East Africa provides an ideal destination for an incredible gorilla experience. In Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there is a 99 percent chance of spotting mountain gorillas in their natural environment, with half of them residing in Uganda alone! Spend time observing these fascinating herbivorous creatures, living in family groups led by dominant silverback males that can weigh up to 600 pounds — truly remarkable.
On this page we will not disclose scientific details and other details that you are not looking for. We will do our best to answer all your questions about gorilla tours and gorilla tracking trips by answering the most frequently asked questions.
What do gorillas eat?
Don’t worry, gorillas are not omnivores but rather herbivores, meaning they only eat shrubs, leaves, roots and stems. Therefore, they cannot eat the muzungu (whites), making the whole mountain gorilla trekking experience safe.
How many gorilla groups are found in Uganda’s Bwindi national park?
Uganda has two national parks where gorillas live, namely Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi National Park. There is a family of Nyakagezi gorillas in Mgahinga Park who are always on the move, so these gorilla permits are only available for a month until the day they are certain the gorillas have returned to Uganda. Bwindi National Park has 12 families and the gorilla group with the most individual gorillas is the Oruzogu family with 20 members.
What is the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo?
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 per person, which allows you to trek with gorillas. In Rwanda, a gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person for a full year, while in the DR. Congo gorilla permit costs $450. Rwanda also recently launched a private gorilla trek that costs $15,000 dollars for the entire group.
What is the best time to see mountain gorillas?
Gorilla trekking safaris take place all year round, however most tourists prefer to visit the parks to see gorillas during the drier months of the year i.e. June, July, August and September as the trails are not as slippery during these months. However, due to global climate change, showers will also occur during these months. It is therefore always a good idea to have a raincoat with you, especially as these parks are made up of rainforest.
Best country for gorilla safaris – Uganda and Rwanda.
The gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda do not differ in appearance, they are identical because they are all mountain gorillas. However, other factors such as the driving distance from the capital as well as the number of days you have for the trip or the intensity of the gorilla trekking are always the determining factor for the best gorilla trekking spot. . Tracking gorillas in Uganda is more arduous than gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Therefore, we recommend everyone who likes the challenge of trekking to go on a Gorilla holiday in Uganda. For older people we recommend trekking in Rwanda.The best location is also determined by the prices of the gorilla permits, which is why most people choose to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. The second factor is the driving distance between the capital of each country and the national park. Rwanda has a shorter driving distance from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park while Uganda has longer driving distances from Kampala to Bwindi Park. However, Bwindi National Park is also accessible from Kigali and is only a 5 hour drive away compared to 9 hours from Kampala on Bwindi . If you prefer gorilla trekking in Uganda, remember that our Uganda gorilla tours are designed that way that you don’t have to travel directly to Bwindi.There is also an option to fly regular flights to Bwindi. or you can opt for our air tour in Bwindi.
How many days do I need for a gorilla holiday.
The minimum number of days required for a gorilla tour depends on the country where you prefer to see gorillas. In Rwanda, it takes at least a full day to see mountain gorillas, while a gorilla trek in Uganda takes at least 3 days.
Is it safe to travel to Rwanda or Uganda in search of mountain gorillas?
Yes, it is safe to visit Uganda and Rwanda to see mountain gorillas. Although both countries are safe and war-free, they have strict guidelines on how to walk with gorillas to avoid human-gorilla conflicts, but still enjoy meeting gorillas in their natural habitat. As the world flocks to Uganda and Rwanda to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, these two countries have so much more to offer including Big Five animals, mountains and volcanoes to explore, and diverse cultures, to be discovered. So don’t just travel to these countries for the gorillas, take some time e.g. B. 2 weeks for sightseeing and you will not regret your decision.
How many gorilla families living in Uganda?
The exact number of mountain gorillas currently living in Uganda’s green forests (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Forest) is not known today. However, Uganda is said to be home to more than half of all mountain gorillas living on earth. According to a gorilla census carried out a few years ago, there were over 400 gorillas in Bwindi Forest and over 80 gorillas in Mgahinga Forest.36 gorilla families live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the rest in the Mgahinga Gorilla Forest Park.