you about 4-5 hours. Kigali-Bwindi/Mgahinga road trip includes border crossing at Katuna or Chanika. By flight, you can start your journey from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro or Kihihi Airfield. You can be transferred to the park of your choice from the airfield.