Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Trekking the endangered mountain gorillas remains one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to Uganda, meeting these incredible primates deep in the rainforest can only be described as an emotionally overwhelming experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Looking deep into the expressive brown eyes of gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer, but we should not let it distract from Bwindi’s broader biodiversity, a result of its immense antiquity and an altitude span of from 1,160 to 2,607m. The National park has 90 mammal species, including 11 primates, of which the black-and-white colobus monkey, with its lovely flowing white tail, is prominent. The forest birding ranks with the best in Uganda, with 23 highly localized Albertine endemics present.

Mountain gorillas are one of two subspecies of the eastern gorillas listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the total population is estimated to comprise 1,004 individuals as of 2018 and the population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and the others live in the Virunga Mountains in three adjacent national parks, namely Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mountain gorilla trekking is considered to be one of Africa’s greatest wildlife encounters however a level of fitness is required to hike up the mountains as you trek down the silverback hanging around his babies and females in the dense rainforest south west of Ugandan capital Kampala. With limited gorilla permits sold daily clients are advised to plan their gorilla trekking safaris in good time.