Uganda gorilla trek from Canada

A Uganda gorilla trek from Canada is very amazing and offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience of locating a gorilla family in their natural habitats to spend an hour with them. Uganda alone is home to half of the 1,063 extant mountain gorillas in the wild. This positions Uganda as the best destination for a gorilla trek from Canada. These mountain gorillas are different from the eastern lowland gorillas in Congo by possessing thicker fur and the ability to live in cooler, high-altitude climatic conditions.

Where to experience Uganda gorilla trek from Canada

Uganda has two lush destinations in the southwest of the country where visitors can experience gorilla treks in their natural habitats.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This natural system covers a total land surface area of approximately 331 square kilometers with montane and tropical forests dominating the landscape. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and among the best places to see mountain gorillas in their natural homes. With over 459 mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has almost half of the global total, which makes it the best destination to site these gentle giants. The park now has 24 habituated gorilla groups available for gorilla trekking tours.

Mgahinga Gorillas National Park

This ecosystem is part of the Virunga Massif and covers a total land area of 33.7 square kilometers. Other national parks include Virunga and Volcanoes, and house a combined total of around 604 individual gorillas, finding shelter and food in them. However, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park alone has only one habituated gorilla group available for trekking tours. With a diverse range of habitats, including montane forest, bamboo forest, and alpine vegetation, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another perfect place for Uganda gorilla treks from Canada.

How a Uganda gorilla trek from Canada is done

A gorilla trek in Uganda normally starts with your arrival at the park headquarters or trailhead as early as 7:00 AM. You will be on time for a required session, conducted by a park ranger, who will inform you about the trekking rules and regulations in the forest. Next is being divided into groups of 8, each with a habituated gorilla group assigned to be tracked. With an armed ranger and experienced ranger guide, you will be led into the dense forest to locate your gorilla group. Once you find the group, you will be allowed an hour to observe and photograph them.

The entire trek takes 4-6 hours depending on your fitness and location of the gorilla group. After this, you will walk back to the trailhead to complete your Uganda gorilla trek. Meanwhile, you will receive your certificate of participation. This gorilla trek also offers opportunities for birdwatching, nature walks, golden monkey trek, photography, Batwa trail experience, and many others. For the gorilla trek in either Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorillas National Parks, you must have a gorilla permit, only issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

How to acquire a permit for a Uganda trek from Canada

To enjoy a gorilla trek from Canada, you must have a valid permit. This legal document is only issued for persons aged 15 and above and is to offer them the golden opportunity of tracking a habituated gorilla group and spending an hour with them. This permit can be obtained for USD 800 and is per person per trekking tour. Because of their limited availability per day and the high demand for them, you should book them in advance, especially 3 months before you travel from Canada to Uganda for this tour.

Booking a gorilla permit is best done through a reputable tour operator with an experienced team like Standard Safaris. We are strategically positioned in Kampala, where the Uganda Wildlife Authority is also situated. In addition, we have the advantage of having a strong working relationship with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which ensures that the entire booking process is much smoother. This subsequently makes it much quicker for your permit to be issued and sent to you in time, hence avoiding any inconveniences.

All you need to do is first contact us via our various communication platforms. Tell us your preferred trekking date. Then we will check with the Uganda Wildlife Authority regarding the availability of the permit for that particular date. If available we will respond to you and send you a quotation of the cost and how to make your payment. Upon receiving your payment, we will buy the gorilla permit, and then send a copy to you as an acknowledgment of your payment. This will be presented at the park headquarters before you are allowed to trek the gorillas.

How to get to either Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks

To reach Uganda from Canada you will travel by air to Entebbe International Airport in central Uganda. Upon your arrival, you will be met and greeted by a dedicated driver guide from Standard Safaris. From here you can reach either Bwindi or Mgahinga by either road or air transport. If your choice is by road, the distance to cover is around 503 kilometers from Kampala to the southwest via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale or Kisoro. These scenic road trips take 9 to 11 hours if the road conditions and traffic are okay.

If your choice is air transport, you will go by a domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport to either Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrip. The flight is offered by Aerolink and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Once you arrive in either airstrip, you will reach your destination using road transport. Our guide will drive you for 1½ to 2 hours to either the park headquarters or your booked lodge. Booking a flight can be done through Standard Safaris for convenience since we have a reputation for efficiently coordinating all transport arrangements in Uganda and beyond.

When to visit Uganda for a gorilla trek

A comfortable gorilla trek is normally experienced during the dry months of the year. Bwindi and Mgahinga experience the dry season twice each year, from June to September and from December to February. The dry months are characterized by dry and warm weather conditions daily, thus creating dry gorilla trails, less dense undergrowth, and low rainfall patterns. This makes trekking less strenuous while ensuring enhanced visibility in the forest and minimal chances of interruptions while on tour.

Nevertheless, the rainy season is an option for travelers who are on a budget since this period usually coincides with the low season for tourism. This ensures that they can get discounts on accommodation, transport, and some tour activities. On top of that, the rainy season is characterized by heavy rains that may fall almost each day. These create muddy and slippery gorilla trails that are more challenging to traverse and can be conquered by the adventurous. This season normally falls from March to May and from October to November. Though the rains may interrupt the tour, the crowds are relatively fewer to favor tranquil trekking experiences.

The packing list for a Uganda gorilla trek from Canada

Before you travel from Canada to Uganda, make sure that you have packed the following essential items for a successful gorilla trek.

Pair of strong hiking shoes/boots, with gaiters
Light and neutral-colored clothes comprising long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt
Rain jacket or a poncho
Waterproof backpack
Warm sweater
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Wide-brimmed hat/cap
Insect/bug repellent
Trekking gloves, head sock, and scarf
Camera/smartphone and chargers
Pair of binoculars
Recyclable water bottle
First aid kit and personal medication
Snack box and snacks
Extra cash to hire porters and buy souvenirs

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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