Exclusive Gorilla Trekking and Mount Rwenzori Hiking

Ready for a thrilling adventure of a lifetime on your Uganda safaris? Gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountain hiking combo awaits to ignite your adventure spirit. Trekking with gorillas and climbing Mount Rwenzori offer unforgettable experiences all in different places. Where to enjoy gorilla trekking and Rwenzori hiking adventures.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking is best done in the two locations in Uganda, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The largest concentration of the rare mountain gorillas resides in the jungles of Uganda, accounting for a population of about half the world’s 1063. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga straddle in the Southwestern end of Uganda close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi spans over the land area of 331 sq. km and is Uganda’s most explored destination for gorilla trekking.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is nestled in Kisoro is an amazing destination of its own when it comes to gorilla safaris. Visitors have an option to choose the best place to enjoy gorilla trekking adventure.

At Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, expect to explore the 4 regions or sectors designated for gorilla trekking. These include Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Buhoma –each of these sectors comprises of habituated families of mountain gorillas. The gorilla families in Bwindi include among others, Nshongi, Kutu, Bweza, Mucunguzi, Mukiza, Bitukura, Kyaguriro, Habinyanja, Busingye, Kahungye, Mubare, Christmas, and Katwe. On a gorilla trek, each of these families is visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests per day.

Mgahinga National Park takes you on a search for gorillas starting from Ntebeko sector. At Mgahinga, the focus is mainly to explore the Nyakagezi gorilla family. This is the best location to explore mountain gorillas without worrying about overcrowding.

Gorilla trekking permits

Exploring gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga requires visitors to have valid gorilla permits. A single gorilla permit costs USD 800 per person and you can secure one through the reliable tour operator. This cost applies to visitors under the category of foreign non-residents while foreign residents pay USD 700, East African citizens UGX 300,000 per person.

Gorilla trekking adventure operates in the manner that the day with gorillas begins with briefing. The briefing runs for 30 minutes where visitors get to know the guidelines to follow during the gorilla trek. Each group of 8 (eight) guests are assigned an experienced park ranger guide and this group embarks on a trek to explore one family of gorillas.

The gorilla tour involves walking in the jungle with the park ranger guide on lead. The trek may run for 2-6 hours but includes an hour with gorillas. The one hour involves observing the behaviors of gorillas and taking pictures.

The Rwenzori Hiking Expedition

The Rwenzori Mountain climbing or hiking expeditions involve conquering the Margherita peaks or other peaks on Mount Rwenzori. The Rwenzori Mountains are block mountain ranges, a few in the world with glacier on the summits. The highest point on Mt. Rwenzori is marked by the Margherita peak on Mount Stanley which rises up to 5109m.

Additional Mountain ranges on Mt. Rwenzori include Mount Baker, Mt. Gessi, Mount Speke, Mount Luigi de Savoia, and Mt. Emin. These make up part of the magnificent Rwenzori Mountain ranges.

Mount Rwenzori lies in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. While in the Rwenzori Mountains, expect to explore the different trails leading to the various peaks. The key hiking trails to consider conquering in the Rwenzori Mountain ranges include Kilembe, and Central Circuit. The Central Circuit takes at least 6-7 days for you to get to the peak.

The Bukurungu trail requires 7 days for you to reach the summits of Mount Rwenzori. The Kilembe trail takes about 7-8 days to conquer the peaks of Mt. Rwenzori. On the Rwenzori Mountaineering adventure, expect to encounter a range of floral and faunal species.

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park features diversity of mammals and avifaunal species around the base of the Mt Rwenzori. They include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, forest elephants, Rwenzori duikers, bushbucks, hyrax, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. There are also 3-horned chameleons, birds like the red-throated alethe, strange weaver bird, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, Rwenzori nightjar, handsome francolin, and archer’s robin-chat, etc.

How to go about the gorilla trekking and Rwenzori hiking adventure

Visitors must plan for a long Uganda tour to enjoy combined gorilla trekking and Rwenzori Mountaineering expeditions. A successful Rwenzori Mountaineering experience may take between 10 and 12 days then a gorilla tour in Bwindi or Mgahinga requires at least 3 days or more to fully unearth the wonders in these protected areas. It is possible begin your adventure from the Rwenzori Mountains and transfer to Bwindi or Mgahinga for mountain gorilla encounters.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can also be combined with the Rwenzori hiking experience. In Rwanda, you enjoy a trek with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and then cross to Uganda to engage in mountaineering adventure.

What to carry for gorilla trekking & Rwenzori Mountaineering

A complete packing list is required for you to have a smooth Rwenzori Mountaineering adventure and gorilla trekking. The packing list you may need include a daypack, long-sleeved shirts, toiletries, medical kit, a pair of binoculars, long pants, a rain jacket, waterproof hiking boots, sunglasses, insect repellents, camera, and more.

When to enjoy a combined gorilla trek and Rwenzori hike

The best time to experience most of the mountain gorilla treks and Mount Rwenzori climbing adventure is during the dry season. This can be during the long dry months which start from June to September then December to February. These are the peak months of the year and they come with low or no rains.

The trails or ground tends to be drier, making it easier to enjoy a hike to the summits of Mount Rwenzori or navigate via the rainforest in search of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.

Conclusively, gorilla trekking and Rwenzori hiking combo is perfect for adventure seekers with plans to experience something unique. Book a captivating adventure such as this one with a reputable tour operator like Superfine Safaris Limited for great memories.