Mountain Gorilla tracking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a Wildlife protected area in southwestern Uganda managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a Government agency, The park is home to over half of the world’s endangered Mountain Gorillas in addition to about 350 birds including 23 Albertine Rift Endemics, and some spectacular waterfalls and forest streams.
With over 20 Habituated gorilla families, it is one of the best places on earth to see the Mountain Gorilla.
Mountain Gorilla tracking
Mountain gorillas are shy and elusive, and can only exist in their Mountainous forest habitat, therefore the only way to encounter them is by tracking them with the aid of experienced guides.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi begins at 8 am every day commencing with a briefing at the park headquarters and thereafter you will be taken to the start of the tracking which is usually where the gorillas were last located the evening before.
The whole Mountain Gorilla tracking exercise could take between 3 to 8 hours depending on how far the gorillas moved from the previous night. The guides will look for signs like dung, footprints and feeding trees. Sometimes they even hear them before they see them! And once the Gorillas are encountered you will have one hour with them where you will be able to take pictures and view them while they play and groom each other. Ensure that you are always 8 meters away from them to avoid transmission of diseases
While tracking the Gorillas, the guide will point out some plants and other creatures that gorillas use as food.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking fees
The fees for the period 2022 to 2024 are as follows
East African Citizens: UGX 250,000
Foreign Residents: $600
Foreign Non-Residents $700
Best time to track Mountain Gorillas
Mountain Gorillas can be tracked any time of the year, however, the low tourism seasons between March to April and November to December sometimes are good for cheaper accommodation and low season discounts by Uganda Wildlife Authority
What to bring for Mountain gorilla tracking
As you prepare for mountain gorilla tracking, it’s not always easy to know what to bring. So here is a list of the most important things that you should bring with you for a day of mountain gorilla tracking.
Waterproof shoes and rainproof jacket: These are essential for the rainy season, however, you are advised to carry them along even during the know dry seasons because sometimes it rains since this is a tropical mountainous rain forest.
A walking stick: This can help you hike up steep slopes and go over rough terrain more easily.
Drinking water: Bring along at least 1 litre of water and make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and pack some snacks in case you get hungry on the way back down.
Hand gloves: An old pair of Garden Gloves can come in handy, to protect your hands from thorns and other sharp objects that might scratch you on your journey.
Camera: Your camera can be used for taking photos or videos, so bring one if you have one!
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation is a process where the gorillas become accustomed to humans, and it is an important part of the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Program. The exercise is quite different from the normal gorilla tracking experience because one spends more time in the forest following the gorillas with the research and getting an incite in what takes place during the habituation process.
You will be part of the team and will be assigned duties like taking records and collecting dung samples for research.
When gorillas are encountered you will spend more time (at least 4 hours) with them, however, take note that they are not fully habituated and might charge or take flight.
Mountain Gorilla Habituation experience fees
The fees for the period 2022 to 2024 are as follows
East African Citizens: UGX 750,000
Foreign Residents: $1,000
Foreign Non Residents $1,500