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Gorilla discovery is a safari tour and travel company based in Uganda, fully licensed to conduct safaris within Uganda and Rwanda. We offer several tours and safaris in Uganda including Gorilla Tours, wildlife adventures, mountaineering trips

Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking from Canada

Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking from Canada

Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking from Canada

Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris from Canada have been made easy with the internet. Trekking mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are one of the most done activities in Uganda the fact is that Uganda has been named Africa’s primate capital. Mountain gorillas in the world can be found in Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo. Uganda gorillas inhabit the forested areas of Mgahinga and Bwindi in the southwestern part of Uganda while on the other hand Chimpanzees on the Ugandan side are seen in areas of forested Kyambura gorge forests, Kibale. Kalinzu, Semuliki, Ngamba sanctuary, and Budongo forest.

If you are in Canada and want to have a chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari in Uganda it has been made easy you just need to look out for a trusted tour operator like us and send them when you want to travel and what you want to do in the country. We shall book for you the permits and plan your whole safari starting from accommodation to meals and transport

Ways of booking Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris from Canada

To book an Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari you need to first confirm a travel date and then send us an email. After receiving the email, we shall check for the availability of permits on the day, month, and year you want to travel. We shall ask you for payments and send you our bank account details. Once we have received the money, we shall secure gorilla and chimpanzee permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy for you to confirm that have purchased gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris. We advise you to book the gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance of 3-4 months in order to avoid inconveniences in case you are traveling in the dry season.

Areas of mountain gorillas in Uganda

Uganda is home to more than half of the mountain gorilla population that is left in the world and the rest are found in Virunga national park DR Congo and volcanoes national park in Rwanda. In Uganda, mountain gorillas live in the tropical forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park all found in the western part of the country. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park alone is home to more than half of the mountain gorillas left in the world and home to over 19 habituated gorilla families while Mgahinga national park has only 1 Nyakagezi gorilla family which has the highest number of silverbacks in the world. People who prefer overcrowding normally trek mountain gorillas since only 8 permits are available in the park every day while others prefer trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park because it has got the highest number of mountain gorillas in 4 sectors namely Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija.

Mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Uganda gorilla trekking safaris from Canada are done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla park both located in the southwestern part of the country. Gorilla trekking involves a group of 8 trekkers together with ranger guides moving through the jungles as they search for habituated mountain gorillas that leave in groups of 5-25 individuals all used to human presence. Gorilla trekking takes 2-7 hours depending on the location of mountain gorillas and the speed of trekkers but once you have found the gentle primates you are allowed to stay around them for a maximum of 1 hour while observing their behaviors and taking pictures for memories. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has the highest population of mountain gorillas and over 19 habituated gorilla families while Mgahinga Gorilla Park has 1 habituated gorilla family.

How long does mountain gorilla trekking take in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park?

The time is taken to locate mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park cannot be predicted but it ranges from 2-7 hours or even a day depending on the season of the year. During the dry season, the trekking tends to take a long time since mountain gorillas move to higher elevations looking for what to eat while in the rainy season the trekking takes a shorter time despite the slipper and muddy trains because there is plenty of food around the forest. When the assigned mountain gorilla family has moved far in the jungle during the rainy season, then gorilla trekking might take a bit longer because the terrains are slippery and muddy.

What is the price of a gorilla permit in Uganda?

A gorilla habituated permit in the Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sectors costs $1500 per person per trek while a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents, and UGX250,000. A gorilla habituation permit allows you to be around mountain gorillas for 4 hours while a gorilla trekking permit allows you to be around mountain gorillas for only 1 hour. Booking a gorilla trekking permit or gorilla habituation should be done 3-4 months in advance so as to avoid inconveniences and these can be bought directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour operator.

What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park?

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park can be visited at any time of the year but the best time to visit these places is the dry season of June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall in the area. During the dry season, the vegetation is thin making clear views of the wildlife in the park and good photography, the trekking trails are less slippery and muddy and lastly, the roads leading to the parks are passable. ‘

The rainy season is also not bad for trekking just that there is a lot of rainfall making the roads impassable and the trekking trails in the park muddy and slippery. The rainy season comes with less time for trekking since gorillas are found near the starting points due to plenty of food anywhere and the accommodation facilities are offering huge discounts.

Accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has 4 sectors – Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma and each sector have different accommodation facilities ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options. The accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Buhoma lodge, Cuckooland Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Engage lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, Bwindi Lodge, Karungi Camp, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Community Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Clouds Mountain Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge, and Mahogany Springs Camp.

Lodges, Camps and hotels  Mgahinga gorilla park

Accommodation in Mgahinga gorilla park includes Mount Gahinga lodge, Virunga Hotel and Campsite, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, and Mount Gahinga Rest Camp.

Areas of chimpanzees in Uganda

There are several places where you can see chimpanzees in Uganda and these are located in different parts of the country. The places where chimpanzees can be seen in Uganda include Kibale forest national park with more than 1500 chimpanzees which makes it the best destination, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, Toro Semuliki wildlife reserve, Kalinzu forest, and Ngamba Island sanctuary. Uganda has been named to world’s primate capital and this has made it the best tourism destination in the world. The best place to see chimpanzees in Uganda is Kibale forest national park the fact that it has over 1500 chimpanzees and over 13 primate species that you can see on your visit to the park. The 13 primate species of Kibale forest national park include chimpanzees, olive baboons, grey checked mangabeys, blue monkeys, Uganda red colobus, pottos, patas monkeys, Demidoff galago, Uganda mangabey, L’hoests monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys.

Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda

Uganda chimpanzee trekking from Canada is mostly done in Kibale forest national park which has over 1500 chimpanzees, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest, Ngamba island sanctuary, toro Semuliki wildlife reserve, and Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park. Just like mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking involves moving into the forest to search for these primates in their natural habitats and once you have found them your trekking permit allows you to stay around them for 1 hour while taking photos and observing their behaviors.

How long is chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking on a Uganda wildlife safari does not take as much time as gorilla trekking but you still need to be physically fit during the activity. Trekking chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park takes 2-4 hours of passing through different trails of the park.

Price of chimpanzee trekking permit in Uganda

Every place where you find chimpanzees in Uganda has its own chimpanzee trekking permit. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale forest national park depends on the visitor’s origin, for example, cost $200 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay UGX150,000, this applies to Kyambura gorge where $50 is for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay UGX30,000, Kalinzu forest $50, and Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve $30 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay UGX20,000.

What is the best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can be done at any time of the year but the drier months of June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall in the area. During the dry season, the vegetation is thin making photography easier and giving clear views of the wildlife in the park, lastly, the roads leading to the parks are passable, the trekking trails in the parks are less slippery and muddy. Trekking chimpanzees can also be done in the rainy season of October to November and March to May but the trekking trails are slippery and muddy though trekking takes little time since chimpanzees don’t go far in the jungle since there is plenty of food in the forest.

Transport during Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris from Canada

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park are found in the same region in the southwestern part of Uganda so to access them you have to use the same routes.  To get to southwestern Uganda you use Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka – Mbarara- Kabale – Kisoro Road taking you about 9-10 hours. You can also access these parks using air transport from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi airstrip in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or Kisoro airstrip using Aero Link Uganda or Fly Uganda from where you move using ground means to access the park. Getting to Kibale forest national park from south Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or Mgahinga gorilla park takes only 4 hours while from Buhoma sector to Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth national park takes only 2 hours.

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