The population of Gorillas is growing each day and the good news is that Uganda is home to about half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Conservation efforts have led to a positive trend in mountain gorilla populations. Regular monitoring and effective management have contributed to their recovery.

Gorillas in Uganda find a haven primarily in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Both Bwindi and Mgahinga are protected under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which works to conserve gorilla populations and their habitats.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: This park which is also a world heritage site is located in southwestern Uganda, and is renowned for its rich biodiversity and dense forest. It is one of the most important habitats for mountain gorillas. The park is divided into four Gorilla trekking sectors namely: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Also in southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga is part of the Virunga Mountains and is home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family.

Uganda's gorilla population is divided into several groups or families, each led by a dominant silverback. Notable families include the Mubare, Rushegura, Hirwa, and Bweza families in Bwindi, and the Nyakagezi family in Mgahinga.

In the lush forests, Gorillas stay in families and each family has a territory governed by the Alpha Silverback, the family is not allowed to cross the other’s boundaries otherwise it leads to a fight – The Alpha Silverback is tasked to protect the family from external attacks from other families which usually leads to death of the babies and females conquered. He is also in charge of heading the food hunt and the mating sessions.

Several of these Gorilla family groups have been habituated to human presence, allowing for gorilla trekking tours. This process by which Gorillas are gradually accustomed to the presence of people is called the Gorilla habituation experience and it is usually done in the Rushaga sector – South side of Bwindi National Park and facilitates the Gorilla trekking observation without causing stress.

The regular Gorilla trek allows guests – one hour with the Gorillas while the habituation process permits a 4 hours experience. You spend time with the researchers and rangers as they customize the Gorillas to human presence. Researchers conduct studies on gorilla behavior, health, and genetics to enhance conservation strategies and understand their ecological needs, plus the habituation process provides valuable data on gorilla social structures, interactions, and responses to human presence.

To minimize the impact on the gorillas, trekking permits are limited, and visitors must adhere to strict guidelines, including maintaining a safe distance and limiting group sizes. For normal trekking, each Gorilla sector has a limit to the permits and the numbers vary for instance Buhoma is limited to 48 permits, 32 for Ruhija, 56 for Rushaga, 24 for Nkuringo, and only 8 for Nyakagezi in Mgahinga.

While the Gorilla Habituation is limited to only 4 permits per day there booking further in advance is very essential.

Before heading out for the Gorilla trek, guests are divided into groups of a maximum of 8 pax and you are led by your ranger to the forest in the hunt for the Gorillas.

Gorilla trekking is essential not only to the wildlife but also to the community. Gorilla trekking is a significant ecotourism activity in Uganda, drawing visitors from around the world to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. The revenue from tourism supports conservation and benefits local communities for instance job opportunities for the locals like UWA rangers, trackers, and porters among others. Guests also buy local products from the community as souvenirs like t-shirts, crafts, and bags among others.

Gorillas also hold cultural significance for local communities, and traditional beliefs often regard them as sacred or important animals. Conservation programs often incorporate cultural perspectives to foster local support.

To speak of the challenges and threats Gorillas face. Gorillas just like humans are also not immortal to diseases such as human-borne respiratory infections and Ebola pose significant threats to gorilla populations. Efforts are made to minimize the risk of disease transmission between humans and gorillas.

That is why when you are requested to keep the face mask on, then please do!!

In conclusion, the number of Gorillas keeps growing in Uganda which is a positive note, Female gorillas can give birth to a maximum 3 babies in a lifetime and usually, to give birth again it takes 5 years and yes we can co-exist with Gorillas and everyone must ensure that the wildlife is conserved and are safe in their natural habitats.

For more details about Gorillas in Uganda, please book your tour with us. We shall arrange for you to receive and observe first-hand information on the ground.