Uganda is home to the largest population of critically endangered mountain gorillas in the world, with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park boasting the most impressive numbers. These parks are not just havens for gorillas but also breathtaking landscapes teeming with life.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: This ancient rainforest, a living relic of a bygone era, is a testament to the power of nature. The park is a primate paradise, home to not only mountain gorillas but also golden monkeys, chimpanzees, and a dazzling array of birdlife. Here, you’ll experience the thrill of gorilla trekking, an adventure that will leave you breathless. Imagine the moment you first glimpse a silverback, his powerful physique and intelligent eyes captivating you. You’ll be able to observe their fascinating social interactions, their playful antics, and their gentle nature.

Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: This smaller park offers a unique experience with the chance to encounter gorillas in a more intimate setting. The park also boasts stunning volcanic landscapes with breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes.

How To Reach the Gorilla Parks: You can choose to drive through the scenic countryside, passing through charming villages and bustling markets. Or, for a truly unforgettable experience, take a private charter flight to Kisoro Airstrip, soaring above the lush landscape.

When you opt for a self-drive safari, it offers an amazing adventure filled with freedom and spontaneity. Hire your 4×4 vehicle, or you can even use your car and start your journey from Kampala, traversing picturesque landscapes, lush tea plantations, and winding mountain roads. With your vehicle, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace, stop for scenic views, and immerse yourself in the local culture. The park itself is a haven for biodiversity, offering gorilla trekking experiences, birdwatching, and the chance to see other wildlife like elephants and chimpanzees.

Where to Stay in Bwindi Forest National Park

When planning your adventure to Bwindi Forest National Park, the choice of accommodation can significantly enhance your experience. One of the premier lodging options is the Gorilla Safari Lodge, located on the edge of the Bwindi Forest. This luxurious lodge offers spacious en-suite units with verandahs providing pristine forest views.

Another excellent option is the Bakiga Lodge. Situated in the heart of Bwindi Forest, it features luxury cabins with private balconies. The lodge is only ten minutes away from the Ruhija Gorilla Tracking meeting point, making it a convenient base for those going to track the Ruhija Sector.

If you prefer a more local and intimate lodging experience, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge comes highly recommended. Located just a short walk from the Rushaga gate, this lodge offers spectacular forest views. Another cozy choice is the Broadbill Forest Camp, an eco-lodge that prides itself on bridging the gap between wildlife and local community resources.

Lastly, for a truly unique experience, consider Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge. Perched on the Nkuringo sector’s trailhead, this lodge offers breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the Bwindi Forest.

Whether you choose a luxurious lodge or a cozy guesthouse, Bwindi Forest National Park offers exceptional accommodations to match any traveler’s preferences and budget. Your stay will not only provide comfort but also enrich your overall adventure.

Where to Stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

When visiting Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you have several excellent accommodation options to choose from. Mount Gahinga Lodge, located at the park’s edge, offers a luxurious retreat with spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Each cottage features a fireplace and a private porch. For a more intimate setting, consider Lake Mutanda Eco Community Centre, which provides a cozy stay with local hospitality. Another great choice is the Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, which offers budget-friendly accommodations while supporting community conservation efforts. Each of these options ensures a comfortable and memorable stay, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty and wildlife of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

More than just Gorillas: Uganda is a country of contrasts, with vibrant cities, sparkling lakes, and stunning national parks. You can combine your gorilla trek with visits to other incredible destinations, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its abundance of wildlife, including lions, elephants, and hippos.

Are you ready to go on an adventure of a lifetime? Tell us, what are you most excited to experience in Uganda?

When you choose to travel with African Jungle Adventures Ltd, you can expect to collaborate with a dedicated and passionate team that is proud to share the beauty of the African continent with you. At African Jungle Adventures Ltd, we will ensure that we create amazing safari packages for adventurous travelers. Africa’s remarkable wildlife and breathtaking landscapes are highlighted in each meticulously designed safari package. Our safari itineraries are designed to cover different tourist attractions and are made uniquely to fulfill every tourist’s needs.

Destination Uganda

Uganda, often known as the Pearl of Africa, stands as an amazing tourist haven, celebrated for its natural beauty and strategic geographical location. The national parks and game reserves boast majestic wildlife roaming freely. Going for a memorable trip of tracking mountain gorillas and experiencing the adrenaline rush of rafting the Nile are among the thrilling adventures awaiting you.

A visit to the Ishasha sector in the Queen Elizabeth National Park provides an opportunity to witness tree-climbing lions, forest elephants, and the elusive shoebill stork. Exploring the pygmy village, home to the Karamojong tribe offers a unique cultural experience. Visit the website of African Jungle Adventure Ltd and check a variety of safari packages available and book your memorable Uganda safari.

Kenya

Flamingos in Kenya

Kenya, on the other hand, showcases a breathtaking landscape featuring lakes, forests, deserts, and a tropical coastline. The vast land of Savannah grassland, teeming with abundant wildlife, makes Kenya among the best safari destinations on the continent.

Enjoy the breathtaking spectacle of over a million zebras, wildebeests, and Thomson’s gazelles migrating across the Mara River. Lake Nakuru offers an amazing sight of thousands of pink flamingos. The snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya famous as the second-highest peak in Africa is a perfect destination for those interested in mountain climbing. You can visit the African Jungle Adventure website to check all the Kenya safari packages we offer.

Tanzania

Tanzania is renowned for its expansive wilderness and a rich variety of flora and fauna. The country is home to Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. The Serengeti National Park spans vast areas and is home to over 3 million wild animals including the “big five” – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. In addition to the amazing wildlife in the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater is another amazing destination to visit when you are on a safari in Tanzania, the country is among the best safari destinations to visit in Africa.

Rwanda

Rwanda, known as the land of a thousand hills, boasts an exceptional landscape. Going on a hiking tour in Rwanda to explore the volcanoes, including the famous Nyiragongo craters which are found at the Rwanda and DRC border. In the bamboo forest of the Volcanoes National Park, tourists can encounter elusive golden monkeys and endangered mountain gorillas. In Rwanda still, tourists can enjoy kayaking and boat safaris at Lake Kivu or go bird watching and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park those who are animal lovers a visit to Akagera National Park is a perfect option. Rwanda is a small country that can be explored on a 5-day trip and gorilla trekking is the main tourist activity to do when you are on Rwanda safari. Visit the website of African Jungle Adventures Ltd to check all the Rwanda safari packages.

Mountain Gorillas are highly endangered species with less than 1000 of them living. Their main threat are poaching, civil wars, habitat loss, and diseases, they are also sold as pets and animals for private zoos though conservation efforts have led to the increase of mountain gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are herbivores animals. They feed on shoots, roots, stems, tree bark, fruits, pulp, plants, and wild celery. Baby mountain gorillas breastfeed and join the adult diet when they are about 3-4 years old, mountain gorillas don’t take water because they take enough moisture from their diet.

Mountain Gorillas are nomadic animals which is why they build new nests every day moving around their home range. The Mountain gorillas make their nests on top of trees using bent branches and grass.

Mountain gorilla families form groups that are dominant males known as Silverback because of the golden fur found on their backs, they can live in groups of up to 30 members consisting of females, young males, and baby gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are highly intelligent; this is seen in most gorillas that have been captivated they have learned to communicate with people using sign language, verbal expression, and so on.

They are the biggest species among Gorilla species, they have shorter hair and arms than other gorillas. Mountain gorillas also have an additional crest of fur on their foreheads, the thick fur on the bodies of mountain gorillas helps them when the weather in the mountain gets too cold.

They are gentle and calm animals; however, they should be treated with caution because they can become very aggressive. When disturbed, a female can fight to death for their young ones while the males can roar, hoot, bark, beat their chest thunderously, throw things, and charge.

The Silverbacks are always in control of the groups; they organize group activities for their groups and all the others in the group follow.

Newborn mountain gorillas are tiny weighing about 2 kilograms, the females can start producing at 10 years and their gestation period is 9 months like humans they cling to their mothers’ backs for 2-3 years then they can move on their own. Female mountain gorillas produce 5-6 offspring in a lifetime.

Baby Mountain gorillas and human babies almost have the same similarities in most characters apart from vegetation. They love to play together chasing each other and swinging on trees.

Mountain gorillas have their own physicians who make forest calls to the great apes and monitor each mountain gorilla family and treat them this has greatly led to the increase in mountain gorilla numbers.

Mountain gorillas communicated with each other using grunts, chest beatings, hoots, gestures, and other signs. They have a higher larynx than humans and also have a soft palate which isn’t large enough for sounds to resonate.

Mountain gorillas use tools for example they use stems for getting insects or ants from trees or the ground while others put logs on streams for other gorillas to cross.

Female Mountain gorillas have long-term relationships with male gorillas other than fellow female gorillas. Some primatologists consider the mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park in Uganda to be another sub-species but there’s no conclusion to ascertain this yet.

Gorillas have a nose print such as a thumbprint in humans; this can be used for the identification of members of the family.

Mountain gorillas are considered to be an endangered species.

Mountain gorillas cannot survive in zoos; you can only visit gorillas in the wild. Their love for the wild makes them wither and die when captivated. 

Benefits of African Gorilla Tourism

Gorilla Tourism involves gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. and so on. Gorilla Tourism is among the major activities in the tourism sector. It’s of high benefit to trek Gorillas, and experience Gorilla habituation among others.  Gorilla tourism benefits both Gorillas and human beings as discussed below:

Gorilla Tourism facilitates the conservation of Gorillas and their habitats – part of the revenue from gorilla trekking is put into conservation campaigns by employing ranger guides, Gorilla doctors, and security personnel among others.  The list of the conservationist work hard to ensure that Gorillas and their habitat are safe.

Gorilla Tourism controls poaching – part of the revenue from gorilla trekking is given back to the community in terms of social services like clean water, security, better health facilities, and better education among others.

There is a chance for gorillas to get used to human beings – during Gorilla habituation, the gorillas are trained to get familiar with human beings. The familiarity between Gorillas and humans promotes gorilla activities that fetch some revenue.

Gorilla tourism creates a safe paradise for gorillas – The safety of gorillas in their natural habitats depends on the security offered by the ranger guides, tourism police, and the army, the treatment offered by Gorilla Doctors, and controlled poaching among others.  The safety of Gorillas is based on the revenue put aside to conserve gorillas and their habitat.

Gorilla tourism is also beneficial to human beings in the following ways:

Employment opportunities – Gorilla tourism creates jobs for tour operators, ranger guides, Gorilla doctors, Tourism police, the army, and so on.

Gorilla tourism creates a market for locally produced commodities such as agricultural products, art and craft products, and so on. In other words, when residents around the park earn a living, it will stop them from poaching in the park.

Gorilla tourism is a source of government revenues – a percentage of revenue from gorilla tourism is given to develop the country in terms of taxes. In other words, gorilla tourism develops the entire country.

Gorilla Tourism develops nearby communities in terms of better social services like clean water, security, better education, better health facilities, and better roads among others.

In conclusion, gorilla tourism earns the country a lot of benefits both to Gorillas and human beings.

Getting to the Gorilla Destinations

Because the gorillas are found high in the Mountains and deep in the Jungles, access to the gorilla parks requires a strong 4×4 car, especially during the wet season. You can rent a strong 4×4 from credible car rental companies in Uganda such as Autorental Uganda, 4×4 Uganda, camp Masters Uganda, 4×4 Self Drive Adrica, and Drive Camp Uganda among others.

Mountain gorillas’ habitat is different from where other wildlife live- these large apes live in African tropical rain-forests at elevation range of about 2600-4500m. To be in position to move in the same pace with other trekkers’ speed, some level of physical wellness is needed. Trekking through high elevation to find mountain gorillas in the wild takes from 2-6 hours and visitor journey is characterized by navigating via the steep slopes, muddy ground floor though this depends on weather conditions.

A normal day of mountain gorillas includes several activities such as copulating, socializing, feeding and they move to different places to find what to feed on in a day. During the dry season they tend to move to further areas due to scarcity in food but this is the best time to visit Uganda or Rwanda to track these great apes considering the conducive weather conditions.

How to keep fit for gorilla trekking- Uganda or Rwanda

Prior visiting Uganda for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Rwanda to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, you need to prepare well. First, do hiking exercises- take advantage of the hillsides back home or travel to Uganda or Rwanda early and practice before setting off for actual gorilla trekking. Visitors can decide to jog, run, do squats or stretching and all is intended to enable you tackle the high terrains in Bwindi National Park or Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

What makes gorilla trekking a challenging experience?

There are lots of factors that make gorilla trekking seemingly a challenging adventure but with some physical fitness level, visitors are guaranteed of a successful experience. The main factors include; location or movement of gorillas- mountain gorillas are wildlife species and never settled in one area. They move to different areas and the long distances mean long hours of trekking hence requiring some level of physical fitness.

Weather conditions & trails- weather conditions in gorilla habitats are never predictable, rains can start at any time of the day and the ground floor can turn muddy or steep slopes become slippery. During the wet or rainy season, most gorilla habitats such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park experience dense vegetation growth which at times makes it a little challenging penetrating to find mountain gorillas.

Gorilla group allocated- Not all gorilla groups are easy or simple to track. Notable gorilla trekking regions such as Rushaga and Nkuringo are known for their high elevation and tracking their gorilla families requires a bit of physical fitness. This is also a case with the Susa A gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda.

Best time to go gorilla trekking

Though physical levels are required for gorilla trekking, there is need to also understand when you should visit to see mountain gorillas. The dry season offers the best and friendly conditions for tourists to enjoy the most of gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda or Rwanda. When planning for gorilla trekking during the dry season, there are two phases- the December to February and June to September.

However, this doesn’t exclude holidaymakers from visiting Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking during the wet or rainy season- March to May or October to November. These months of the year offer amazing mountain gorilla experiences though the challenge is that this is when most gorilla safari destinations experience heavy rains.

Besides physical fitness, what else is required for gorilla trekking?

Valid gorilla permits are important for any successful or complete gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda. In Uganda, every valid gorilla permit is issued to eligible persons above 15 years at USD700 (for foreign non-residents), USD600 (foreign residents) & UGX250000 (for citizens within East African Community). While on gorilla trekking safari, Rwanda gorilla permits cost USD1500 per person and USD450 in Congo.

In addition to gorilla permits, visitors also require sturdy hiking boots or shoes, long sleeved shirts, insect repellents, camera free from flashlight, gardening gloves, sweater, passport, long trousers, hat, backpack, energy snacks, pair of cotton socks, bottled water, sweater, first aid kit or medical kit, sunscreen, rain jacket or poncho. Walking sticks will be of great use but you will find it at the park offices on the day of briefing or request one from the lodge.

Can I trek gorillas if I am disabled or elderly?

Although the minimum age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years, the pregnant women, disabled or elderly aren’t excluded from enjoying this remarkable adventure. There are options for all these categories including gorilla sedan chairs. Your tour operator on ground is in position to book in advance gorilla sedan chair for you and in Uganda, they are available for booking at US$300-500.

How hard or difficult is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is without doubt a major highlight of all African safaris. How difficult gorilla trekking is all depends on several factors including age of visitor, altitude, location of gorilla groups, what time of the year you plan to visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking and others.

How long does gorilla trekking take?

A normal gorilla trekking experience lasts 2-6 hours and when you come across a family of habituated gorillas, you will be guaranteed of an hour to spend face to face with them, learn more about how they behave, taking pictures, enjoy their unique body gestures. The park guide will be assigned to lead visitors and the guides take safety of you, interpret or explain the behaviors of these interesting apes before you etc.

Congo gorilla safaris and tours introduce tourists to the country’s 2 distinct destinations to enjoy gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Congo is done in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, each park offering you a great opportunity to encounter a group of distinct gorillas.

In the Virunga National Park Congo, tourists get a chance to embark on a gorilla trekking adventure to see the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. The UNESCO World Heritage Site lies on the Eastern side of D.R. Congo and forms part of the Virunga Conservation Area (VCA).

Virunga National Park

Located in the Eastern part of D.R. Congo, the Virunga National Park is Africa’s oldest wildlife safari park, founded in 1925. Virunga was originally established as Albert National Park till 1969 when its name was changed to presently Virunga National Park. Virunga National Park in Congo occupies over 7800sq.kms offering refuge to a section of the chain Virunga Volcanoes, several mammal species, reptiles, and bird species.

Mountain gorillas are without doubt Virunga National Park’s prime attractions and there are 8 habituated gorilla families already open for gorilla trekking. Virunga was designated a UNESCO Site in 1979 due to its ecological significance. Virunga National Park is an amazing destination to explore impressive species of wildlife including 22 primate species, 65 species of amphibians, 706 species of birds, 109 reptiles.

Virunga National Park

Virunga’s mammal species of interest to see while on Congo safari include buffaloes, hippos, blue duikers, lions, elephants, Kobs, topis, giant forest hogs, aardvark, bushbucks, okapis, warthogs, red river hogs, bay duikers, and others. Other amazing primates worth keeping an eye on while on Congo safari in Virunga National Park include the olive baboons, Dents Mona monkeys, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys.

Activities to do

Besides mountain gorilla trekking, Virunga National Park offers other exciting activities for tourists to engage in. They include chimpanzee habituation, guided nature walks, Nyiragongo hiking, birding, and others. The birds of interest at Virunga National Park include narrow-tailed starlings, Madagascar bee-eaters, Ruwenzori turaco, grey-throated barbet, fish eagles, and others.

Accommodation

There are different accommodation alternatives for everyone on safari in Virunga National Park to spend a night. They range from budget, and mid-range to luxury options with the most popular lodges including Kibumba Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp, Bukima Tented Camp.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is set in the Eastern part of D.R. Congo just nearer to Bukavu Town along the Western bank of the Lake Kivu and Rwanda border. This Congo safari park was established in 1970 and derives its name from 2 dormant volcanoes of Mount Kahuzi that rise up to 3308m and Mount Biega 2790m. Kahuzi-Biega National Park sits on an extensive 6000sq.kms of land area and it is remarkably one place where Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking is done.

In 1980, Kahuzi-Biega National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site considering its distinct biodiversity characterized by lush rainforest and particularly, sheltering the Eastern Lowland gorillas. The park’s primary vegetation zones include swamp forests, bogs, bamboo, subalpine heather, montane forests, and others.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park protects up to 136 species of mammals including several Eastern Lowland gorillas. There are also over 350 bird species including 42 endemic species, and 13 primate species. The other significant mammal species that thrive within Kahuzi-Biega National Park include buffaloes, elephants, and more.

Main activities to do in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

• Lowland gorilla trekking

Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking is, without doubt, the main highlight of all safaris in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. About 5 gorilla families have been habituated for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega including Chimanuka, Mugahuka, Bonnani, Nganwa gorilla group families, and others. A complete trek to see the lowland gorillas of Kahuzi-Biega takes from 1 hour to 6 hours and this is inclusive of one hour with them face to face. Kahuzi-Biega National Park like Virunga National Park is an affordable gorilla trekking destination with gorilla permits issued out at USD450 per person per trek.

• Birding

Birds in Virunga National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is home to 450 species of birds making it a special birding destination of its own. The birds of interest for birders on Congo safaris include the Grauer’s broadbill, yellow-crested helmet shrike, African broadbill, Rwenzori turacos, and others.

• Volcano hiking

Volcano hiking in Kahuzi-Biega NP is best done on the two dormant volcanoes- Mount Kahuzi (3308m) and Biega (2790m). Hiking Mount Kahuzi takes about 3 to 4 hours and Biega, hikes can take approximately 3 hours.

• Climate

Other than unique gorilla species, Congo is also known for its distinct weather and climatic conditions. It is situated astride the Equator, experiencing the most favorable conditions that make it an all-year-round travel destination. There are 2 rainy seasons and 2 drier seasons that D.R. Congo enjoys- the dry season starting from June, July, August to September, and December, January to February.

Packing list for an African safari 2022

Valid documents

Like traveling to other countries in the world, most Sub-Saharan African states also require tourists on African safaris to have valid passports. The passports should be at least 6 months beyond the travel dates of a visitor in Africa. Other than passports, other essential documents worth obtaining or carrying for your African safari include a yellow fever certificate, COVID-19 vaccination certificates, e-tickets, travel insurance, and travel plan. Visas are among other essential documents visitors on an African safari should pay close attention to. Visas are needed because they are required if you are to have entry to most of the countries in Africa.

Cash

Most of the African countries have not transitioned from cash to modern technologies and most of the transactions are carried out using cash. While in the bush enjoying a wildlife safari in Africa, credit card machines are nowhere to be seen. ATMs are available in urban centers and to ease your transaction while in the destination you must exchange your dollars, pounds, and sterling for local currency. This can help you in case you want to purchase some small items such as drinks, toiletries, and others.

What to carry for 2 weeks African safari?

The main reason why most visitors travel to Africa is to enjoy game viewing or game drive/wildlife viewing and the popular destinations for game safaris include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and South Sudan among others. You immerse yourself into the wild to see a diversity of wildlife and this is what differentiates a typical African safari from the normal tours in other destinations. If you plan to undertake a 2-week wildlife or gorilla safari holiday in Africa, then the following items must be carried; insect repellent preferably DEET, 3 layering tanks/t-shirt, a duffel/soft-sided bag, a light scarf, a utility jacket, 1 to 2 long-sleeved shirts, 2 pairs of pants, toiletries, sunscreen, moisturizer, wide brim hat, first aid kit, USB flash drive, waterproof dry bag, good hiking shoes, and others.

Luggage & other essentials

When packing, be mindful of the weight as some destinations are strict on it especially if you plan to undertake bush flight safaris in places such as Masai Mara National Reserve or Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Most small planes require a specific weight size for example SafariLink or AirKenya are strict on weight to carry but they charge a small fee. We advise our clients to carry soft-sided luggage which makes it easier to be put in compartments.

Bric’s X-bag 22 folding duffel

This is essential for tourists who plan to embark on an African safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve. This is waterproof, sturdy, and classy. You can easily fold it down into a small zippered pouch making it easier to pack. If you heading to Tanzania or Kenya for an African safari holiday, try as much as you can to avoid plastic bags.

African safari clothing

Clothes should be left out on your packing list for an African safari. When choosing the attire to put on an African safari, you must be mindful of African culture- dress decently in a manner that doesn’t affect people’s culture. Respect for African culture is key. When packing be mindful of the weight airlines require and often, luggage of 15-30kgs is allowed while some aircraft only accept luggage of 12-15kgs. There are also laundry services offered at most lodges or hotels in most of the African safari destinations but at visitors’ cost. This means you don’t need to worry in case you want to change clothes any day. The preferred clothing for an African safari holiday includes long pants and long-sleeved shirts- these are essential in protecting you from insect bites or scratches while on walking safaris. Avoid shorts or skirts if you are heading for an African holiday- they are only good for game drives. When choosing clothes, avoid bright colors and find those that blend with the environment.

Safari footwear

There are many ways of exploring Africa- tourists can engage in walking safari or guided game viewing. If you are heading for walking, hiking, gorilla trekking or chimpanzee tracking, then we recommend sturdy hiking boots that should be waterproof.

Safari hat

Find a good safari hat that is wide enough to protect you from scorching sunshine while you enjoy your African safari. It should be covering your face and neck. You may also need swimsuits, and casual clothes, especially for tourists who plan to spend a night in luxury accommodation facilities with swimming pools.

Prescribed medicines/medical kit

Carry prescribed medication on your African safari just in case of any emergency. You need anti-malaria medicine, anti-diarrhea, and others. The medical kit or first aid kit always contains a variety of these plus bandages, plasters, and others.

Camera and other gadgets

A complete African safari is one that you return home when you have taken pictures. The pictures shall always keep reminding you of that incredible safari holiday you had in Africa and you can achieve this when you have the best camera. If you are heading for extraordinary primate adventures such as gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo or chimpanzee tracking, we recommend good cameras with no flashlight. You may also have a pair of binoculars- Africa is one of the world’s leading birding destinations and expects to see a diversity of bird species.

Waterproof bag

A waterproof bag large enough is essential to help you pack and protect your gadgets such as cameras. This is because rains in most of the African safari destinations are unpredictable and early preparation is essential.

Plug converters

Most safari lodges and hotels in Africa offer many universal plug adaptors for tourists to use while in their rooms or tents though you can also carry your own. The electric voltage in Africa is usually 220-240volt though this may differ from country to country with the plug type.

A day-by-day self-drive gorilla trekking safari in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park and in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park offers a chance to compare gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. The arrangement of our 7-day self-drive gorilla trekking safari in East Africa started with looking for a good local car rental agency to hire a 4×4 safari vehicle that we can use to move around in the two counties. This trip started in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport where we met the agent from a car rental agency who offered us a Land Cruiser VX/V8 at 95$ per day. The trip end in Rwanda at Kigali International Airport where we met an agent from 4×4 Uganda Ltd and dropped the vehicle to catch our flight back home. This is a great opportunity to do gorilla trekking trice in Uganda and Rwanda when you have limited time in Africa, we also have short gorilla trips like the 3-day gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda.

Picking the Safari Rental Car

The first day started with meeting a car rental agent at the Entebbe International Airport who delivered the vehicle to us and then we transferred to the southwestern part of the country to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park the home to the rare and engendered mountain Gorillas in Uganda. When we received the vehicle at the airport, we drove for something like 2hour and we got a stopover for photos and breakfast at the Equator in the village called Kayabwe, then we continued to Mbarara Town for lunch. After lunch, we continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park for relaxation as we waited for dinner and overnight at Mahogany Springs Lodge.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla Family in Bwindi Forest Uganda

The next day before 8:00 a.m., we had breakfast and got our packed lunch, gorilla trekking gears, and then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park headquarters for a briefing from the ranger guide about how to behave when with the mountain gorillas in the jungle. After the briefing, we were accompanied by armed ranger guides and entered the forest to search for the mountain gorillas. We passed through the thick forest, slashing the undergrowth, and parting thick creepers in order to create the way. The tracking period was about 3hours but we were told by the ranger that sometimes it can be less or more and always depends on the movement of the gorillas in their natural habitat in search of food and shelter. Upon reaching the Gorillas, we got a full hour to spend with the gorillas we got a chance to watch them as they interact with each other, and communicated, and also took photographs and recorded videos. Then after this amazing experience, we returned to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi

On the third day, we left this amazing jungle and we drove about 75km to Lake Bunyonyi found between Kisoro and Kabale near Uganda and Rwanda border. The word Bunyonyi in the local language means little birds and therefore the lake got its name from the many birds that inhabit the area. Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa. Upon our arrival at Bunyonyi Overland Camp, we relaxed and waited for lunch and after lunch, we took a canoe ride to the various islands found on this lake. After the canoe ride, we returned to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Lake Bunyonyi

The next day at Bunyonyi Overland Camp, we had a lot of activities from which we can choose, we had options like, visiting the local market in Kabale town, visiting the Bakiga cultural museum, there was another option of visiting the dairy farms and plantations and also there was an option to visit the Batwa community on one of the islands on the Lake Bunyonyi. But we decided to spend the whole day relaxing at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Camp as we spot different birds at the lake.

On the 5th day, we had to drive direct and cross the border to Rwanda through the Cyanika border and transfer to Volcanoes National Park the home to the rare and endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. En route, we visited the beautiful twin lakes for memorable photos before we proceed to the park for lunch and relaxation as we waited for dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Mountain Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda

Second Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

The 6th day, was the day of doing gorilla trekking in Rwanda, we had to wake up early in the morning and transfer to the park headquarters of Volcanoes National Park with our gorilla trekking permits and gorilla trekking gear for registration and gorilla group allocation. At the park headquarters, we were shortly briefed about the gorilla trekking rule and regulations, and then we were accompanied by an armed guard and two ranger guides and then we entered the jungle in search of mountain gorillas. We hiked into the volcano Virunga hills and green valley for something like 3hours before we met the gorillas, the tracking activity is a bit tiresome but the encounter with these gentle giants makes you forget all the hardships you went through as you were searching for them. When we met the gorillas, we were given a full hour to spend with them gorillas and we got a chance to take photos and record videos. After this amazing experience with gorillas, we returned to the lodge for relaxation.

The last day was reserved for departure, we woke up at around 8:30 in the morning for breakfast at the lodge and then pack our luggage, and then hit the road and drove to Kigali the most beautiful city in Africa for a simple city tour, last-minute shopping and then transfer Kigali International Airport where we met the agent from 4×4 Uganda Ltd to receive the vehicle.

Mountain gorillas do not exist anywhere else in the wild and they are not found in captivity. Tourists all over the world every year travel to this side of the African continent to visit these rare primates species, for anyone to visit mountain gorillas in any of these three countries, needs to acquire gorilla permits.

Depending on your budget and interest, you can visit mountain gorillas in any of these 3 countries and the price for a gorilla permit in the three countries differ for example, in Uganda gorilla permit is sold at 650$ per permit, in DRC gorilla permits are sold at 450$ per permit and in Rwanda, they are for 1500$ per permit.

After getting the gorilla permit, the next step is traveling to the national park headquarter depending on which park you want to visit and once you at the park always in the morning, you will be briefed about gorilla trekking rules, a ranger guide will lead a small group of eight or less into the misty jungles in the search for these animals. Once the gorillas are tracked down, the tourists will be allowed a maximum of an hour to stay with the mountain gorillas, take photos, record videos and observe them as the mum is caring for the young and the youth play from one branch of trees to another.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park – Uganda

Uganda is famously known as the Pearl of Africa and is one of the most beautiful tourism destinations in Africa and it’s among the 3 countries from where tourists can safely visit the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Uganda has amazing natural tourist attractions and diverse cultures which you can enjoy when you decide to visit the country for a safari. Uganda has over 50 cultures and going for a gorilla safari you can also get a chance to learn more about this country and its people.

Uganda is home to over half of the world’s total population of mountain gorillas, is because it only Uganda that has two gorilla parks that are the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is found in the southwestern part of the country, and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is also found in the southwestern part of the country and also Mgahinga Gorilla National park is part of the Virunga Mountains and the park features 3 extinct volcanoes namely Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. This makes the country the best destination for any tourist interested in going gorilla trekking in Africa.

Every tourist to go gorilla trekking in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park will need to have a gorilla permit that can be purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offices in Kampala and they are sold at 750$ per permit and it’s advised to be booked in advance due to the fact that they are always on high demand.

In addition to the gorilla parks in Uganda, the country is blessed with about 10 national parks and wildlife reserves from where you can watch a variety of wildlife and big games. Among the other attractions that can make a Uganda gorilla safari more memorable are the beautiful rain forests and volcanic mountains in the western part of the country. A Uganda safari will give you a great experience that you need to come back and witness time and time again. You will love the beautiful scenery in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda

Rwanda gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National park which is found in the northwestern part of the country. The park is part of the Virunga Mountains and features 5 volcanoes namely Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. The park is not only home to Mountain gorillas, but still, Volcanoes National Park is home to a variety of wildlife like golden monkeys, over 178 different species of birds the thing which makes the park also a perfect birding destination.

Going gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, every tourist will need to acquire a gorilla permit that can be purchased from the Rwanda development board (RDB) at 1500$ per day. There are several reasons which make Rwanda the favorable gorilla trekking destination and the main one is being the distance whereby traveling from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park can only take a 2-hour drive not like in Uganda where a tourist will need to travel an 8-hour drive from Kampala to Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga National Park.

Alongside gorilla trekking in Rwanda, the country is also blessed with other interesting and historical attractions for example the genocide memorial sites plus the wildlife in Akagera National Park where you can enjoy watching different animals and Nyungwe Forest National Park where you can spot Chimpanzees and also enjoy canopy walk.

Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Mountain Gorilla trekking in DRC is done in Virunga National Park which is found in the eastern part of the country. Gorilla trekking safaris in DRC are not yet popular because of the political unrest in the country per now. This made Uganda and Rwanda who are politically safe to be the best choice for any tourist who would love to visit mountain gorillas in their natural environment.

Uganda being the pearl of Africa offers the best wildlife destination. Many places have been gazetted and made amazing homes to different wildlife species hence easing conservation and sustainability.  Wildlife places have been categorized into national parks where animals are left to roam aimlessly, reserves, and other protected areas. Uganda consists of numerous exciting wildlife places which attract a great number of tourist inflows.

Murchison Fall Conservation Area

This is located in the northern region of Uganda and is ranked as the largest conservation area. It is famous for its stunning Murchison falls and the numerous wildlife species that attract a great number of nature lovers. Adjacent to Murchison falls, there are other attractions such as Budongo forest, Bugungu and Karuma fall wildlife reserve.

Murchison Falls

Murchison falls is characterized by different forest types such as the riverine forest, woodland vegetation, and savannah vegetation. The wildlife species inhabited at Murchison falls conservation area include leopards, lions, elephants, giraffes, Ugandan kob, hartebeest, oribis, chimpanzees, buffaloes, warthogs, and many bird species. There are also several primate species like baboons and other monkey species

Murchison falls also known as the Kabalega falls is found on the course of the great Nile, breaking the stunning Victoria Nile flowing from the vast Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga continuing to the northern edge of Lake Albert. A beautiful rainbow is formed at water squeezes into a narrow gorge hitting so hard on the rocks creating a thunderous roar giving an amazing scenic view. The park derives its name from the magnificent falls and while at the great Nile, you can sight aquatic wildlife species such as the Nile crocodiles, hippopotamus, and some aquatic birds. Murchison falls is a must go for Uganda safari and is one of the best national parks to visit while on a safari in Uganda.

Murchison fall conservation area and its natural settings of Budongo and Rabongo forests having a large population concentration of chimpanzees and other primate species such as the baboons and monkeys, bird, and plant species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Birds on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a protected area located in western Uganda named after the royal Queen of England established in 1954. It is characterized by savannah and wetland to riverine and lowland forest. It comprises a variety of physical features such as the wide-open plains, volcanic features like volcanic cones and deep craters, lakes which provide a scenic view and best for wildlife safari in Uganda.

The park is famous for its abundant exotic wildlife species such as the big five mammals like the buffaloes, elephants, hippopotamus, African leopards, other species like oribis, Ugandan kob, hartebeest, antelopes, baboons, chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge, and the stunning tree-climbing lions. The park is gifted with a variety of bird species over 500 species making it the best birding destination. Queen Elizabeth national park offers the best amazing tourist activities such as game drives, boat cruise, nature safari walk and birding among others.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains

Mountain Rwenzori National Park is a magnificent mountain lying in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The park was named after a UNESCO and made a world Heritage site in 2008 because of its extraordinary natural beauty. It is a block of rocks not a volcanic mountain found in the western rift valley and was christened the fabled mountains of the moon It is home to the most stunning landscapes in the world and is located in the Rwenzori Mountains. The park has a variety of mystical features such as amazing waterfalls, glaciers, the valley of the nine lakes, abundant flora and fauna with a variety of endangered species, and other mind-blowing scenery.

The park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including the Albertine rift endemics. The wildlife species include the African forest elephant, duiker, Rwenzori turaco, black and white colobus, forest elephants, hyrax, and chimpanzee among others

Mountain Rwenzori offers world-class hiking and mountaineering because it is a block of rocks, with Margherita, the highest peak in Uganda, and the third-largest in Africa at 5100m ASL. However, there are some other activities embraced by tourists such as mountain hiking and nature walk.

Lake Mburo National Park

Zebras in Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is one of Uganda’s smaller parks with its landscape characterized by savannah and acacia woodland. It consists of a variety of habitats such as the bushy thickets, swamps, rock outcrop, savannah, open and woodland, lakes and swamps which are seasonal and permanent, forests and grassy valley. The park harbors several species of both mammals and birds found now were in Uganda. Lake Mburo national park is the only park with errands, impala, and klipspringer. It’s home to a great population of zebras and the highest concentration of leopards. Other wild species include the Uganda kob, African buffalo, waterbuck, topi, oribis, and reedbuck are also spotted at the park. During night drives nocturnal species are sighted such as the bushpig, white-tailed mongoose, genet, and hyena.

Semliki National Park

Hot Springs in Semliki National Park

Semliki national park is the newest national park in Uganda found in the Bundibugyo district. It’s famous for its Sempaya Hotsprings the female and male hot spring. The temperatures at the hot springs are high over 1000 degrees Celsius and it’s used for hard boiling. Tourist comes with foodstuff like eggs, matooke, and greens which they boil for less than 30 minutes. Different primate species are spotted in the forest zones of Semliki national park such as the red-tailed monkey, vervet monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, elephants, chimpanzees, pygmy antelopes among others. The park comprises a diverse bird species inhabiting the lowland tropical forests.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mountain Gorilla Bwindi Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s most remarkable gorilla safari destination which lies in southwestern Uganda on the rift valley edge. It is a UNESCO world heritage site formed by part of Bwindi impenetrable forest embraced with the richest ecosystems in Africa. It is gifted with five major rivers that pour in Lake Albert the park harbors more than 120 mammal species and 356 bird species and protects over 450 mountain gorillas which are habituated and made ready for tourism purposes.

The park offers a great opportunity to encounter the Bakiga and the Batwa pygmies. Gorilla tracking areas in Bwindi National Park include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Other wildlife species hosted at the park include primates such as monkeys like the vervet monkey, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, forest elephants, bushbuck, antelopes, forest duiker antelopes, and 200 butterflies.

Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee – Kibale National Park

The park is home to one of Uganda’s most tropical forests. It is home to a large population of chimpanzees and different wildlife making Kibale the best destination for a safari. Kibale national park has a diversity of primate species and endangered species in their natural settings. The northern sector of the park experiences abundant rainfall totals in the month of March to May and September to November which requires one to wear dense and thick clothing.

The park is famous for its high population concentration of chimpanzees and other wildlife of 70 mammals, 13 primates, and 375 birds. Kibale is one of the famous researchers’ sites in Africa and the main focus is put on chimpanzees and primates. It’s ranked as one of Uganda’s rewarding safari destination.

Mgahinga National Park

Golden Monkey in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is found in southwestern Uganda bordering Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. It’s famous for its magnificent extinct conical volcanic mountains, the Muhavura, Sabinyo, and Gahinga Mountain. It lies up in the clouds close to the Kisoro region. A tour around the park exposes you to rare animal species and offers a significant cultural experience of the Batwa.

The Batwa pygmies were the first forest people, a tribe of food gatherers and hunters. The extinct volcanic mountain in Mgahinga provides outstanding wonderful scenery. Mgahinga is famous for its rare mountain Gorillas and endangered golden monkeys with other species like elephants, duikers, antelope’s reedbuck, waterbuck, and nocturnal creatures like bushbuck, bush pig. It offers the best exploration destination to trackers.

Mountain Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano found in Mountain Elgon national park and the park derives its name from the famous mountain. It is shared by both Uganda its part gazetted in 1992 and Kenya gazetted in 1968. The park gives a great opportunity to bird watchers and photographers as well as sees other mammals are sighted during the safari.

Different features are found within the park and these include water-falls such as chebenet falls, Sipi falls, and caves like the Kapkwai, hot-springs in the former volcanic craters, rivers like Sipi River, and the beautiful flora and fauna. The cave in the park shows the ancient paintings near the trailhead. Mountain Elgon national park offers the best safari tour experience. The vegetation cover along the mountain slopes are habitats to a variety of wildlife species such as Buffaloes, spotted hyena, squirrels, duiker, oribis, Defassa’s waterbuck, and primates such as the white colobus monkey and the Blue monkey.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is an isolated park found in north-eastern Uganda through the wild frontier region of Karamoja in the Wilderness in the Kaabong district. It lies in the rugged savannah between Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan borders and was gazetted in 1962. Kidepo national park is blessed with two valleys for example Kidepo valley and Narus valley which are seasonal. Other attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park include the Kanangorok hot spring near the Sudan border.

Kidepo valley national park is ranked as the finest wilderness found at the core of the savannah landscape and is gifted by nature. It is home to over 75 mammals and 470 birds providing the best game viewing location. Kidepo offers the best cultural encounter of the Karamajongs whereby you get to know their lifestyle, cultural dances, face, and body toning among others. It offers a great game viewing where you encounter wildlife species like buffaloes, ostriches, African bush elephants common visitors of the Narus valley, striped hyena, leopards, cheetah, lions which are occasional visitors in the park.

Getting there

Being an isolated national park in Uganda, access to Kidepo requires a strong 4×4 vehicle such as Land Cruisers, Land Rover, or Nissan Patrol / Safari. The roads are almost impassable during heavy rains. Contact 4×4 Uganda for more information and advice about which car model can perform best in Kidepo valley National Park. They offer budget car rental in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania, with camping gear and rooftop tents at the most affordable prices on the market.

In spite of the fact that Uganda safaris are can be done any time of the year, September is the perfect month for an interesting and memorable safari experience in all of the wildlife parks and game reserves across the country.

Probably you may have visited Uganda for different reasons, either on a business trip, visiting a friend, or even visiting for a church conference and got a chance to witness how good and amazing the climate of the small landlocked country in the eastern part of Africa. However, I doubt if you ever thought of using the last days of your visit to the country and at least have a chance to explore the different tourist attractions this country has to offer and you witness yourself why thousands of people travel from different corner of the world to come and tour Uganda or even witness yourself why Winston Churchill in 1908 in his book ‘My African Journey’ he nicknamed Uganda the ‘Pearl of Africa’.

If you didn’t know, there are some times of the year when it’s really hard to enjoy a Uganda safari fullest as expected particularly during the rainy season of the year most especially the months of March to May. This is due to the fact that during the rainy season most of the national parks are difficult to access because their terrains are muddy and sloppy and even bad roads to the parks. Being some of Uganda national parks are tropical rainforests like Kibale Forest National Park where Chimpanzee tracking is done, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where gorilla trekking is done, moving through such think jungles during the rainy season in the search for animals it becomes hard and challenging due to the wetness and coldness. You will also find the animals hidden as they try to look for warmth and protect themselves from rain. But still, if you have only got time to travel to Uganda only in the rainy season there is an option of at least hire 4×4 safari vehicle that is strong enough to pass through the bad and muddy roads in different national parks in the country.

During the dry season of the year, it’s the best time to take an interesting and memorable safari to Uganda. The dry season from December to February and June to July the national parks are easily accessible, the grass is low and animals can clearly be seen. Still, it’s during this season of the year that wildlife watching in the park is easy and different animals gather around different water points in the park to drink water in order to cool their bodies. This is an added advantage to the tourists whereby they get a chance to see animals when they are in large groups as they try to fight to drink water.

Mountain Gorilla in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Since the country as a lot to offer when it comes to tourist attractions, tourists who would love to use the discounted tour packages and some discounts on accommodation still there is a lot of tourist destination you can visit in Uganda at any time of the being rainy season or dry season. Some of the distinctions include the savanna national parks like the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park Lake Mburo National Park among others and still, there are other attractions like waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries among other so don’t be restricted on when to visit the country. The weather in Uganda supports tourism throughout the year. An evening game drives through the same of the national parks in the country like; Queen Elizabeth National Park is also a memorable experience which accompanies great views like seeing several animals grazing in the evergreen plains.

The country has gained popularity just because of its amazing and interesting tourist destinations in the country for example; Uganda is among the three countries in the world where a tourist can visit the rare and endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat safely. Mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. These primates are the leading tourist attractions in Uganda and the country hosts over half of the world’s remaining population of these animals in the two parks. Today, Uganda records the highest number of tourists going for gorilla trekking in the two parks and this has contributed to its country’s development economically and the development of its tourism industry. Meeting a gorilla family/group in this thick rainforests is a memorable experience and this is best done during the dry season when the mountain gorillas can easily be seen as they are looking for food and when the young ones are playing.

Apart from trekking mountain gorillas in the two national parks of Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga national parks, the country has a lot of other tourists activities which can be done in the country like cultural visits, City tours, birding tours, guided nature walks, hiking, wildlife watching, camping safaris among others.