Masaka Town is a lively city in central Uganda, mostly inhabited by people from the Buganda tribe. The city has grown steadily, which has helped the travel and tourism business grow and improve.
Several NGOs and the Uganda Tourism Board have created a way for visitors to easily reach popular tourist spots from this town, including Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, where people can go gorilla trekking. From Masaka town, you can easily hike to see the severely endangered mountain gorillas in two trekking spots.
Gorilla climbing safaris have brought great growth and success to Uganda, making it the most popular tourist activity in the country. In Uganda, the most popular activity among travelers is a must-do and has gained worldwide recognition.
Uganda has most of the world’s mountain gorillas living in the wild. It is one of three countries that help protect these rare animals. In Uganda, you can go gorilla climbing at only two places: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Both parks are in the southwest of the country. About one thousand mountain gorillas remain in the world, and nearly half of them live in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda has the largest population of gorillas, with around 568 people. There are 23 gorilla families in the park, and two of these families can be visited for gorilla habituation experiences. The famous “Nyakagezi family” is the only gorilla group living in Mgahinga National Park.
The two places for gorilla hiking become very hard to access during the peak tourist season, when visitors from both other countries and within the country come to see the rare mountain gorillas. Gorilla hiking in Uganda also gives tourists the chance to see other animals like buffalo, elephant herds, beautiful birds, and the soothing plants of Africa.
Gorilla trekking starts with a short briefing from your guide. Then, each group of eight visitors is assigned to find one specific gorilla family and can spend only one hour with them once they are found.
To fully enjoy the unique experience of gorilla trekking in Uganda, visitors need to stay for at least three days on the tour. On the first day of the tour, you will drive a long way to the gorilla hiking areas in the southwest, specifically Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. The exploration of Uganda’s beauty the pearl of Africa comes with the long trip.
The stunning views of the country’s beautiful game parks, such as Lake Mburo on Masaka Road, are incredible. The wildlife is amazing and provides stunning views of groups of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, and impalas. The beautiful views, including tall mountains, clear rivers, and various plants, add to the pleasure of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
On Day 2, visitors will go gorilla trekking. They will receive important instructions about what to do and what not to do. Then, they will be split into groups and assigned a specific gorilla family to follow.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga is better from Masaka town than Entebbe because it costs less for transportation and saves time while moving.
Travelers can fly from Entebbe to Kihihi airport, which is the fastest way to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. The flight lasts about one hour. The two places for gorilla hiking are an eight to nine-hour drive from Entebbe. The trip from Entebbe to Bwindi National Park is about 540 kilometers.
You can travel the 364.7 km from Masaka to Bwindi in just 7 hours using the Masaka-Mbarara road.
Visitors should pack what they need for gorilla trekking and follow the rules given by park guards and tour guides. Gorilla climbing can be costly and challenging, but it’s a thrilling experience that is worth the expense.
Visitors should bring plenty of water and easy-to-eat packed food, as the hikes are long and need a lot of energy.
Hiking paths can be wet and slippery, so it’s a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. Since the weather can change quickly, you should pack warm clothes. Jackets and long socks are also necessities. Visitors should wear the right clothes for gorilla walking to fully enjoy this exciting activity.
Trekkers should follow the rules and directions provided by their tour guides and rangers. These rules say to stay at least 7 meters away from the gorillas and not to get too close to them once you find them.
Trekkers can’t eat, drink, or smoke near gorillas because it might attract their attention and cause unexpected attacks.
Since children under the age of fifteen are more likely to catch illnesses like the flu and cough, which pose a serious risk to primates, all trekkers should be older than fifteen.
At East Africa Gorilla Safaris, under All In Africa Safaris, we specialize in unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences and diverse wildlife safaris.
Our expertly guided tours provide intimate encounters with gorillas and rich African wildlife, ensuring an unparalleled adventure in the heart of East Africa.
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