New year’s gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
You must reserve your gorilla permit in advance if you want to spend the New Year hiking gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. The gorilla permits sell out quickly since this is the busiest time of year for safaris. Making reservations for lodging for the gorilla safari is also essential because there are fewer options available as the new year approaches.
As the year is still very early, meeting the mountain gorillas on New Year’s offers you time to think about your goals. Being silent or speaking quietly in the jungle is a need of gorilla trekking, which gives you time to reflect on yourself.
Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are peaceful locations where you can only hear the sounds of the jungle. Listen to your inner self and sketch out your goals for the year at the beginning of the new year.
The Virunga region provides a lovely setting for you to plan your life for the upcoming year.
Where in Uganda Can I Go Gorilla Trekking?
Impenetrable National Park in Bwindi
Mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and blue monkeys are among the roughly ten primates that inhabit this environment. The extensive list of plants and animals has grown over 30,000 years.
More than 300 tree species, 88 moths, 51 reptiles, 350 bird species, 310 butterflies, and other flora and wildlife may be found in Bwindi Forest.
You must be aware of the location of your gorilla permit reservation in order to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area, and Nkuringo area are the four divisions of this enormous national park.
You must first be aware of where your gorilla permit is booked in order to make reservations for lodging when gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This reduces the possibility of waking up in the middle of the night to drive from one location to another in order to attend a briefing.
Park in Mgahinga National
The far southwest of Uganda is home to Mgahinga National Park. Because it receives fewer visitors, this forested national park is one of Uganda’s still-unexplored national parks. Some of the world’s most renowned mountain gorillas can be found in Mgahinga National Park. Currently, just one gorilla family is accessible to the general public. The Nyakagezi gorilla family, which has a history of straying into Rwanda, is housed at Mgahinga National Park.
Booking gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park used to be difficult because it depended on the mountain gorillas’ presence.
Other primates found in the park include olive baboons, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys.
This park’s rocky mountains, such as Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhavura, provide a stunning backdrop. You can hike for roughly eight hours back and forth in a single day.
Where in Rwanda Can I Go Gorilla Trekking?
The National Park of Volcanoes
Volcanoes National Park is located in Rwanda’s northwest. Currently, there are 15 completely habituated mountain gorilla families in this park that are accessible for gorilla trekking.
Because of the five mountains that make up this park, its topography is steeper and more volcanic. Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Karisimbi, and Mountain Sabyinyo are some of these mountains.
More primates, including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, golden and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and others, can be found at the Volcanoes National Park, according to primatologists.
Volcanoes National Park is home to more than 300 bird species, including endemics of the Albertine Rift. You can combine Rwandan birdwatching with a double gorilla trekking experience during this safari vacation.
The Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Malachite Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, White Tailed Blue Fly Catcher, and other birds can be seen in Volcanoes National Park.
How and Where Do I Reserve Rwandan and Ugandan Gorilla Permits?
Uganda gorilla permits can be purchased on your behalf by an authorized tour operator, however they are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The Rwanda Development Board oversees and sells Rwanda gorilla permits. These gorilla permits can also be purchased via a recognized travel agency.
The process for reserving gorilla permits
Since January 1st is always New Year’s, you might ask the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator if gorilla permits are available. You can make reservations for your gorilla walk based on the number of gorillas.
The Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority lists are used by our safari consultant to verify availability. One of the authorized businesses with access to the list of gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda is katland Safaris.
We urge our clients to buy their gorilla permits as soon as possible when the availability of permits is confirmed. This is because their first-come, first-served policy causes them to sell out quickly.
Without payment, none of the gorilla permits are obtained.
Provide personal information such as the passport’s full name, nationality, birthdate, and expiration date.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gorilla Permit In Rwanda And Uganda?
For treks in Uganda, the cost of a gorilla permit is $800 per person, $700 per person, and 300,000 shs for citizens of East Africa.
The cost of a Rwandan gorilla permit is $1500 per trekper.
It’s crucial to reserve your gorilla permit in advance, particularly during the busiest times of the year, which are June through September and December through January. In Rwanda and Uganda, this is the busiest travel time of year. The majority of service providers, including lodging and driver guides, raise their rates at this time of year.
What Does It Cost To Get A Gorilla Permit In Rwanda And Uganda?
An hour with the mountain gorillas, park admission costs, security throughout the trip, assistance for the protection of the mountain gorillas, support for the local people, and a certificate upon completion of the journey are all included in the price of a gorilla permit.
What Does the Gorilla Permit Cost Exclude?
Porter, beverages, snacks, transportation, gratuities, and other personal belongings.
you relieve you of the hassle of organizing this safari package, katland Safaris helps you put together your gorilla trekking package.
We’ve been planning safaris in Uganda and Rwanda for more than ten years, and the feedback we’ve received from customers has helped us keep improving. We have excellent working relationships with lodging establishments, and where appropriate, we may obtain lower rates for our customers.
Can I get Rwandan and Ugandan gorilla permits for the new year in installments?
The simplest way to make sure you don’t forget to top up your gorilla permit is to pay for it in full.
30% and 70% of gorilla permit installments are accepted in Rwanda and Uganda, respectively. Installment gorilla permit purchases are only available to visitors who buy their permits 90 days prior to the gorilla trekking date.
Remember to renew your gorilla permit ninety days prior to the gorilla trekking date, or else you risk being penalized.
What Month Is Best For Buying Rwandan And Ugandan New Year Gorilla Permits?
It is preferable to buy your permit for January 1st at least 6 months in advance because the New Year is a joyous celebration that many people prepare for as early as the beginning of the year.
Due to the high demand for gorilla safaris throughout the holiday season, permits are only available for a maximum of eight gorilla families per day.
Not even on the ground, last-minute gorilla permits for the new year are difficult to obtain since they might wish to create memories that will last all year. Gorilla trekking offers the opportunity to spend time with some of the world’s few remaining mountain gorillas, making it more than just a typical monkey safari experience.
Can I reschedule my gorilla permit for Rwanda or Uganda for the new year?
Both Rwanda and Uganda have rescheduling policies that allow for the rescheduling of gorilla permits.
You must send a letter to the Rwanda Development Board or the Uganda Wildlife Authority asking to reschedule your gorilla permit. If you have a gorilla trekking date in mind, explain why you would like to change it. To support your request, include some details.
Upon approval, your gorilla permit is rescheduled to the date of your choice, subject to availability.
Take note
Two free gorilla permit rescheduling times are accepted by Uganda. Only the third time, with a 25% penalty, does the executive director approve.
Rwanda charges for the rescheduling of gorilla permits.
Between Rwanda and Uganda, which country is the best for gorilla trekking in the new year?
You forget the hassles of planning a gorilla safari in Rwanda or Uganda the moment you are in front of the mountain gorillas.
Additional elements to take into account while comparing gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda are as follows:
The price of a gorilla permit
Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1500 per person per trek, whereas those in Uganda cost $800 per person every trek.
The quantity of gorilla families
Rwanda has 15 gorilla trekking families with 96 gorilla licenses thus far, compared to 19 gorilla families in Uganda with 152 gorilla permits.
Other Things to Do Along With Gorilla Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking, game drives, exploring the Nile River’s source, white water rafting, and other activities are among the many activities available in Uganda that can be combined with gorilla trekking.
In addition to gorilla trekking, Rwanda offers a few additional optional activities, such as chimpanzee trekking, Rwandan cultural tours, and visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Travel Time Between Airport and Gorilla Trekking Locations
While it takes roughly three hours to drive from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park, it takes over nine hours to go from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.
Rwanda offers gorilla trekking in Uganda; it takes roughly five to six hours to get from Kigali to either Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Since both nations are part of the East African community, you can enter them using an East African visa. You can enter Uganda from Rwanda by crossing the Gatuna or Cyanika borders.
How Challenging Is It to Gorilla Trek in Rwanda or Uganda?
The terrain where gorilla trekking takes place is volcanic, with lush vegetation covering the slopes and plateaus. Due to the deep canopy’s restricted ability to let sunlight through, the earth becomes extremely damp and soggy during the intense rainy seasons.
The intricate system of waterways occasionally overflows, creating muddy paths that are difficult to traverse. Even the fallen vegetation’s rotting materials could make the path slick. It would be ideal to have safari boots to prevent injuries to your feet.
Finding the mountain gorillas on the slopes where they occasionally eat or relax is made easier if you are somewhat fit.
Bring the appropriate gorilla trekking equipment to keep you safe from the severe forest conditions and to support you during the entire walk.
How to Act While Trekking with Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda
To avoid giving the mountain gorillas the impression that you are ambushing them, stay close together when you find them. The mountain gorillas become agitated by this and might go into hiding.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, it is crucial to wear a mask and sanitize your shoes before beginning the gorilla journey.
It is not permissible to spit on plants or the ground because you could infect the mountain gorillas.
Volunteer to stay behind if you have a contagious illness, such as the flu, COVID-19, or a cough, to prevent the mountain gorillas from contracting it. They might die horribly as a result.
To avoid spreading any infectious diseases to the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of approximately 8 meters when you are in close proximity to them. Retrench gradually without appearing suspicious as they get closer.
Avoid using a spotlight when photographing mountain gorillas since it could frighten them. New events in their presence frighten them.
Ask the ranger guide for help digging a hole approximately 30 cm deep and covering it completely if you need to defecate.
Because you could not understand what you are saying, it is prohibited to provoke and imitate mountain gorillas.
Be at least 300 meters away from the mountain gorillas if you want to feed or smoke in front of them. Because mountain gorillas are wild creatures that must forage for food, this will lessen the likelihood that they will take it from you and become dependent on you.
Gorilla trekking is restricted to hikers who are at least 15 years old.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, you get an hour to spend with them.
