Gorilla Trekking in Uganda – A Step by Step Guide Through this Wonderful Country!
Published on: July 15, 2021
Detailed blog about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda; one of the ultimate wildlife experiences in Africa! Gorilla trekking in Uganda – Beautiful, friendly people, stunning scenery and the ultimate wildlife experience of Gorilla Trekking. Find out more about this very special Gorilla Safari in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes you to the ‘Pearl of Africa’ and in this case that bold statement completely hits the mark.
Why a Uganda safari has it all?
Many people associate Uganda with Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, Ruhija or Nkuringo and often only allow a relatively short amount of time to take a rushed Gorilla Safari in the country, before heading off to Kenya or Tanzania after their Gorilla Trek, to focus on savannah safaris and a chance to see the Big 5. They miss out on so much this beautiful country has to offer; both in terms of wildlife, beautiful scenery and relatively ‘quiet’ national parks such as Murchison and Queen Elizabeth.
Why you must visit Murchison Falls on your Uganda gorilla trekking holiday
With your own private 4X4 vehicle and expert driver/guide you can drive north from Entebbe Airport to Murchison and stay at the beautifully situated Parra Lodge with its magnificent views of the River Nile and enjoy access to a park containing Lions, Leopard, Elephant, Giraffe and the much sought after iconic Shoebill. One of our classic Gorilla Safaris in Uganda with a birding focus, visits Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Ruhija, with the chance to see Shoebill in the famous Delta Channel, which can be reached by private boat and 4X4. The owner of Wildlife Trails, Allan Blanchard, was lucky enough to see both Lions and Shoebill in the Delta in 2010, as part of a recce which visited both Uganda and Rwanda. On our return to Uganda we were struck by the amount of new lodges in operation and noticed that as well as providing a greater degree of comfort and stunning views of the National Parks; they were often owned by a new generation of young Ugandan entrepeneurs – this was great news! Two such new properties we now send our clients to are Katara Lodge and Kyambura Lodge which due to their hill top location, enjoy stunning views of the surrounding park; which really adds to the whole safari experience.
Do it different. Volcanoes, jungle treks and dugouts!
We are always on the look out for new experiences for our clients and to get them on ‘the path less travelled’. Many visitors to Uganda only ever consider Bwindi as a location for their Gorilla Trekking in Uganda but there are actually three other locations now within Uganda where Gorilla trekking can be organised. We chose to take a walking safari from from Bwindi to Nkuringo; initally taking the famous ‘waterfall trail’ out of Bwindi, where we missed by 5 minutes a park ranger being charged by a rogue Silverback! You then walk down the valley and cross the scenic Kashasha River, before commencing the steepest section of the walk, which takes you up to the Nteko Ridge, with its amazing views of the 8 volcanoes which straddle the Uganda, Congo and Rwanda borders. Finally, you reach the beautifully located Nkuringo Gorilla Camp where you can enjoy wonderfully homecoooked food, unique accommodation and spectacular views of the Volcanoes – one of which is still active. From the camp it is just a short walk down to the park headquarters to commence your Gorilla Safari, with a short vehicle transfer and walk down the steep valley. The Nkuringo gorilla family is often found outside of the forest in the nearby plantations, which produces more open views and great video and photography opportunities.
Legs feeling tired? Now it’s time to chill in Uganda
After a spectacular Gorilla safari in Uganda many clients think of a beach location to finish their tour with a few days of R&R, but just a short drive from Nkuringo you have the spectacular Lake Bunyonyi where it is possible to stay in some lakeside accommodation with spectacular views of the many islands which are dotted around the lakes. There are plenty of opportunities for mountain biking, canoeing and boat safaris, as well as visiting some of the many different islands. I was lucky enough to stop off en route to Lake Mburo and can highly recomend the laid back ambiance and spectacular scenary all around Lake Bunyonyi.
Finally, I would recommend a stop at the spectacular Mihingo Lodge, located in the heart of Lake Mburo National Park; just 5 hours from Entebbe and a good final destination to enjoy some unique wildlife activities before you catch your flight home. The lodge can organise both horseback and walking safaris inside the park – both options rare in the other parks – and provide you with a chance to see the very rare Eland and many other antelope species; which this park is famous for. You may even see a lion, which are rumoured to be crossing the border from Tanzania and slowly repopulating the park; but it is very early days. What a wonderful way to end your Gorilla trekking holiday in Uganda.
