Tips for planning gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda

Guidelines to organize an ideal gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda. The complexity of planning a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda arises from lacking essential knowledge which leads to potentially fatal planning mistakes. Since the planning of a safari requires specific expertise to organize it properly, we suggest that tourists engage local tour operators for planning assistance. Our compiled tips and necessary information will help you efficiently plan your chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari.

Where to see Gorillas in Uganda

Uganda provides a natural habitat for half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas. The only locations where mountain gorillas live in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which are both situated near each other in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi attracts more tourists because it contains multiple gorilla families which makes obtaining a permit more straightforward than in Mgahinga which hosts only one gorilla family the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Visitors will find that both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park host mountain gorillas and deliver similar experiences upon completing treks. Mountain gorillas reside in the bamboo-dominant hills of Virunga at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but inhabit a diverse tropical rain forest at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Your likelihood of encountering gorillas stands at 98% whether you visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which ensures you can observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat regardless of your chosen location.

Where to see Chimpanzees in Uganda

The chimpanzee population in Uganda exceeds 5,000 individuals who live across numerous locations such as Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge within Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo forest bordering Murchison falls National Park, and Kalinzu forest among other significant sites. Uganda stands out as one of the leading destinations for chimpanzee viewing around the globe. Kibale Forest National Park stands out for its extensive primate population which includes 13 different species and maintains the largest known chimpanzee population in Uganda with numbers over 1500 resulting in the best chimpanzee viewing location in the country while it also hosts nocturnal primates such as bush babies and pottos alongside a variety of monkeys and baboons. Bird watchers often choose to visit Kibale Forest National Park due to its impressive record of over 335 bird species. Visitors can participate in two chimpanzee trekking sessions in the morning and afternoon which depend upon the specific chimpanzee permit they buy and the itinerary they follow for their trek.

How much is Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda

In Uganda the cost of Gorilla permits stands at $800 for each foreign non-resident per trek while foreign residents pay $700 per person and East African nations citizens (from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan) pay 300000 UGX per person which allows trekkers to spend one hour with mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda offers 136 daily Gorilla trekking permits based on its 17 habituated gorilla family groups which includes 16 families in Bwindi and one family in Mgahinga. While gorilla trekking in Uganda allows visitors to observe mountain gorillas for one hour, the Gorilla habituation experience available exclusively in Bwindi forest Rushaga sector which allows longer interactions with the gorillas and cost $1500 per person per permit, this allows trekkers four hours with semi-habituated gorillas. Uganda Wildlife Authority allows direct booking of gorilla permits or you can secure permits through the tour operator Uganda Giant Holiday Safaris.

How much is Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Uganda

The Kibale Chimp permit cost USD200 for Non-Foreign Residents while the Kyambura gorge chimp permit cost USD50 for Non-Foreign Residents and the Kalinzu chimp permit also costs USD50 for Non- Foreign Residents and Budongo charges USD130 per Non-Foreign Resident for its permit. There are two sessions for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, the morning session that starts at 8:00am and the afternoon chimpanzee trekking session that begins at Mid-day.

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

The most favorable months for gorilla trekking in Uganda range from June to October and December to March because these months represent the dry season when Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park experience mild rainfall that allows for better mountain gorilla sightings as vegetation remains low and provides excellent photographic opportunities. In April, May and November when heavy rain prevails the dense vegetation obscures clear sightings but the trek routes remain short because mountain gorillas stay close since they find enough food close by. The highly organized nature of gorilla treks in Uganda allows visitors to go on these excursions at any time of year while maintaining a 99% chance to spot mountain gorillas.

Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

The most suitable time for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda spans from June to October and December to March, these periods feature dry weather with minimal rainfall which makes forest trekking easy while the vegetation remains sparse making chimpanzee sightings easy for photography. The months of April, May, and November represent Uganda’s wet season when vegetation growth obstructs chimpanzee viewing yet treks become shorter because ample food availability limits chimpanzee from traveling long distances. You can do chimpanzee trekking throughout the year in Uganda because it is organized well which ensures a 99% success rate.