Silverback Gorilla Trekking Tours Uganda & Rwanda

Silverback Gorilla Trekking Tours Uganda & Rwanda

Picture yourself at a unique vantage point, squatting on the forest floor, showing extreme respect by avoiding eye contact as you get up close and personal with some of the last mountain and eastern gorillas.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are the only nations where you can see these magnificent animals, and the four national parks where you may find them are Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla, Volcanoes, and Virunga. Our Silverback gorilla trekking tours provide a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these majestic creatures in their native tropical and subtropical forest habitat.

Gorillas are magnificent, exceptionally clever, and sociable primates that live in social groups headed by a dominant silverback male. They can use a library of up to twenty-five different noises to convey meaning. Strong familial ties and the ability to make and use tools are characteristics of this culture. It’s amazing to watch them at work, day or night, constructing nests out of branches and leaves on the ground or in trees. The IUCN Red List has declared their plight as one of critical endangered.

The day for a family of gorillas consists of resting, foraging, and travelling within a relatively narrow home range. Following them is, thus, not an insurmountable task. An unforgettable Silverback gorilla trekking journey awaits you when you join us. Allow them to imprint themselves on your soul, prompting a more profound affinity for the natural world and a revitalised will to protect it. This is more than a trip; it’s an emotional bonding experience with these magnificent animals and the environment.

Where To Go Silverback Gorilla Trekking

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

More than half of the world’s mountain gorillas call Uganda home, making it one of the top destinations for gorilla trekking adventures. There are eighteen habituated mountain gorilla families in the hilly and valley-filled Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwest of the nation. As a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, most safari goers rank trekking with these gentle giants for an hour high on their bucket list. Small groups of up to eight individuals are allowed.

2. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Another well-liked spot for a once-in-a-lifetime mountain gorilla trekking experience is Rwanda. In Volcanoes National Park, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a habituated gorilla family with a knowledgeable guide and a small group of no more than eight people. While you’re there, you get the opportunity to capture images of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat as they socialise, dine, play, and rest, all within your allotted hour.

3. Mgahinga National Park, Uganda

The smallest national park in Uganda, Mgahinga, is home to an exciting and one-of-a-kind adventure. One habituated gorilla group, whose territory includes both Mgahinga and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, is open to visitors at this park. You may also go gorilla trekking from this location because the group has been in Uganda for the last three years.

When To Go Silverback Gorilla Trekking

Both Rwanda and Uganda benefit most from dry weather from July to October and from the end of December to the beginning of February. Because of the lower elevations, less vegetation, and less muck on the pathways, gorillas are easier to see. The dry seasons are great for photography because of the open skies and no fog. Higher trekking permits and lodge expenses are associated with gorilla trekking during peak season.

Although more difficult, it is nevertheless doable during the wet seasons (March–May and October–November). As a result, the paths may become more treacherous and hiking more difficult. If you can, try to visit during the rainy season when rates are lower, crowds are thinner, and the forests are verdant and beautiful.

Can Children Go Gorilla Trekking?

In the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, you must be at least fifteen years old to undertake gorilla trekking. Several significant reasons have led to the establishment of this restriction.

When walking with gorillas, it can be difficult for children to keep calm in the face of a gorilla’s fake charge. Although mountain gorillas in the wild never charge, it is possible if they feel threatened by anyone in the hiking group. On the other hand, a composed and knowledgeable tracker can frequently fend off a charging gorilla. Tragically, a 180-kilogram (397-pound) silverback’s menacing bark can cause a toddler to feel afraid, scream, or even run away. When this happens, a charging gorilla will usually pursue a fleeing visitor.

Because their immune systems are still maturing, children are also a health concern when hiking with gorillas; they are more likely to contract infectious diseases like the flu. The repercussions can be disastrous and even deadly if these infections are passed to gorillas.

Furthermore, the full walk may be too much for toddlers to manage due to their low stamina levels. This is especially important in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, where trekking with gorillas requires navigating difficult terrain and steep mountain slopes. Travellers in their golden years are more likely to have the physical fitness and mental fortitude needed for the activity. Muddy paths, insects, dense forests, and steep inclines are all obstacles that adults are typically better equipped to deal with.

Gorilla trekking is subject to stringent regulations. The gorillas, the trackers, the guides, and the trekking visitors are all meant to be protected by these restrictions. Some of these rules include keeping your voice low, keeping at least seven meters (22 feet) away from the gorillas at all times, never touching them, and always listening to the park rangers for directions. In order to protect the primates and trekking groups, it is essential that everyone follows these rules.

If you’re planning a family vacation, look for a lodge that has child care, activities tailored to children, or even guided nature hikes that are suitable for young hikers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Silverback Gorillas

1. Silverback gorilla lifespan: In the wild, a gorilla’s lifespan is around 35-40 years, but they often live longer in captivity, sometimes for over 50 years.
2. Silverback gorilla weight: Silverback gorillas weigh between 300 and 500 pounds while females are between 150 and 250 pounds.
3. Silverback gorilla strength: Gorillas have exceptional strength. The average silverback gorilla strength is equivalent to 20 adult human beings. Silverbacks can lift or throw up to 1796.77 lb (815 kg), which is the average weight of more than 20 adult humans combined; whereas a well-trained human can only lift up to 881.849 lb (400 kg).
4. How many silverback gorillas have left: Only around 1,000 individuals remain in the wild, making the mountain gorilla one of the planet’s most endangered animals.
5. Where do silverback gorillas live: A bit more than half live in the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes that border the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The remainder can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

How Fit Do I Have to Be?

Being in better shape helps with any physically demanding activity. But this doesn’t mean that you need to be able to complete a triathlon or bench press three times your body weight to go gorilla trekking.

As a general rule, trekkers will be assigned to the gorilla family closest to the beginning site if they are the oldest and least fit members of their respective groups. Don’t worry: you won’t be split up from family members or friends but – obeying the golden rule of hiking – the fastest walkers will have to slow down to the pace of the slowest so that the group stays together safely.

The group that is farthest away will be located by the fittest or youngest members. Your knowledgeable guides will keep an eye on the group’s progress and will call a halt when everyone needs a rest, water, a food, or a view. Items such as water, roasted cashews or peanuts, bananas, apples, chocolate bars, muffins, miniature sandwiches or bread rolls, and regional specialities like ‘rolled eggs,’ a cold omelette, are common in packed lunches.

During the dry season, trekking is always easier. The mud during the rainy season can make the path more treacherous and the walk more difficult. Additionally, primates may hide in trees or nests when it rains, making them more difficult to spot. If you want to see their faces and antics up close, bring along a pair of lightweight binoculars.

The gorilla families won’t all be lounging around, eating leaves, and soaking up the sun. And you’d best have some serious speed on your side to keep up with them because they’re far more suited to navigating the jungle than we are.

Will I Definitely See Silverback Gorillas

Due to the constant communication between researchers and trekkers, guides have a good idea of where each family is, and the likelihood of sighting them is high (possibly greater than 99 percent). Of course, scouts will probably pick up their trail again soon; after all, there are no assurances when dealing with wild animals. A troop may end up moving in an entirely other direction due to an overnight thunderstorm or an unexpected meeting with a predator. On a gorilla trekking adventure, sightings of the primates are almost guaranteed.

Your park ranger will ask you to put your belongings aside once you spot a family of gorillas. After that, he’ll get you up close enough to see the gorillas without scaring them. Respect and understanding are the only boundaries between you. Gorillas have become accustomed to humans watching them and are so fearless when engaging in their daily activities including feeding, grooming, and resting. Indeed, the teenage gorilla babysitters often find themselves frustrated by the children’s inquisitiveness about people and their hyperactive playfulness. While it’s charming to see the gorilla family’s tranquil demeanour, keep in mind that the enormous silverback male, the father of the group, is watching your every move. Spend some time snapping shots, but set aside at least 20 minutes to simply observe; doing so will give you a much better impression of seeing a troop of gorillas in their native environment.

When to Go Silverback Gorilla Trekking

Although gorilla trekking is possible at any time of year in both Rwanda and Uganda, the rainiest months are also the two dryest, so visitors to the rainforests should plan their trips accordingly. Two distinct seasons occur: one from early June through late September, and the other from approximately the middle of December to the end of February. Even though it’s the most pleasant time to go trekking, you should still pack your gaiters because the weather is still very muggy and rainy.

The equatorial rainforest of the Congo Basin is home to a priceless ecology that relies on rain, which goes by the names “wettest,” “wetter,” and “wet” throughout the year. Between June and September, known as the “low rainfall” season, and December through February, known as the “gentle rainfall” season, gorilla trekking in the Congo is more manageable. Typically, the driest and mildest weather of the year occurs between July and August.

Silverback Gorilla Trekking Tours

Silverback Gorilla Trekking Reviews

1. Silverback Mountain Gorilla trek

Reviewed October 9, 2011: vivek0210 From (Bengaluru, India)

The trek up the Virunga mountain is a wonderful and unique experience. The trek could take an hour or two depending on where the family has been located. The anticipation of seeing the gorillas makes the trek very easy. Its recommended to wear gumboots, full sleeve Tee shirt & a good pair of leather gloves to protect yourselves from a possible brush with stinging nettles along the way. A rain coat will be useful to carry. An hour in the midst of the gorilla family (usually 11 to 15) is an absolutely brilliant & a bucket list experience. The trek back would take about the same time. People with health problems should trust that the beauty of the mountain the purity of the nature and the hospitality of the gorillas will miraculously cure you of any ache of pain. Rwanda is a beautiful country also called a Land of a thousand mountains. Extremely safe and vibrant people.
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2. Amazing Silverback Gorillas!!!!

Reviewed July 10, 2017: Flute18: From (Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota)

If you can afford the hefty price tag ($600/person), go on a gorilla trek at Bwindi. All the park fees go to conservation and local communities, and help to prevent poaching. (It costs double that in Rwanda, and seeing the gorillas in Congo is risky.)
Come prepared: neutral coloured long sleeved shirts and pants tucked into your hiking socks, gaiters over your water resistant/water proof hiking shoes/boots to prevent red ants from crawling up your pants and a rain coat/jacket.

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3. Silverback Gorilla trek was an experience of a lifetime

Reviewed December 10, 2017: 975DougB975 (Vancouver, Canada)

It’s quite unnerving sending a large deposit to someone you don’t know and wondering if they’ll even be there to pick you up. We were in good hands from the beginning choosing Kabira Safaris. Anna were very accommodating to my specific requests and William, the North American representative followed up when needed. This is a very professional company. Gavis, our driver and guide for the 3 day adventure, was very knowledgeable and was intent on making this experience exactly what we wanted. This young man is mature beyond his years and will go far in the industry. Request him if you can.
The food and accommodations exceeded our expectations and we suggest that you go with the mid-range, as they are the best value.

Due to the increased Gorilla permit cost in Rwanda from $750 to $1,500, we went through Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (only $600) to see the gorillas. We then traveled back to Rwanda into the Volcanoes National park to spend time with the Golden Monkeys, getting the best of both worlds.

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