Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Uganda Safaris

Uganda is a land locked country located in East Africa that offers first class safaris with unforgettable experiences to tourists through various destination areas and different Safari Lodges. Uganda has 10 National Parks recommended for Safari Tours which include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Rwenzori National Park, Kibale National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Each of these National Parks harbors unique wildlife species including over 300 mammals and 1061 birds species. Uganda has over 400 mountain gorillas, one of the most famous attractions in the country. The country also has a rich culture, with over 56 tribes like the Karimojongo, Bakiga with different local dishes, traditional dances , historical places among others. There are various adventurous activities you can participate in on your safari in Uganda including gorilla trekking safaris which is the main attraction in Uganda, chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation safaris, birding safaris, cultural tours like the Batwa Trails in Bwindi, mountain climbing, scenic viewing, golden monkey trekking among others which makes your safari in Uganda interesting and memorable. The top Ugandan safaris include;

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safaris

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most visited national parks in Uganda which attracts quite a number of tourists to the Pearl Of Africa to do Uganda Safaris. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers activities like Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation. Other activities done in Bwindi include Birding Safaris and nature walks where one can be able to experience other kinds of primates with in the forest. Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park is done by a group of 8 individiuals including a travel guide and one needs to purchase a Gorilla trekking permit before being accepted to access the forests for Gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Forest are so amazing and one is given 1 hour to spend the gorillas while observing their behaviour and taking pictures for future reference.

Murchison Falls national park safaris

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda located in Murchison Conservation Area (MCA) where we find the Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves. It is 305 kilometers north of Kampala City and sits on the shores of Lake Albert in northwest Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park is a home of 76 mammal species including the big four which are the African elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Leopards and Lions plus other animals like giraffes, hippos, Nile crocodiles among others and harbors 450 bird species, 23 endemic to Albertine rift.

Sipi Falls Uganda safaris

Sipi falls are the most beautiful waterfalls located in Kapchorwa district. Sipi falls is a combination of three waterfalls each flowing from different an altitude where the highest or major waterfall is 100m above sea level, second waterfall flows about 75m above sea level and the third flows about 85km above sea level. The Sipi Falls have beautiful scenery of the plantations, coffee, streams, local communities and the nature walks on the bottom of the falls hence making the tourists at Sipi falls Uganda safaris rewarding.

Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park located in western region in the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth is well known for its wildlife which include over 600 bird species, 10 primate species, about 95 mammal species with the famous big 5 animals which include the African elephant, African cape Buffaloes, Hippopotamus, Lions and the Leopards. Queen Elizabeth National Park is also known for the tree climbing lions that are found in the Ishasha sector and volcanic features like volcanic cones, three major crater lakes including the salt lake of Katwe with migratory birds. Queen Elizabeth national park is the most visited park in Uganda and will make your Uganda safari the most memorable and fascinating safari.

Kibale national park safari

Kibale National Park is located near Fort portal and Kasese in western Uganda and covers an area of about 795km and located between 1100m and 1600m. Kibale National Park is well known for Chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation in Uganda where the visitors get to spend time with the chimpanzees in their nature habitat, other primates like red colobus monkeys, mangabeys, black and white monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons among others. Kibale national park is also a home of other wildlife species like elephants, buffalos, giant forest hog, warthogs, bush pigs, bushbucks, and bird species hence called the birders paradise.

Chimpanzee trekking safaris

Chimpanzees are primates that can be better sighted in Kibale National Park which is best known for chimpanzee trekking and can also be seen in Budongo forest in Murchison Falls National Park and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Tourists walk through the forest for about three hours in search of the chimpanzees and in Kibale visitors have 99% chances of finding chimpanzees on any day hence called the best chimpanzee destination and they are given one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees once found hence taking photos for memories and learning their habits. Other primates can also be spotted during the chimpanzee trekking safaris like L-Hoest monkeys, baboons, bush babies, red colobus monkey, blue monkeys among others.

Lake Mburo National Park safaris

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the smallest wildlife parks in Uganda located in Mbarara district western Uganda on a highway that connects Kampala to the park. It is approximately 260 square kilometers and lies in the shadow areas between Lake Victoria and Mount Rwenzori. Lake Mburo national park has beautiful landscapes, shrubs, forests, hills, various bird species, animal species like impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, white mongoose, side stripped jackal and is one of the three national parks in Uganda with burchell’s zebra and is the only park in Uganda that offers horseback riding to visitors on a safari hence making it a unique national park for Uganda safaris.

Mount Elgon national park

This is situated close to Mbale in Eastern Uganda and covers 1145 square kilometers. It is an extinct volcanic mountain found on Uganda’s border with Kenya. Its highest peak Wagagai is 4321meters and the second highest mountain in Uganda after mountain Rwenzori. Mount Elgon is the best destination for hiking in Uganda because of the lower peaks which are also favorable than those of mountain Rwenzori and its cool climate since the altitude is not higher hence making hiking adventurous for hikers on Uganda safaris.

Kidepo valley national park

Kidepo National Park is one of the national parks with virgin places in Uganda because of its great open savannah landscapes, mountain forest in high places, semi arid climate with one rainy season per year and the mountains in the background which makes it third best national park in Africa. Kidepo national park is located in Kaabong District in north eastern Uganda and covers an area of 1442 square kilometers with an altitude of 900m to 2750m. Kidepo National Park harbors extinct species of wildlife that can’t be found in other national parks in Uganda including 75 mammals, 470 bird species and is good for wildlife viewing, nature walks, game drives, bird watching since its blessed with various bird species, visiting the local communities like the Karamojong who are unique and special people which creates a great experience to tourists on Uganda safaris in Kidepo valley national park.

Mount Rwenzori national park

Mount Rwenzori is Uganda’s tallest mountain located in south western Uganda in the districts of Kabarole, Kasese and Bundibudyo and in the rift valley it borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and its conservation area known as Virunga national park. Mount Rwenzori is the third highest mountain range in Africa rising up more than 16700feet above sea level. Mount Rwenzori is known for its beautiful waterfalls, glaciers, unique mountainous vegetation, plant life and harbors over 70 mammals, 217 bird species 19 endemic to the Albertine rift and offers a great experience for mountain climbing tourists in Uganda.

Lake Mutanda Uganda Safaris

Lake Mutanda is located in Kisoro district in the southwestern Uganda. It is found in the foothills of Virunga mountain range at an altitude of 1800meters. Lake Mutanda has the best scenery for the three volcanoes within the range namely, mount Muhabura, mount Gahinga and mount Sabinyo. Lake Mutanda has a great vegetation cover and offers favorable climate which has favored plant species and wildlife in the park including gorillas, golden monkeys, birds, insects, snakes, monitor lizards, chameleons, frogs among others hence making it a great destination for wildlife and scenic viewing in Uganda.

Lake Bunyonyi Uganda Safaris

Lake Bunyonyi is located in kabala district in south western part in Uganda. It is believed to be the deepest lake in Uganda and also the fifth deepest lake in the whole world. Lake bunyonyi is a lake with 29 islands where some have human settlements and people around the lake have used them for agriculture since they are cultivators and do minimal fishing because of its depth. Activities enjoyed on the lake by tourists on Uganda safaris include canoe riding, sightseeing, mountain climbing, bird watching since it is a home of various birds, sun bathing on the lake shores among others which gives a visitor a great experience while on Uganda safaris.

Ssese islands Safaris

These are islands found in Kalangala district in southern central Uganda. Ssese islands are comprised of 84 islands sitting along the north-western shores of Lake Victoria with Bugala Island which is the biggest island where most tourism activities are carried out. Ssese island is a great place for relaxation and have a quiet peace of mind in that it offers a number of activities for the tourists on a safari to enjoy including canoe ride, white sand beaches, see exotic plants, flowers, and trees, favorable weather, interact with the people in Uganda visitors are advised against swimming because of the Nile crocodiles and hippos. All these make Ssese islands a great destination for holidays or good destination to end your safari in Uganda after visiting other destinations like Bwindi national park for gorilla tracking or Rwenzori national park for mountain climbing.

Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second world largest fresh water lake apart from Lake Superior in North America. Lake Victoria is also known as the source of the Nile in Uganda and its waters fill a shallow depression in the centre of the great plateau that stretches between the eastern and the western rift valley. Lake Victoria receives water from direct rainfall and from a thousand small streams to about 85% inflow and Akagera which originates from Rwanda is the largest stream that flows into Lake Victoria. It offers various activities to visitors including boat cruise, fishing on the lake for the Nile perch which is the most caught fish. Feeding chimpanzees at Ngamba Island, visiting Ssese Island, source of the Nile in Jinja, Uganda education centre in Entebbe among others, which makes Lake Victoria an exciting and interesting experience destination for tourists on Uganda safaris.

With the vast tourist attractions in Uganda, one is spoilt for choice on where to begin, in order to explore the full tourism potential the Pearl of Africa has to offer. These attractions are also complemented by the good weather, friendly communities and variety of food. Whether you are a Ugandan looking to explore your country or a foreigner looking to see the beauty the country has to offer. There is quite a variety to choose from to quench your tourism appetite.

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is simply the practice, adventure, quest and the hike to go and see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat/ home. To a huge fraction of travel enthusiast, gorilla trekking remains one of the most incredible adventure activity also being deemed as the incredible gorilla trekking. The thrill of gorilla trekking is derived right from the time one sets foot in area where the gorilla tracking is conducted, with the first sessions being the briefing one. The briefing is obviously presided over by the park officials whose knowledge of gorilla trekking is rich as you can imagine an experience they attain as a result of training and constantly interacting with the mountain gorillas. After briefing the next step of gorilla trekking is delving into the jungles and experience which seems more like treasure hunting. The movements in the jungle of course require ascertain considerable degree of fitness since it involves somewhat strenuous movements. As one continues with the search for the gentle giants (gorilla tracking), you can also encounter other wildlife, primates and birds in the forest which is more like a starter treatment of your jungle gorilla experience. It will take between 50 minutes to 4 hours to meet gorillas while on gorilla tracking to see the gorillas. Upon meeting up with the gorillas, an hour is given to the gorilla trekkers to interact with the gorillas sessions that wipes all the memories of the hustle one has to go through to reach where the gorillas. A closer encounter with the gorillas will see you notice how they live their lives, for constant feeding, nest making and dominance for the alpha gorillas also known as the silver back. In that maximum of 1 hour with the gorillas, you will take as many photos as you can a confirmation of your positive gorilla trekking findings. Later after gorilla trekking, you head back to your destination..

Where is gorilla trekking done?

Where is gorilla trekking done? Do you keep asking yourself about where the incredible gorilla trekking is done? Well this brief article should be in position to give you an insight of where Gorilla trekking is done. Internationally mountain gorillas trekking in done in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. In Uganda gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park all found in south western Uganda, Uganda pretty much hosts ¾ of the world’s mountain gorilla population. In Rwanda gorilla trekking (Rwanda gorilla trekking) is done in Volcanoes Rwanda national park in the north western part of Rwanda Ruhengeri district while Congo, gorilla tracking is conducted in virunga national park. The common aspect of all these national parks is that they are all situated with the great virunga ranges which are shared with the three countries.

When is the best time for gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking has no best time but the drier months of the year are seemingly the most convenient for gorilla trekking in Uganda , Rwanda and Congo. This is attributed to the fact that in the dry months, the terrain is less slippery therefore deeming less strenuous do gorilla trekking. The driers month of the year in Uganda are June to August and December to February, the rest of the months are characterized by rain usually heavy downpours.

How long does gorilla trekking take?

Gorilla trekking duration is measured by the proximity of the gorilla trekking families you have been assigned to . The gorilla trekking experience can take between 50 minute to even the entire day (6 hours) . Some gorilla families are close thereby taking a shorter time to trek. Other gorilla families are mobile and move from one place to another hence taking longer time to trek.