Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park is done each day, all year round. With a valid gorilla trekking permit per person in a group of at most 8 members in the group, only 1 hour is allocated to stay up close with the gorillas in their habitat in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The best time to go gorilla trekking is during the 2 dry seasons, which endures between June-September & December to February
Gorilla trekking Permit in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs $800 per person for Foreign Non Residents, $600 (USD) per person for Foreign Residents, while Ugandan residents and East African Citizens(Uganda, Kenya Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Southern Sudan) pay shs. 250,000 UGX per person. The Mountain Gorilla trekking Permit For Mgahinga Gorilla National park rates covers; guide fees, park entrance for a full day (24 hours), & Community development contribution.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park one out of the World’s 4 Mountain Gorilla national Parks protecting the endangered Mountain Gorilla. The park shelters 80 mountain gorilla members, yet only one habituated gorilla family- The Nyakagezi gorilla family group/troop is open for tracking. Dating back, the Nyakagezi was the only habituated family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, until 2019, when the Hirwa group from Rwanda crossed to Uganda This increased the number of Gorilla tracking enthusiasts from 8 to 16 per day.
Gorilla tracking is only possible, after acquiring a gorilla trekking permit, which is obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) . Gorilla trekking permits can be obtained directly at individual basis, or through a trusted (reliable) tour operator, and Gorilla trekking is recommended to persons 15 years of age and above, below which is not allowed.
Gorilla trekking Experience in Mgahinga Gorilla
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts by 0700 hrs, when visitors will be arriving for registeration. All visitors must submit their Valid passports or Identity cards along with the gorilla trekking permits for that specific date so as to be allowed access to track gorillas. After registering, the ranger guides will address the visitors about the gorilla trekking rules & regulations to be followed during Gorilla trekking, plus what to expect before when they are found as stated in the gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla National Park may last from 1to 6 ours depending on her the Gorilla family group may have relocated from the previous position, when it was last tracked.
All Gorilla trekking junkies, are allowed spend at most 1 hour in the presence of the endangered mountain Gorillas, upon finding them. Visitors allowed to take Videos & photos (without flashlights), interact, and watch them play, while they are up close (face to face) with the gorillas.
Thereafter, Gorilla trekking certificates, will be issued to each visitor, who has taken part in the Gorilla trekking experience.