Uganda gorilla trek from New York

Introduction

Uganda gorilla trek from New York in the United States of America is a self-reward safari that anyone who wishes to track gorillas should engage in. It is a lifetime activity that will leave you with undying memories where you have to be close to the mountain gorillas in their natural forests.

The gorilla trekking experience involves hiking through the steep slopes and thickets in search of the mountain gorillas. Upon locating the mountain gorillas, a maximum of an hour is awarded to the trekkers in the presence of the mountain gorillas.

How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?

Tracking the mountain gorillas in Uganda requires a gorilla trekking permit acquired about 3 months before the trekking date. You can only book a gorilla permit through a trusted tour operator who will purchase it from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the body that governs the operation of all protected areas in Uganda. To be sure about your gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, book a permit in advance. This is because permits always get sold off and should be at least 3 months ahead.

When going to track gorillas, 8 people are always allowed to visit a gorilla family and you are always allowed to spend one hour in the presence of gorillas. However, you can also engage in a gorilla habituation experience where you have 4 hours with the gorillas. Gorilla habituation is a bit different from gorilla trekking in that, for gorilla habituation you have more time with the mountain gorillas and you will be very close to them compared to gorilla trekking where you only have an hour.

Where to track gorillas in Uganda

Uganda has two gorilla destinations that are Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, these national parks are located in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi has four gorilla sectors Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Rushaga. People prefer trekking gorillas in Rushaga because it has many gorilla groups. Bwindi has over 50 gorilla families with 24 habituated for trekking and Mgahinga has one Nyakagezi gorilla family ready for trekking. Gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi and Mgahinga are not so different. Gorillas in Bwindi are found in thick tropical rain forests while those tracking gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are always in the bamboo forests.

Gorilla trekking can be combined with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. Chimpanzees differ from mountain gorillas starting by body size and their family establishment. When trekking the chimpanzees, you take about 1 hour to meet them and you are given another hour to spend with them. However, trekking mountain gorillas requires 4 hours to get to them. A chimpanzee permit is USD 250 for foreign non-residents which is cheaper than USD 800 for a gorilla permit for foreign non-residents booked through a local tour company and bought from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Foreign residents pay USD 200 to track chimpanzees while the gorilla permit for foreign residents is USD 700. The gorilla permit for the rest of Africa is USD 500 for East Africans, it is UGX 300,000.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can also be combined with a birding safari where Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to over 180 bird species including the Albertine rift endemics. Therefore, this can be an ideal place for the birders to watch birds. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to over 350 bird species a great place for birders while they enjoy gorilla trekking.

What is the best time to track gorillas in Uganda?

The best tracking period for Uganda gorillas in both gorilla destinations Bwindi and Mgahinga is from June to October and December to March. This is when the terrain is dry, penetration into the thick forests becomes very easy and also you can look far while tracking the gentle giants.

The wet season also presents a great time for trekking because of the few visitors who turn up in the parks. Since the wet season is the low season in tourism, more benefits like discounted flight and accommodation rates. This runs from March to May and October to November and is known for heavy rains and thick green vegetation cover. This is the best time for bird watching and photo tourism.

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.

Uganda gorilla trek from New York

10 Days Best of Uganda Safari – Primates, Wildlife & Leisure Tour

7 DAYS UGANDA WILDLIFE SAFARI ADVENTURE

6 Days Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari in Uganda

5 Days Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Tour In Uganda

3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda

2 Days Bwindi gorilla trek from Kigali