How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

Let us address ourself with how to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.  Gorilla habituation experience is a protracted and unique alternative in Africa where one may spend more hours with mountain gorillas in the wild.

Gorilla habituation experience was originally developed in the southern areas of Bwindi impenetrable National Park, enabling a maximum of 4 persons to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation.  Please view some of our gorilla habituation experience excursions.

Gorilla habituation experience permits

A gorilla habituation experience permit is a card given by Uganda Wildlife Authority that permits the bearer to spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This ticket includes four hours with gorillas, services of an informed armed UWA ranger, park admission fees and a certificate after your four-hour walk.  Read details about booking gorilla permits

How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

At the present, a gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 per person per trip and UGX750.000 for East African Citizens.  All fees for gorilla habituation experience permits are made directly to Uganda wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala.  UWA gives choices of paying for these permits in whole amount or in installments.  Below is how one might pay your or her gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

Its is feasible to pay your gorilla habituation experience permits in payments of 30% as initial or down payment followed by a 70% final pay or top up as it is generally known to.   By paying 30% of the entire price of the permit, you will be ensured of a site to watch gorillas for four hours in the southern portion of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.  To achieve this however, you must guarantee that at the time of trekking, 70% balance is cleared.

Let’s look at the real maths

A gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 per person and 30% of $1500 is $450.  So, one will be asked to make an initial deposit of $450 and pay the remainder of the 70% which is 1050 at a later point.  For more information on gorilla trekking in Bwindi, pls contact Katland safaris.

Terms and restrictions for paying gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

While it is feasible to deposit 30% to guarantee your gorilla habituation permit, Uganda Wildlife Authority can only do so if the booking is four and more months in advance.  This is because the 70% final payment must be paid three months before the trekking date.

If you are one person intending to perform gorilla habituation 6 or more months in advance or a year and more, you may pay 30% and pay the remainder closer to time (three months before trekking).  For last minute reservations or those preparing for their journey in a time less than three months must purchase their permit in full.

How to book and pay for gorilla habituation permits

Uganda wildlife Authority maintains all rights of granting out gorilla habituation permits however a person may book directly or use services of approved and recognized tour companies such as Katland Safaris.

If you choose Katland safaris to conduct this process on your behalf, we will of course assign you one of our safari professionals who will be your primary contact all through.  He or she will aid in verifying availability of gorilla habituation experience permits, advise you on whether the timing is good and qualifies you to pay 30% deposit.

If so, He/She will give you an invoice with our bank information and as soon as payment is done, we at Katland safaris will go ahead to pay and obtain your gorilla habituation experience permits.

After your permit has been paid partly, Uganda Wildlife Authority generally provides out a receipt which we will scan and email to you as evidence of payment.  The same safari consultant will remind you on when to pay the final 70% payment to top up and get your gorilla habituation experience permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority head offices in Kampala.  Isn’t the procedure straightforward when you call the experts?  If so, use the CONTACT US button and one of us will be at your service.

Please note that Katland safaris accepts both bank transfers and Credit card payments much as the latter involves a 5% extra.  Kindly let us know the way of payment preferred and we will react appropriately.

What happens when you fail or delay to make the final payment?

It is possible to postpone or fail to pay the final 70% final deposit owing to unexpected circumstances.  Should this happen, two things may happen.

The first instance is that should time for top us approaches and you don’t make the final payment, you will instantly forfeit your position and money.  As a necessity, your gorilla habituation experience permit must be paid in full 3 months before trekking date.

If you employ services of Katland safaris, we will undertake the following:

First of all, we will remind you before hand so that you don’t forget.  Once payment is completed, we will go ahead and top up your permit.  Alternatively, we may utilize our credit and top it up and then shift it to another day when we have a booking.  We shall then reimburse your 30% originally paid to us.  Isn’t this cool?

Is it possible to postpone the date of my permit paid in installment?

The answer is yes and no.  It is possible to change your gorilla habituation experience permit to another date as long as you top it up by paying the remaining 70% deposit.  With this, Katland safaris will on your behalf submit an official letter to Uganda Wildlife Authority stating your intention to change your permit to another date.  Once authorized, we will then go a head to top up and then confirm the new dates to you.

About gorilla habituation experience (FAQ)

Below are some of most common questions concerning gorilla habituation experience.

Which nations in Africa do give gorilla habituation experience tours

Africa is the only continent where mountain gorillas reside in their native environment.  Not all African nations have mountain gorillas.  Its only Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo that are home to these huge and rare apes.

While all the three nations give a one-hour chance to see these mountain gorillas, Uganda is the only country where 4 hours are permitted with mountain gorillas under habituation.  Therefore, Uganda remains the only place in Africa and the whole globe where gorilla habituation experience is done.  Book your gorilla habituation experience trip with the professionals today.

Which National Park in Uganda provides gorilla habituation experience safaris?

There is just one National Park in Africa and whole globe that gives gorilla habituation experience safaris.  This national park is named Bwindi impenetrable National Park and is situated in the little East African country of Uganda.  For anyone interested in spending four house with mountain gorillas under habituation can consider visiting Uganda widely nicknamed “ The Pearl of Africa”.

Which area of Bwindi impenetrable national Park has gorilla habituation experience?

Bwindi impenetrable National Park comprises four places of Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the East and Rushaga plus Nkuringo in the south.  Not all regions of Bwindi provide gorilla habituation experience trips.

Its only Rushaga and Nkuringo situated in the southern half of Bwindi impenetrable National Park that provide gorilla habituation experience as an extended gorilla trek option.  All those interested in spending more time with mountain gorillas should prepare to visit the southern half of Bwindi impenetrable national Park.

How can I travel to Rushaga and Nkuringo for gorilla habituation experience?

There two possibilities of entering Rushaga and Nkuringo portions of the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park.  By road, one needs to travel 9-10 hours from Kampala city/Entebbe Airport via minor towns of Mbarara and Kabale further to Rushaga and Nkuringo.

The alternative option is to fly from Entebbe international Airport to Kisoro Airstrip which takes 2 hours followed by a car transport of one hour to your resort.  You may opt to charter or take scheduled flights that are available everyday.  For more information on our fly-in safaris to visit gorillas, please do contact us.

What is the age restriction for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi?

Just like the conventional gorilla trekking of one hour, the age restriction for gorilla habituation experience safaris in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is 15 years and above.

All youngsters below the age of 15 are not permitted to perform gorilla habituation experience safaris.  Uganda Wildlife Authority is stringent about this and passport copies to prove the true age are always sought before granting your permission as well as on the day of the actual trip.

What are the possibilities of seeing gorillas on this experience?

We can affirm to you that ever the gorilla habituation experience began in 2014, there has been 100% citing of mountain gorillas on all done trips.  All travelers booked via Katland safaris have been able to view mountain gorillas on their excursion.

While the conventional trip is 98% guarantee to meet mountain gorillas on any particular trek, it is roughly 90% on gorilla habituation experience.  The explanation is that mountain gorillas are semi habituation and yet under going habituation.

For what ever reason, they may opt to move really rapidly to evade you.  Never fear this as if this occurs, your ranger guide and his crew have an option of transporting you to another family since there are two families appointed for this.

Where to stay for my gorilla habituation experience safari?

As previously indicated, gorilla habituation experience is done in the southern portion of Bwindi impenetrable National Park and one needs to choose lodges and motels in Rushaga, Nkuringo and Rubuguri.

This side of Bwindi contains both affordable and Luxury resorts.  Katland safaris works well in hand with lodges in the southern section of Bwindi and we are in position to negotiate better prices on your behalf.

Why should one opt to pay gorilla habituation permits in advance?

Uganda Wildlife Authority terms and regulations specify that one is permitted to pay 30% deposit and top up three months before the real journey.  Therefore, if you find yourself with less money yet want to book your permit in advance.

While Katland safaris demands 100% payment for permits, we might take 30% deposit for reservations that are in advance.

How long is gorilla habituation experience excursion?

A walk to the jungle to seek for mountain gorillas under habituation may take from one hour to four hours.  This is because you can never tell where and how these animals will travel on that specific day.  Once located, you will be able to spend four hours with them before coming back to the park headquarters.  It is thus feasible to spend few hours in the forest or a complete day.

Hire services of a skilled Tour Operator

Booking an expensive gorilla habituation experience safari in Africa demands assistance of a highly trusted tour operator that will aid you in organizing your gorilla permits.

Katland safaris was the first tour operator to write extensively about gorilla habituation experience and we are among the very few companies that have the ability to assist you in organizing your permits as well as safaris to the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park to spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation.

We have a devoted team of personnel in office and field prepared to aid you arrange a lifetime safari.  Katland safaris is well evaluated on Trip advisor as well as safari bookings by individuals who have employed our services.  For further information, feel free to get in contact.

How to buy Mgahinga gorilla permits in installments.

It is extremely easy to get mgahinga mountain gorilla permits in installments in order to ensure your position for gorilla trekking in this little but lovely mountain gorilla national park situated in the Virunga highlands.  You may learn more about booking gorilla permits here.  A gorilla permit is a must have license for anybody hoping to observe mountain gorillas of Mgahinga National Park in their natural environment.

Normally, gorilla permits are arranged in advance and constitute part of a gorilla trekking package.  Mountain gorilla permits being the most critical component of a gorilla trip but pricey and rare.  One has to obtain them in advance upon making payment.  Uganda, via its body of Uganda wildlife Authority, gives an option of paying for Mgahinga gorilla licenses in installments as depicted below.

procedure by procedure on how to acquire Mgahinga gorilla permits in installments.

To obtain and confirm your place to observe mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, you need a gorilla permit as already specified.  A gorilla permit may be paid in whole or in installments at Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance.

If you have limited means but want to secure your gorilla permit in advance you are suggested to pay 30% of the total price of a permit which is $800 and pay the remainder three months trekking date.

How much is 30% of $800 as installment?

For those interested in purchasing mgahinga gorilla licenses in installments, you will have to pay $210 each gorilla permit because it is the 30% of $800.  You must assure to pay the remaining 70% three months to trekking date.

For example, if you are going to climb mountain gorillas next year, you will be able to pay 30% and the remainder three months to the actual date of your gorilla journey.  The 30% is proof that you will be trekking mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park on the designated days as shown on your gorilla permit receipt.

Where and how to get Mgahinga gorilla permits in installments.

Whether you wish to pay or purchase your gorilla permits in advance, you must call Uganda Wildlife Authority reservations in Kampala to first check availability and then confirm to you.  Once there is room for your selected date/month and year, you will be permitted to reserve and then acquire your gorilla permit by paying for it.

You may opt to go straight and contact Uganda Wildlife Authority, however this being a government organization, you may be disappointed.  It is therefore advisable to engage the services of a licensed tour operator in Uganda to perform all the hard work for you.

When you contact our bookings department at Katland Safaris, we will take care of everything to do with verifying availability, reserving as well as acquiring your gorilla permit after making payment at Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Once the procedure of getting your mgahinga gorilla permit is done, we will next help you to create a gorilla safari package to view mountain gorillas in Mgahinga.  If you are interested in additional activities like as chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, animal watching, or cultural tours, don’t worry, our safari designers can help you in coming up with a safari package that will fit your interest, time, and budget.

How do I pay the 30% and subsequently 70% of permit price?

As already indicated, all payments must be done to Uganda Wildlife Authority directly or via a licensed tour operator.  If you contact Katland safaris, we will give you an invoice detailing what you are expected to pay as 30% ($210 of $800) payment and the 70% remainder to be cleared three months before the trekking date.

Upon getting our invoice, you will be able to pay by bank transfer or credit card much as the latter entail a 5% fee.  We urge you to submit us evidence of payment by email so that we move on to utilize our credit to get your gorilla permits.

We generally don’t wait for cash to show on our account and prefer using our credit because it may take 2-3 working days to materialize although gorilla permits are provided on first come first serve at Uganda Wildlife Authority.  After paying 30% and collecting a receipt, we will email you a scanned copy as proof and even go ahead to remind you to pay the 70% when the time is due.

What happens when I fail to pay 70% last amount in time?

It is conceivable for one to fail to pay the 70% in time and of course terms and conditions as established by Uganda Wildlife Authority would apply.  By failing to pay 70% in time, you stand to lose your seat.  If you book your permit via Katland safaris, however, you don’t have to worry about this.

All you need to do is to contact us via email and we will submit an official letter to UWA requesting for an extension of time and if not, we will still pay the 70% using our credit on your behalf until you are prepared to pay us.  In other words, Katland safaris has been permitted to arrange your trip if need be.

Is it possible to postpone my gorilla permit paid 30% deposit?

Uganda Wildlife Authority allows rescheduling of Mgahinga gorilla permits from one date to another as long as they are paid in full.  If it so occurs due to un avoidable circumstances and you wish to modify the date/month/year of your gorilla permit purchased in installments, we will need you to pay the remaining 70% for us to file for a rescheduling from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

After topping up, UWA will grant us permission to change your Mgahinga gorilla permit to another day of your choosing.  Due to covid 19 Pandemic, Uganda Wildlife Authority realizes that anything may happen and because of this, flexibility has been permitted to enable visitors not to forfeit their money due to one testing positive for example.  Make sure you contact Katland safaris offering explanations as to why you wish to transfer your gorilla permit to another date and we will respond appropriately.

Further note that we may make numerous reschedules on your behalf following the existing terms and condition of Uganda Wildlife Authority.  Incase you are unable to go for health or other reasons, Katland safaris following Uganda Wildlife Authority will handle your refund or resell your gorilla permits to reclaim your funds.  Our safari advisers and bookings staff are always ready to lend a help should you require it.

Is it also possible to pay my Mgahinga gorilla excursion in installments?

Paying for your Mgahinga gorilla permit is the first step in booking a gorilla trekking journey to Mahinga National Park.  Once this is done, the next vital step is to schedule additional services like as lodging in or near Mgahinga, transport to and from Mgahinga as well as Airport transfers and Covid 19 procedures.

It is possible to pay your Uganda gorilla trekking safari to view mountain gorillas in installments if you contact Katland safaris.  To confirm your Gorilla trekking safari with Katland Safaris, we simply require you to pay either full for gorilla permits and 20% of the rest of the expenditures for transport and lodging or permits alone.

The remaining of the trip cost balance may then be paid two weeks before the commencement of your gorilla trekking vacations.  Does this sound great?  If so click on any of the following popular Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking excursions and we will give you a quotation or the same.

About Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is the smallest of the Gorilla National Park in Africa and is situated in the Virunga mountains shared by three African nations of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo.

Infact the three famous mountain gorilla national park of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga National Park comprise one continuous forest only split by colonial political lines leaving mgahinga in Uganda.

Mgahinga National Park situated in southern Uganda features one habituated gorilla hiking family named Nyakagezi.  This also implies that just 8 gorilla permits are available everyday for gorilla trekking.

Because of the type of vegetation, Mgahinga National Park is chosen by visitors and photographers owing to clear visibility compared to the forest of impenetrable Bwindi National Park.  On a regular day, Mgahinga gorilla permits sell out rapidly and to secure space, one has to pay in advance.  Katland safaris and Fixers will help with acquiring your gorilla permit upon payment of 30% as initial deposit or full payment for the same.

How to go to Mgahinga National Park

There two means of approaching Mgahinga National Park and this is via road and Air travel.  The quickest method is to fly into Rwanda/Kigali International Airport and drive to Uganda via Chanika Boarder.  The travel from Kigali to Mgahinga is roughly 4-5 hours.

This lives us with one choice of flying into Entebbe International Airport and travel 9-10 hours southeastern Uganda by road.  While the trip looks to be a lengthy one, there is a lot to see along.

This excursion gives a chance for a pause at the equator crossing for photography and coffee, meeting the Hima cattle keepers with their famed Ankole Long horned cow unique to Uganda and if luck, you will sight some impalas and zebras grazing in communal land.

These wild animals travel from Lake Mburo National Park and graze on surrounding community grounds a symbol of human-wildlife co-existence.  The route will take you via the undulating slopes of Kigezi to Kisoro town and to Mgahinga National Park.

The best but somewhat costly means of visiting Mgahinga National Park is by flying from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip.  Daily charter and scheduled flights are available given by local domestic carriers.

A journey from Entebbe to Kisoro may take 2-3 hours and only morning flights are available.  Upon arrival at Kisoro Airport, you will proceed by road to Mgahinga National Park for overnight and acclimatization while you prepare for your gorilla hike the next morning.  For additional information about Flyin Safaris to view gorillas, please click here.

Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park has limited alternatives when it comes to Accommodation.  Only one high end Accommodation establishment does exist at the park entry (Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge).  The adjacent Kisoro town offers you several cheap Lodges and campsites where you may arrange two nights lodging for your Mgahinga gorilla trekking expedition.

Please let us know your budget and we will add a lodge in your package that will be compatible with your interest and budget.  Please note that Katland safaris prides herself on creating gorilla trips to fit clients’ interests and budget.

What more is there to see and do at Mgahinga National Park.

It is feasible to spend up to 7 days at Mgahinga National Park alone owing to the range of activities inside the tiny but lovely National Park.  On top of undertaking a gorilla trek in the bamboo forest, one is free to add on golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience, the park also has three possibilities for mountain climbing including Mgahinga, Muhavura and Sabinyo mountains.

If interested in walks, there is an intriguing route that brings you to the park run by the batwa.  Batwa experience is also another popular activity that you may include on gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park.  The batwa are the indigenous people that used to dwell in Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable National Park before they were gazzatted as National Park.

As soon as these woods were proclaimed National Parks, the batwa people were relocated away and resettled in the community.  This has up to now not been an easy trip for them.  Changing their lifestyle has been challenging and they are among the most endangered ethnic groups in Uganda.  By conducting a batwa cultural walk, you have a privilege of learning about how life was before and after.

Why Katland Safaris

Since conception, Katland safaris and fixers has been one of the most respected safari business offering spectacular vacations to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.

We have been able to achieve this due of the competent and committed crew of office and field guides who guarantees that booking and genuine experience of your safari goes on un interfered with.

Planning a Honeymoon Holiday in Tanzania.

A Tanzania safari provides everything a honeymoon getaway in Africa should have for all sorts of guests. Whether you are seeking for an African adventure, adrenaline, snorkeling, diving, climbing cloud mountains, or more of a chill-by-the-pool sort of couple, you’ll find romance in Tanzania’s attractions.

Tanzania provides some of the greatest safari wildlife viewings mixed with some of the most picturesque beaches on the Indian Ocean coastline. A great combination of true adventure and leisure, and a unique celebration to the start of a lovely marriage.

The big migration in the Serengeti, a well-developed tourist infrastructure, a vast array of fantastic lodging options, and amazing transport logistics are what make organizing a honeymoon break in Tanzania an enticing undertaking.

So, investigate some of the other things you would consider before putting all your concentration in a safari in Tanzania.

Which locations to visit

When organizing your honeymoon journey in Tanzania, your essential choice will be deciding between experiencing the northern and southern safari circuits or the complete circular experience. The north circuit features some of the world’s most renowned safari attractions, including Serengeti and Ngorongoro, which provide Africa’s most remarkable animal watching excursions.

Sadly, the north is a tremendously popular circuit. The most elite campgrounds for honeymoons are congested and don’t provide much seclusion, particularly in busy seasons. Camps here provide a restricted number of activities. Also, the northern circuit is significantly larger, longer, and farther away from the seaside beaches.

The less congested southern Tanzania provides a more genuine and private honeymoon safari experience. In less than an hour after you arrive in Dar-es-salaam, you may reach the south’s Selous Game Reserve, the biggest in Africa, and Ruaha National Park is not far away. Both sites have less traffic, which is great for a romantic safari break in the July to October seasons.

The laws in the south are more permissive, permitting boat safaris, strolling, and bush fly camping. Accommodation selections here provide greater value for a luxurious honeymoon getaway in Tanzania. And the fact that parks are closer to each other and the beach, you spend less money and time traveling and more time with one other.

Few would plan a honeymoon visit in Tanzania without considering a beach break in Zanzibar or the nearby islands. For diving couples, Mafia, Pemba, and the private islands of Mnenba and Fanjova provide exceptional experiences. And, there are good and economical beach vacation choices for everyone.

Alternatively, you may combine your honeymoon break in Tanzania with a primate experience in either Uganda or Rwanda. Both provide good prospects for gorilla trekking with direct flights between Serengeti and Kigali or Entebbe.

Where to stay on honeymoon break in Tanzania

Tented camps vs. non-tented lodges
When arranging a honeymoon getaway safari, selecting tented or non-tented camps is a huge dilemma for many guests. However, there’s no noticeable distinction between tented campgrounds and non-tented choices.

Some of the most deluxe safari lodges might be canvas tents or solid walls yet provide an infinity pool, a magnificent dining menu, and an outstanding array of luxury bush hideaway facilities. Nonetheless, if you seek for an intimate, true connection with the bush wild, you should go with the tiny safari-mad tented camps of approximately five tents, and they will deliver a honeymoon safari to remember.

Mobile tented camps
Tented camps are for the traditional safari romance type. Primarily located in the Serengeti, they relocate a few of times throughout the year to position for the finest great migration experience.

Their mobility does not enable permanent pools, plumbing, and power. However, you still enjoy the most opulent environment in a huge canvas tent, warm open showers, and romantic amenities.

If you’re seeking swimming pools and fancy toilet seats, then mobile tented camps would be unsatisfactory for you. However, if the blend of jungle adventure and creature comforts is your ideal of a romantic retreat, then we strongly suggest a day or two in a mobile tented camp.

When to go

Because the country’s weather is tropical, you may travel any time of the year. However, the greatest period for a honeymoon break in Tanzania is between July and September, during the dry weather season when wild creatures are easier to detect.

If you’re traveling to Tanzanian beaches, avoid coming in April and May during the country’s wet seasons. However, if you’re going on a low budget and merely contemplating a safari without the beach, then the rainy season might be wonderful.

There’s a lot of fresh life during the rains, and it’s a lovely time to explore the country’s parks with lush greenery. On the bright side, several of the more expensive safari lodges offer amazing savings at this season. However, you should realize that the rains may make game drives tough with muddy trails, scattered animals challenging to detect, and it might shower any moment.

The cost of a honeymoon break in Tanzania

The cost of safari lodging in Tanzania varies from $400 to $2,700 per person per night. Generally, these costs include game watching activities, lunches, and beverages. Beach lodgings are substantially cheaper, with costs beginning at roughly $160 per person per night and reaching up to $1800 for an exclusive island hotel night.

If you don’t want to endure the lengthy drives, our local advisors can also organize for you internal aircraft transfers between safari parks and the beach, which would cost around $260 per person each trip.

Send us an email for an estimate and professional advice in preparing your honeymoon vacation in Tanzania from our local guides.

How to Prepare For A Safari in Uganda.

So you’ve booked your first safari in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, and you’re expecting to spend that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the endangered mountain gorillas? We realize that the pleasure of peering into the eyes of a big silverback in his native area is hard to suppress. It is regarded to be one of the most life-changing events in the African wilderness.

There’s something so lovely and wonderful wandering in Uganda’s thick woods expecting to stumble into an ape five times your size. Waking up every day in the remotest corners of Africa, and feeling like anything is possible.

When you arrive in Uganda, you’ll be struck by a new rush of exhilaration like a June breeze. Our recommendations in this piece will help you control yourself while preparing for a scheduled vacation.

Here’s how to prepare for a safari in Uganda a few weeks before your vacation date. We will provide you essential information to know before you leave home.

Shaping Your Expectations

Before you arrive at a place, it’s good to understand what you should anticipate on the safari, which will help you regulate your expectations and make you more appreciative of everything that unfolds throughout your trip.

If you’re a first-time tourist to Uganda, expect to encounter extremely cordial and joyful hosts practically wherever you go; Ugandans are really warm people with a highly inviting atmosphere.

You’ll be traveling lengthy hours between sites, so plan to sit in the back of a 4×4 for more than 4 hours and up to 10 hours to reach the gorilla parks. Some roads, particularly near most national parks, are unpaved, and travels in the parks will often be rough.

Finding gorillas in the alpine forests is hardly a walk in the park. Expect to spend uncertain hours trudging through steep, damp, muddy, and deep forest at high heights to discover the gorillas. Therefore, prepare your physical condition to guarantee you can tolerate climbing for hours at high elevations.

creatures in Uganda’s national parks or any park in Africa are not strewn all over the area, and you’ll not spend most of your time experiencing creatures.

You’ll go on daily game drives in the early hours and nights when animals are more active, and you may meet a few different creatures each time with the aid of a professional guide-driver. You may spend hours in the back of the 4×4 safari vehicle hunting for the big game, and the peak exhilaration is when you eventually spot the lion, leopard, or buffalo after hours in the jungle.

Prepare to start each morning on your Uganda safari extremely early and sometimes conclude late in the nights. You may want to see and experience everything imaginable and forget that you’re on vacation and need some time to rest, relax and maybe take a sleep. Therefore, ask your safari planner to create some time each day when you may rest and unwind.

By all likelihood, you must have already dug into reading internet evaluations after booking your trip. Online reviews are available to assist you decide to book. Now that you’ve booked your vacation avoid them since they’ll simply wreck your expectations. Prepare your Uganda safari with a fresh mind to acquire remarkable memories of your own since we all can’t have the same subjective experiences.

Each tourist forms their own experience with the wide, countless breathtaking beauty that Uganda spotlights and everyone narrates a distinct narrative at the end of the day.

There are various changeable aspects including seasons, cultures, and costs that affect each person’s experience. The greatest recommendation is to keep in connection with your safari manager to provide you up-to-date information about Uganda.

Process Your Visa & Vaccines

Prepare to process a Uganda tourist visa online at visas.immigration.go.ug at least four weeks before your travel. Before you start the procedure, plan to have the following digital items:

A passport copy with a clean scan of the information page of your six months valid signed passport,
A passport-type picture, with a white backdrop, taken within the recent six months.
A copy of the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) for yellow fever
A comprehensive daily travel itinerary containing places to be visited at defined times.
A reservation of the flight itinerary under the traveller’s name. Must show planes arriving and departing Uganda.

To protect your health during your trip to Uganda, the CDC recommends the following vaccinations: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza. Please plan to see your doctor for guidance on your immunizations a few weeks before your vacation.

Check Your Health & Fitness

COVID-19 is still the largest hazard to going overseas, and Uganda is no different. With sustained public health precautions, immunization and testing, it is possible to travel to Uganda. You will need to plan your vacation to Uganda carefully, recognizing that there are hazards.

Please note that COVID-19-related entry regulations to Uganda may change without notice. Contact us to keep you with the latest developments as you plan for your Uganda safari.

However, the general health standards may include a negative PCR test certificate with samples obtained 72 hours before you reach or left Uganda.

You will also be subject to a PCR test on arrival for $30 at Entebbe International Airport regardless of immunization status. You’ll be forced to safeguard yourself and others by donning a mask, sanitising your hands, and permitting temperature checks at all entrance points around the nation.

If your Uganda safari includes gorilla trekking or climbing, you’ll have to perfect your physical condition for these activities before you leave your nation. Visitors may reach gorillas only on foot; no cars can drive within the gorilla national parks.

Gorillas reside in the highlands at heights of roughly 1,160m – 2,607m in tropical rainforests that demand moderate physical fitness to travel.

Although virtually all trekkers make it to the gorillas, we do not encourage our tourists to test their physical condition on D-day. Visit your local gym a couple of weeks before your vacation to strengthen your muscles for hiking several hours in uneven terrains.

Plan What To Pack

Preparing your packing list is one of the more hard duties in the suggestions on how to prepare for a safari in Uganda. Uganda is fairly distinct from other countries, providing diverse activities, each with particular needs in your suitcase.

If your vacation entails following primates, meeting the locals, exploring on the savannah plains hunting for wildlife, climbing mountains, and attending banquets, your packing list will be tough to arrange.

Generally, in the southern areas, where you’ll spend most of your time on safari, it becomes cool in the mornings and nights.

The gorilla parks are considerably worse, with sudden downpours throughout the wet seasons. So plan to take some things to keep you warm and dry, such a light rain jacket, sweater, and garments to cover your limbs.

For gorilla trekking, prepare to bring a pair of light waterproof hiking shoes, waterproof backpack, insect repellant, light pants, and a long-sleeved shirt to protect prickly plants from pricking your skin. Make sure that they a light since you’ll be physically active, and you want to prevent losing your breath when strolling under the forest canopy.

Safaris in Uganda are largely spent in the back of a 4×4 safari vehicle, seeing wildlife from the window or roof opening. Sometimes you’ll take a boat safari to get closer to the animals.

Prepare to prepare light for these activities, for example, shorts, dull-coloured shirts, light shoes, sunscreen, a hut, a pair of binoculars, and a bag to hold your food and photos. Remember that your bag normally remains at the camp while on game drives, so bring stuff you’ll only need on long-hour game drives.

Start Preparing Your Uganda Safari

Our assistance staff is available to guide you through the process of preparing for your booked Uganda safari. We will provide you all the information you need to educate yourself about your trip, assist you make your packing list, paperwork and keep you up-to-date with local news.

If you book with us, we’ll assist you have the information on all the properties you’ll be seeing, maintain tabs on your permit processing, and be your local insurance in case of any unforeseen eventualities like travel limitations and change of health.

How To Prepare For A Rwanda Safari.

Assume you have already scheduled your Rwanda safari with a respectable, licenced tour operator, selected your departure date, and in the following few months or days you will have to be ready for it. In such situation, we will assist you with the items you must review to enable you to be ready for an amazing vacation trip in Rwanda.

Popular for gorilla trekking, Rwanda is sure to provide an amazing experience with mountain gorillas on the Virunga Mountains slopes of Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, being fit physically and psychologically for traversing the Virunga mountains, looking for the elusive mountain gorillas, will mostly define your preparation for a Rwanda Safari.

Keeping the lines of contact open with your travel agent for any unanticipated schedule modification comes first on your list. Your flights, Rwanda’s travel limitations, and health condition might change anytime because we live in extraordinary times and either you or your travel agent should have first-hand knowledge to make the required changes in the schedule.

Your travel itinerary will also provide you information on your trip to help you be ready for the Rwanda safari. One might really benefit from regularly reading their newsletter or emails.

Safety and Health Check

Travel raises serious issues related to health and safety, particularly in view of the frequency of contagious illnesses and terrorism. Preparing for an international vacation depends on knowing that visiting locations will be safe for your intended getaway.

Your level of physical fitness will be a major concern when you get to the forest paths if you want to hike gorillas in the Virunga mountains. Uneven, muddy, steep, forest paths need for some physical ability to negotiate.

A few weeks or months before your vacation, schedule frequent gym visits or some brief walking and trekking activities. That will equip you for the unknown hours you will spend looking for the gorillas in the deep foggy jungles.

Review Rwanda’s most recent health and admission policies to make sure you will be able to satisfy the requirements for your safari. Rwanda now mandates that you arrive with a negative certificate and undergo a PCR Covid-19 test 72 hours before arrival. Before you are let to explore Rwanda, you may have to take another exam upon arriving and assist for several hours at a hotel. Do not rule out the possibility.
Given its security, Rwanda is regarded as one of the safest places to go; so, the nation has witnessed steady development. Security so should not hold you back while getting ready for a Rwanda safari. Other than reading outdated internet articles created by unknown websites, learning the newest security issues straight from your trip planner would be very reassuring.

Clothing and luggage

At this point in getting ready for a Rwanda safari, your clothes and bags should be quite important. Don’t overpack for the vacation; you’re heading miles away from home into a less developed nation and spending most of your holiday in the most remote areas of Rwanda.

Stow a few basics, particularly casual wear that will let you relax on those leisurely hotel nights. Most visitors find Rwanda’s tropical temperature, which is somewhat mild, pleasant.

While most of your time will be spent in Rwanda’s lower mountains, daytime temperatures there average 75oF and are much cooler along the upper highlands at approximately 55oF. Nighttime temps often fall in the 60s. Furthermore, tropical rain might strike any moment—especially during the wet seasons.

Pack clothes that would therefore keep you warm in the winter, dry during the rainy season, and comfortable throughout your hiking excursions. For the cool nights, most visitors carry a sweater, scarf, and thick pants.

For gorilla walking in the muddy, bumpy forest paths, pack waterproof hiking boots to keep your food dry. To guard you from the forest pests and prickly shrubs, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. From the rainforest mist and deluge, a light weight rain jacket and waterproof backpack will keep you and your equipment dry.

Figure out your style and pack a few to fit the Rwanda vacation scene for laid-back afternoons; Rwanda culture is not too sensitive about how visitors dress for their safaris.

It is advisable not to put your bags in hardshell cases; weight is a major consideration when you get ready for a Rwanda Safari. Keep your bags small and basic; they should be something you could easily fit in a corner or carry with your two hands.

What More To Bring

Most respectable hotels in Rwanda provide shampoo and conditioner; notably the forest lodges, there is no need to pack unless you want to avoid unfamiliar brands. Pack lotions, sunscreen with a decent SPF, bug repellant, medical first aid kit, toothpaste, toothbrush, and shaving basics.

If you are carrying a camera, be sure you have an additional battery and charger compatible with kinds C and J plugs. J type plugs have three circular pins; C plugs have two. Stow a universal plug-adaptor to prevent ambiguity. Rwanda runs 50Hz using a 230 volts supply.

Discover Rwanda, The People & Culture Here

Making long-lasting memories while visiting far-off locations depends on connecting with the people and cultures of the area. Before you visit the far-off Rwanda safari sites, you should take some thought on morning greetings, gestures, invites, social customs, taboos. Knowing them ahead of time will enable you to react fast during mild events.

Kinyarwanda is the first language spoken by Rwandans, and it is quite common all around their nation. Officially used are English, French, and Swahili. During your Rwanda safari, you probably will meet people speaking English or French. If you neither of these two, we strongly advise you to be ready for a Rwanda Safari by hiring an interpreter.

Rwanda has great standing for sustainability and cleanliness. If you trash the surroundings, bring a plastic bag into Rwanda, or disregard their sustainability initiatives, you will cause great difficulties. During your safari in Rwanda, keep an eye out for a decade-long ban on single-use plastic bags and public great respect for clean surroundings.

Usually staying at most hotels in Rwanda, the hosts welcome you with ethnic singing, dance, and folklore in public places during dinner or nighttime campfires. Otherwise, you may immerse yourself in rich Rwanda cultures by visiting their cultural centers, towns, or villages. One may learn about the horrific 1990s by visiting the genocide memorial museums in Kigali city.

Get ready for a Safari in Rwanda.

Start your Rwanda safari with a reputable licensed operator. During your preparations, we will make sure you get first-hand knowledge and specifics regarding your trip; we will also provide you the most recent health and security updates up to d-day.

The greatest of our staff is planning your vacation to ensure your meals satisfy your needs, buy your entrance tickets and permits, arrange for the ideal lodging, and comfortable transports. To start planning your Rwanda safari, contact us.

How To Prepare For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Rwanda.

Choose your gorilla’s location.

By now you should be considering the location best for your gorilla trekking expedition. Whether your choice is to hike gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, both places have amazing opportunities. Your decision will mostly rely on your budget, availability of gorilla permits, and holiday schedule, however.

The gorilla permit essentially sets the budget for a gorilla trekking expedition, a document permitting you enter the gorilla restricted area with armed rangers and a professional tracker on foot.

At $1500 per, a gorilla permit in Rwanda more than triple that of Uganda; finding a quality place to stay is almost exactly more expensive there. Furthermore, the gorillas of Rwanda are readily accessible from the international airport (approximately a two-hour drive), therefore saving you travel costs between the airport and your hotel.

Rwanda only has one tiny gorilla park, Virunga National Park, near the foot of the Virunga mountains, nevertheless, with few gorilla permits on hand. Preparing a gorilla trekking expedition in Rwanda on your intended dates might be rather difficult with less permits on hand daily.

Uganda, on the other hand, is much more reasonably priced and has really decent options for lodging, permits, and two gorilla parks providing more than one approach to spend time with mountain gorillas.

About a 10-hour trip, the international airport is situated far from the gorilla parks; two tiny regional airports two hours’ drive from the gorillas. Still, the lengthy trip gives seasoned explorers amazing sights and time to enjoy traveling over the countryside if you’re not in a rush.

Should you be ready for gorilla trekking in either Uganda or Rwanda, our excellent assessment of the two countries and which one provides the better experience should aid you.

Choose the date of your trip.

It makes perfect sense if you take your vacation in Africa depending on the days you are free from work or demanding chores at home. While you may hike gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda any time of year, we advise you to be ready for your trip depending mostly on the travel calendar of the location, which is dictated mostly by the weather conditions, availability of permits and lodging.

Most visitors believe the optimum period for gorilla treking in Uganda and Rwanda is the dry seasons of January, February, and June through early September. Living near the equator in tropical woods, gorillas may rain any time of year and compromise your experience.

Getting ready for gorilla trekking in the dry months increases your likelihood of not having a rain during your trip. The roads are drier, hence the climb over uneven ground will be much easier.

Every visitor will be rushing for the few gorilla permits and suitable lodging as the dry seasons indicate their peak season in the gorilla locations. Some visitors choose the wet seasons in order to benefit from low season discounts. Whichever time you choose to get ready for gorilla trekking, be sure it fits your trip plans and won’t compromise your experience.

Look for a nearby travel agent.

Many do-it-yourself travelers who allude to the excitement of planning such long-distance trips by themselves have come from the great availability of knowledge on the internet. Still, many visitors would not like the difficulty of negotiating the travel difficulties of far-off, underdeveloped areas.

Getting ready for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda will drain all your resources and leave little for the adventure. Use a licenced local tour operator such as Katland Safaris as your buffer against unanticipated events and save all your efforts for the trip.

We have compiled all the data required for your local tour operator in Uganda and Rwanda selection. Spend some time weighing the material presented.

Selecting a Local Tour Operator to Management Your Uganda Safari

Selecting a Tour Operator for Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

Get ready your expectations.

Your expectations on your trip will most certainly be shaped by internet articles, anecdotes and evaluations from friends and past guests. If you have already chosen your location, located your operator, and booked your trip at this stage, steer clear of information sources most likely to provide skewed information. Particularly political networks broadcasting 5–10-year-old material unrelated to the situation of things now.

Reviews you perused guided you in selecting the location and booking the desired dates for travel. Now that you’re all in, it will be crucial to avoid these channels, empty your expectations and maintain open contact with your local tour operator to help to create your next trip.

Check your physical condition and degree of fitness.
For several hours in a day, you will be traveling at great elevations across steep, rugged terrain where no cars can pass. While anybody who can walk may hike gorillas, it is advised to have some reasonable physical fitness to have a fantastic experience.

At least three months before your vacation, check into your local gym, schedule morning and evening runs, and stretch your muscles. At the end of the day, when you should be savoring conversational nights at the resort, this will enable you walk hours without muscular aches.

Mountain gorillas are prone to human disease as they share over 98% of human DNA. So, if you exhibit any symptoms of infectious sickness, you will not be let into the forest. If you have the flu, coughing, or a coronavirus, postpone your travel.

See your doctor to be sure you get the immunizations for malaria, COVID-19, yellow fever, and Hepatitis. Entry into Uganda might call for your COVID-19 vaccination or a negative 72-hour test result.

Early on, compile your packing list.
Given that you will be spending time in mountain rainforest freezing high altitudes, mornings and nights will be really chilly events. Make sure your packing list contains something to keep you warm throughout the late and early hours; possible items to include are a sweater, warm socks, neck scarf, warm gloves and so on.

Trekking in deep, muddy, rainy wooded steep hills will occupy you many hours. Dress sensibly then for the climb to the gorillas.

To prevent thorns pricks to your skin, light pants and a long-sleeved shirt should be on your packing list; waterproof light-weight hiking shoes and a light-weight jacket will help to keep your feet and body dry; and a waterproof backpack will hold food, tools, and other dry items. If you want to dress in short trousers and a t-shirt, you only need bug repellent.

Anything else you may want to take will be based on your judgment; otherwise, we have a packing list ready for some reading through.

What Should You Bring on a Gorilla Trekking Trip?

Start getting ready for gorilla treking right now.
Start your gorilla trekking preparations with Katland Safaris, a reputable and licenced local operator with a lot of experience organising safaris in Uganda and Rwanda.

The experience is the same whether you select Uganda or Rwanda; preparing logistics may be difficult in both countries even if it deffers nothing. You will need our knowledge to schedule your transportation, put you into reasonably priced accommodation, and get your permits for appropriate travel dates.

A Guide To Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park, DR Congo.

One of the four sites worldwide for gorilla trekking and time with the threatened mountain gorillas is Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rising recently in prominence because to the 2014 award-winning British nature documentary Virunga, Virunga National Park is the oldest and most biodiverse protected region in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, running alongside Uganda and Rwanda.

Including a third of the world’s threatened mountain gorillas, central Africa’s most well-known wildlife park has over one thousand animal species. Among the four national parks worldwide, this one safeguards the last known mountain gorilla habitat.

Situated on the eastern edge of the Congo Basin, Virunga National Park is the second-largest tropical rainforest worldwide with varied habitats ranging from the Rwenzori mountains to the Semliki River basin, to the savanna plains surrounding Lake Edward, stretching as far as the shores of Lake Kivu and encompassing the montane slopes of Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes. Unfortunately, conflict, illicit activity like poaching, and unavoidable natural calamities continually endanger the UNESCO global heritage site.

Among the amazing features of the park are snow-covered mountains, red-hot lava lakes, dense rainforests, and broad savannah plains. The dark-fared mountain giants that prowls the slopes of the Virunga Mountains would, nevertheless, be the most draw to Virunga National Park.

One of a kind adventure is gorilla trekking in the most dreaded woods of Virunga. With every detail you need to organize your Virunga trip, here we aim to provide you a basic guide to gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.

Trekking in Gorillas in Virunga

One of four national parks throughout the world that provide gorilla trekking experiences to see mountain gorillas in their native environment is Virunga National Park Though the strife in the area deters tourists, those who have traveled the Montane Virunga forest report it to be among the most amazing experiences available in these areas of Africa.

Armed rangers and experienced trackers guide visitors to locate the gorillas, and they are free to spend at least one hour silently seated 10 meters near the gorillas.

Like in Rwanda’s Volcanoes and Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga, gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park begins early morning at 8:00 Am in small groups of eight tourists, two armed rangers, a professional tracker guide, and sometimes porters to assist visitors over the difficult terrain.

Finding the gorillas might take half an hour to six hours in deep forest, steep hills, and cold-misty conditions on a half-day Gorilla Trekking adventure in Virunga. Trekking in Virunga National Park calls for some modest physical fitness, hence be ready before you start.

For gorilla trekking to any tourist over 15 years, Virunga National Park has about eight habituated gorilla groups. For simple identification, the gorilla groups are called Humba, Rugendo, Kabirizi, Lulengo, Munyaga, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe and Bageni.

You will therefore be following anybody with up to thirty family members under the wary and protective eye of the dominant male silverback gorilla.

Rangers would know where the gorilla family is at any one moment throughout the day as they monitor the habituated gorilla groups in Virunga during the day. The park superintendent will assign you a group suitable for your physical fitness during your morning briefing at the park headquarters before you enter the forest. They make sure every guest sees the gorillas by doing this.

Comparatively, gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is the experience one gets in Bwindi or Volcanoes in Rwanda.

To get to the gorillas, you will be traveling on uneven land, steep hills, muddy dirt, unused paths, and into deep forest. Sometimes the rain falls suddenly; after all, it is a jungle. Gorilla trekking is a real African bush experience as there is no shortcut or indication of the travel time to the gorillas.

Cost of Trekking in Gorilla Virunga

For everyone over fifteen years, a permit for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is USD 450 per person. DR Congo provides the least expensive gorilla treking experiences when compared to $800 Uganda’s permit and $1,500 Rwanda’s permit.

Either with a certified local tour operator like Katland Safaris or with Virunga Foundation in Virunga National Park—a bureaucratic procedure many avoid—you may arrange your gorilla permit. At Encounter, we simplify the booking procedure for our guests and do away with all the administrative sign-here-sign-there systems.

Apart from the gorilla permit’s payment, your gorilla trip safari in Virunga will cost lodging ($100 to $300) and transportation.

How One Gets To Visit Virunga National Park

Goma, an hourly drive outside Virunga National Park, is the closest settlement. There are flights to the Goma; refer to the planner of your journey. But with Uganda Airlines, Rwandair, and Ethiopian Airways, Goma and Kigali (Rwanda), Entebbe (Uganda), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) are definitely connected.

Alternatively, you may drive 10 to 15 hours from Entebbe to Kisoro (next to Bwindi Park), pass the Bunagana border, and be ready to clear immigration bureaucracy between the two nations.

Another route is via Kigali International Airport, crossing the western Rwanda border at Gisenyi to reach Virunga National Park four to six hours’ drive away. Covid-19 may cause this road to be closed; kindly verify with our reservations desk before you go.

Ideal Time To Visit
Though Virunga National Park is accessible all year round, the optimum times for gorilla trekking there are the dry seasons of June through September and December through February. During the dry seasons, there are less chances of rain; the ground is easily navigable; and the dirt roads leading to the park are dry.

While some people decide to visit Virunga during the rainy season in order to benefit from the low-season deals, many others avoid the wet seasons. But the availability of gorilla permits in Virunga may decide your trip more than the temperature.

Where One Should Stay
Among the four most remarkable safari hotels near Virunga National Park is the greatest one.

Tented Camp in Kibumba
The Kibumba Tented camp, tucked on Mount Mikeno’s slopes, has expansive views over the Mitumba Mountains and beyond the Virunga mountains. From the balcony of the tented rooms, Mount Karisimbi with Nyiragongo and Nyamulagiri red-hot glow is visible over the summit.

Tcheera Tented Camp
Tchegera Tented Camp, atop a crest of a collapsed caldera in the center of the breathtaking blue waves of Lake Kivu, is ideal for gorilla walking in Virunga National Park. On clear evenings, the camp offers amazing views of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira as their brilliant red lava penetrate a star-covered sky.

Mikeno Lodge
Nestled near the Park headquarters in Rumangabo, Mikeno Lodge provides a pleasant stay amid stunning vistas of the Virungas and rich birdlife inside the lush Mahura Forest. Mikeono Lodge is the ideal luxury resort.

Lulimbi Tented Camp, Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters, Hotel Begonias, Bukima Tented Camp Orchids Safari Club, Exodus Bukavu, and Coco Lodge are more reasonably priced lodging choices for gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park.

What To Pack

Know that you will be spending time at elevations of up to 5,000 meters while getting ready for your gorilla trekking safari in Virunga National Park; it gets chilly out there and may rain any moment. Your packing list should call for a lightweight rain jacket, an evening lodge sweater, a pair of thick socks, and maybe a scarf to keep you comfortable and dry throughout your visit.

To keep you dry and avoid the muddy paths, kindly bring pants, gaiters, and light-weight, waterproof hiking shoes. Great to stop thorny plants from pocking your skin is a long sleeve garment. Perhaps a tent to shield your head; take a waterproof bag to keep your tools dry. These should all be light; otherwise, you would be sweating while trekking with a heavy burden.

This comprehensive packing guide for gorilla trekking should provide all the information you need.

Planning a Gorilla Trekking Safari at Virunga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
In theory, planning a gorilla trekking safari in Virunga is not as simple as it seems. Being a nation with erratic civil unrest outside the national park, you will require an experienced and licensed local operator to assist you through all the practicalities of trip planning in DR Congo.

Over the last years, Katland Safaris has conducted various excursions to Virunga National Park including filming safaris in the UNESCO world heritage site; we would be happy to provide our services to you. To speak with a specialist and begin organizing your gorilla trip to Virunga.

Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe.

Among the most sought-after safari pursuits available in Africa is a Uganda Gorilla safari. Are you from Europe planning a Uganda gorilla safari? Are you in one of the 44 countries in Europe, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece or Hungary among others and you would want to visit Uganda for a gorilla safari? If so, here are some pointers to enable you to arrange an unforgettable Uganda gorilla safari from Europe.

Information to be aware of when organizing a European Uganda gorilla safari

From whether to use a tour operator or not, various Uganda gorilla safaris options, the best time to book a Uganda gorilla safari, where to go in Uganda for a gorilla safari and so many other vital things as below, you should learn more about a Uganda gorilla safari from Europe before booking one.

• Regarding gorilla climbing in Uganda
• Where in Uganda could I go for a gorilla safari?
• How to reserve a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?
• A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs what?
• Going gorilla trekking in Uganda costs how much?
• Is travel to Uganda’s gorillas safe?
• Which of Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park best shows gorillas?
• My Uganda gorilla safari from Europe should be booked when?
• Procedures for making a European Uganda gorilla safari booking
• Which gorilla safaris in Uganda are most sought after?

About Ugandan gorilla trekking

Searching for habituated mountain gorillas that depart together in a certain gorilla family group and are used for human presence, gorilla trekking is a gorilla activity consisting of walking or hiking through the forest.

Once you locate them, you will be meeting them, snapping pictures, and learning about them from your ranger guide. One hour with the mountain gorillas is made possible by gorilla trekking. Eight persons are doing a group gorilla trekking one particular gorilla family.

Which gorilla safaris in Uganda are most sought for?

The minimum number of days you need for any gorilla safari excursion to Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga in Uganda is three. These are the most popular gorilla safaris in Uganda you can book from Europe; personalize it to your interests.

• Three Days of Gorilla Trekking Tour
• Three Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Tour
• 4 Day Double Gorilla Trekking Tour
• 4 Day Trekking and Habituation Experience Tour for Gorillas
• Five Days Gorilla and Game Tour
• Five Days Trekking Tour for Gorillas and Chimpanzees

How can I view mountain gorillas in Uganda on a safari?

Mountains gorillas found in Uganda are limited to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Near one other in the southern western region of Uganda are both national parks.

Because of the many mountain gorilla groups found in Bwindi impenetrable National Park contrasted to Mgahinga, which only has one gorilla family Nyakagezi, many visitors choose trekking gorillas in that park. With so many gorilla families in Bwindi, obtaining a gorilla permit is simple and guaranteed unlike in Mghainga.

The actual fact is that mountain gorillas abound in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; the experience gained at the conclusion of your trip is not much different.

The key distinction is that mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are in the Virunga/hills with mostly bamboo as the main flora whereas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park these mountain gorillas are in a tropical rain forest with variances of trees and plants.

98% of the chances of seeing gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park will allow you to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat whatsoever park you visit.

About National Park Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994, Bwindi forest is among the first in Africa. Among the roughly 400 types of plants found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, up to 150 mammals—including the well-known Gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, forest elephants, and antelopes—among others find cover.

One of the main pleasures of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the gorillas there. Gorilla permits daily for gorilla trekking let you see the gorillas for one hour and four. Under licenses, the Uganda Wildlife Authority is in responsibility of safeguarding gorillas; all tourist operations in Bwindi impenetrable National Park are under control under their direction.

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is in East Africa’s Kisoro area southwest Uganda. Among the Virunga volcanic mountain range of Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda noted for Mountain gorilla safaris is Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Bound by Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, the park is the smallest national park in Uganda.

Of the three volcanoes in Mgahinga gorilla national park—Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhabura—all of which form part of the six Virunga Mountains Mgahinga National Park has Golden Monkeys and the threatened mountain gorilla.

Lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, montane rain forest, mountain bamboo makes up the park’s tropical rain forest.  Among Uganda’s ten National Parks, Mgahinga National Park is the second one for particularly gorilla tourism.

You should not miss this park when visiting Uganda as it is such a beauty. Under the direction of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government agency overseeing all of the country’s conservation sites,

For what length and intensity is Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park Uganda?

Timings and circumstances for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park vary greatly as the gorillas travel constantly around the rain forest depending on the natural conditions at the time of your trip.

Being ready and keeping in mind that the weather might change with somewhat little notice is wise. Often the terrain is hilly and over places devoid of obvious pathways. Although it may simply be a few hours, it may also be for a whole day of up to 8 hours or more of trekking in hot, high altitude circumstances therefore please be ready for this by being as fit as possible.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs what?

The Gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person for the Foreign nonresidents, $700 per person for residents, and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan). This allows you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

With 17 habituated gorilla family groups located in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga, Uganda has 136 daily gorilla permits for gorilla trekking availability.

Under the direction of trackers and researchers, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda offers you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through Gorilla Habituation Experience, only done in Bwindi forest, a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the semi habituated mountain gorillas instead of one hour for the regular trekking.

Purchasing gorilla permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable tour operator in Uganda Katland Safaris allows one to get them straight-forwardly.

The price of a Uganda gorilla safari holiday?

Apart from other services such transportation, lodging, and guiding, the Gorilla permit fee for every gorilla safari in Uganda reflects a considerably more expense. A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for the foreign nonresident; a gorilla trekking permit costs USD800.

Apart from the gorilla permit, you will pay for additional services like transportation, lodging, and guiding to ensure a great gorilla safari. Starting USD 1572 per person, a 3 Days Uganda gorilla safari costs.

Visiting gorillas in Uganda is safe?

Due to the recent attacks by 4 poachers and the killing of Rafiki the Silver Back head of the Nkuringo group in the southern sector of Bwindi, many prospective visitors interested in visiting this park have asked whether Bwindi Forest National Park is safe for Gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Only two National Parks in Uganda—Mghinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National—allow Gorilla Trekking. Although there have been border unrest between Uganda and Rwanda, this has not affected travel across the border from one nation to another since national parks like Bwindi Forest National Park share a border with DR Congo and subsequently Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

What level of safety does Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda offer? Given the fact that gorilla tracking activity in Bwindi Forest and Volcanoes National Parks is a quite well-organized and regulated activity from the start to the conclusion, Uganda and Rwanda are both rather safe for gorilla trekking. Two fully-armed park rangers and tourist police will assist you all through your journey against outsiders as well as dangerous animals discovered in the woods during gorilla tracking.

When should I start my Uganda gorilla safari from Europe?

From June to October and December to March, Gorilla safari in Uganda is ideal for treks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga gorilla National Park as well as during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy to view the mountain gorillas providing fantastic views for pictures.

Normally a wet season, this causes the vegetations to grow high, which makes sightings difficult. However, during the other months of April, May, and November, treks tend to be shorter since mountain gorillas do not travel great distances searching for food. Since gorilla safaris in Uganda are a very well-organized activity with 99% probability of spotting mountain gorillas, they may be done all year round.

How to arrange a European Uganda gorilla safari

Booking a Uganda gorilla safari from Europe is simple; nevertheless, you must have your gorilla permit locked in ahead to verify your booking is for a Uganda gorilla safari. Once you have your intended travel dates confirmed, we will need you to email us so that we may check for availability of gorilla permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your intended dates.

We will let you know so that we may send you an invoice for you to pay for the permits. Once the money is processed and we have your permit on our account, we will immediately buy your permits and provide a scanned copy of them to you for review and records, thus verifying your booking for Uganda gorilla safari. Given the fact that permits sell out very rapidly on first come first basis, it is advisable to reserve your Uganda gorilla safari at least two to three months before your arrival.

Where should one stay on a European Uganda gorilla safari?

Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest National Park is conducted in southern areas under Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors and in northern areas under Buhoma and Ruhija. Staying at Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Icumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge and Karungi Camp in Rushaga All of the resorts at Nkuringo—Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge, or Lake Mutanda Resort—are near the beginning of Gorilla Habituation.

In Ruhija you can stay at Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Agandi Eco Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Broadbill Tented Camp; in the northern part, in the Buhoma sector, at Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ride 4 a Woman.

Within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park resorts include Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, and Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge.

How can one visit Bwindi Forest National Park for Uganda’s Gorilla Trekking?

Accessing Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Entebbe/Kampala via Mbarara, Kabale, then either the northern or southern side of Bwindi depending on which side you have booked for your gorilla trip. South western Uganda is where this is situated.

On the northern side, take this route to either Ruhija or Buhoma sector after turning off along the Kabale-Kisoro highway. You will notice a sign post of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Branching out from Muko town along the Kabale-Kisoro highway, the southern sections Nkuringo and Rushaga are reached.

By Air: Entebbe International Airport run by Aero Link Uganda and Kajjansi Air field run by Air Uganda have regular flights to both Kisoro and Kihihi airstriks near Bwindi forest National Park. From here, you will travel around one to two hours to approach the park for gorilla treking.

How would one reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

By Road: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is near Kisoro town and can be reached by the major high-way road from Entebbe/Kampala, around 8-9 hours driving. You will travel toward your lodge in the park after passing through Kabale town and heading to Kisoro town. One may easily reach the Park from Kigali, Rwanda, around two to three hours’ driving.

By Air: To reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airport, fly from Aero link and Fly Uganda local airline companies provide scheduled and chartered flights. You will have to arrange with your tour operator for a shuttle from the airfield to the Lodge you have chosen for your stay.

Why arrange your Uganda gorilla safari from Europe with Katland Safaris?

Contact us now to assist you book your Uganda gorilla safari from Europe. Katland Safaris will guide you through the booking procedure. We can also arrange for you several Uganda gorilla trekking safari packages ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury alternatives including the gorilla permits. View our tripadvisor reviews and read from a community of contented customers at will.

You know you will have a fantastic Uganda safari experience with us. Our first priorities are giving great client pleasure and service. Our staff of outstanding tour guides is always ready to assist with all your safari queries. With us, you will be guaranteed an outstanding gorilla trip in Uganda.

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and safari holidays from the United Kingdom.

Are you first-time preparing for Rwanda gorilla trekking and safari trips from the United Kingdom? Would you want to visit the gorillas in Rwanda and also go on safaris to other parks including Nyungwe Forest National Park? From the United Kingdom, your trip to Rwanda promises plenty to excite you. For your family holiday, honeymoon, wedding anniversary, and escape from the United Kingdom, Rwanda is the ideal Africa safari spot.

To Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park respectively, you may do gorilla trek or safari. This page offers some basic rules to help you arrange a Rwanda gorilla trip from the United Kingdom.

Trekking Rwanda Gorilla from the United Kingdom

National Park’s Volcanoes Among the most often visited countries in Africa, Rwanda is well-known for gorilla trekking. Part of the Virunga volcanoes shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo, the park is situated in western Rwanda. Among the Virunga Mountains are Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabinyo, and Mountain Karisimbi.

This park has grassland sections, wetlands, and heath in other sections along an evergreen bamboo forest. Volcanoes National Park is called Parc Des Vulcan’s in French and Pariki Yigihugu yibirungu in Kinyarwanda, Local language. Among the various types of birds, monkeys, trees, forest pigs, bushbucks among others in the forest, it is a refuge for the endangered primates such the Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys.

With gorilla trekking going all year round, the mountain gorillas are the main draw of volcanoes national park. Visiting the habituated endangered mountain gorillas in their native habitat and observing their feeding, movement, rest, and harmonic living is the basis of gorilla trekking. Since trackers, guides, and park rangers lead you, the odds of seeing the mountain gorillas are 99%.

Though the gorillas share 99% DNA like the humans, they still stay wild and you are encouraged to obey the dos and don’s from the guides during the Briefing and on a walk. The trip begins every day at 8:00 am with a briefing on recommendations to follow while on the hike.

Depending on the activity and position of the gorillas in the jungle, the gorilla walk might last thirty minutes to several hours. Completing your bucket list by booking a gorilla trip from the United Kingdom to volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a lifelong event. Call us to arrange your gorilla safari.

Daily availability of Rwanda Gorilla permits for gorilla trekking:

A good gorilla trip at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda depends critically on the gorilla permits. Every day, eighty gorilla permits are available to let you observe the gorillas, meet Africa safaris will assist you through the booking and permit obtaining procedure.

Once you get in touch about your intended trip and preferred dates, we will check the availability of permits with the Rwanda Development board online and send you an invoice to make payment for the permits as they are top priority and should they not be available, you will choose another date with availability of permits.

After we are paid, we will book and obtain your permits and provide you a copy of the receipt along with booking ID to verify your trip. One of the ten factors to take into account when planning the Rwanda gorilla trip is the licenses issued by the country.

The Rwanda gorilla permits for a gorilla trip safari from the UK cost what?

For all nationals to go the Rwanda gorilla permit is USD1500 per person. Visit Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Park gets YOU 30% discount on the gorilla permit which is USD1050 per person and USD1300 per person for Delegates in the country.

There is also a special discount for one visiting all the national parks in the months of May to November. The Rwanda Development Board pays for the gorilla permit; we will transmit copies of the permits to you. Another USD 5000 offer is for three consecutive days’ trekking of gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Travel agencies may readily get gorilla permits. To get your permission in the quickest period, please contact us as Katland safaris at.

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, boasts how many gorilla families?

While other gorilla groups are not habituated, 10 families in volcanoes national park are occupied for gorilla tourism and research. Every gorilla troop is headed by a silverback and names themselves based on certain conditions. Certain gorilla families are named after powerful individuals, events, or even local names of sites.

To start his own family, a juvenile silverback must “steal” several females from an established group when he confronts the dominant silverback. Under Amahoro, which means “peaceful,” the gorilla families comprise the tranquil Ubumwe group.

The group mostly lives upland, hence you must first climb steeply to finally enter its area but, as usual, the effort is well worth it. Emerging from many existing gorilla families, including Group 13, Susa, and Sabyinyo, is also Hirwa gorilla group. Munyinya left Susa with two females and the silverback left behind

Guhonda, after one of the volcanoes Mount Sabyinyo, leads the Sabyinyo gorilla group. If you are tired of monitoring great distances, this group is most often near the park headquarters and should be sought if at all possible. Silverback Kwitonda leads the group known as Kwitonda gorilla; the name is translated “humble one.”

From the Democratic Republic of Congo, this gorilla troop made “permanent residence in Rwanda.”  Group 13 / Agastya gorilla group got their name from only 13 individuals following habituation. Its membership is around 25 at the moment, and silverback Agastya leads it, which helps to explain the name change.

Silverback Charles leads the Umubano gorilla group, having split off from the Amahoro gorilla group with several females to create Umubano. Umubano is translated as “living together.” Come ready to trek this volcano as you follow the Ugenda gorilla troop, which was called by their unusual movement from place to place throughout the Karisimbi region.

With 41 gorillas, Susa (A) gorilla group is the biggest gorilla group in the park and the one under research by Dian Fossey. The clan is renowned for having uncommon twins called Byishimo and Impano.

Karisimbi / Susa – B gorilla group branched off from the original Susa (A) group and include two silverbacks. Living on the top of Mt Karisimbi, this tribe is among the toughest to climb. For experienced hikers who value the trekking experience just as much as gorilla sight-seeing, it is best Born during the days of Dian Fossey’s study in Karisoke, Titus gorilla group was named after silverback Titus.

Silverback Bwenge broke away from other groups and founded the Bwenge gorilla group. Bwenge is translocated as “Wisdom.” Mostly the tribe lives on the slopes between the Bisoke and Karisimbi mountains.

The Packing List for Rwanda Gorilla Trek

We always counsel our guests to pack as little as possible; depending on the vehicle they rented, luggage size and weight restrictions will affect you whether you travel in a group. These are some items you should definitely not forget on your packing list.

Gorilla treking in Volcanoes National Park is hiking or trekking in quest of the threatened mountain gorillas. For this exercise, you want light weight hiking footwear given the kind of forest with the elevation and terrain. As you choose what to carry for your Rwanda gorilla trip to the volcanoes National Park, hiking boots are really essential.

Gloves for Gardening, Your gorilla walk will need for gloves to protect your hands. Remember that this forest might turn slippery as you go in it; so, you must grasp on anything just in case such occurs.

Jacket for Rain, You will never know when it may rain, hence you will want a rain jacket to keep dry. Although many customers attempt to avoid rainy seasons of March, April, and May, being a tropical rain forest means that it might rain any time. Many clients prefer vacationing in drier months of June, July, August and beginning of September. You should give this some thought for your trip to Rwanda’s gorillas.

For your gorilla trekking, you must have long sleeved pants or shirts/blouse. To prevent insects like safari ants getting into your hiking boots, kindly make sure you tack in your pants. Jeans pants excel in this.

cameras and more batteries, Your Rwanda gorilla trip includes photography, so make sure you have your camera ready, charge your batteries very well, and if needed pack additional batteries as you will need to shoot as many pictures in the one hour you will have with the gorillas. While photographing gorillas, please make sure your flash is off.

If it is hot, kindly bring a cap to shield you from the intense heat. heat Glasses You may also want some sun glasses. These are more options.

For your gorilla trip, this is an optional item; we urge all of our customers to bring a porter. As was already said, gorilla trekking may be physically demanding; hence, you will want someone to provide you a push or a pull on route to the gorillas.

Although there is a cost, these porters are well worth it. Recall that these porters are really schoolgoing kids either on holiday or have been expelled from their institution owing to school costs. Paying some money to have a porter with you would have indirectly helped to promote community development.

Safari Holiday from the UK into Rwanda

Apart from the gorilla trip, would you be interested in a safari break in Rwanda? The only game park in Rwanda will provide you a wildlife experience. The calm African bush safari experience is found in Akagera national park. Situated in the Eastern part, the Park offers chances to see Rwanda’s Big Five species.

Though leopards are seen more often on night game drives and the number of lions and black rhinos is rising, buffaloes and elephants are most prevalent. Maasai giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, warthog, olive baboon, vervet monkey, hippo, impala, Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, common duiker, eland, topi, Bohor reedbuck, oribi, roan antelope, klipspringer, and the elusive semi-aquatic sitatunga are among other animals you might video. Night drives typically include spotted hyena, genet, civet, white-tailed mongoose, bush baby, elephant-shrew, and several species of owl and nightjar.

Founded in 1934, Akagera National Park has swamp, montane, and savannah ecosystems. The Kagera River runs along the park’s eastern edge and feeds many smaller lakes as well as Lake Ihema. Comprising more than a third of the park, the intricate system of lakes and connecting papyrus marshes is the biggest protected wetland in Eastern-Central Africa.

Akagera National Park has over 480 different kinds of birds.  Get in touch to plan community events including unique safari experiences in Rwanda and wildlife drives and boat trip on Lake Ihema.

Flying from the UK for Safari to Rwanda

Though there are various travel choices you might choose based on the cost reasonable and the cheapest pricing, Rwanda air currently flies straight from the United Kingdom. Should you visit in this time for your safety and a healthy safari, you will have to follow the COVID-19 rules after arriving at Kigali International Airport and obtaining a visa either online or at the airport.

After doing a city tour of Kigali city, you will travel around two to three hours to Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla hike and Akagera National Park for safari.

Where from UK should one stay in Rwanda for a Safari trip and Gorilla trek?

Making plans for a safari vacation or Rwanda gorilla trip, you should be sure where to stay—perhaps even outside of Volcanoes National Park or even inside the park.  The least you could spend on evenings is one night at a lodge of your liking. You can obtain fantastic travel discounts the more nights you spend at a hotel or lodge.

From luxury to inexpensive, there are lodges and hotels in volcanoes national park according on your means. Every lodge has single, double, twin, triple, and family rooms to suit every kind of interest. Worth a night stay include the luxury lodges Virunga Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, the middle-class Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge.

Among the budgetary choices are Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel, Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn. Tell us your budget and the lodge you want to stay in; we will then suggest appropriately for a service commensurate for your means.

Staying at Akagera National Park allows you to get a wildlife adventure for a safari or holiday with gorillas. Service ranges for lodges in Akagera National Park vary from luxury choices include Ruzizi Tented Camp, Akagera Game Lodge, and Akagera Rhino Lodge.

They all are guaranteeing the safety and health of their guests; they have amazing hospitality, clean rooms, VIP rooms, and all have established the set SOPs for prevention of the coronavirus from spreading. At Akagera National Park, the Midrange resort choices are Dereva Hotel, Akagera Bush resort, and Magashi camp. Get in touch to customize your trip from the United Kingdom for Rwanda.

Booking from the UK Katland safaris Rwanda Gorilla Trek and Safari Holiday

Having been doing safaris for over ten years with a professional crew visiting Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania, Katland safaris Apart from mountain gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park has options like golden monkey trekking, Diane Fossey trip, Hiking Mountain Bisoke and Karisimbi, Cultural encounter, and birding.  Both Trip Advisor and Safari Bookings strongly advise Katland safaris. Contact now to arrange a custom safari from the United Kingdom for Rwanda.

Rwanda vs. Uganda: For The Best Gorilla Trekking Experiences.

Clearly among the top gorilla trekking locations around are Rwanda and Uganda. Both have first-rate infrastructure for primate adventures, hence the major “Rwanda vs. Uganda” argument is on which one offers the finest gorilla trekking conditions. We aim to help you make the best choice by addressing some of those issues.

Tracking the gorillas in both nations entails walking up or down defined paths over the dense, twisted vegetation over mountainous terrain. Though practically everyone who sets out on this journey usually finds the gorillas, it is somewhat difficult.

Regardless of the nation you select for the expedition, trekking the steep mountain slopes to locate a mountain gorilla family and spending that one hour with the gorillas will be an amazing experience that will leave you breathless.

The choice of Rwanda over Uganda will most likely result from the availability of gorilla permits, the expense of the adventure, where to stay, access to the gorillas, and what additional activities may be included to your trip.

We advise looking for the permission and making decisions by consulting a local tour operator. Like Katland Safaris, most tour companies are ready to provide all the required information at no cost and can arrange gorilla trekking safaris in either nation.

gorilla permit availability

Uganda has advantage on the availability of gorilla permits. That is so because Uganda has twice the number of habituated gorilla groups and more gorilla trekking stations than Rwanda, therefore safeguarding more than half of the entire gorilla population.

Uganda grants more than 160 gorilla permits daily from 20 habituated gorilla groups in two National Parks: Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. doubled the Rwanda’s permission count.

In Uganda, you not only have a gorilla permit but also have more than five trekking locations scattered around the park borders, where you may discover a range of lodging. Bwindi alone consists of four sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the west, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo.

With fewer than 80 permits daily, Rwanda has 15 habituated gorilla groups for treking. Starting from a single place in Kiningi, gorilla trekking trips disperse on the foot of the volcanoes. Kiningi is the hub for all the lodging.

The Price of Trekking for Gorillas

The price of the gorilla permit and lodging determines the cost of gorilla treks mostly. About the accomodation cost, Rwanda’s gorilla permit charge is more than double that of Uganda.

Since 2017, the permit in Rwanda has continued at $1500 per person per hike. Any visitor over 15 years may purchase the permit from Rwanda Development Board or from any licenced local tour operator at face value.

From 2019, the Uganda gorilla permit has cost $800 per person per trip. The permit is available from offices of Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala or via any licenced tour operator. Alternatively, Uganda grants a $1500 gorilla habituation permit (not in Rwanda) wherein visitors may spend more than four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family: an experience most would prefer over trekking in Rwanda.

Finding a permit in any nation during the busiest months of July through September and December through March is more difficult logistically than in the low seasons. If you want to come during the busiest times, make sure your permit is booked at least six months ahead.

Gorilla Access
With only about a 2-hour drive from the international airport to Volcanoes National Park on a well-surfaced road, Rwanda has the simplest access to gorillas. On the same day you may arrive at the Kigali airport and straight transport to your bush lodge close to the gorillas.

That cannot be true of Uganda, however. The gorilla reserves in Uganda are around 500 kilometers from Entebbe International Airport. Arriving in Entebbe, you are supposed to stay a night before starting a 10-hour trip across the nation to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. For those who would not like to drive ten hours in the rear of a safari vehicle, two little airports are a two-hour drive outside Bwindi and Mgahinga.

Driving in Rwanda or Uganda will repay you greatly with the undulating rural scenes. Most seasoned visitors choose to drive in order to see these amazing vistas.

Both nations let you see the mountain gorillas only on foot. The park lacks roads, hence occasionally you may drive on an unpaved dirt road from the briefing site to the gorilla trekking starting point for around forty-five minute journey. Whichever nation you decide for, be ready to get muddy.

Trekking Relaxation

The trailheads of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are at the absolute bottom, and the base of five dormant volcanoes stretches across Often, the gorillas climb the steep slopes, and you will be walking up to see them. The terrain might be rough and steep, hence modest physical fitness will help one negotiate it.

Trekking in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda resembles that of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Though most visitors would judge the difficult terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park more demanding, that is far from the reality. The topography of Bwindi makes it difficult to forecast the gorilla habitat—down in the valley or up the slopes?

On any given day in Bwindi, you may be climbing or descending the mountains; it is not clear. On certain days, trekkers are fortunate to come upon the gorillas at the park borders; they do not have to go far into the forest. Though the Bwindi Forest is darker and denser than Volcanoes, the hiking trip is erratic at both sites.

You may be monitoring the gorillas for around thirty minutes to four hours in either Uganda or Rwanda; you cannot precisely estimate how long it would take as trackers have to follow their lead and they roam freely within their protected areas.

Alternatives for Accommodation

Though Rwanda’s lodging expenses might be a touch expensive on the premium market, hotel options abound in both nations compared to the availability of gorilla permits.

The gorilla trekking lodging in Rwanda is mostly in Kiningi; up-market selections surpass the more affordable ones. If you stay in a premium lodge with elegant facilities rather than a cheap motel and pay the expensive gorilla permit cost, you are more likely to enjoy Rwanda’s gorilla trekking experience.

Conversely, Uganda offers a great range of gorilla trekking lodging choices. From affordable hostels to cozy hotels and out-of-this-world woodland hideaways dispersed among the five gorilla trekking areas. On a given morning or evening foraging excursion, certain resorts in Uganda welcome unexpected gorilla visits that surprise visitors.

You may sleep just above the park canopy and then stroll five minutes to the Uganda hiking base. The gorilla trekking experience is that exciting in Uganda.

Additional Activities
Most visitors choose to mix their safari drive with their gorilla trekking adventure. Although both nations provide good activities for a combination safari, Uganda has the advantage with more choices.

The only and finest place for a laid-back big five safari excursion in Rwanda is Akagera National Park in northwest of the country. For nature walks and primates, the southern Nyungwe National Park will provide some of the greatest chimpanzee trekking opportunities in the area.

Apart from the gorilla encounter, most visitors want to discover Rwanda’s outstanding conservation and cultural tourist initiatives. And should the suffering of the 90s genocide appeal to you, it would be advisable to spend a night in Kigali and visit the memorial museums.

Uganda offers a more diversified safari experience, nevertheless. One may opt to observe the elephants traveling down the Nile at Murchison Falls National Park or sailing a boat on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park amid pods of Hippos, herds of buffalo, and antelope on the beach. Walking with our crazy chimpanzee relatives in Kibale Forest—rated as the finest primate experience globally—is another highlight of Uganda.

Both nations mix well with the neighbouring Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania for a more focused safari experience. One may simply travel between Kigali and Serengeti National Park or Entebbe and Masai Mara National Reserve to see the amazing Annual Great Migration.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Safaris or Rwanda

Interested in tracking gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, Katland Safaris has a committed staff of local experts who can assist you in selecting an appropriate location for your trip plans, schedule, and budget. We can also organize your lodging, arrange your travel, locate you a gorilla permit in any nation. Send us an email at and speak with a specialist.