10 things to consider before booking Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali
Where can one go in Uganda to see gorillas in their natural habitat?
Gorilla trekking and habituation take place in southern Uganda in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with gorilla tracking and habituation being the major activities on a Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali. Tracking a habituated family of mountain gorillas entails making your way through the jungle in search of them.
The gorilla trekking expedition begins with the trackers, who get up at the crack of dawn every day to scour the forest for the mountain gorillas. They utilize a variety of indications and techniques to identify the gorillas’ whereabouts.
They follow them with noises they make naturally, like clapping. The trackers will relay their location to the park headquarters, and after the guides have briefed the guests on what to do and what not to do, they will begin to walk or trek through the jungle according to the trackers’ instructions. As a result, your odds of seeing gorillas in their native habitat in Uganda are 99%.
Through the technique of gorilla habituation, wild mountain gorillas may be taught to relax around humans and control their behavior around them. During the two to three years it may take to finish gorilla habitatuation, researchers visit a specific group of wild gorillas every day. They get to know the habits and personalities of certain gorillas better.
The gorillas eventually warm up to the researchers, and eventually, they’re all given names. Researchers will conduct a simulated exercise when a small group of people, including scientists and guides, visit the mountain gorillas once they are certain that they can be walked. The Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are where gorillas habituate. When planning your gorilla safari from Kigali to Uganda, one important consideration is which activities to partake in.
Where in Uganda can one gorilla trekking?
While on a gorilla safari from Kigali, you have the option to hike with the primates or become familiar with them at one of two Ugandan national parks. The parks under question include, among others, the little but picturesque Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the Kisoro area of southwestern Uganda. Its proximity to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest makes it an ideal habitat for Uganda’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.
The Virunga Conservation Area, of which Mgahinga National Park is a part, encompasses not just Mgahinga but also neighboring parks in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. The Rwandan Volcanoes National Park forms its southern boundary, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park forms its western border.
Volcanoes provide a dramatic background to this breathtaking landscape, and their slopes are home to different ecosystems. Gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, hiking, and bird viewing are just a few of the fantastic things that Mgahinga has to offer.
Tourists visiting Uganda to see gorillas rely on Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Situated in the districts of Kisoro, Kanungu, and Kabale in southwestern Uganda, the park is one of the most popular places in the world to go gorilla trekking. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1994 because of the incredible variety it contains.
Although there are 35 gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, only 17 have been habituated for study and tourism. Bwindi encompasses 321 square kilometers and has four distinct areas ideal for habituated gorilla trekking. Among them are the sections of Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija.
Visitors are only permitted to see the gorillas for a maximum of four hours in the Rushaga sector, where habituation experiences are conducted. Before you plan your Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali, think about which national park you would want to visit to view the gorillas. Gorilla permits are subject to availability, thus your selection may depend on when you would want to trek.
From Kigali, how can one arrange to go on a gorilla safari in Uganda?
For personalized and bespoke gorilla safaris from Kigali, please visit our website to get in touch with us. From Kigali, a gorilla safari might include a variety of tourist sites and activities, or it can focus only on gorilla trekking and habituated tours.
You may rely on Katland Safaris to assist you in arranging the necessary permissions and services at an affordable price, ensuring that your expectations are met. You may book a gorilla safari using email for record-keeping and WhatsApp for fast communication.
On a daily basis, what is the number of gorilla permits that Uganda offers?
The world’s highest concentration of habituated gorilla families—nine—is found in two parks in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable and Mountain Mgahinga. Eight permits are available in Mgahinga National Park, and about 180 are available for the standard one-hour gorilla trekking and four-hour gorilla habitatuation in Bwindi.
After Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, Uganda has the world’s greatest concentration of gorilla permits. You may take as many gorilla treks as you like in Uganda since there are so many gorilla licenses. You should think about the gorilla permits—one of the ten things to consider before booking a gorilla safari from Kigali—very seriously since they are crucial to a successful journey.
How much does it cost to get a gorilla permit in Uganda?
One perk of planning a gorilla safari from Kigali to Uganda is that gorilla permits are less expensive there than in Rwanda. Foreign residents pay USD700, non-residents pay USD800, while East African citizens pay Shs.300,000 for the gorilla permit in Uganda. The one-hour gorilla viewing experience is available for the usual charge at both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
The cost of the gorilla habituation licenses is $1,500 for non-residents, $1,000 for foreigners, and 750,000 Ugandan Shillings for citizens of East Africa. Once you locate a group of gorillas, you may spend up to four hours with your habituation permit watching them as they go about their daily lives, eating, sleeping, and socializing.
During the peak season (January–February, July–August, September–December annually), gorilla permits sell out rapidly, despite the fact that Uganda has more of them. Contact us with the details of your planned trek and when you’d like it to take place, and we’ll check the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s online system for permit availability.
If permits are available, we’ll send you an invoice to pay for them; if not, you can choose another date that does. We will confirm your journey and email you a copy of the receipt along with your booking ID after we receive payment. After that, we will schedule and acquire your permits. When planning your gorilla safari from Kigali, one of the ten things to think about is how much the permits will cost.
How can I get from Kigali to Uganda to go on a gorilla trek?
For those planning a gorilla safari in southern Uganda, the city of Kigali is the nearest major city, and visitors may into the country by the Cyanika, Nyamira, or Katuna borders. It takes around four or five hours to travel from Kigali International Airport to southeastern Uganda, including time spent at the border with immigration.
Obtaining an East African Visa, which allows multiple entries to Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, is something we consistently recommend to our guests. As an alternative to purchasing individual entry visas, the East African Visa is a cost-effective option, costing just USD100.
However, you also have the option of obtaining individual visas; for example, a Rwandan visa would cost $30 and a Ugandan visa would cost $50. If you are planning to depart from Kigali and finish your vacation in Uganda, you may not need an East African visa. Visas are available online, at Kigali International Airport, and at any border crossing into Rwanda or Uganda. When making your reservations for a Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali, be sure to ask about the journey time, entry ports, and visa costs.
Vehicles for Safaris
What is the best place to stay in Kigali for a gorilla safari in Uganda?
Among the ten factors to think about before reserving a safari from Kigali to Uganda is where to stay. There are lodges and hotels within and outside of all of Uganda’s national parks, making them ideal for tourists. If you’re planning a gorilla safari from Kigali to Uganda, Katland Safaris will help you book a room at any of the many hotels in the area, from the most affordable to the most luxurious. There are a variety of hotels to suit different budgets in Mgahinga National Park.
The most luxurious option is Gahinga Lodge, while the more affordable options include Lake Chahafi Resort and Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge. To ensure you reach the park headquarters in enough of time for your gorilla trek, it is advisable to stay at lodges within the sector where you have chosen to walk.
You have your pick of Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Four Gorilla Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge in Rushaga, and Nkuringo Bwindi and Clouds Mountain gorilla lodges in Nkuringo, respectively. You have your pick of four lodges in the Buhoma sector: Buhoma, Mahogany Springs, Bwindi, and Gorilla Forest Camp.
Trekkers Tavern Lodge and Bakiga Lodge are two options for accommodations in the Ruhija area. Bwindi is home to a plethora of lodges, but during peak season, they may fill up quickly, so it’s best to plan ahead. Get in touch with us, and we’ll suggest a top-notch resort that won’t break the bank while you’re on safari.
safaris with Katland
The Ugandan travel company Katland Safaris has its headquarters in the town of Entebbe. A Ugandan family owns and operates Katland Safaris. Our company has been providing eco-friendly vacations and once-in-a-lifetime adventures to every country in East Africa for over 15 years. The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has officially recognized us as a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).
Booking your gorilla permits and safari from Kigali is made easier because to our solid and long-standing working connection with UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority). Safari reservations and TripAdvisor both have excellent things to say about Katland safaris. If you are planning a future trip to any of the five East African countries—Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, or Tanzania—please get in touch with Katland Safaris.