How many people can go for gorilla trekking every day in Bwindi and Mgahinga? Uganda is among the best destination countries for tourism in Africa. The country is a home to more than a half of the total population of mountain gorillas left in the entire world. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park both located in south western Uganda at the tip of the Albertine rift. These two national parks together form Bwindi- Mgahinga conservation area.

Among the two national parks, Bwindi impenetrable forest is the largest covering an area of 331 sq. km and its divided into 4 gorilla trekking sectors that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo. Each sector has its own different gorilla families that are fully habituated and open for gorilla trekking

Mgahinga national park is the country’s national park and its part of the massive Virunga conservation area with volcanoes national park of Rwanda and Virunga national park of Congo. Mgahinga national park is a home to only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi which has only 10 members. Nyakagezi gorilla family is famous for having the highest number of silverbacks.

Gorilla trekking permits are issued out by Uganda wildlife authority and they are issued out on the first come first serve basis. Uganda wildlife authority is a government body in charge of tourism. To take part in gorilla trekking activity, you must have a valid gorilla trekking permit. Alternatively, Africa adventure vacations can help book gorilla trekking permits on behalf of our clients.

Each gorilla permit is valid for one day and finding mountain gorillas depends gorilla group allocated to you, the location of a gorilla family and the speed at which you are trekking. A gorilla permits allows you to spend one hour with a gorilla family and this starts counting after you have found them. Gorilla trekking permits are on high demand especially in high season and if you are planning to travel that time you are advised to book the permit in advance. The high season in Uganda happens in the moths of December to February and again in June to September.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has more than 550 mountain gorillas, not found anywhere in gorilla parks. The park has 19 habituated gorilla families that are open for trekking every day. This means that there are 152 gorilla permits available every day for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in 4 gorilla trekking sectors in Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. Mgahinga national park is a home to only one habituated family meaning there are only 8 gorilla permits available in Mgahinga national park. The family is called Nyakagezi and it’s made up of 10 members. Therefore if you are looking for the number of people that can go for gorilla trekking every day day in Uganda is 160 in both Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks.