How Long Is The Gorilla Trek in Uganda? How Long is the gorilla trek in Uganda? A gorilla trek in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga takes between 1 to 6 hours on average. Ultimately how long a gorilla trek in Uganda takes entirely depends on the time the gorillas were last seen and where, visitor fitness levels and nature of habitat. This time includes right from the start of the trekking point, then watching the gorillas and returning back to the meeting point of the National Park.
Once you have decided visiting Uganda or Rwanda to track mountain gorillas, next should be prepare adequately. Areas of interest when preparing for your gorilla trekking expedition should be your fitness level. This primate adventure is all about navigating via the lush tropical forest, steep slopes and at times, you can find yourself in a muddy ground depending on the season. Overcoming all these factors and enjoy round trek requires one to be physically fit.
How difficult is gorilla trekking –Uganda or Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas as their name suggests are few species that spend most of their time in montane areas. Before you come across these apes, it involves some hiking through the altitude range of 1160m to 2607 depending on the location. In Bwindi National Park, the highest point is 2607m and this is for tourists visiting Ruhija sector, the eastern gorilla trekking region.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (VNP) rises at altitude range of 2400 to 4507 meters. This is considering the fact that it is situated within the Virunga Region, whose highest point is Karisimbi Volcano (4507m). Whether you choose to visit Uganda or Rwanda, it is always important to be prepared physically to conquer any kind of tough terrain.
How long can it take for you to see mountain gorillas?
A gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda is generally unpredictable. At times, you can spend 2 to 6 hours and you come across a family of mountain gorillas. This includes the time you depart from the briefing area, the close encounter and photography with mountain gorillas and when you get back to a briefing area.
What if am physically unwell?
There are options for cases such as persons with disabilities. First, when planning a Gorilla safari, you must communicate to your tour operator on the ground (Engabi Tours and Travel) about your fitness level. If you fall under category of persons with disabilities, we can go further and book sedan chairs that can used to carry you throughout the gorilla trek. There will be a team of energetic porters who will be hired to carry the sedan chairs.
To better enjoy your Gorilla trekking safari, we recommend that you plan your trip around the dry season. During this season, hiking through the terrains of Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga NP or Volcanoes National Park in search for gorillas is a bit easier because the ground can be drier. Low rainfall amount is received during this period and this is usually around June, July, August to September or you can travel around December, January to anytime around February.
How prepared should you be for your gorilla trekking experience?
You should be reasonably fit enough to conquer the tough terrains in Uganda or Rwanda. First, you should give yourself time to practice to make your body acclimatized to the terrains or better still, travel early and exercise in the hilly areas in Kampala.
On actual gorilla trekking Tour, you should consider carrying enough energy giving snacks, and bottled drinking water. Additional items include waterproof hiking boots, walking stick for support, gardening gloves, waterproof daypack, and others.
Depending on your level of fitness but in case you are badly off; don’t forget to communicate to our team early. This can enable us communicate to the park official of your status and he or she can assign a gorilla family that is a bit easier to track.
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