Uganda Hiking Trails: Gorilla Trekking
Trekking to see the mythical mountain gorillas in the wild is a truly bucket-list worthy experience.
There are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild. And most of them are in Uganda. Uganda’s conservation efforts over the last fifty years, in addition to its spectacular landscape, has made it the premiere destination for gorilla trekking in the world. Feel up for the adventure?
Planning a Gorilla Trekking Hike in Uganda
While it’s possible to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda and the Congo, Uganda might just be the most exciting place to experience these legendary creatures. Uganda is home to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a staggering mountain jungle that lives up to its name.
The dense forest set atop big mountains makes for a wonderful trekking destination in its own right. But add in mountain gorillas groups, the dominant silverback males, the graceful females and their adorable babies, and you’ve got something special.
International flights arrive in Entebbe, Uganda, on the banks of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. While Entebbe has its charms and interesting points, the best stuff is away from the city.
Aerolink is a a small charter company offering flights to the many airstrips around Uganda and is the recommended method of travel. It’s possible to drive from Entebbe to Bwindi. But roads are extremely bumpy and slow and can be a massive pain for such a significant trip.
There are two airstrips, one on each side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, depending upon your preferred area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to explore. I flew into Kihihi before driving about two hours to Bwindi. Kisoro is a beautiful alternative and is home to a spectacular lake high in the mountains.
There are many excellent lodges outside of the national park. I stayed at the Trackers Safari Lodge, which is an amazing high end accommodation that felt truly magical. But for budget minded travelers there are quite a few options.
Obtaining permits for gorilla trekking can be expensive. They generally run between $600 and $1200 dollars per person. But it’s important to know that the fees are an integral part of wildlife conservation in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of many national parks in Uganda, but generates the vast majority of the revenue that the other parks rely upon. The money doesn’t just go into beaurocrat’s pockets. It provides salaries for national park rangers, staff, researchers, guides, and many people on the ground, including those who care for the endangered species and spend day and night protecting them from poachers, . Gorilla trekking is a central part of the Ugandan economy. Paying these fees is fueling a healthy, sustainable way of life for people and wildlife.
Once here on the ground, take a deep breath and drink it in. Prepare for a day you’ll never forget. Wear long pants and long sleeves, boots, a sun hat, and bring rain gear.
You’ll be hiking on well-established trails for a portion of the day. But the gorillas don’t necessarily follow the trail network. You’ll likely go off trail, following the guides through the dense jungle in order to find where the gorillas are grazing and playing, so it’s best to keep yourself well covered!
The gorillas roam freely throughout the park. Depending on the gorillas location, you may need to hike for several hours. Or they may be close to the trailheads and only require 30 minutes of so of hiking. But the national park is quite large, so prepare for a full day.
Uganda is equatorial. It doesn’t have summer and winter, but rather dry season and rainy season. No matter the season, prepare for warm, humid weather with the daily potential for rain. Carry at least two liters of water.
It is customary, and incredibly helpful, to hire porters to assist on the trek. Even for hikers with excellent fitness, it’s a good idea to hire a porter. For one, it really helps the local economy. Good jobs in the gorilla trekking industry is a very important part of conservation. If the people who live near the gorillas benefit from good conservation practices, the better it is for humans and gorillas. But economics aside, if you aren’t burdened by a heavy pack, you are free to experience a magical day, moving more freely and with more energy, which is especially important once you get close to the gorillas.
Protocols dictate that visiting hikers get one hour of interaction with the gorillas. Our presence creates a certain amount of stress, as we affect their eating and socializing. Make the most of your one hour with these the incredible creatures. Don’t forget to put your camera down once in a while and just enjoy the special moment.
Hygiene and disease control
Covid-19 changed the world. But one thing hasn’t changed. Gorillas and humans share 98% of their DNA, making them susceptible to human-borne diseases. Gorillas can acquire all sorts of illnesses and diseases from humans.
With the emergence of the coronavirus, new protocols have been instituted for the health and safety of these endangered species. Wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance from the gorillas is an important part of keeping the gorilla population healthy. According to health experts in Uganda, the mask-wearing protocols will continue even after global vaccination for Covid-19. Mask wearing will keep the gorillas from acquiring other human diseases too, such as the flu.
With few tourists during 2020 and more stringent protocols, the gorillas have been remarkably more healthy. Notably, there has been a baby boom, a surge in successful pregnancies amongst the mountain gorillas. Hopefully higher health standards in gorilla trekking will have long lasting positive impacts.
Watch one of the videos of my trip to Uganda on BackpackingTV!
