Gorilla Tours
Gorilla tours offer a unique opportunity for you to witness the only remaining mountain gorilla population in the wild. At Bujuku Eco Tours, we offer affordable gorilla tours and safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Embarking on a gorilla tour with us presents you with a lifetime opportunity to be part of the thrilling encounter and complete immersion into the jungle.
The journey to explore gorillas in the wild starts at Bujuku Eco Tours, your leading organizer of pocket-friendly gorilla safaris in East Africa. Book with us your gorilla tour and explore the top gorilla trekking destinations in Africa. We organize gorilla tours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park based in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Our gorilla tour and safaris also include the Democratic Republic of Congo destinations like the Virunga National Park for mountain gorillas and Kahuzi-Biega National Park for Eastern lowland gorillas.
Our gorilla tours are expertly organized with guidance from sustainable and responsible travel practices. We at Bujuku Eco Tours offer eco-friendly gorilla safari packages to all nature lovers. Not only do we create lasting gorilla trekking memories, but we also leave a positive impact on the environment and local communities.
Why are gorilla tours famous?
Gorilla tours are exceptional from the rest of the wildlife activities for several reasons. Gorilla tours introduce you to the African jungle to interact with the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. This is not the usual experience or opportunity that you can get anywhere else except when you take a gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
About 1063 mountain gorillas still survive in the wild today, and any nature lover wouldn’t miss a chance to witness these massive creatures in their natural habitat. It is such a mesmerizing experience to find gorillas immersed in the wild, and this is only possible provided you have secured a slot with the right experts like Bujuku Eco Tours.
Gorilla tours in Uganda
Gorilla tours in Uganda take you to the country’s only key gorilla trekking sites, that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga and Bwindi offer refuge to more than 1063 rare mountain gorillas, making Uganda the best place to find these large apes in the wild. Visitors on a Uganda gorilla tour have a chance to explore one or more of the 25 habituated gorilla groups currently present for trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga.
While in Uganda, gorilla treks start from the 5 sectors, including Ntebeko sector in Mgahinga then Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Most popular for its exceptional biodiversity and rare mountain gorillas, Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park is among the Protected Areas lying along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley and borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Bwindi has a total land area of 331 sq. km and has an altitude range of 1160 to 2607m. Within Bwindi alone, there exist a wide range of animals, including a total of about 120 species of mammals these include mountain gorillas, forest elephants and other mammals. Bwindi’s biodiversity also comprises of more than 1000 plant species, 350 species of birds, 163 tree species, and 104 fern species. The Park also holds several butterflies, accounting for about 200 species.
In the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, gorilla trekking is the top tour highlight. The gorilla groups in this park are distributed in the 4 sectors. In the Rushaga region, expect to search for groups such as the Bweza group, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye group, Bushaho gorilla group, Rwigyi, Mucunguzi group, Kutu gorilla group, and Tindatine.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known not only for regular gorilla treks, but also for its enriching gorilla habituation experience. Embarking on gorilla habituation in Bwindi lets you have 4 hours to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with a group of mountain gorillas. The main focus during habituation is to search for gorillas being rehabilitated to get used to human presence. This involves spending the entire day following these apes with trackers and scientists while establishing their unique behaviors and taking photos.
Mgahinga gorilla tours mainly involve trekking the Nyakagezi group. The Nyakagezi gorilla group family has a carrying capacity of only 8 (eight) pax. This makes Mgahinga the best location to experience a close gorilla trekking adventure. Mgahinga is also Uganda’s smallest Park, lying in Kisoro, Southwestern Uganda, and regardless of its small size, it holds more than mountain gorillas. Over 39 mammal species that reside here also include elephants, buffaloes, rare golden monkeys, spotted hyenas, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, black fronted duikers, plus many bird species, especially the Albertine Rift endemic avifaunal species.
Gorilla tours in Volcanoes National Rwanda
Visiting Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri, allows you to be part of the exceptional gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda. Over 13 habituated groups of gorillas are present for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and the list includes Kwitonda group, Umubano, Hirwa, Susa A group, and Agashya. Other gorilla groups in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park include the Bwenge group, Amahoro, Sabyinyo gorilla group, Ugenda, and more.
Gorilla tours in Congo
The Congo gorilla tours take you to iconic Parks, including the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega. At the Virunga, you can mainly explore mountain gorillas and about 8 groups are open for gorilla tourism here. Gorilla groups in the Virunga National Park, Congo include, among others Bageni gorilla family, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Humba, Nyakamwe group, Munyaga gorilla family, Mapuwa, and Lulengo.
If you are visiting Kahuzi-Biega National Park on Congo gorilla tours, expect to explore lowland gorilla groups such as Chimanuka, Bonnani, Mpungwe, and Mugaruka group. Like Virunga and other gorilla trekking destinations, Kahuzi-Biega gorilla tours also accommodate 8 visitors per gorilla group.
Booking permits for gorilla tours
Any successful gorilla tour requires you to have obtained a valid gorilla trekking permit. Whether you intend to spend a great time in Bwindi or Mgahinga with gorillas, permits in Uganda are issued to trekkers at the same rate though the prices only vary depending on tourist category. Each permit in Uganda is obtained at USD 800 per person for foreign non-resident, USD 700 per visitor for foreign residents, and USD 500 per person for the Rest of Africa, and East African citizens at UGX 300,000 per person.
Gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda are open for booking at USD 1500 per visitor. The for gorilla trekking in Rwanda applies to all visitor categories. While in Congo, permits can be booked at USD 400 per visitor –this cuts across visitors with plans to explore gorillas in the Virunga or Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Planning your gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo
Bujuku Eco Tours is the best gorilla trekking company in East Africa that you can contact to plan a successful gorilla tour. At Bujuku Eco Tours, we arrange epic gorilla tours to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo at visitors’ pocket-friendly prices. Talk to our experts now to begin your step-by-step planning process to secure an early gorilla trekking slot.
The best time to go for gorilla tours
The best time for gorilla tours/gorilla trekking is during the dry season, but it is possible to travel at any time of the year to engage in this primate adventure. The dry season occurs twice a year, and gorilla trekkers should plan their trip around June, July, August, and September. Or book gorilla tours during the short dry months: December, January, and February. If you are interested in the low season, then expect to embark on a gorilla tours from March, April, and May. The short low/off-months start from October to November.
How to pack for gorilla tours (Uganda, Rwanda, & Congo)
A visitor’s packing list for a successful gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo should comprise of waterproof daypacks, hiking boots, a waterproof rain jacket, insect repellents, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle.
Extra items to pack include long trousers, a sweater, long-sleeved shirts, strong gardening gloves, a first aid kit, a pair of socks, a face mask, gaiters, and a camera with extra batteries.
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