Activities to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda; Gorilla trekking is one of the top activities in Uganda that involve visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Uganda is famously known for harboring half of the world’s mountain gorilla population which are found in two national parks namely Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern park of Uganda. There are a number of interesting activities that you can engage in after gorilla trekking in Uganda including,
Activities to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is an interesting and one of the activities to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in different destinations like Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest and Budongo forest. Chimpanzee trekking in all destinations starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be sub-divided into groups of 6 people and start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide who is conversant with different chimpanzee trekking trails. Trekking of chimpanzees in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located. During trekking, you will be able to see other primate species, different bird species, plant and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch chimpanzees carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari.
Wildlife viewing/ game drives
Game drive is another exciting activity in Uganda that you can engage in after your gorilla trekking safari. Game drives in Uganda are carried out in comfortable 4 WD safari vehicles and they are done in savannah national parks like Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Pian upe wildlife reserve among others. During the game drives which can either be done very early in the morning, in the afternoon or at night, you will be able to view different wildlife species including the big five mammals which are the elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions and leopards, view other animals like waterbucks, giraffes, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, zebras, warthogs, elands, topi, oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, giant forest hogs, impalas, hippos, spotted hyenas among others.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking is a unique and active activity to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda and just like chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest following trails of left over bamboo leaves, shoots, fruits among others. During trekking, you will be able to view different bird species, other primates among others and once the golden monkeys are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to watch them play, jump up in tree branches, learn about their habits, take photos and record videos.
Bird watching
Bird watching is another interesting activity in Uganda that you can engage in after gorilla trekking as Uganda is one of the top birding destination. There are top bird watching destinations like Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest national park, Lake Mburo national park, Mabamba swamp, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Semuliki national park among others. During bird watching which is best done in the morning or in the afternoon, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species like the Great blue turaco, shoebill stork, Standard winged nightjar, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Green breasted pitta, Grauer’s broadbill, Black breasted barbet, Fox’s weaver, African green broadbill, Short-tailed warbler, Doherty’s bush shrike, Bar tailed trogon, African wood owl, Handsome francolin, Dwarf honey guide, Archers robin chat, Grey cuckoo-shrike among others.
Nature walks
Nature walk is an amazing activity where visitors get an opportunity to explore the national parks on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. During the guided nature walk, you will be able to get up-close and personal with different wildlife species, enjoy the cool breeze, view colorful butterflies, listen to sweet sounds of bird species singing in trees, relax your mind in a quiet environment, enjoy views of the beautiful scenery, take photos among others.
Cultural tours
Cultural tour is an exciting and yet another activity in Uganda that you can engage in after gorilla trekking. During the cultural tour, you will be able to interact with the Bakinga and Batwa/ pygmies who used to like in Bwindi and Mgahinga forests before they were gazetted into a national park, you will also be able to learn about their culture, tradition, visit their homesteads, farmlands, learn how coffee is processed , visit the craft shops where they sell handmade souvenirs like beads, necklaces, bags, drums, hats, sandals, learn how to prepare the local dishes, participate in their traditional music, dance and drama, visit the community projects, among others.
Mountain climbing
Mountain climbing is an adventurous activity that visitors can engage in after gorilla trekking in Uganda. During mountain climbing, visitors can either hike Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon or the three volcanic mountains Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura or Mount Sabyinyo in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which make trekking easy compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
For more information about the activities to do after gorilla trekking in Uganda, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various gorilla trekking packages.
