Gorilla Trekking ranks among the absolute highlights of African travel. The exhilaration attached to the first setting of eyes on a wild mountain gorilla is difficult to describe. One of the classic Uganda safari experiences is tracking mountain gorillas in the beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and nothing will ever prepare you for the first glimpse or the sound of the silver back pounding its chest amidst the dense undergrowth. Bwindi Forest is Uganda’s tropical rain forest hosting half of the remaining endangered gorillas. This large primeval forest in the Virunga Volcanoes mountain ranges, is located in south-western Uganda in Kanungu District.

The excitement of gorilla trekking kicks in when you’re up close to the imposing and magnificent figure of a silver back mountain gorilla, female mountain gorillas wondering through the forest and it’s all baby gorillas peeking through leaves or hiding behind their mothers. When they sense that all is well they will start showing off by swinging, twisting, turning and somersaulting all for your entertainment. In order to meet the gorillas, one needs gorilla permits that should be bought in advance at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or through Uganda’s tour operators and travel agency!

Gorilla permits will set you back as they cost US$700 but don’t think twice about going out for this genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is cheaper than Rwanda where a gorilla permit costs US$1500 (as per 2012 updates). For November bookings, there is even a discount of USD 150 on all Ugandan Permits thus you only need USD 350 for a permit to the gorilla sanctuary! Keep in mind that a portion of the fee collected from the park goes to the local communities and gorilla conservation initiatives, helping to ensure their survival among us!

Nice Journey to Bwindi to meet the rare mountain gorillas!