GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA FROM SOUTH AFRICA

A Ugandan tour without gorilla trekking activities is surely an incomplete one. As most of the visitors have always admitted, gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the most popular tourism activities in the country. Spending time with Uganda’s giant treasures, the mountain gorillas is once in a lifetime experience.

There are about a thousand mountain gorillas remaining in the whole world. Uganda alone shelters almost half of these remaining mountain gorillas in the wild and this has made the country internationally recognized as one of the best gorilla trekking destinations and the best place to see mountain gorillas in the whole world.

Only three countries offer gorilla trekking activities including Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Among all the three gorilla trekking destinations, Uganda is the largest host of mountain gorillas. There are only two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda including the popular forest of Bwindi impenetrable National park and Mgahinga national park situated in the South western part of Uganda. Gorilla trekking always comes first on every visitor’s bucket list while on a Ugandan safari tour.

Bwindi being the leading gorilla trekking destination means that the chances of sighting mountain gorillas while at this spot are about 95%. There are 21 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi ranging from 9 to 26 gorilla individuals and offers the visitors with about four gorilla region sectors to choose from including the popular Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Buhoma sector alone homes about five habituated gorilla family groups including Rushegura, Katwe, Muyambi, Mubare and Habinyanja. The sector also carries pride in being the first place where gorilla trekking was done and the most visited gorilla sector in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Mgahinga is another popular gorilla trekking destination in Uganda and Africa at large and shelters only one habituated gorilla family widely known as Nyakagezi family. Regardless of its small size in all the national parks of Uganda, Mgahinga is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country.

It only has one habituated family group consisting of about 9 individuals and it is one of the best families to encounter while on gorilla trekking tours. All gorilla trekking activities in Uganda start off in the early morning hours at about 9:00 am in the evening after a short briefing on what to do and anticipate while on the trek and take about 3 hours per day depending on the location of mountain gorillas tracked.

GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda from South Africa is absolutely possible as one can use flight means of transport which are quicker or alternatively use the road means of transport that take about 4 to 5 days to Uganda. After reaching the Entebbe airport, travelers can opt to use public or private means of transport or private transportation depending on their budget. From Entebbe airport to Bwindi impenetrable national park is about 485.5km away taking 9 to 10 hours on the road.

UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING RULES AND REGULATIONS.

While Ugandans are in for the great experience of their lifetime, there are rules and regulations to be followed for the smooth running of this remarkable activity. These rules are meant not only to protect the mountain gorillas alone but visitors too.

However much gorilla trekking is exciting, the activity is ethical and visitors are advised to follow the instructions given to them by their park rangers. This is also because the primate species are endangered meaning they should be protected from any health risks or external threats.

Visitors are limited to a group of eight members only, and each group is allocated to one particular gorilla family group. This is to ensure there is suppression of transmission of diseases that can be easily transmitted from visitors to the gorillas.

Visitors who suspect to be infected with contagious and transmittable diseases are restricted from trekking and accessing these primate species. Transmittable diseases like cough, diarrhea and flu can easily be transmitted to gorillas and once affected, turn out badly.

Therefore visitors are advised to communicate earlier so they can refunded their money spent on accessing the permits or be compensated next time when they are in their best health.

All trekkers must be above 15 years of age. This is because a large number of children under the age of 15 always carry flu, colds and coughs that can easily be transmitted to mountain gorillas.

Since the gorilla trekking activity involves hiking steep hills and long nature walking, visitors are advised to be in their best health both physically and mentally before they can dive into this tiring but rewarding activity.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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