Enforcing gorilla trekking minimum age in Uganda and Rwanda.

These days, enforcing the gorillatrekking minimum age in Uganda and Rwanda is much valued. Minimum age for gorilla treks is fifteen years and above. Age limit cuts across D.R. Congo and Uganda, Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking is conducted at Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both volcanic regions of Uganda. Gorilla trekking takes place at Volcanoes National Park for Rwanda.

Although your age is rather important in obtaining a gorilla trekking permit for numerous reasons, you must book one as the entrance ticket to join the trip.

For Uganda, you have to know where your gorilla trekking permit is reserved, particularly for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Because of their great scale, all gorilla permits for this park are allocated based on area.

Four sections of the park were segregated for faster observation of the gorilla trekking operations. There are Buhoma gorilla trekking areas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rushaga Gorilla Trekking Area, Nkuringo Gorilla Trekking Area and Ruhijah Gorilla Trekking Area. Every one of these unique locations includes gorilla families to whom a daily limit of eight guests are permitted to visit.

Though the mountain gorillas live among humans, several rules should be observed to make the most of one’s one hour with them. Young children less than fifteen years old may find it difficult to follow all these guidelines.

Why Underline Age During Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Terrifying First View of the Mountain Gorillas

If you let your instincts run wild, the initial look of the mountain gorillas may set off some adrenaline, which would not be ideal. Children under this age may not be in control of their reflex behaviors even if they attend briefings.

Mountain gorillas are very alert for outsiders in their area; if you display any suspicious behavior, the dominant silverback may order the entire family to hide.

Not Knowing When to Search for the Mountain Gorillas

Depending on the state of the forest, locating the mountain gorillas might take two hours to three quarters of the day. The mountain gorillas never stop looking for vegetation to sustain their pure physique during the day and night.

The ranger guide travels the path the mountain gorillas were sighted on yesterday while beginning the gorilla hike. On the other hand, depending on the location of their food or in case they battle with another family and loose, they may go further than where they are supposed to be.

Success in finding the mountain gorillas depends on some degree of patience.

Young children under fifteen years old could not be in a position to wait patiently when strolling in the forest.

The landscape of the Gorilla Trekking Area

Given the volcanic nature of the Virunga region, one can anticipate negotiating some mountains in order to reach the gorillas. Rwanda has a thousand hills; hence, even Volcanoes National Park consists of five volcanoes. These include Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Karisimbi, and Mountain Sabyinyo.

Sometimes you have to climb to find the mountain gorillas who rest or eat on the slopes. This is one of the reasons one needs some degree of fitness before embarking on gorilla trekking. Even the safari boots you use for gorilla trekking have to be positioned to help you throughout your trip.

Children under the age of fifteen might not be fit enough to climb mountains for your duration in the forest.

You are advised to keep your voices quiet when gorilla trekking, as mountain gorillas are afraid of strange sounds in their habitat.

Given their immature nature, the youngsters below this age may not be able to be quiet to complete the trip. Control over them is also difficult.

Unfamiliar loudness may also frighten other primates, such the black and white colobus, olive baboons, grey-chipped mangabeys, blue monkeys and various birds.

Exuberant mountain gorillas

Sometimes the mountain gorillas will stroll over to touch or feel their guests. A youngster under the age of fifteen may not find this appealing. Pulling a way forcibly is very likely.

The remainder of the mountain gorilla families may not find this appealing.

Originally calm animals, mountain gorillas get disturbed when they see hostile actions from their guests. Usually, they pound their chests, gather grass about them, walk on one leg and hoot to indicate their wrath.

Hard to Maintain Eight Meters From the Mountains Gorillas

When they see mountain gorillas, visitors are urged to stay about eight meters away from them. Following these guidelines is somewhat difficult in case the toddler considers the gorillas cute.

Young children under the age of fifteen may want to reach out and touch such beautiful apes as they find it difficult to avoid.

Transferring a communicative infection to the mountain gorillas

Mountain gorillas are very vulnerable to human diseases; hence, youngsters under the age of fifteen might have the virus and avoid public speaking out. Later on, this might be given to the mountain gorillas, who might not find fit.

From the 1980s, when Dian Fossey records show that the number was only 300 gorillas, the mountain gorilla conservation effort has evolved. According to the latest census of mountain gorillas, there are over 1000 of them worldwide.

All of this is because to the conservation effort and guidelines controlling gorilla trekking activities.

Distribution of Random Gorilla Trekking Families

Following the briefing, the current visitors are scattered haphazardly among the gorilla families found in Rwanda and Uganda. Their division is based on capacity to access the remote mountain gorillas.

A youngster under the age of fifteen may not be in a position to hike the mountain gorillas alone without an accompanying parent, merely in case he or she is assigned another household.

The youngster needs an accompanying parent or guardian for the trip to guarantee they have a trustworthy support team to guide them through this journey.

What Can a Child Under 15 Years Do in the gorilla Trekking Areas in Uganda and Rwanda Community Visits?

Visit the neighborhood with a young kid under the age of fifteen either before or after gorilla treking to observe local behavior

A local guide leads the Buhoma community walk to the usual farmhouse, traditional healer, banana brewer, and may even accompany a scheduled traditional dancing ensemble. The money raised supports community-driven initiatives like road repair, medical facilities, schools, and others.

Along with so much more, the Nkuringo community walk with the youngsters below 15 years allows you to see traditional healers, rural farmhouses, blacksmiths, and local beer brewer.

When on gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National park, Batwa path and Garama cave visit at the foot of Mountain Muhavura might be a choice activity. After invading the Bafumbira, Batwa used the 342-meter Garama cave as a refuge. You could go to a local music venue here, but this calls some previous planning. The secrets of the jungle life the Batwa pygmies know are yours to discover.

Nature Trail in Children under the age of fifteen have opportunity to see other primates in the Rwanda and Uganda during nature hikes in Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Forest. You must arrange this with the ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The nature of other forest users that might endanger you means that nobody is permitted to enter the forest without an accompanied ranger guide.

Among the monkeys you may find are blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey-chipped mangabeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoests, Pottos and others.

Living in the Virunga region helps many birds, including some Albertine endemics like Shelley’s Crimmsonwing, find solace. This section has breathtaking views of the forest canopy, including a glittering waterfall created by a rich river network inside the forest.

The Golden Monkey Trekking

If you would like to go golden monkey trekking with a youngster, the age restriction is 15 years and above. Golden monkey trekking calls Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda home.

Do other safaris in Uganda or Rwanda?

There is no age restriction for game drives at Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Akagera National Park in Rwanda or at Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park. Children allow you to participate in these events free from age restrictions so they may fully enjoy the Africa safari experience. You may see lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, elephants, and others.

With a 15-year-old and above chimps’ trekking age restriction, this might be another way to include youngsters. In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking takes place at Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and others. Trekking with chimpanzees in Rwanda occurs at Nyungwe National Park.

City trips bring you to Uganda’s and Rwanda’s business centers. You might see Bulange Mengo location for Buganda Kingdom, Kabaka’s manmade lake, Uganda Martyrs’ shrine Namugongo and others during Kampala city trip in Uganda. The Rwanda city trip offers opportunity to see the market hubs, ethnological museum, genocide monument, and so much more.

Uganda has amazing whitewater rafting. Since professors are here to guide you through the whole process, you have no experience needed. You have to paddle over the tides and tightly fasten your safety gear.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda have pricing ranging from luxury, middle-class, and budget based on The uniform expense cutting across all safari types is the gorilla trekking permit. Whereas Rwanda gorilla trekking licenses cost $1500 per person, Uganda’s gorilla trekking permit is $800 per person.

Number of days to spend on safari, number of people traveling with safari, lodging to reserve for gorilla safari and others define the overall cost of gorilla trekking safaris.

Customizing or prepackaging a gorilla trekking safari itinerary allows you to enjoy your African trip free from retracing possibilities.

When schedule Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda or Uganda

While gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda are available all year, you must first get a gorilla trekking permit.

Despite great demand globally, a few gorilla permits are available daily to the public to book. Only eight Gorilla Trekking licenses are daily public accessable. In Uganda, you have to take into account that you have to know the location of the region your permit is booked for before choosing lodging.

To prevent last-minute worry, you must reserve your seat in advance even if you choose to utilize Fly-in gorilla trekking safari packages in Uganda. Usually, particularly in June to September and December to January, the booked flights to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip are in great demand.

Which nation would be ideal for gorilla trekking between Uganda and Rwanda?

It is pretty difficult to decide which nation is ideal for gorilla trekking, as the experience of meeting the mountain gorillas is unparalleled. A few of the elements tourists take into account help them to differentiate between the two countries’ paths.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit

While in Rwanda the gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person, in Uganda it now costs $800 per person.

Travel times to Gorilla Trekking Parks

While the road travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Entebbe Airport is around eight hours to nine hours, the time you spend arriving Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda from Kigali Airport is approximately three hours driving.

Trekking Gorillas in Uganda Through Rwanda

From Entebbe Airport or Kampala, gorilla trekking in Uganda may be done via Rwanda; the journey is around six hours as compared to the eight to nine-hour drive.

Compare gorilla trekking and habituation experience in Uganda.

Following previously acclimated chimpanzees acquainted with human presence is known as gorilla trekking. Following semi-habited chimpanzees under researcher and habituator control helps them to get acclimated to human presence.

To be regarded as a participant, you have to have a gorilla trekking permission or habituation permit from Uganda’s Wildlife Education Center.

Gorilla habituation experience is so far done in only two gorilla trekking families located in southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In Uganda gorilla trekking is done Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National park with about 19 gorilla families open at the moment.

The expense of either a habituation permit or gorilla trekking

While gorilla habituation costs $1500 per person per day, the price for gorilla treking permits in Uganda right now is $800 per person. Booking beforehand may enable you to buy in installment as long as you top up before the day of trekking.

Others expenses related to gorilla trekking might be comparable to lodging, however for gorilla habitation you must reserve lodges in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

Allowance for hiking or habitation of mountain gorillas

While only maximum of 4 visitors are permitted to perform gorilla habituation in Uganda, maximum of 8 tourists are allowed to be in the vicinity of the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking. This is meant to lower the number of humans living in the forest who would damage the food source for those large apes—that is, the flora.

About 300 pounds of leaves will let a full-grown mountain gorilla sustain its own weight both night and day.

Time permitted for gorilla habituation or hiking among the mountain gorillas

Only one hour is permitted to remain in their presence to let the mountain gorillas go about their daily routines once you find them during gorilla trekking.

You must spend four hours tracking the mountain gorillas with researchers and rangers to accomplish gorilla habituation. You help to record data about mountain gorillas with unique traits.

Starting times for gorilla hiking and habituation

Every day, gorilla trekking begins with a briefing about at 0730 hours. To be at ease seeing the mountain gorillas in the wild, you have to carry your gorilla trekking equipment.

On the other hand, gorilla habituation begins earlier—between 0530 and 0630 hours—to enable one to see de-nesting. You track the gorilla family all day and record their actions for historical use.

Where in Uganda Gorilla Trekking and gorilla habituation is carried out

Currently residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park are nineteen live gorilla trekking families exposed to visitors. Two gorilla families are accessible for gorilla habituation residing in the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park exclusively.

Besides Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation, what else is to do? Within Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Birding Uganda

In Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo, the Virunga region is the main birding hotspot. Among the many birds found here are around 23 species of the 24 species of Albertine Rift endemics. The finest birding display in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in Ruhowicz region of Mubwindi Swamp.

You could find shelley’s Crimmsonwing, African Green Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Red-faced Woodland Wabers, Rwenzori Batis, Collared Apalis and more.

Given Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks harbors around 350 bird species, skilled birders may see over 100 species when gorilla trekking.

Though the area is rarely frequented, the list of bird species found in Mgahinga National area is continually growing; currently reported numbers range from around 115.

Other Primate walks

Apart from mountain gorillas, Mgahinga national parks and the Biwndi Impenetrable National park house additional primates. On some of the paths built by frequent users, you may see primates such olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus and others on nature walks.

Neighborhood walks

Run by local people, Buhoma settlement in the Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park You enjoy in the life of the area such local brewing, farmhouse visit, traditional healer visit and others along the tour. During the Nkuringo Community tour in southern Bwindi Impenetrable National park, you could have opportunity to observe native black smith, rural house stead, local brewer and more.

The Batwa path and Garama cave tour in Mgahinga National park transports you into the lives of displaced Batwa people from past forest living. A Mutwa leads this route under a plateau known as Garama cave. After attacking the Bafumbira farmers, the Batwa used this as a retreat place. Cultural dances are being carried out here, however on prior request.

Mountain climbing in Mgahinga National Park

Apart from gorilla walking, you may spend a day hiking on one of the three volcanic mountains inside Mgahinga National Park. Mountain Sabyinyo locally meaning old man’s teeth is 3669 meters above or Mountain Muhavura; Mountain Gahinga whose meaning is pile of little stones sits at 3474 meters above sea level.

For hiking any of these mountains, advance scheduling is required, as is a ranger guide to accompany you all through the walk and return.

Other Events To Combine with Habituation and Gorilla Trekking

You may link with wildlife drives in Uganda National parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National park, Lake Mburo National park and others after seeing the mountain gorillas. It is rather remarkable to go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park either before or after gorilla trekking. Highlights of Uganda safari experience include the launch expeditions at Murchison Falls national park and Queen Elizabeth National park.

River Nile flows from Uganda into Jinja; so, visiting here is rather unique. Although instructors are in place to guide you through all processes, white water rafting on the Nile is exhilarating; you do not need any expertise to visit.

Safety of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in Uganda

Because the ranger guides operate with other Uganda security authorities and surrounding security agencies to guard the region, gorilla treking in Uganda is secure.

Before entering the jungle to begin looking for the mountain gorillas, you must show early morning attendance at briefing.

Carrying your gorilla trekking gear provides additional bodily protection, much like wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, safari boots, smearing insect repellant, garden gloves and others.

Make sure you go at the speed of other hikers to avoid becoming lost in the wildness. Though the ranger guide moves at the slowest speed of the slowest trekkers, avoid letting the remainder of the group cross you.

Never encourage the mountain gorillas or forest dwellers—like the monkeys—to stir around. They fluctuate in mood as well.

During gorilla trekking, you should not trust anybody you know not acquainted as you could draw individuals with bad intentions.

Never count money in public, particularly if the amounts are big; you could draw burglars.

Since individuals from all walks of life engage in gorilla trekking safari, carrying precious goods may not be secure.

Buy meals from approved areas to prevent food contamination on the gorilla trekking trip.

The Difficulties of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in Uganda

Expect to climb at times to find the mountain gorillas; the overall geography of the gorilla trekking or habituation zone is volcanic.

Even the local flora is full of twisted vines and creepers that must be cleared with a machete to create space.

Rivers over flow causes the pathways to be slick when it rains particularly during the extreme wet seasons. You have to be ready to follow marshy route ways to discover the mountain gorillas; these monkeys sometimes eat from the slopes therefore you must trek there to spot them.

Since you may have to climb at times, some degree of fitness is required for gorilla treking and habituation.

When Should You See The Mountain Gorillas?

Finding the mountain gorillas might take two hours to over three quarters of the day. Though not speedy, mountain gorillas are mobile creatures. One reason a group of rangers gets up early than others is to hunt the mountain gorillas. They report back to park headquarters, who use it as one of the hints to pursue throughout the hunt.

This indication does not imply the gorillas will not depart where the rangers found them. They look for food, in case they are assaulted by wild gorilla families, lose a family member and so much more.

To really appreciate the gorilla trekking experience, one must be somewhat patient. Having an open mind also helps you to stay on because the jungle offers plenty to see beyond only the site of the mountain gorillas.

Once you find the gorillas, you need maintain about eight meters away from them to avoid any possibility of spreading any disease. You must optimize every second to realize your ambition of seeing the mountain gorillas; just one hour is permitted to be in their company.

The Guidelines of Gorilla Trekking and Habituation

All operations carried out in the mountain gorilla habitat have as their goal preservation of the mountain gorillas. It is to gather the money for the campaign on mountain gorilla preservation; yet, certain regulations must be in place to control these operations.

Although mountain gorillas are prone to human diseases, anybody with a communicative infection is not permitted to go gorilla trekking; you do not know what it will do to the now celebrated gorilla population.

Once you find the mountain gorillas, keep about eight meters away. This lowers the possibility of any virus transferring to these gorillas.

Flash photography is against usage as it disturbs the mountain gorillas.

The mountain gorillas feel attacked, hence you do not need to surround them. They may also go into the deeper parts of the forest when they get upset.

It is against policy to provoke the mountain gorillas as they are timid creatures that could get uneasy in this regard.

Eat and smoke far from the mountain gorillas; they may grab what you have and it may not be in line with their health. One major loss is losing even one mountain gorilla due to thoughtlessness.

Should you have to cough or sneeze, avoid the mountain gorillas or cover your mouth to lower the risk of transferring infections to them.

Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you thirty cm deep and hide all waste beyond recognition for extended calls in the forest. This is to stop anybody living in the jungle from exhuming anything.

Littering the forest is illegal as it changes the environment in which mountain gorillas find food.

Spitting on plants is not advised as it looks bad and harmful. The ideal method is to keep the ecosystem where mountain gorillas reside as it is found.

As a covid-19 precaution, wear a fresh mask before seeing the mountain gorillas. Even your footwear are cleaned before the trip starts.

Gorilla treking is not permitted anybody under fifteen years old.

Once you find the mountain gorillas, one hour is allotted.

Booking a gorilla permit in Uganda.

Chimpanzee filming in Uganda.

Filming chimps in Uganda may be done at certain locations. You must meet the standards set by Uganda’s wildlife Authority for filming.

You should also know that among animal relatives, chimps are the closest ones to humans. Their DNA is quite close to that of humans—about 98% Their actions might be similar to those of humans, hence you should use great caution with your tools in the wild.

Only once authorization from Uganda Wildlife Authority and National Forestry Authority is Chimpanzees able to meet encounters in Uganda. One of the few nations in the world still possessing natural areas where large numbers of chimpanzees may still flourish is Uganda.

The Uganda chimpanzee natural habitats are more far-off, so visiting them might need renting a 4×4 vehicle to avoid running over the road. If you have a lot of luggage and cameras, it might be advisable to rent an additional automobile to transport your stuff.

Where Chimpanzees Call Home in Uganda

Depending on what you want to get out of the whole experience, wherever the chimpanzees dwell might be a potential shooting site in Uganda.

Kibale National Park 

About 795 square kilometers of diversified tropical rain forest lie Kibale National Park in western Uganda. Among the near 13 primate species found in this forest are the chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, pottos, L’Hoest’s, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, bush babies to name just a few.

Under the direction of the alpha male, about 1500 chimpanzees call Kibale Forest National Park home. The community votes him democratically, hence he needs to wow the women most. Their impact on the election outcomes is really great.

Kibale National Park’s normal temperature range is from 14 degrees centigrade to 27 dregree. Kibale National Park is around 1590 meters above sea level in terms of height. Regarding rainfall, 1800 mm on average are obtained every year.

Comprising a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees with evergreen species predominating, the Kanyanchu portion of the park is mostly With a corridor of 180 km of length utilized for animal movement, its Northern tip is the wettest location and Southern half adjoins Queen Elizabeth national Park.

Filming chimpanzees in Kibale National Park may allow you to see a variety of natural species, including many birds. About 325 bird species have been identified so far; the list is continually growing. Among the birds you may find are shoe bill, black bee-eaters, crowned eagle, yellow spotted nicator, blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush, brown chested alethe, African pitta to list but aways.

Visit the Bigodi Wetland refuge to record the most fascinating birdwatching opportunities. Nestled in Magombe wetland, Kibale National Park has one of the best birding sites. Primates like black and white colobus, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, mammals including mongoose, bushbucks, forest elephants, wild forest hogs and others might also be found here.

Walking to Kihingani Wetland outside Sebitoli would help you to spot more birds. Its bird list is quite amazing.

Gorge of Kyambura in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura Gorge, 100 meters deep, is near Queen Elizabeth National Park’s bottom of the rift valley. River Kyambo running into the Kazinga channel sculpted the Gorge.

Filming chimpanzees in this park starts with briefings in Kyambura Fig tree camp about 0800 hours and 1400 hours daily. Those engaged in chimpanzee trekking may attend these two sessions. Filming this section of chimpanzee habitat is preferable during the dry season with less slippiness on the hills.

For those attempting chimpanzee trekking, some degree of athleticism is needed to get into the valley. Make sure you carry safari boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, water proof bags for your cameras and others, the correct chimpanzee hiking equipment.

Kaniyo Pabadi Forest In the National Park Murchison Falls

About 8km inside Kichubanyombo gate, Kaniyo Pabidi woodland is part of Murchison Falls National park. You conduct chimpanzee filming here in a jungle with some of Uganda’s residual grown mahogany trees.

There are birdwatching habitats in Murchison Falls National Park right here in this section of the park.  If really keen, you have great possibilities of catching birds such Blue-caped Mousebirds, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Green winged pytilias, Spotted Morning Thrush to name just a few.

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria

Filming chimpanzees on Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary Island transports you into the world of abused survivors of mostly human activity and abandoned primates. Situated 23km southwest of Entebbe in Uganda, Koome Islands in fresh water Lake Victoria has an island chimpanzee refuge.

Under Dr. Jane Goodall, Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust ( CSWCT) developed this conservation effort.

Rescued, saved, homeless, orphaned chimpanzees unable to be returned to their natural habitat find themselves at this chimpanzee sanctuary. Establishing this refuge was partly meant to educate guests, the general public, and the local population on the need of preserving chimpanzee habitats and species.

Some of you could be involved in feeding; you stand at the feeding platform and help to distribute meals. Usually, the male and adults get the most portion; the less strong may consume the list in line with human nature.

Education Center on Uganda Wildlife ( UWEC)

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center is the place to visit if you want to shoot chimpanzees in a limited area and at a more near range. Most animals from Uganda’s national parks are kept at this old Entebbe zoo.

These wild creatures reside in displays where their natural habitat is replicated. Among other species and birds, one may see ostriches, chimpanzees, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, leopards, zebras, waterbucks, cape buffaloes, wild cats, elephant, zebras, giraffes to name but a few.

Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest sits just beyond Queen Elizabeth National Park. These chimpanzees are mostly visited for study most of the time, however you may be let to video them at busy times.

You have to ask for this ahead of time to enable timely preparations.

Requirements for filming Chimpanzees in Uganda

The crew of chimpanzees shooting need a filming permission derived from the relevant authorities and entities. Should you be recording chimpanzees in National parks, you must get permission from Uganda Wildlife Authority and abide by its policies.

Every member of the filmmaking team need a chimpanzee trekking permit, same as the regular one. The chimpanzee hiking permit lets you spend just one hour among the chimpanzees once you find them.

Alternatively, you might choose for each crew member chimpanzee habituation licenses allowing four hours of recording the chimps.

The booking staff has to draft a letter asking Uganda Wildlife Authority to shoot chimpanzees at a certain site.

When an application comes forward to you, you must complete every element and support it with a copy of the description, screenplay, and filming schedule.

These are thereafter forwarded the authorities in charge of approval.

Uganda Media Verification

Every member of the shooting team is obliged to complete form G, which is used to get authorization for gathering material to be recorded from Uganda, via Uganda media council. Before any Ugandan material is created, media accreditation is very vital.

Every one must scan a copy of form G, attach scanned copy of passport displaying the front and where personal information are available after filling details on form G. One passport picture should be attached to the media cards.

Get a letter of good behavior from your nation’s international police, Interpol.

This is sent to Uganda Media Council by our filming fixer crew for review and clearance. Getting feed back takes two to three days.

Customs Clearance in Uganda

Customs on arrival must momentarily clear anything you have with you. Note Uganda is not a Carnet member so no carnets are permitted.

Uganda Revenue Authority grants a temporary Import Permission for all the equipment you travel with and charges certain taxes on it. You may make equipment clearance quicker on arrival with a bonded agent.

Right now, tax is paid with around 10% non-refundable charge deducted from the whole worth of your equipment. It relates to the safe arrival and existence of your stuff.

Forwarding us the list of what you want to carry speeds things and helps to avoid extended clearance time on arrival at the Entebbe customs.

Alternatively, you can choose to outsource from the nearby filmmaking teams in case you explain to them the specifics of what you desire to have in time. Remember not very many modern filming devices exist in the nation or even getting them is most in Kampala the business heart of Uganda.

Accommodation During Chimpanzee filming in Uganda

You must remain inside or near the location where you want to shoot in Uganda. This helps you to record the special events. Even the chimpanzees may visit your resort early in the morning, a special event for your collection.

Every place a possible site for chimpanzee shooting offers various lodging and other amenities.  One of the things you might give top attention is making sure your recording tools are safe.

Hire a car. applied at the chimpanzee filming site

Hiring a vehicle to transport equipment is essential as most production teams travel with a lot of fragile machinery. Keep in mind most chimpanzee locations are in far-off areas with sometimes slick road. Your fragile tools ought to be kept in secure bags.

The rental car ought to have strong shock absorbs. One option for improved transit may be to hire a 4×4 vehicle.

The ideal moment for chimpanzee filming in Uganda

Though they are quite friendly animals, chimps often hang on tree branches during the rainy seasons. The drier months of June through October and December through January would be ideal for catching the spectacular photos and moments of the chimpanzees in Uganda.

Since they are few, expect to see chimpanzee hikers or even permits sold out; the dry months are busy seasons as well. Each group receives only six chimpanzee hiking licenses daily. Every day just two sessions, morning and afternoon chimpanzee trekking periods permitted.

What Is Uganda’s Chimpanzee Destination Topography Like?

Excellent location and topography are also important for setting your equipment in order to get the ideal moments of the wildlife cinematography.  Ground in most of Uganda’s chimpanzee habitats is usually level. The forest has low undergrowth, hence paths built by frequent visitors speed up progress.

To obtain the finest content, you must bring or hire stands for your devices. Keep some rain gears on hand, ones that would protect your machinery should it rain.

 The guidelines of chimpanzee filming in Uganda

The chimpanzees have human tracks and could turn on you or hide, hence never provoke them.

Given that chimpanzees are wild creatures who have to search for their own food, feeding them is for bidden.

It terrifies the chimpanzees if one uses flash photography and sound-activated cameras.

Enter the forest only with an accompanying ranger guide; other species there might endanger you.

Littering the forest is against policy as it provides food for chimpanzees and other forest inhabitants.

Once you find a chimpanzee or get a permission for a habituation, just one hour is permitted with them.

Should you desire to relax yourself as the rangers accompany you to excavate a 30-centimeter-deep pit and cover beyond recognition.

Best places to see chimpanzees in Uganda.

Trekking in Uganda among chimps transports you to some of the closest cousins of humans with almost 98% DNA. The wild chimpanzees must be accustomed to be in the company of people at least for an hour without changing their natural nature, thereby enabling chimpanzee trekking. This gets us to the greatest sites to visit chimps in Uganda.

Among all the habituated chimpanzees in Africa, Uganda has the most in tropical Kibale forest. As of right moment, Kibale National Park has a 1500 chimpanzee population.

Other Uganda chimpanzee trekking sites include Kalinzu forest on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Forest National Park though not habituated, Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and others.

You have to get a chimpanzee trekking permission from Rom Uganda Wildlife Authority or another agency looking for Uganda’s ecosystems for chimpanzees. Depending on their closeness, two chimpanzee trekking sessions scheduled for morning at 0800 hours and 1500 hours last two to three hours.

Once you find the chimpanzees, just one hour is permitted in their company. This is to provide them time to do daily tasks include grooming newborns, feeding, procreating, and others.

Booking a chimpanzee habituation experience will provide you extra time with the animals at Kibale National Park. You have to get up early than others and follow the rangers and researcher at dawn. The chimps are scheduled to be de-nesting between about 0530 and 0630 hours.

Where in Uganda one may see chimpanzees?

 Kibale National park

About 795 square kilometers, this tropical rain forest is located in western Uganda. Among the 13 primate species found in the forest are the chimps, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, bush babies, pottos, L’Hoest’s, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others.

About 1590 meters above sea level, the woodland is located. Average 1800 mm of rain fall is obtained yearly. Its northern point is the wettest location, while its southern half connects Queen Elizabeth national Park with a 180-kilometer long corridor for animal movement.

Kibale National Park has a rich birdlife, with over 325 species identified apart from wild animals. Black bee-eaters, yellow-spotted nicator, blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush, African pitta and others are among the birds you could see even though the list is continually expanding.

One of the main birding sites in Kibale National Park, the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is situated in Magombe wetland. Primates like black and white colobus, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, mammals including mongoose, bushbucks, forest elephants, wild forest hogs and others might also be found here. You get a similar feeling from a stroll to Kihingani Wetland outside Sebitoli as from Magombe Wetland.

Gorge of Kyambura in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura gorge is located at the bottom of the rift valley in Queen Elizabeth National Park about at 100 meters depth. River Kyambo running into the Kazinga channel sculpted the Gorge.

Starting in Kyambura Fig tree camp at around 0800 hours and 1400 hours daily, the journey takes approximately One must be somewhat fit if one intends to climb into the valley. Especially in the west, you also need comfortable tracking boots to let you negotiate the treacherous hills.

Kaniyo Pabidi Forest inside National Park Murchison Falls

You go about 8 kilometers inside Kichubanyombo Gate of Murchison Falls National Park to reach this chimpanzee refuge. Under some of Uganda’s overgrown remnant mahogany trees, you have the chance to go chimpanzee treking.

Among Murchison Falls National Park’s top birding locations is this one. You are very likely to find birds such Vitelline Masked Weavers, Black-headed Gonolek, Blue-caped Mousebirds, Green winged pytilias and others.

Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary inside Lake Victoria

This is part of the fresh water Lake Victoria Koome Islands 23km southwest of Entebbe, Uganda. Under Dr. Jane Goodall, Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust ( CSWCT) launched the refuge project.

Respected, saved, homeless, orphaned chimpanzees that cannot be restored to their natural habitats live here. It seeks to educate guests, the general public, and the local community on the importance of preserving the chimpanzees and their habitats.

You stand on the feeding platform and help distribute food while seeing battle for the fitness come to life when you visit during the feeding time.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre ( UWEC)

This once was the Entebbe Zoo. Uganda is delighted to have practically all of this wild fauna summarized here.  The wild creatures are housed in displays with surroundings that reflect their natural habitats. On a self-guided or guided tour at the center, some of the species you could encounter include chimps, lions, cheetahs, leopards, waterbucks, cape buffaloes, elephant, zebras, giraffes a variety of birds and so much more.

Kalinzu Forest 

Kalinzu Forest is situated on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. While most of these chimpanzees are employed for study, possibilities for trekking them present themselves at busy times.

Booking Chimpanzee Trekking Permits in Uganda

Uganda’s wildlife Authority, KIbale National Park and Kyambura Gorge chimpanzees permits, sells part of the chimpanzee hiking licenses issued there. The caretakers of these chimpanzee sanctuaries sell the others. This helps to explain the differences in the cost of chimpanzee trekking permits all throughout the nation.

Right now, the Kibale National Park chimpanzee trekking passes are $300 per person.

Securing them depends on knowing the date, amount of people to walk with, most practical time to perform chimpanzee trekking. Your chimpanzee hiking permits should be bought ahead as they sell quickly. For the public to book per troupe, only six permissions are realized.

The Age Limit for Chimpanzee Trekking

The age restriction for chimpanzee treking is fifteen years and beyond. A youngster older than this is said to be able to survive in the wild. The surroundings of National Park have limited under development a youngster at this age can go through.

Areas where chimpanzees reside have somewhat flat terrain, which facilitates travel without requiring hiking. You may find the chimpanzees by following the paths made by consistent hikers. To warn others of your existence, you can hear hoot or thumping buttress roots.

The time you spend finding the chimpanzees may not be in line with a youngster under the age of fifteen’s patience.

Sometimes the chimpanzees harass guests, which would not be appropriate for a little kid below this age. A youngster may find it uncomfortable if they reach out, touch you, or pull your hair.

Making noise is forbidden in the forest as it disturbs even other forest residents which might be difficult for a youngster below this age to control.

Fast in mobility, chimps keep hikers on their toes. Keeping up with a youngster less than fifteen years old might be challenging.

What can a child under fifteen years do when parents go chimpenzee trekking?

Children under the age of fifteen may be scheduled for environmentally friendly activities in Kibale National Park under the direction of the child ranger instructors. Children cane travel for roughly one to two hours for instructive forest hikes while parents go chimpanzee trekking in the pack.

These hikes teach them about ecosystems and its occupants. Participate in environmentally friendly games, artistic projects like cyanotype, photography, batik creation, pond dipping.

As you go hiking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, you have nothing to worry about where to put your youngster.

When should one book chimps’ trekking permits?

Although chimps travel all year round, peak seasons are in the drier months, June through October and December through January.

Because there is much to eat during the dry seasons, chimps eat closer to the ground. Usually, the rainy seasons coincide with damp mushy ground—which the chimpanzees find objectionable. Chimpanzees most of the rainy seasons remain up in the tree branches, hence pack a pair of binoculars to get a better view.

How much is chimpanzee trekking safari?

Among the many chimpanzee trekking programs, luxury, mid-range, or budget, securing the permit is the ongoing expense.

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Kibale National Park cost $300 per person per trip. You might also schedule two sessions in morning and afternoon.

The cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National park include park fees, ranger guide fees, security during chimpanzee trekking, park upkeep, chimpanzee medical fund and others.

Twenty percent of the overall yearly income from chimpanzee trekking is returned to the nearby town to help with initiatives. This is one approach to include the nearby population in the protection of the chimpanzees.

Which makes the finest Chimpanzee Trekking Destination?

Although Kibale National Park in Uganda has the most number of habituated chimpanzees, its permits are few. Every troop of chimpanzees receives just six daily chimpanzee hiking permits.

Seeing some of the closest relatives of man in their natural habitat rather than in a zoo or circus where they could be trained to perform makes seeing the chimpanzees in the forest interesting. That thrill is unequaled wherever you go.

Every site is different on its own, depending on your desired feeling after seeing the chimpanzees. You have some difficulties finding Kyambura gorge chimpanzees in the wooded depression as they reside in a steeper terrain.

Murchison lies within the Kaniyo Pabidi National Park. Living amid some of Uganda’s oldest left over mahogany trees are chimps. Along with several other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, they share habitat. These chimpanzees occupy the same territory as Murchison Falls, the nicest section of the River Nile flow.

Visitors to Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary get opportunity to see chimps up close and help them be fed as well. Visitors get a better perspective of how people may co-exist with these monkeys and understand the need of preserving the environment where these apes eat.

What guidelines apply for Chimpanzee Trekking?

Once you find the chimpanzees, keep around eight meters apart from them. These are wild creatures that may infect either you or they might spread to each other. One of the many steps you might follow is this one.

Offer to remain behind should you develop a communicative illness such as flu, cholera, Corona virus, or another. With their DNA ranging from around 96% to that of humans, these animals are prone to these infections.

Eat and smoke nothing before the chimpanzees; they could be tempted to seize it from you.

The chimpanzees are naturally meant to search for their own food; so, give them nothing depending on human help.

Children 15 years of age or under are not permitted to engage in chimpanzee trekking as time of finding the chimpanzees is unclear and they may not be able to survive in the wilderness or prolong their stay in the forest.

Never enter the forest without a park ranger; other forest users can endanger you or cause you to get lost.

Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole at least 30 cm deep and cover waste beyond awareness if you want to have a lengthy call.

It is against policy to make noise in the bush looking for chimpanzees. Unknown noise in their environments scares them.

Flash photography should never be used for chimpanzee trekking as it may frighten these amazing creatures.

Although it has never occurred in the past of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, encouraging the chimps is illegal as they may get aggressive. Furthermore plausible is this.

One hour is permitted with the chimpanzees once you find them.

Can I Choose A Gorilla Family Of My Choice In Uganda And Rwanda.

In Uganda and Rwanda, may I select any gorilla family of my liking? You may choose your own gorilla trekking family in Uganda and Rwanda provided you tell your operator in advance what you want to see. Like humans, all mountain gorillas lack the same features. This is not a clear bargain, however, as all the powers someone visits a gorilla family in Uganda or Rwanda originate from Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guide on duty.

Mountain gorillas live at Volcanoes National park in Rwanda; at the moment, only 13 gorilla families have been allowed for visitors. You have to be carrying a Rwanda Development Board gorilla trekking permit.

Uganda gorilla trekking experience is experienced from Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park.

Among the three nations hosting mountain gorillas, Bwindi National park sits over an area of 327 square kilometers, the biggest habitat for them. There are now four gorilla trekking sites in the park: Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhijah, and Nkuringo.

This was done to allow gorilla families all around to be seen as just the Buhoma region was originally visited. Other gorilla families have begun exhibiting wild behavior that calls for re-habituation.

With around 33 square kilometers of territory, Mgahinga National Park is among the smaller gorilla trekking destinations. Less frequented is the remaining virgin park, however, as its only gorilla family is movable. Sometimes free from political constraints, the Nyakagezi gorilla family wanders into D.R. Congo or Rwanda. It has lately been living stably in Uganda for several years.

Usually having case studies to guide their analysis, clients visiting for gorilla research have a goal. They could indicate the kind of gorilla trekking family they want to utilize in their research. Thanks to study, the world now knows more about the massive mountain gorillas once described as monsters.

From the days of Dian Fossey, who established the Karisoke Research Institute in Rwanda, researchers have been able to rescue mountain gorilla lives. Based on census taken at the time, the globe had around three hundred mountain gorillas by 1980: Included on the red list of the most severely threatened primates worldwide were the mountain gorillas.

Based on studies conducted by groups such as Gorilla Fund, Gorilla Doctors and others, the estimated current global mountain gorilla count is somewhat near to 1000 individuals. None of this could be accomplished without research.

Mountain gorillas were among of the primates at risk to receive the virus when the Covid 19 epidemic struck the planet after researchers found the virus among those housed in a zoo. Every visitor is expected to wear a mask and wash before seeing the mountain gorillas in order to help to conserve them. Either bring a corona virus vaccination certificate or show negative results of covid 19 obtained within the preceding 72 hours.

A few number of researchers are permitted to visit a certain gorilla family at a time in order to help the mountain gorillas to survive going forward.

Uganda Wildlife Authority has to handle this arrangement as the entity in charge of wildlife management.

Close Off Gorilla Trekking For Unique Experience

Sometimes customers want to restrict gorilla trekking activities in a certain location for just their group to visit. They are meant to pay off the gorilla permits for that region so that no one else follows them. Under this agreement, the customer is able to choose which gorilla family in that region they want to see.

Maxium of eight gorilla permits are available daily for public booking. 

One idea is to restrict gorilla trekking rights to one gorilla family. This is more sensible, however, in case nobody has been reserved on that family yet. These elements all provide viable substitutes for this cause. Clients reserve gorilla permits as early as one year in advance, so all these have to be taken into account.

Low Season for Safaris Based on Gorilla Trekking

Sometimes gorilla trekking excursions have poor customer attendance during low season, which runs from March to May and November. This opportunity allows you to choose which gorilla family to see should you so like.

Sometimes you get the whole briefing time to yourself, which allows you to indicate which gorilla family you would choose. Clients are randomly split into groups of maximum eight to visit a certain household during the busy season. Not even those who have traveled together are granted one family unless previous plans are approved by Uganda Wildlife Authority. This is done to prevent disputes among the visitors or travel agencies arranging the gorilla trekking safaris.

Sometimes booking gorilla trekking safaris in low season also results in lower rates of additional facilities such lodging, driving guides, and others. Even a combination of safaris in other locations like wildlife parks, chimpanzee trekking may be somewhat less expensive during the low season.

Physical Impairment of a Gorilla Trekking Client

Although gorilla trekking is a wilderness walking experience, even physically challenged guests may enjoy it. Should your tour operator alert Uganda Wildlife Authority with your physical capacity, chances of producing a family less demanding are great. Still, this is just a matter of opinion.

Arranged reasonably priced, Sedan chairs or stretchers will let you reach the gorilla trekking family. Porters you need to hire will carry your gorilla trekking equipment and you over the trail.

Though some degree of fitness is required to really appreciate the gorilla trekking safari, you should be physically competent of accomplishing it. You need not spend all day at the gym. Your muscles must be stretched in a rhythm that will get you over the whole journey. Sometimes climbing the hills to find the mountain gorillas is rather taxing.

The gorillas may relax on the hills either during the rainy season or when they find fresh eating area. Finding them calls for some fortitude.

Experience with Gorilla Habituation

Gorilla habituation safaris in Uganda take place in southern Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Gorilla habituation safari is the process of partially habituating mountain gorillas acquainted with human presence.

So yet, just two gorilla families have been opened for this experience in Uganda. Only four customers per family area permitted joining this trip, so you have opportunity to choose which one to choose.

While gorilla trekking is only permitted one hour with the mountain gorillas, gorilla habituation is allowed four hours following the family. Unlike most hikers, you get up early and accompany a researcher into the forest.

Nevertheless, these gorillas may not be as quiet as the completely acclimated ones as they still exhibit wild actions. Following the directions from your ranger guide and searchers with every detail in the forest is quite vital. Remember mountain gorillas are rulers of the forest so have all the laws of gorilla trekking and habituation at your fingertips to avoid spoiling your Africa safari.

When Should You See The Mountain Gorillas?

The migratory nature of the mountain gorillas makes their whereabouts uncertain. These free roaming animals have to hunt for their own sustenance. Depending on the state of the jungle, you can find the mountain gorillas in two hours or three quarters of the day.

When looking for the mountain gorillas, you must have an open mind and patience.

Apart from gorilla trekking, you may encounter other primates such olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and more.

There are even many birds in the parks, so you might maintain your attention on such species rather than finding the mountain gorillas rather. Should your trip be postponed, you might have bores.

How Dangerous African Gorilla Trekking Is

As long as you follow the guidelines of this adventure, gorilla treking is not harmful. Attending briefings will help you to be taken through all the required do and avoid rules of gorilla trekking.

Nobody is allowed into the forest without briefing to prevent you from inciting stampede in the area should you do so.

Though their thick coats and large physique and dark brown eyes might make the mountain gorillas seem frightening in nature, they are calm animals. Not one person has been documented as having been assaulted by the mountain gorillas so far. You just have to be a devoted visitor in that zone.

Usually thumping their chests, they pull the grass around them, walk on one foot and go toward the deeper portions of the park. They are angry. Never encourage the mountain gorillas toward peace with humans.

How To Get A Gorilla Trekking Permission From Rwanda and Uganda

Before one begins to consider the gorilla trekking adventure, a date is required.  You have to know when you want to send us an inquiry about gorilla trekking safari.

You must know the exact amount of individuals you want to go gorilla treking with.

Having checked the gorilla permit status on Uganda wildlife Authority link or Rwanda development Boards, our safari specialist is ready to get back to you with availability.

Should the gorilla permits become available, we urge you to reserve in early to prevent last-minute frenzy to get one. Gorilla permits are restricted to only 8 permits sold day, per family. Since it is the sole proof of your intention to go gorilla trekking, no gorilla permit is spared for anybody without fees.

Getting a gorilla permit is the main reason you should arrange lodging, particularly in Uganda if you have to spend overnight near your gorilla trekking site.

Overnighting in another region might lead you to miss gorilla trekking as getting up in another place to drive is difficult at times. The rural area’s roadways are often inaccessible due to their slick surface; logs at times impede mobility and so much more.

When booking a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda or Uganda

Booking your gorilla trekking permit ahead of time—at least ninety days before the date of the trip—is ideal. This helps one prevent last-minute worry as gorilla permits sell quickly. First come first is their premise.

The mountain gorillas cannot be seen without permission by anybody.

Right now, the Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign citizens and East African nationals 300,000shs.

Each individual on the Rwanda Gorilla Trekking pays $1500.

Should you schedule your gorilla permit at least one year in advance, you will be able to pay in installments based on policies of the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board.

You must complete certain information to get the gorilla permission card for Uganda. Among these specifics are your complete names as shown on your passport, nationality, date of birth, expiration date of your passport and others.

Which Nation Is Ideal For Gorilla Trekking Between Uganda and Rwanda?

Generally speaking, gorilla trekking is an intriguing hobby wherever you visit. Every nation offers something breathtaking and visually appealing that liven up the gorilla trekking trip.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda may be paired with other wildlife safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and others. While wildlife safari may also be paired with gorilla climbing in Rwanda, Akagera National Park has smaller wild animal populations.

While Uganda gorilla trekking parks distance from Entebbe Airport is around 8 hours to 9 hours for a distance of about 530km, Rwanda gorilla trekking destination is near to Kigali airport which takes about 3 hours.

Can I resell my gorilla permit if I fail to trek ?

Could I be able to resell my gorilla permit if I miss treking? Depending on how you got your gorilla trekking permit, reselling it before the day of hiking is both feasible and impossible. Should you have bought your gorilla trekking permit from an agency, you might find opportunity to resale it through the agent.

At times, the umbrella group Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) provides members with chances to promote their resale licenses elsewhere. This is not certain, however, since purchasing the gorilla trekking licenses relies on demand.

Demand for gorilla permits is strong throughout the peak seasons, which run June to September and December to January. The gorilla permits for these days are sold out quickly, so there is great opportunity for reselling them during this time. This does not certain, however, that your gorilla permit on selling will attract a buyer.

Even the amount of gorilla permits you are reselling counts as it gets difficult to sell them if they are so many but on various days.

The number of days between the day of the trekking and when you submit your gorilla permit for resale counts as demand decreases as times get closer the actual date of gorilla trekking.

Reselling the gorilla permit on the day of the gorilla trekking area slim relies on the presence of persons on waitlist. Even the networks of the person reselling the gorilla permit or permits matter on the day of trekking. There are good chances of finding someone to pay less than you paid for it.

Should another company resell the same day for gorilla trekking as you are, the survival of the fittest principle may be relevant. The one that offers a more extensive range of gorilla permit advertising can get the most business.

At least 90 days before the day of gorilla trekking, if you purchased the permit in installments and failed to top up before the due date. Half purchased gorilla trekking licenses have little chances of not reselling. These permits bind you to lose possession should the top up date be past due.

Customers who reserve gorilla trekking permits separately may not be able to get their money back should they choose to cancel the trip. It becomes really lengthy, hence a lot of time may be used as specifics have to actually support your argument.

Is it possible to refund Gorilla Permits?

The terms and conditions of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) determine the Gorilla Permit Refund Policy.

The Authority or Board terms and conditions are followed when a visitor provides a sincere explanation for missing gorilla trekking day with evidence in advance to decide how to revoke their gorilla licenses.

When you find a communicative infection before gorilla trekking or feel sick right before gorilla trekking, notify the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board beforehand.

You may be able to get your money depending on Uganda Wildlife Authority’s or Rwanda Development Board’s Refund policy. Although you may still try your luck even if getting it back might not be certain.

Where should one go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Among the four habitat areas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda has the biggest gorilla trekking area. About 327 square kilometers of land make up the park. Its heavy forest cover gets it the moniker Impenetrable. Locally, Bwindi is Impenetrable, and this moniker fits this forest really well.

There are about eighteen gorilla trekking families in the forest accessible for visitors. They are all scheduled under gorilla trekking regions. Rushaga gorilla family, Buhoma gorilla area, Nkuringo region, Ruhijah area are the four gorilla trekking sites. This was carried out for administrative reasons.

Previously, visitors needed to reserve gorilla permits specifically for the Northern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Less frequented, the habituated gorilla groups in other parts of Bwindi have begun returning to natural behavior. Their rehabilitation takes time and money.

Uganda Wildlife Authority developed a per region approach to find a balance in gorilla trekking.

Over 10 primate species including blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys and others call Bwindi Impenetrable National Park a biosphere reserve home.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park’s abundant wildlife makes it a recommended visit for those interested in African birding. Including Albertine Endemics on the IUCN red list, over 350 bird species have so far been documented to be present in this area. List of bird species for Bwindi impenetrable National Park is currently under development.

Magahinga gorilla National Park

This park runs in the southern Western corner of Uganda and Rwanda. One of the mountain ranges in the park, Mountain Sabyinyo, is reachable from which one may observe the border of Uganda Rwanda and D.R. Congo.

About 33.7 square kilometers make up Mgahinga National Park. This park is on the Northern slopes of Mountains Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura. This serves as a regional background.

Mgahinga National Park comprises one gorilla trekking permit known as Nyakagezi gorilla family. Because mountain gorillas are free ranging with no concept of political borders, this gorilla trekking family used to wander into Rwanda in the past.

Booking the gorilla permits for Mgahinga National park was on arrival then and contingent on their presence in the park.

The mountain gorillas have now been shown to be long-standing residents of Mgahinga National Park.

Mgahinga National Park has around 115 different bird species. One of the less frequented national parks still has virgin greenery including crisscrossing twisted climbers.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Mountain gorillas only find habitat in this wooded national Park located in Rwanda. The park covers 160 square kilometers on ground.

The geography of the park consists of five volcanoes: Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Gahinga.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas eat off the slopes, which makes gorilla trekking here somewhat difficult. Sometimes the trek is steep and somewhat challenging, particularly in heavy weather.

Currently available for visitors, Volcanoes National Park has around 13 gorilla trekking families.

With about 90 bird species so far identified, including around 13 species of Albertine endemics as Shelley’s Crimmsonwing, beautiful Francolin, and others, Kilimanjaro National Park is the birding hotspot for Rwanda.

Several other primates call this home golden monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys to name but a few.

Virunga National Parks 

About six gorilla families available for tourism in D.R. Congo makes this National Park home. Among the Gorilla families are those of Munyaga gorilla, Kabirizi gorilla, Mapuwa gorilla, Rugendo gorilla family, Humba gorilla family, and Lulengo gorilla family.

The volatility in this region has delayed the growth of gorilla trekking safaris here.

Along with other primates such red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, De Brazaa monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkey, blue monkeys, the park houses chimpanzees.

Great vegetation that supports the survival of many species, especially the Albertine endemics, explains its large bird list.

How To Purchase Gorilla Trekking Permits

Gorilla trekking permits supplied in Uganda exclusively come from the Uganda Wildlife Authority The body in charge of Uganda’s National Parks is…

Rwanda Development Board sells the gorilla permit from Rwanda.

Before you get a gorilla trekking permit, you should find out daily availability of them.

When availability is favorable, you have to get yours right away as they run quickly out. First come first served basis means that none is permitted to reserve a permit for you without paying.

For Uganda, on the other hand, you must supply certain personal information such your complete passport name, nationality, date of birth, expiration date of your passport and others. Some of these are completed on your gorilla trekking certificate and card.

The status of the gorilla permits changes in a flash as demand for them during the peak season is quite great yet few are realized daily to the public.

When should one book Gorilla Trekking Permits?

You may book your gorilla trekking permits all year long, but you should take into account the busiest seasons—June through September and December through January. This is the time when even the lodging is somewhat sought after and the desire for gorilla trekking activities is strong.

Though ideal at least six months in advance, the least time needed to book the gorilla trekking permits is ninety days to the day of the trip. This prevents last-minute stress in order to get the gorilla trekking permits.

The Difficulty of Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorillas dwell in the Virunga region, whose terrain is usually mountainous. Since the vegetation in this region has been there for more than 30000 years, entangled creepers are very common. The ranger guide may sometimes have to make room for the party to pass with a machete.

It is somewhat difficult to encounter the mountain gorillas as they eat from the slopes during the heavy wet seasons. To really appreciate the gorilla walk, one must be somewhat fit beforehand.

Are Mountain Gorillas belligerent?

Some of the most calm primates on Earth are mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas physically seem frightening because of their huge weight and dense black hair covering their whole body. That they are usually vegetarian is rather remarkable. Bamboo, leaves, delicate stems, fruits and others are delicacies.

As of now, no one has been claimed to have been victim of a gorilla assault. To savor every second of this adventure, you only have to follow gorilla trekking guidelines. Generally calm primates are mountain gorillas.

What Should One Bring For Gorilla Trekking?

Foldable safari Use this hat to guard your hair from flying insects in the bush while in the wild.

a flashless camera to preserve jungle memory of your trip. Every minute is very valuable to save for future reference.

Travel adapter to replenish your devices in case of low power supply

Given the chill of the forest, fleece or pocho will help to remain warm. You have to guard yourself from cold catching.

Pajamas to don before turning in for sleep.

Two binoculars for close inspection of far-off attractions.

Savannah Tracking footwear to protect your feet from jungle’s harsh terrain. Make sure your feet are safe as the terrain is muddy and damp at times that makes mobility difficult.

Just in case it rains while you are looking for the gorillas, Rain Coat or Poncha

When you feel hungry in the outdoors, snacks to match.

Hand sanitizer helps to avoid bacteria that can contaminate the plants you handle. For mountain gorillas, it is their meal.

Garden gloves will help you get a firmer hold on the slippery creepers during rain.

A mask to don in front of the mountain gorillas

A light water resistant bag to save your belongings from dispersing into the bush.

To dress in the outdoors, long sleeved shirts and convertible trousers have to be in tones fit for the wild.

Use insect repellent to spread over the body and avoid stinging flies like tsetse flies.

First aid pack with some medicines should you sustain an injury.

Use bag spray to prevent any pest invasion into your room.

Some hard cash to convert into local money should you have to buy anything like souvenirs. Since receiving money from credit cards is somewhat difficult, they are seldom utilized as a form of transaction.

What Makes Mgahinga National Park A Unique Place For Gorilla Trekking In Africa.

Although the mountain gorillas are well-known to be found in Mgahinga national park, this old wooded park offers more. Though its area is just 33 square kilometers, of land, Mgahinga National Park is unique for gorilla trekking in Africa since it is survivor of the ice age epoch that saw many forests decimated and here is why.

From the mountain gorillas, many of primates rely on this woodland area. Among the primates are golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey to name just a few.

Residents of Mgahinga national Park make up the overabundant birds includes Albertine endemics on the Red List of IUCN. Among the most amazing species in this park are Scarce Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Scarlet Tufted Malachite Sunbirds and others. Un disturbed vegetation from montane woodland via bamboo zone, montane forest to Ericaceuos zone accounts for this abundant bird life.

Habitat of Mountain Gorillas in Africa

Among the well-known homes of the mountain gorillas is Mgahinga National park. Although one gorilla family—the Nyakagezi gorilla family—is accessible for gorilla trekking right now, the experience in this park is more distant.

Sometimes this family wanders into Rwanda, so booking the gorilla permits here becomes a major issue. This family has spent some time recently living in Mgahinga National Park without crossing. The mountain gorillas do not comprehend political borders, hence their natural behavior is found in the forest very free. The wilderness is not a zoo, hence no one is permitted to restrict their mobility to a certain place.

Paying for your gorilla trekking permit in Mgahinga National park guarantees you will see mountain gorillas rather than a chance. You get value for money here.

Golden Monkey Trekking Destination Uganda

Trekking in Uganda golden monkeys is limited to Mgahinga National Park. Among the threatened species worldwide are the golden monkeys. Currently known to be inhabiting the Virunga region in Africa, they are a unique species of monkeys.

Usually, golden monkeys have bodies bigger than those of ordinary monkeys. Different from other monkeys, their golden brown fur sets them apart. Furthermore larger than typical monkeys is their body form.

The golden monkeys are quick in movement and fascinating to observe because of their acrobatics techniques, which seem as if they were planned for this exhibition. They have become used to live among people, yet this does not detract from their lovely character.

Among the other primates you could see are olive baboons, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s grey cheeked mangabey.

Though tiny, Mgahinga National Park is a biosphere reserve in Uganda that supports more than only mountain gorilla habitat.

Mgahinga National Park Under Scientific Investigation

Mgahinga National Park was first among the undeveloped parks in Uganda, but thanks to research, more knowledge about this wild park is now emerging. Great effort is being done by the ranger guide, park wardens, many domestic and foreign agencies in revealing the treasures of Mgahinga National park.

Regular updates on the forest attractions the ranger guides provide to visitors on gorilla trekking keep them current. It is well worth the effort to halt along the journey to experience such natural beauty. For this wild gorilla trekking location, one of the main reasons attending briefings is very vital.

Excellent Views at Mgahinga National Park

If you want a fantastic vista, Mgahinga National Park is well worth visiting. A selection of hikes lets one accommodate any ability. On any of the nearby mountains of the Virunga ranges, you may trek for eight hours returning trip.

up a climb up Mountain Muhavura, you may see amazing panoramic vistas and alpine flora. Other five Virunga mountains, the rift valley, lake Edward, and clear day Rwenzori ranges all are visible.

From bamboo woodland to the rich marsh found at the crater top, hiking Gahinga mountain From Ntebeko, the primary administrative hub of Mgahinga National Park, this climb takes around six hours.

From one pivot, climbing Sabyinyo mountain reveals the boundaries of the three gorilla trekking countries in the world: Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R.Congo. You go to peak 1 in the beginning, then follow a narrow ridge overlooking amazing drops into a deep valley on both sides. Then navigate through muddy struggle to go to peak three.

Availability of Diversity in Accommodation Choice for Gorilla Trekking
To reach the briefing site on time, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national Park must sleep with in or near proximity to the park. There is little competition for room overnight in the various lodges as the park only has one gorilla family to see.

You may spend nights in Kisoro town as well and get up early to go to the Ntebeko center headquarters, some 14 kilometers south of Kisoro. It will take you around thirty minutes to reach the gate for briefing.

Among the lodging facilities you might arrange for gorilla trekking at Mgahinga National park are Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Mutanda Lake Resort, Traveller’s Inn, Community Camp, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Majambere Iwachu to name just a few.

Affordable Gorilla Trekking Permission Cost for Mgahinga National Park
Since the mountain gorillas live without restrictions, Mgahinga National area is the most natural site of the mountain gorillas. A gorilla trek ticket for this area costs $800 per person.

Before booking this park’s gorilla trekking permits, you must find out from the Uganda Wildlife Authority if the gorillas are there. Mgahinga National Park is closer to Volcanoes National Park than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, so comparing the cost of its gorilla trekking permit to its neighbour, Mgahinga is less expensive.

Mgahinga National Parks Designed deliberately near other national parks
From Mgahinga National Park, you may visit other parks like Queen Elizabeth National park a well-known game park where you may observe animals such lions, herds of elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, leopards, buffaloes, diversity of birds to name just a few. Starting Mgahinga National Park will let you to double gorilla trekking to either Cross to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Not far from Mgahinga National park is also Kibale National park, the site of chimpanzee treks. After gorilla trekking, you should arrive there in six hours.

Possibility of Birding even on Gorilla Trekking

Mgahinga National Park’s Albertine setting draws a range of birds to spend their time in its rich woodland. There are about 115 different bird species calling this area home. You pass montane ecosystems and here you may encounter Handsome Francolin, Dusky Turtle Doves, Rwenzori Turacos, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Malachite Sunbird to name but a few on gorilla trekking and in the gorge route looping halfway up Mountain Gahinga.

Living in the montane forest, the birds have large belt of bamboo and regenerating meadows on the lower slopes heath and Afro-alpine moorland on the higher slopes. Although you may find many birds by following the buffalo wall route, you should be escorted by a ranger guide.

Mgahinga National Park’s bird list is still growing as it had not drawn interest from start.

Availability of Community Visits Following Gorilla Trekking
Following a Gorilla Trekking excursion at Mgahinga National Park, one may see the Batwa pygmies, part of the world’s homeless population. To help mountain gorilla conservation, they were kicked from the forest that served just that in 1990s.

After gorilla walking, you may follow the Batwa route and Garama Caves tour to help with livelihood. A Mutwa guide leads you through their ancient past while in the jungle.

Starting at the foot of Muhavura Mountain, this path runs to Garama Cave. The cave is 342 meters closer to Mgahinga National Park’s Northern boundary. Originally in the jungle, the cave was a place of return after raids on the Bafumbira farmers.

The Batwa council also sought their problems from this cave. Early days, the Batwa lived in these rooms. This cave lately offers a venue for cultural Batwa events wherein the guests may enjoy traditional music and dancing.

Booking a Gorilla Trekking Permit for Mgahinga National Park

Sales of Gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park follow the availability of the Nyakagezi gorilla trekking family. I know it wanders into Volcanoes National park sometimes as the free range mountain gorillas have no restrictions. Only recently, the mountain gorillas have been consistently known to exist in Mgahinga National park alone.

How To Get From Kampala Mgahinga National Park By Road

About 540 kilometers separates Mgahinga National Park from Kampala city. Apart from enroute pauses, the journey runs around 8 hours from Kabale to Kisoro. The murram route takes two hours to reach Ntebeko gate and goes around mountains.

Another route that can take anywhere from five to six hours is crossing from Rwanda Kigali airport then Cyanika border to Mgahinga National park via Kisoro.

By flight

Domestic planes from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air Strip travel to Kisoro Air Strip in the morning and afternoon every day. To go to your lodging, you need a transfer car.

Why trek mountain gorillas.

Doing gorilla trekking allows one to experience that priceless moment with some of the few mountain gorillas left in the world. This gives the conservation fraternity in Uganda, Rwanda, D.R. Congo, too a financial benchmark.

The mountain gorillas were in danger of going extinct before the 1980s as, based on census data taken by the Dian Fossey Team then, around 300 mountain gorillas existed. Supported her efforts were international organizations like National Geographic, IUCN, and others. This revealed the misery of the mountain gorillas to all people.

The mountain gorillas were dealing with some natural reasons as well as human ones. Some caught in snares, some slaughtered for meat, others taken for circus, others poached for trophies; so many more. Pulling them off the brink of extinction required a great deal of help from all across the planet.

Apart from the mountain gorillas, the Virunga region has various primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies and more.

One of the unusual Africa safari experiences is birding in the Virunga region. On the red list of IUCN, you might find some of the birds. One may watch the Albertine endemics building nests or wandering the trees seeking food.

Among the birds of the Virunga region are Shelley’s Crimmson, Rwenzori Turraco, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Malachite Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated Apalises, African Green Broadbill and others.

Therefore, other from gorilla trekking, you may do in fascinating activities in the Virunga region, which makes it an African magnet for wildlife lovers.

Booking a gorilla trekking trip to Rwanda or Uganda to visit mountain gorillas helps to support their conservation fund. Since there is a collaborative conservation effort in the Virunga area, some of the money paid for a gorilla permit is utilized in maintaining the few mountain gorillas remaining in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.

Once they find seriously wounded mountain gorillas, the gorilla physicians treat them using part of the money. Although the mountain gorillas might be naturally prospering, sometimes they need some outside medical help.

The local community receives 20% of the yearly revenues from the gorilla habitats to assist with local projects such road development, school construction and others. This aims to help them to appreciate the presence of the mountain gorillas and avoid persecuting them even if they wander into the settlement.

Paid by the proceeds of the gorilla permit sales, the ranger guides are encouraged to remain fiercely guarding and safeguarding mountain gorillas.

Trekking Among Gorillas For Personal Purposes

One of the most sought-after safaris among environment enthusiasts is Gorilla Trekking on the list. Gorilla trekking is a lifelong experience among special Africa safaris. Although I have twice followed gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, I still want to do it as the two encounters with gorillas in both countries exceeded my expectations.

Seeing the mountain gorillas is a unique Africa Safari experience because of their none planned behavior. They do the unexpected; your one hour with them might be full of delight and excitement.

You may fill your album for the future and take pictures using a flash-less camera. Unlike the cast of mountain gorillas living in the wild, gorillas housed in zoos follow a set schedule. Natural instincts and judgment help the wild mountain gorillas go about their daily tasks.

Mountain Gorilla Hosting Nations Get Foreign Exchange

By visiting Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, you enable these nations to generate foreign exchange—a need in which these nations find deficient. These money help the gorilla hosting nations to have gross domestic revenues.

Notably, tourism is the top foreign currency earner in Uganda and an unseen export. Countries utilize such resources to import necessary commodities and services for the prosperity of their people. The beautiful part about this is that visitors come bring pictures and experience without endangering the mountain gorillas.

Starting a Gorilla Trekking Safari Provides Work

Employment for many people has come from gorilla treks in Uganda and Rwanda. Someone benefits from your visit from the day you arrive in Uganda or Rwanda.

Jobs to help their families are assigned to the ranger guide and park wardens employed in these mountain gorilla conservation areas.

Even residents might be paid some money and used as porters to carry the visitor baggage. One of the most straightforward approaches to help to preserve mountain gorillas is this.

A trip to Africa for gorilla trekking also helps other sectors of these nations. You will have to pay for a ticket to visit Uganda, Rwanda, D.R.C., so someone working for Emirates, KLM, Turkish Air, Rwanda Air, or Kenya Air makes some money.

In Uganda or Rwanda, you will be lodged in a designated Lodge or Hotel, so waiters will be paid salaries and allowances to cover your stay.

You have to consume food, hence it needs to be acquired locally. Rangers, guides, and gorilla tracking assistants will accompany you on the day you follow them and need payment. By booking your trip via a local tour operator, tour advisors and guides who worked on your inquiry must pay something.

Stated differently, your visiting Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking has a trickle-down impact that helps the host nations. Every person who gains from your visit will pay taxes, which are then used to pay wages for government officers and provide services such water, power, security, health among others.

Visiting Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla tracking as well as admiring their other wildlife and culture can help African nations grow and lessen their reliance on outside countries. Get in touch to get more information.

When should one go Mountain Gorilla Trekking?

Although gorilla trekking is an all-year activity, June through October are the busiest months for this kind of travel. It’s recommended to visit the Virunga region during that time as it is noted for getting too little rain but rather intense cold with little sunshine penetration in the forest.

The region is projected to be somewhat more dry, hence rivers not overflowing all variables maintained constant in this area. Less moist and accessible terrain means less trouble. During this period, the mountain gorillas are also likely to feed nearer the ground.

Low seasons also are the result of the rainy months March through May and November, which have continuous components. Anticipate less disruption from other hikers and less damage. Gorilla trekking alone is another option that provides it a unique experience to see the gorillas by a single visitor.

Sometimes the low seasons provide cheaper rates on lodging, driver guides, car rentals, and other services. We show our customers these cheap gorilla safari features at experience Africa Safaris. This is to make gorilla trekking reasonably cost-effective for a range of budgets.

Since gorilla trekking is an all-year activity, there are no particular seasons when one will not see the mountain gorillas. You merely need to Send Us Your Enquiry and will be contacted with the finest Africa Safari package.

How Difficult Is Trekking in Gorillas?

Although the Virunga region’s landscape is often hilly, this does not imply you have to climb constantly in search of the mountain gorillas. These very nimble primates wander the jungle in search of the lunch for the day. The mountain gorillas travel less in the jungle as they are naturally somewhat large in weight.

The mountain gorillas eat closer to the base of the highlands during the dry months; the very rainy months drive them up the slopes. You have to climb to find them.

Getting you to the mountain gorillas calls both some degree of athleticism and patience. You should use the correct gorilla trekking gear: tracking safari boots, safari long clothing, safari cap, garden gloves, sunscreen, insect repellant and others.

To comfortably move with all your equipment and avoid scattering them upon a fall, carry them in a light water resistant backpack.

Gorilla Trekking: What Is The Cost

The gorilla permit per person is the ongoing expense of any gorilla trekking program. The gorilla permit varies depending on the nation Uganda is in; it costs $800 per person; in Rwanda it costs $1500; in D.R. Congo it costs $450 per person each trip.

The grade you choose for the gorilla trip determines other services included in the package. For the cost of a gorilla treking safari, luxury packages varies from midrange or budget rates.

Additionally influencing the overall cost of safari was the number of days to engage in gorilla trekking.

Another important factor is the quantity of paying customers heading for gorilla treking. Safari package per person costs cheaper the more persons they are.

Other activities to mix with gorilla trekking can help to offset the whole cost of the Africa Safari package. Like a mix of climbing and others, gorilla treking with chimpanzee tracking, wildlife safaris or birdwatching.

Your budget also includes certain personal costs you want to enjoy when gorilla trekking. Though they may not be part of the safari package, you need nevertheless take them into account like medicine while on safari, gratuities, alcohol, laundry, airplane tickets, and others.

What are the Gorilla Trekking Rules?

Offer to remain behind should you come into an infectious sickness before gorilla trekking. Among the infectious illnesses include flu, cholera, Ebola, COVID 19 and others.

Stay close to the gorillas; never encircle them. They therefore feel ambushed and could subsequently hide in case they feel uneasy.

Once you find the mountain gorillas, keep about eight meters apart from them.

Should the mountain gorillas approach, you attempt a gradual retreat. Leave your stuff on the ground; it could be grabbed and hidden. Take great care.

Flash photography with a sound should never be used as it can frighten the mountain gorillas.

In front of the mountain gorillas, avoid coughing or smoking. Pick interest in what you are doing and its consequences might be negative simply.

Should you have to cough or sneeze, do it in a handkerchief or elbow to avoid contaminating others.

To prevent anything from being unearthed, bury all human faces in a hole around thirty meters deep beyond recognition.

Since mountain gorillas eat plants, do not spit on them. The gorillas could catch this up; it is not sanitary. One way this might lead to human illness infection among mountain gorillas is via interaction.

Littering the park is against policy as it disturbs the natural habitat of the forest where mountain gorillas eat.

The nature of the gorilla trekking experience makes no one under the age of fifteen allowed to participate. Some degree of endurance is needed particularly when you must be patient to find the mountain gorillas.

When around the mountain gorillas, never make loud noises as they would generate fear.

Once you find the mountain gorillas, just one hour is permitted with them.

Why is Uganda an expensive tourist destination?

Given Uganda’s relative cost to other African and East African nations such South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, one wonders why Uganda is an expensive travel destination. This has meant that Uganda cannot draw many visitors—more specifically, back packers with always limited means. This may be explained in great part by many elements as described below.

Uganda is a nation with territorial borders.

Uganda is a landlocked nation whose borders are Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the south, Rwanda in the Southwest, Democratic Republic of congo in the west, and southern Sudan in the North. This implies that everything arrives in Uganda needs to be taxed via ports like Mombasa. This explains why all products and services purchased in Uganda cost higher than those of other nations listed above.

Still has Uganda Airlines, the unpopular national carrier.

Uganda entered international flights once again in 2019 with the return of Uganda Airlines. This was however hampered by the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, which resulted in the cancellation of all flights globally.

Other planes such LKM, British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways among others are challenging Uganda Airlines as a new baby in the heavens. Most customers have airline loyalty, hence it is difficult to break through this fierce competition.

The airline needs to provide flight rates near to what her rivals are offering if she is to maintain the breakeven threshold. Uganda Airline cannot soar its wings to other nations as it is not breaking even. This is generating a financial disparity; even visitors are not very familiar with its itinerary and timing.

Advertising Uganda Airlines still leaves a significant gap to let travellers access its routes.

Uganda is marketed as a site of ecotourism

Marketed as an ecotourism destination unlike large tourist markets South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, Uganda is Considered a primate capital of Africa, Uganda boasts delicate ecosystems like wetlands and tropical rain forests requiring conservation.

Given this, relatively few numbers are anticipated of any one National park or attraction in Uganda. Uganda uses profit maximizing rather than sales maximizing to make more money from ecotourism.

For instance, just eight persons are permitted to walk a certain group of mountain gorillas every day and at United States dollars seven hundred each person. You must part with US dollars two hundred dollars per person per trip if you want to hike chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.

This relates to birdwatching, where certain national parks—including Semliki National Park—have raised their prices. All elements help to make Uganda a costly travel destination for many different kinds of visitors worldwide.

Reduced Competition

For services like lodging, Uganda’s service providers face less rivalry. Uganda lacks many lodges, most particularly in National Park, which makes it feasible for the ones that do exist to charge hefty rates. Standard in most lodges are really ordinary as owners are comfortable without any competition.

More investors joining to build hotels is anticipated to provide enough competition to drive down the price.

Standards for the industry have been defined by the Uganda tourist Board, the agency in charge of regulating tourist activities. Nobody not registered as a destination service provider is permitted to do business in these parks. This is meant to lower the amount of masqueraders taking advantage of this chance to blackmail money from naive visitors. :

For visitors, all of this is rather fantastic; yet, implementation of it is still really poor.

Political Unrest at the Countries’ Neighbors

The western part of Uganda has most of the destinations visited there. This region near D.R. Congo is politically unstable since 3003. Reports of certain inappropriate events involving persons being intimidated by the gunshot exchange abound. To ensure the visitors, the park’s security needs to be enhanced.

Some of the money comes from park fees and permission costs, which weigh down to the customers.

Still difficult is access to several of Uganda’s tourist sites.

Roads are still under construction and most of Uganda’s tourism spots are far apart. This is lead making it difficult to get there particularly with self drive. The increasing global gasoline costs make it a costly endeavor.

Still quite pricey, the domestic flights make it extremely difficult for certain budgets to pay. You must add a transfer vehicle from airstriks to your target location. An example From Kihihi airport to Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable National park you need around two hours on the road. All of factors affect the Uganda Safari package’s gross cost.

What Should One See on Uganda’s Safari

Trekking on Gorillas

Among the fortunate homes of mountain gorillas worldwide is Uganda. Among the more sought-after adventure safaris in Africa is gorilla trekking.

The only gorilla trekking parks in the nation are Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park.

One must get a Uganda wildlife Authority gorilla trekking permit.  The Uganda gorilla permit fee right now is $800 per person.

First, depending on your safari date, you should find out if the gorilla permits are available. Though each time costs the same, you may undertake gorilla trekking as many times as you want.

You have to know where your gorilla permit is booked when reserved to conduct trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. The four sections of the large Bwindi forest park include Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhijah regions. Every location has various gorilla trekking families, with daily maximum of eight customers permitted to visit.

Unrestricted migration makes it unknown when the mountain gorillas were discovered. These wild creatures have to search for their own food to get them through both day and night.

Once you find them, one hour is allotted with the mountain gorillas

Trekking in Uganda for chimpanzees

With roughly 1500 chimpanzees, Kibale national park is the principal habitat for chimpanzees trekking. There are two scheduled morning and afternoon chimpanzee trekking programs. Other chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda include Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National Park and Kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth National park.

Each of the locations requires a chimpanzee trekking permit to let you reach the closest human cousins inside the animal world. About 98% of chimpanzee DNA is human. The place you want to go chimpanzee trekking in Uganda affects the cost of the permits.

When it comes to contracting human illnesses, chimpanzees are very vulnerable to flu, cholera, covid 19, Ebola, and others. Offer to remain behind should you detect any of the communicative diseases so as to prevent the transmission to the chimpanzees.

Game Drives in Uganda National Parks

Uganda has many wildlife parks bestowed upon her. To really appreciate the safari, you must rent a car. Beautiful views seen within the gaming parks complement the whole experience’s appeal.

Murchison Falls National park, Kidepo Valley National park, Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park and others are among the Uganda wildlife parks.

Early morning or evening game drives provide you the opportunity to see species like giraffes, lions, cheetahs, jackals, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, and more.

Launch visits are one of the events available in several parks that provide additional chances to see animals satisfy their thirst.

The launch excursion of Murchison Falls National Park transports you to the most powerful falls on earth. You might come across many creatures that like eating from the coast along the trip.  Among the creatures you can come across are giraffes, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, Nile Crocodiles, hippos and more.

Amazing is the force of River Nile as it squeezes into a 6-meter-wide curve to powerfully burst out and catch up with its route. To finish the course, the water falls 44 meters high from a cliff. The boat’s turbulence calms down each time water settles at the bottom of the falls.

With fantastic views of the rift Valley floor, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park is just magnificent. On the rift valley flow, many crater lakes are strewn both dry and wet.

Look over to the banks while you travel on the boat; various species include lions, elephants, leopards, bushbuck, hyenas, cape buffaloes, and so many more abound there. There are many indigenous and international birds flocking the coast.  Schools of hippos, crocodiles, and others abound in the Kazinga canal.

White Water Rafting along Nile River

Although River Nile is the longest river in Africa, Itanda Falls allows you white water rafting. You have no experience need to engage in white water rafting. Many professors are here to guide you during every session.

You glide on the tube, but keep in mind that you must tightly strap your safety gear to negotiate the tides.  There are varying tide levels; hence, select the one that would be pleasant for you.

For white water rafting in Uganda, you must book ahead so that plans can be made to get you to Kayunga, where Itanda falls are located.

See The River Nile’s source here

The longest River in the world, River Nile is sourced in Uganda. Water from Lake Victoria splits from River Nile at a location only characterized by wave form. By now the drama leaves you wondering what may lie under the surface.

Look at many birds flocking River Nile’s coastlines and the evergreen lash flora around. See fisherman throwing their nets.

Ugandan birding

Comprising more than 1000 bird species, Uganda is Africa’s birding paradise with red list of IUCN among its offerings. Because of the sheer abundance of birds they come across, keen birder often spend more than seven days in Uganda locations.

A well-fitting Uganda birding schedule makes Uganda a fascinating Africa safari location.

Among the well-known birding sites in Uganda are Mabamba marsh, Mpanga woodland, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and many more.

Among the species you could find in Uganda are black collared Barbets, brown chested plover, Southern Ground Hornbill, African Moustache Warbler, Blue-breasted Bee-Eater to name just a few. Papyrus yellow warbler

Cultural Travel in Uganda

Among African countries, Uganda is among the cosmopolitan ones. Many kingdoms and chiefdoms dominated Uganda’s political terrain before the colonial period.

Silence persisted until 1986 after the traditional leaders were ousted in 1966 by then H.E Militon Obote. Among the still existent kingdoms are Bugembe Jinja’s Busoga Kingdom. Buganda Kingdom with Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II as its reigning King; Tooro Kingdom with Omukama Oyo Kabamba Iguru. Bunyoro Kingdom under Omukama Gafabusa as King at now.

Every one of the kingdoms and chiefdoms had unique cultural ideas that reflect the others.

Though they have different cultures, Ugandans are kind people and extremely accommodating.

Religious Tour Uganda

Uganda’s freedom of worship has resulted in growing diversity of faiths there. The nation knows of three main religious dominions: Islam, Protestants, and the Catholics. Each has a distinct headquarters with Muslims at Kibuli Mosque, Catholic Rubaga church, and protestant cathedra Namirembe.

The terrible murder of young men at the hands of Mukajanga the then Kabaka’s hand man makes the shrine of the Uganda martyr among the most visited religious place in Uganda. Fire left them charred to ashes.