Organizing a gorilla trekking tour to Uganda or Rwanda.
Should you want to engage in gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda on your Africa safari, you must make early plans for such a trip to Uganda or Rwanda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is at Mgahinga, Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
Volcanoes National park is the gorilla trekking paradise in Rwanda. Starting your journey to the mountain gorillas in Africa depends mostly on knowing the dates when you desire to conduct gorilla trekking whether confirmed or provisionally.
To have enough time to check the availability of permits as well as choose the appropriate national park between Mgahinga National park and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda, we advise planning a gorilla trekking tour to Uganda or Rwanda at least one year or six months in advance at Katland safaris.
Choose Rwanda or Uganda for your country-wide gorilla trekking trip.
You have to choose the nation you want to visit for a gorilla trekking journey to Africa.
Mountain gorillas find home in three nations in Africa. These are Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Once we know the security status in this large African National, Katland safaris run gorilla trekking tours to Uganda and Rwanda as sometimes in DRC.
Over 19 gorilla families living for tourism have been found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
Currently around 13 gorilla families mender in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Mountain gorillas call this wooded park home.
Currently just one habituated gorilla family—the Nyakagezi family—exists in Mgahinga national park in Uganda.
Particularly traveling to and from Uganda to Rwanda, this migratory family wanders Virunga hills shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
You should exercise caution when purchasing your gorilla permits as Bwindi Impenetrable National park boasts 19 gorilla families spread across many parts of the forest.
You might decide to go to both nations and contrast experiences or mountain climbing in one. Once you have decided on Uganda or Rwanda, acquire a permit or book from a fully included vacation by calling a tour operator.
Like a one-hour activity in both Uganda and Rwanda, gorilla trekking experience is almost the same in both nations. Uganda offers a chance for you to spend more time under habituation with mountain gorillas; you have to get a gorilla habituation permit.
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Please be aware that, depending on your total budget, one should consider the cost of gorilla permits as well as the distance from the Airport to the park when choosing a nation for gorilla trekking. Whereas Uganda gorilla permit is at $800, Rwanda gorilla permit presently costs $1500 per person per day each trip. Congo gorilla permit is $450.
Your budget will determine the nation you choose to go gorilla trekking from. If your budget is not an issue, Rwanda is ideal for you; however, if you want to save some money and see a more stable nation, Uganda will fit you well.
Because the travel from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes so little time, many tourists choose to arrange gorilla trekking vacations in Rwanda. While 9-10 hours from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi impenetrable National Park, getting to Volcanoes national park from Kigali City takes two to three hours.
How to get your gorilla permit?
All gorilla trekking licenses are sold via Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Selling all gorilla licenses falls entirely on the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda.
A gorilla permit is a document or card given by Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda or RDB in Rwanda allowing you one hour of seeing mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Mgahinga National park and Volcanoes National Park.
whether in Uganda or Rwanda, hiking gorillas There is simply a gorilla permit as entrance ticket. To get a gorilla permit, contact any tour operator in Uganda or Katland Safaris. To avoid being ripped off, we advise you to get in touch with a tour operator registered with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators ( AUTO).
Starting the process of researching availability for a gorilla trekking trip to Uganda or Rwanda depends mostly on knowing the dates you want to travel on your adventure. Most tour companies will investigate and inform you on the availability of gorilla permits letting you to chose.
Once you have bought your gorilla permit, you must subsequently supply certain personal information such your country, complete name on your passport, expiration date of your passport in order to retrieve your permission.
Uganda Wildlife Authority grants gorilla licenses based initially on registered travel businesses in Uganda. Please set this up beforehand to prevent a scarcity of gorilla permits.
Although you may be able to get a gorilla permit on your own, Uganda Wildlife Authority is delayed in answering emails or returning calls, hence it is rather difficult. Better still make advantage of a tour provider.
Things to Think About Before Getting Your Gorilla Trekking Permit
When planning a gorilla trekking trip to Uganda or Rwanda, in Uganda particularly Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the gorilla permit dictates a lot on where to book your hotel and more.
Gorilla permits in Uganda are provided by location, hence you should find out where your permit is scheduled before making hotel reservations.
Alternatively get a gorilla permit in the location of your ideal residence; this is unusual as sometimes the permits for certain regions sell out.
Book lodgings in Ruhija and get gorilla permits for trekking here. The same holds true for permits and lodging in Rushaga, Buhoma, and Nkuringo.
First you should show your interest. Booking permits for either Buhoma or Ruhija at worst can help you to arrange an easier journey.
Try any of the provided families or Rushaga and Nkuringo areas in the southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park if you like a more difficult journey.
If you have altitude or are terrified of heights, stay away from the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park as its altitudinal point is highest. Before you make decisions, kindly discuss this with your travel organizer.
From which side of Bwindi will you be treking?
Gorilla permit distribution in Uganda is based on regions. Long distances between each divide four regions in Bwindi Impenetrable National park where mountain gorilla families have settled.
Four gorilla families—Mubare, Rushegura, Katwe, and Habiyanja— reside in the north of Bwindi in the Buhoma region, the primary administrative center of the National Park.
Comprising three habituated gorilla families—Bitukura, Oruzogo, and Kyaguriro—the Ruhija region is east of Bwindi National Park. Comprising eight gorilla families including Kahungye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Bweza, and Busingye, Rushaga region situated south of Bwindi.
Three habituated gorilla families reside in the southern Nkuringo area; the first family to be habituated was Nkuringo Gorilla Family.
Travel and lodging for your gorilla trip in Uganda or Rwanda
Once you have chosen the part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park you are undertaking your gorilla trekking safari then additional safari facilities follow.
It’s advisable to consult a tour operator when planning a gorilla trekking trip to Uganda or Rwanda as they are more informed about which side would be more suitable for your interest. It is then time to schedule your travel and lodging.
Tell your tour operator the kind of vehicle you wish to utilize and the degree of comfort you want.
All areas of Bwindi Impenetrable national park have numerous lodging choices; it is up to you to tell your tour operator whether you would like to stay in a budget, mid-range or upscale Lodge.
Among the Uganda lodging options for gorilla trekking are Clouds Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Engage Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Silver Back Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Gorilla Resort, Gahinga Lodge to name just a few.
Booking for gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s hotels includes Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Hotel Mille Collins, Kinigi Guest House
The same holds true about transportation to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Depending on your budget, you might decide to travel in safari vans, land cruisers or land Rovers.
There are regular flights to Bwindi in Uganda; if you would like to fly to save time, get in touch with your tour operator to arrange for you to be booked on these flights.
Starting from Kigali city or Airport, you must travel on a somewhat calm meandering route for two to three hours.
Rules and procedures for gorilla tracking
Mountain gorillas are endangered species, hence the 2010 census indicates that there are around 1000 surviving members worldwide. Your trip to these gorillas should raise rather than lower their population.
Ask your tour operator to send to you gorilla trekking guidelines and behavior advice as well as rules.
The first thing you should know is that a limit of eight persons see each gorilla family one hour daily.
To lower any incidences of communicative diseases like Covid-19, flue to the mountain gorillas, you are recommended to leave at least eight meters separating you from them.
Steer clear of gorilla eye contact and disable your flash when shooting pictures. The most crucial is to pay attention and do as advised by your advisor.
What should one bring for a gorilla walking trip in Rwanda or Uganda?
For gorilla trekking trip in Africa, packing little yet relevantly is really vital. Living in deep woods and in a region mostly covered in high hills, mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National park get their name from these conditions.
The thickness of the foliage, swampy ground and volcanic environment in Bwindi call for appropriate gorilla trekking equipment. You will so want pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hiking boots. Garden gloves are essential as certain bushes and climbing plants might cause itching.
Advice includes long socks and tacking in your pants to prevent safari ants and other insects getting through your pants. Highly advised as well as a snack with great vitality are a cap and sunglasses. You should load your camera for pictures and your mosquito repellant. Please consult your trip operator for more information.
When should one go gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking in Africa would be finest suited between June through September and December through Mid-January. There is less rain during these months, hence the walk should be simpler as the paths will be less slick as well. Though they are drier months of the year, they nonetheless get less rain.
Although consumers avoid the rainy seasons April, May, and November, the good news is that Uganda Wildlife Authority May probably provide yearly discounts and Lodges near Bwindi, Mgahinga National Park.
These months are probably less sought for tourist visits even in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, although policy of Rwanda Development Board suggests cheap gorilla permits might be in demand.
You should find out the ideal time to see gorillas in Uganda if you are organizing a gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda or Uganda. Although we can hike gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda all year round.
Why Do You Need Walking Sticks and Porters?
The finest friends on your gorilla trekking trip in Uganda and Rwanda are porters and walking sticks. To assist you climb those hills, you will want a walking stick.
Most lodges provide walking sticks; if the lodge does not have them, they are always sold for around USD 10–15 Dollars.
If less fit customers, we urge you to have a porter with you who will provide a push or a pull when things become rough. As you are ready to meet the gorillas, he or she will carry your rucksack and remain with most of the items you may not need.
For instance, you are not advised to bring your packed lunch up to the gorillas as they may inspect you and, should they discover food and taste it, their behavior may alter in something unfavorable for the preservation of gorillas.
In what ways is gorilla trekking similar?
Rising early on the day of gorilla trekking, pack your gorilla trekking equipment in your light back pack. Dress appropriately then go to the restaurant for an early breakfast to collect your packed lunch and walking sticks. Make sure you pack everything you may possibly need for your gorilla walk.
Depending on which lodges, you would have slept in after breakfast; depending on your interests and physical health, you may drive or walk to the park headquarters for registration and allotment of gorilla families.
While some lodges are not very well maintained before making decisions, others are closer to park headquarters.
Getting groups
Following the briefing, each of you will be assigned a guide, a ranger, and a tourist police officer who has to make sure you are secure while trekking gorillas. You will absolutely be split into groups of maximum eight people each.
Among other wild species, look for additional residents of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: chimpanzees, olive baboons forest buffaloes and Elephants.
There to keep you safe in the forest and drive away any of these creatures should they dare approach is the armed police officer. Then, based on their travels inside their domain, each gorilla family will have different beginning positions, so you will walk or drive to them.
Although they are not territorial, mountain gorillas at least occupy a specific dimensional region. You start your journey, which might take thirty minutes to perhaps six hours; after you have visited the gorillas, you will spend an hour with them before going back to the park headquarters.
Each of you will get a certificate at the park headquarters acknowledging your help in preserving the threatened mountain gorillas. Depending on the attitude and activity of a mountain gorilla family, the experience differs from one family to another, from one day to another, and from hour to hour.
Combining Gorilla monitoring with other trips or sites
Apart from Gorilla trekking, a range of additional activities is bookable for a Uganda Safari. Uganda is the Pearl of Africa, so it captures the essence of what this continent presents. These are just a handful of the many things Uganda offers; you may decide to spend additional days there.
Customizing the correct Uganda safari schedule free from backtracking and with extra time allows you to visit most amazing travel sites in Uganda.
Combining your gorilla trip with chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, you could decide to see the longest river on Earth, the River Nile. For boat trips on Kazinga Channel and wildlife drives at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Basically, Uganda has ten National parks, many cultures, several water bodies—including the second deepest lake in East Africa, Lake Bunyonyi, and the biggest freshwater lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. Before and after your gorilla trekking trip in Uganda or Rwanda, find out from your tour operator what you can do.
Information You Should Know Regarding Rwanda and Uganda
Having a quick look at the local way of life Uganda or Rwanda provides you some peace while planning a gorilla trekking trip to either country for your Africa safari. Indeed, you are heading to Africa, a different continent and nation completely. Friendly people from Uganda value their own culture.
We want you not to go on your trip feeling culture shock. Ask your trip operator to provide you details about Uganda, its people, culture, Visa, banks, airlines, etc.
See our tour guide and Ask Katland Safaris about your Gorilla Trekking Safari.
