Silverback gorilla tours in Uganda and Rwanda
There are a few wildlife encounters on this planet that can compare to standing face-to-face with a giant silverback gorilla deep in the mist-covered rainforests of East and Central Africa. These giants are powerful yet remarkably gentle. A silverback gorilla is a mature dominant male that often leads a gorilla family and an encounter of the silverback is a centrepiece of one of Africa’s most unforgettable safari adventures.
Silverback gorilla tours offer travelers the rare opportunity to trek through ancient rain forests, observe endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and witness intimate family interactions that feel astonishingly human. Despite the trekking destination, a gorilla trekking safari is always an emotional life changing encounter with one of man’s closest relatives in their natural habitat.
What is a silverback
Plainly, a silverback is a fully grown mature male mountain gorilla. It is referred to as a silverback due to a distinctive patch of silver-grey hair across its back, which usually begins around the age of 12 to 15 years.
Just like any other mountain gorillas, the silverbacks have a black fur covered body however can be identified by the short silver hair on their back which symbolizes maturity and old age. As the silverback gorilla develops a silvery hair, it begins to search for ways of forming its own gorilla group which often leads to breaking a way from its previous group or fighting with then the dominant silverback to take over power.
There can be more than one silverback in the group however only one leads the group and is referred to as the dominant silverback. This dominant male plays a vital role in protecting and guiding the gorilla group.
Where to go silverback gorilla trekking
Planning a silverback gorilla encounter in its natural habitat, look no further than Africa but in the case of mountain gorillas, East and Central Africa particularly regions of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A gorilla trekking tour to any of these destinations will lead you to specific national parks that protect these gentles giants. These are;
Volcanoes national park, Rwanda
Famous for its magnificent gorilla encounters, Volcanoes national park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda along the Virunga mountain ranges and its one of the best silverback gorilla encounter spots in the world. While on a gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park, visitors trek through lush bamboo forested slopes to encounter one of the habituated gorilla families in this national park alongside an experienced ranger guide in a small group limited to eight people. This trek is a bit challenging but it is rewarded with an unforgettable one-hour encounter with the mountain gorillas make it all worth it. You all have the chance to clearly observe and photograph these magnificent species in their natural habitat as they feed, groom, play, interact, and rest among the bamboo-covered slopes.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Uganda
Nested in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest famous for its gorilla trekking activities. This forest inhabits over 25 gorilla families both fully habituated and partially habituated in its dense mist-covered landscapes making it one of the top gorilla trekking destinations in the world.
As a once-in-a life time experience, most travelers rate their encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable national park as an out of this world experience whether they visit these gentle giants in small groups of 4 and spend 4-hours in their presence or in slightly larger groups of 8 and spend 1-hour in their presence.
Mgahinga national park, Uganda
Often referred to as the place where silver meets gold, Mgahinga national park is the smallest national park in Uganda. Contrary to its size, Mgahinga national park forms part of the Virunga conservation area together with Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it an exciting place to visit. Mgahinga national park has only one gorilla family-the Nyakagezi gorilla family, that has inhabited this national park for over 3 years and is open for visiting by a maximum of 8 people everyday throughout the year.
When to go silverback gorilla trekking
Both Uganda and Rwanda share a similar weather and climatic patterns throughout the year due to their close proximity to the Equator as well as the geographic locations. That been said, all the gorilla national parks in Uganda and Rwanda can be visited through out the year since gorilla trekking is carried out all year round however due to the changes in weather, the nature of the trek changes with the change in seasons which are; the wet season and dry season.
Understanding how this change in seasons affect the forest, the trails, and even gorilla behavior is key when choosing the best time to go on your silverback gorilla trekking adventure.
Dry Season (June to September, December to February)
This is most often considered the best time to go on a gorilla trekking safari. During these months, the trails in the forests are firmer underfoot, the canopy is less thick allowing movement easily and less hectic, there is very little possibility of a sudden downpour and the rivers are easier to cross. The dry season also experiences clearer skies offering better views of the landscapes and great photography opportunities.
Despite all the pros of taking on a gorilla safari during this time of the year, these are also the busiest months with June, July and August coinciding with the peak season in East Africa. As a result, gorilla permits and accommodation options sell out quite quickly during these months therefore it is recommended that you book your trip at least 6 months to the trip date.
Wet Season (March to May, October to November)
As the rains return, these tropical rain forests transform into a lush green atmosphere with hanging fruits, blooming flowers and bird calls. Due to plenty of food sources, the mountain gorilla families often mover closer to the trail heads to feed often making the treks shorter.
The rains of course come with challenges as the trails become slippery, there are occasional rain showers, the bushes are thicker and there is a lot of mud along the trails.
For trekkers who do not mind the weather inconveniences, these months are a great time to go on a gorilla trekking adventure as the gorilla permits are easier to get, its possible to get discounted gorilla permits, the accommodation rates are lower, the forest is very vibrant, and there are generally fewer travelers in the national park thus you get to fully immerse yourself in its beauty.
Best silverback gorilla trekking tours
Book this 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek and visit the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in the shortest time. Read More
Book a Perfect 1 Day Gorilla tour to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southern Uganda. The trip starts from Kigali and can depart daily at 3:30 AM. Read More
Book 3 Days Gorilla Safari to Volcanoes. This trip combines gorilla trekking & Golden monkey tracking, a visit to the twine lakes, and a Kigali city tour. Read More
5 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari is perfect for a double gorilla trekking experience with a great chance of comparing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park & Volcanoes. Read More
5 Days Rwanda Congo Safari is a perfect gorilla trekking & Nyiragongo hike in Congo on a combined multi Country safari to visit the mountain gorillas. Read More
Book 5 Days Rwanda Primate Tour offered by Rwanda gorilla trek the destination expert in Safaris to Rwanda throughout the entire year. Read More
9 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari. Plan for a multi-country Safari to visit Africa? Click here to read about the Gorilla Trek within Rwanda, DR Congo & Uganda for Gorilla trekking. Read More
Book 5 Days Rwanda Primate Tour offered by Rwanda gorilla trek the destination expert in Safaris to Rwanda throughout the entire year. Read More