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How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Congo.

Suppose you’re arranging a gorilla safari in DR Congo.  In such scenario, you must obtain a gorilla permit for Kahuzi or Virunga National Park that will let you to join an early morning trek with rangers.  Here, you’ll discover all the information regarding when, how, and where to obtain gorilla permits in Congo.

Gorilla trekking in DR Congo is special since it’s the only nation containing both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas.  However, the safety difficulties in the nation mean that tourism is not as established as in Uganda and Rwanda.  Nevertheless, the gorilla safari experience remains the same.  Buying a gorilla permit in Congo is as enormously necessary to conserve these endangered monkeys as it is in the other gorilla locations.

Although Rwanda and Uganda are the most recognized gorilla trekking locations, there are additional reasons why DRC is a particularly wonderful site to hike gorillas.

First of all, this is the only place where you visit both lowland and mountain gorillas on a single tour.  For genuine monkey nuts, you can add on a chimpanzee safari, too.

Secondly, considering how Congo has few visitors, the cash from gorilla permits is vitally crucial to contribute to the protection of the gorillas and their habitats.  The Mountain gorilla population has risen to over 1000 individuals, due primarily to Uganda and Rwanda’s great tourist and conservation initiatives.

However, the number of eastern lowland gorillas is continuously declining.  Buying the gorilla permit in Congo might give park funds and employment for local populations.

Finally, DR Congo offers the lowest gorilla permits, costing USD 450, compared to USD 800 in Uganda and USD 1,500 in Rwanda.  You’re also more likely to acquire last-minute gorilla permits in peak season, which simply doesn’t happen in Rwanda and Uganda.

Where do tourists follow gorillas in Congo?

Gorilla trekking in DR Congo occurs at Virunga National Park, located on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains and the adjoining Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

There are eight habituated groups in Virunga National Park.  Each group may include from 7 – 26 individuals, a silverback leader with various personalities and qualities which your trekking guide discusses along the hike.

Tours begin in the early morning from a rangers’ post named Bukima, situated a short drive from Goma town.  The length of your gorilla hike depends on the location of the gorillas; you might be trekking for less than an hour or as many as five.

Fortunately, you’ll not be doing this on your lonesome but with up to seven other visitors and armed rangers who accurately detect the gorillas’ positions.

Visitors may monitor Eastern lowland gorillas at Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with six habituated gorilla groups.  They may enter Kahuzi via Bukavu, approximately 40 kilometers from Rwanda.

From Goma, you may reach Kahuzi via Lake Kivu by boat or by driving along the shoreline.  All activities and Congo gorilla permit verification at Kahuzi begging at Tshvanga Visitor Centre.

How much is a gorilla permit in Congo?

A gorilla permit in Congo costs USD 450 per person each expedition.  The permit is lowered at $250 for Congolese citizens and $300 for SADC nationalities.

Occasionally, permits are reduced for all visitors for a specific period; please check with our advisors for the latest development.

What is included in the permit?

The gorilla permit in Congo prices are included of park admission fees.  Also included in the permit is armed protection by park rangers and exactly one hour observing the gorillas.  You’ll be issued a walking stick at the visitors’ center, which you have to return after the hike.

However, the permit does not cover the transportation from the registration and orientation facility to the hiking trailhead, which might be up to 25 miles distant.

for the tourist center, you may hire a porter to help carry your day pack or aid you hiking when required for an extra fee of $15.  It also supplies essential money to local communities.

Where to acquire a gorilla permit in Congo?

You may acquire a gorilla permit in Congo from either the park administration directly or via a certified tour operator like Katland by email or phone.

How to acquire a gorilla permit in Congo?

To schedule a gorilla permit via park management, submit an inquiry email to Virunga’s tourist office in Goma at visit@virunga.org.  You’ll get availability choices with information on how to make payment.  Your permit will only be reserved following an initial payment with a scanned copy of your passport.  It might take a week or longer to have the permission processed.

Alternatively, you may have a local tour operator handle the gorilla permit logistics and confirm the booking when ready.  They’ll require your trip information, including tracking date, your names, passport data, and a deposit on the permit.

Send our specialists an email, and we’ll make the entire procedure of receiving a gorilla permit in congo smooth.

Last-minute congo gorilla permits

Because DR Congo has few tourists, last-minute gorilla permits for Virunga National Park or Kahuzi are typically assured, which is not the case in Rwanda or Uganda.

We highlight the necessity of making a booking at the earliest opportunity, owing of the small group aspect of our travels.  For reservations received within 30 days of departure, the Contract between the Organization and the Client comes into existence after full payment has been completed and received by Virunga National Park.

Congo Permit Cancellation & Terms

Changes are subject to availability.  Please note an extra administrative cost may be levied when you seek to amend the trekking date on the gorilla permit.

Should you desire to cancel, the following costs will apply;

31 days or more – 2.9% (credit card transaction charge)

30-20 days before departure – 30%

19-14 days before departure – 60%

13-8 days before departure – 90%

Less than seven days – 100%

When is the ideal time for gorilla trekking in Congo?

Gorilla trekking in Congo is possible all year round, with confirmed sightings for most people.  However, the weather might destroy your chances of a nice encounter.  So, get your gorilla permit on a day with favorable weather for trekking.

However, permission availability might strongly impact when you’ll climb the Virungas in pursuit of the elusive gorillas.  Permits generally sell out in high travel seasons.

The optimum period for gorilla trekking in DR Congo is, thus, during dry seasons of mid-December – early February, and June-September, when it’s more pleasant for hiking beneath the tropical jungle.  Don’t be totally dismayed by the November and March-May rains since you may have the rainforests and mountains to yourself, and what can beat an uninterrupted experience in the wilderness than that?

What to carry for Congo gorilla trekking

Here’s a list of necessary items you should bring for the gorilla hike in DR Congo.

Trousers with a sleeve shirt or t-shirt

Hiking boots to handle the slippery steep jungle

Long socks to tuck in your jeans and stop mosquitoes crawling up your thighs

Raincoat or poncho just in case it rains; it’s a jungle after all

Pack a reusable container for drinking water to keep you hydrated

Some snacks and a lunch-pack container

Camera or phone to capture photographs

Booking a gorilla trekking expedition in Congo.

Avoid the time-demanding hassles of acquiring a gorilla permit in Congo and book with a reliable and certified tour operator.  Katland Safaris conducts gorilla trekking vacations in Congo, organizing all the bookings and local transports.

With you, we’ll tailor your vacation in Congo, provide you all the required information for remaining safe and take care of all the ground management.  Please contact us for a free estimate.

Is it possible to trek Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga alone?

Is it feasible to travel Nyakagezi gorilla group in Mgahinga alone? The answer is yes. Mgahinga National Park has one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. It has over 10 members with 4 silverbacks. The origin of issues resulting in visitors rejecting to hike mgahinga mountain gorillas has been owing to the fact that Nyakagezi gorilla group used to travel to congo and occasionally to Rwanda and so could not be depended on.

Many dread to risk getting gorilla permits for Mgahinga National park because of that. But lately the scenario has suddenly altered with Nyakagezi gorilla family now spending most of their time in Mgahinga National Park.

Many individuals have hiked mgahinga gorillas and there are all reasons for your to visit mgahinga national park. hiking Nyakegezi gorilla group alone is quite doable if you block and acquire all permits hiking this group for a certain day.

About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park which is situated on the border with Rwanda. It is one of the national parks that compose the huge Virunga ranges with others including Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is made up of 3 extinct volcanoes which are Muhavura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo. It is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys, other species such birds, reptiles, and forest animals may be spotted during your visit to this park.

How is it feasible to walk Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga alone?

Are you are intending to travel Nyakegezi gorilla group completely alone and you are asking whether it is possible to block permits and trek this gorilla group discovered Mgahinga Gorilla National Park solely alone, well this is definitely doable with Katland Safaris.

Trekking Nyakegezi gorilla group alone will provide you a chance to observe mountain gorilla members of this family privately that is a given trip group alone or as an individual. For you to block all permits and trek Nyakegezi gorilla group solely alone you may either pay 100%, 70%, or 30% in advance of the amount of each permit.

Each Gorilla permit in Uganda Costs $800 Per person per trek for the Foreign non-residents, $700 Per person for foreign residents, and Uganda shillings 300,000 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga National Park.

If you are intending to travel alone you will need to block and pay for all the gorilla permits hiking that particular day for Nyakegezi gorilla group. For a foreign nonresident, each gorilla permit costs USD800 and Nyakegezi gorilla group has 8 permits available every day this means you will pay for the entire gorilla permits that is 8 permits ($5700 for foreign non-residents) to block them and this will give you an opportunity to trek this gorilla group exclusively and privately alone i.e. with no other tourists only with ranger guides.

Important things to consider while intending to hike Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga alone.
Booking and acquiring all the gorilla permits for Nyakegezi gorilla group in advance
Nyakegezi gorilla group has 8 gorilla permits available for sale per day. For you to travel Nyakegezi gorilla group totally alone you will need to block all these permits in advance so that no other visitors book into a journey in the same gorilla family.

For you to block these permissions you may either pay 100%, 70%, or 30% in advance the cost of each permit. We suggest you block the gorilla permits at least 3 to 4 months before to your gorilla safari date. This is because during busy season permits sell out in advance on a first come first serve basis. Contact us here for more information on how to book all gorilla permits for monitoring the Nyakegezi gorilla group in advance to allow you to trek gorillas totally alone.
Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for availability of trekking permits online with Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits so that we block all the permits.

Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for exclusive gorilla trekking of the Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mghainga National Park.

How to go to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

By Road; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be entered by the major high-way road from Entebbe/Kampala which is roughly 8-9 hours drive. You will travel via Kabale town and go to Kisoro town from Kisoro town you will drive toward your lodge which is near to the park for an overnight. The Park may also be accessible from Kigali, Rwanda which is roughly 2-3 hours drive.

By Air: To reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airport, fly from Scheduled and chartered flights are available and offered by domestic airline carriers of Aero link and Fly Uganda. You will need to coordinate with your tour operator for a shuttle from the airfield to the Lodge you have booked for your stay.

Where to stay in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Lodges around Mgahinga Gorilla National park include Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Kisoro Travelers’ Inn among others.

What is the ideal time to hike Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
The best time to trek the Nyakegezi gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown

Why book your unique trekking of Nyakegezi gorilla group with Katland Safaris.
Founded in 3003, Katland safaris takes pride in constructing tailor-made gorilla trekking safaris to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It has a highly attentive and trustworthy crew. Your inquiries are addressed within 20minutes by our staff of skilled tour advisers.

These advisors will develop a trip plan for you, answer all your queries, and make sure all your services are scheduled in advance for you to prevent difficulties. We also offer extremely skilled safari guides based on your language choices. Feel free to contact us for your journey of the Nyakegezi gorilla group totally alone.

How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Rwanda.

If you considering a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, the most critical thing you will need is the gorilla permit. The permit is what will let enter Volcanoes National Park to visit the mountain gorillas.

Rwanda gives 96 gorilla permits per day, considerably much less than the demand for gorilla trekking. Last-minute appointments are as uncommon as a pot of gold. So reserve your permit at least three months in advance; while six months is a greater guarantee to acquire a permit for the dates you’re intending to visit Rwanda.

How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
What is a gorilla permit?

A Rwanda gorilla permit is a visa or ticket a visitor gets from Rwanda Development Board to enable them for a guided mountain gorilla hike in Volcanoes National Park. The permit enables guests to spend up to one hour with a habituated gorilla troop.

Tourists congregate at the park headquarters situated immediately outside the park in Kiningi, for briefing before 0800 hours. Here the warden on duty validates your permission before allowing you to start the hiking adventure. They will ask for your passport to match the names on the permission and check for the date on the permit.

Selling gorilla licenses is the greatest method the government can acquire cash for the mountain gorilla conservation, upkeep, and preservation of the gorilla habitats. The money from permits also covers park services like paying trackers, rangers, and monitoring gorilla areas so that all people who come to view them may have that opportunity.

What is included with a gorilla permit in Rwanda?

The gorilla permit in Rwanda offers escorted access to a habituated gorilla group, armed protection, and a single hour with the gorillas.

Rwanda permits just eight travelers to follow one gorilla troop. They are guarded by armed rangers and a skilled tracker/guide who leads and keeps everyone informed of the hiking developments. The guide is also your resource for any facts relating to the gorillas and the park’s people; ask them any relevant inquiries and they’ll comply.

The Rwanda gorilla permit is a once-off-use. It is for a single individual, a single journey, and can’t be reused or transferred. However, travelers are able to acquire more than one gorilla permit for various trekking days. Once the tracking date on the ticket passes, the permit expires and it’s as good as old toilet paper.

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit does not include the porter and gratuities after the walk. It also does not cover lodging, transports and meals, and logistical assistance for the gorilla trekking safari. The RDB will charge you differently for any other park activity like birdwatching, hiking or nature hikes.

How much does a gorilla permit cost in Rwanda?

A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1500 per person per trip for international non-residents over 15 years old. $500 for international residents with work licenses and $300 for East African Nationals.

RDB gives corporates/organizations a 10% discount on bulk purchases from 30 permits and a 15% discount to traveling families (couples and children over 15 years old)

Why is the Rwanda gorilla permit so expensive?

The Rwandan government’s explanation for the most costly permit in the regions is to strengthen mountain gorilla conservation efforts. Relentless conservation efforts by the government and groups have been effective in contributing to a steady growth in the endangered mountain gorilla population. But these activities have to be highly sponsored.

Also, as a rapidly developed country, the Rwandan government seeks to boost the development of local populations living surrounding the gorilla park. The government sponsors more than 400 community initiatives, directly helping people living surrounding national parks, including establishing schools, hospitals, and access to clean water.

Finally, paying the gorilla trekking services based on wild creatures that don’t remain in one spot is taking most of the gorilla permit income. From on-the-clock rangers, guides to paper-pushing officials, every single employee is paid from the permit money.

Gorilla trekking needs two teams of rangers; one to remain with the gorillas from nightfall to morning and the other to defend the guard the visitors to and from visiting the gorillas. That manner, the guarantee for every traveler to encounter the gorillas is highly secured.

How many gorilla permits are available in Rwanda?

With 15 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and just eight persons permitted to visit a single gorilla group each day, there are 96 gorilla permits available in Rwanda every single day.

Unlike Uganda that has five trekking offices, Rwanda has one tracking office at Kiningi park headquarters. From here all trekking trips commence, extending out to several trailheads situated at the perimeter of the park, on the foot of the volcanic mountains.

Where to acquire gorilla permits in Rwanda?

You may apply for your Rwanda gorilla permit online at the IREMBO government website and pay by credit card. Bookings are on a first-come-first-serve basis and you may book in advance based on availability.

You may also book your permit directly with a certified tour operator who provides you insurance on any unexpected situations. A tour operator can assist you with the practicalities, including rescheduling when you have to modify the date.

Contact our tour coordinators at email to assist you acquire your gorilla trekking permit for your selected tracking days.

How to acquire gorilla permits

The online booking system will automatically issue a permit upon completion of the process application. The minimum age for a gorilla trekking permit is 15 years.

The permit application procedure is as straightforward as choosing an availability date, complete needed forms, uploading requisite supporting papers, and paying the appropriate costs.

You’ll have to supply the applicant’s data, including names, passport copy/number, email, and phone number, at the time of booking. Even if you book via a travel operator, these data will be needed.

We urge travelers against supplying incorrect, incomplete, or fraudulent information on permission applications. Such scenarios are typical with online applications when users apply for the incorrect product, submit a fraudulent ID/Visa, or an expired ID/ Visa.

At the park office, during trekking briefing, a warden will be verifying visitor papers. It would be incredibly upsetting to be refused access after you paid all that money and made it all the way to the gate.

Can you get last-minute gorilla permits in Rwanda?

You may obtain last-minute gorilla permits in Rwanda exclusively from licensed tour companies that purchase the permits from RDB in bulk, expecting to sell to last-minute passengers. Operators wanting to sell-off permits for canceled excursions are also a fantastic source for last-minute reservations.

It’s exceedingly doubtful to acquire a gorilla permit during the high or peak tourism seasons in Rwanda. If you’re considering a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari for June to September, ensure that you have bookings at least six months in advance.

If you’re considering a last-minute gorilla excursion to Rwanda, email our gorilla safari advisors at email; we typically have a few on standby.

Is there a refund for a gorilla permit in Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park tourists who fail to follow gorillas as a consequence of the gorilla group’s moves, get another opportunity or earn a full refund on their permit.

However, visitors who would have tracked the full day and failed to establish contact with a gorilla family for one reason or another would receive a 75% refund of the permit price.

No Refund in case of late arrivals or flight delay, absence, or cancellation of trip for any other reason.

Book With Katland
Katland Safaris Ltd can considerably minimize your preparation time, organize your vacation and ensure you of a fantastic safari experience. We organize custom-made Rwanda gorilla safaris that involve processing your gorilla permit, lodging, and transport.

We also welcome last-minute reservations; we’ve stored away several gorilla permits expecting to meet tourists like you. No waiting, no erroneous promises with Katland. Email us to chat to our gorilla tour consultants right now.

How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Uganda.

Are you intending to go gorilla trekking in Uganda?  Then the first item you out to get or book before anything else is the gorilla permit.  The permit, a government document that enables you access the Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga National Parks, will define the location of your lodging and the route to the gorilla park.

Uganda gives fewer than 170 gorilla licenses per day.  Yet, the gorilla trekking experience demand is larger than the available permits.  Last-minute reservations are immensely frustrating for many vacationers.  At Katland, we strongly encourage tourists start planning for the trip months before the scheduled date to avoid the battle for acquiring gorilla permits.

Other than the paucity of gorilla permits, in this essay, we cover so much more facts you have to know before you start organizing the gorilla trekking expedition.

What is a gorilla permit?

A gorilla permit is a pass or ticket travelers obtain from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for a guided gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park.  A gorilla permit would allow travelers to follow gorillas and spend an hour discreetly viewing them, a pastime generally known as gorilla trekking.

At the briefing point, right before a pair of rangers and a tracker accompany you into the gorilla forest, the park warden validates your permission to make sure you received it via the legal ways.  They normally ask for your passport, check for the hiking date and trailhead allocation.  Then they’ll enable you to join the hiking group.

After walking for an undetermined period seeking for the whereabouts of a habituated gorilla family, the gorilla permit enables you precisely one hour sitting or standing quietly and viewing the gorillas 10 meters away.

The money that buys the gorilla permit pays for everything from rangers’ services to gorilla conservation activities.  It pays for the habituation procedure each gorilla family experiences to become adjusted to human presence.  And control the negative influence your visit might bring to the gorillas and their environment.

What is included with a gorilla permit in Uganda?

The gorilla permit in Uganda offers only guided access to gorillas and one hour with the gorillas.  With your gorilla permit, you may hike with a regulated group of not more than seven other visitors escorted by two armed rangers and under the supervision of a local professional tracker.  The tracker/guide keeps you informed on everything gorilla tracking throughout the journey and while with the gorillas.

The permit will only enable gorilla trekking once at a date mentioned on the ticket.  After the walk or if you skip the hike, the permit becomes worthless and cannot be utilized or claimed.

The permit does not cover any additional fees on your visits such lodging, food, transportation, and logistical charges.  It solely covers the gorilla trekking activity, and everything before or after the activity has nothing to do with the permit.

How much does a gorilla permit cost in Uganda?

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person per hike for international non-residents over 15 years old.  Foreign residents with work permits pay $700 and UGX 300,000 for East African Nationals.

A habituation permit costs $1,500 per person.  The habituation permits let guests to remain with a semi-habituated gorilla family for four hours—three hours longer than the usual permit allows.

Why is gorilla trekking so expensive?

Mountain gorillas are endangered, with only over 1000 gorillas left in the wild.  Gorilla tourism is a critical aspect in their protection and continuous increase in numbers.  However, keeping wild gigantic species in inhabitable mountain forests is a costly undertaking that demands major finance efforts from all participants.

The gorilla trekking permit is so costly because it pays for the most rigorous conservation initiatives of preserving the survival and expansion of the gorilla population in their natural habitats.  These environments are hard to people, but they have to oversee, safeguard, and govern the gorilla’s existence.

Gorilla hiking alone needs a team of rangers to remain with the gorillas from dark to down.  That allows the trackers hiking with tourists swiftly find the gorillas and ensure everyone of seeing the gorillas.  The gorilla trekking system is pricey, making the permit rather dear.

How many gorilla permits are available in Uganda?

With 20 habituated gorilla families and just eight persons permitted to visit a single family per day, there are 160 gorilla permits available in Uganda every day.

Bwindi Impenetrable forest issues 152 gorilla permits each day, whereas Mgahinga National Park offers just 8 gorilla permits per day.  Bwindi licenses are provided in four separate sectors that offer easy access to habituated gorillas and can not be transferred from one sector to another.  That implies that when you book a permit for a sector in Bwindi, you cannot follow gorillas of another sector in Bwindi.

With 5 habituated gorilla families, the Buhoma area, in the north of Bwindi, grants 40 gorilla licenses.  Ruhija in the west issues 24 permits, Rushaga, in the south, issues 48, and Nkuringo, in the south, issues 24 gorilla permits every day.

When you purchase your permit, make sure that you understand precisely the park sectors where you’ll book your lodging and acquire the gorilla trekking permit for that sector.

Where to acquire gorilla permits in Uganda?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority, generally referred to as UWA, is the only approved gorilla permit issuer in Uganda.  UWA is a government entity in charge of handling wildlife conservation and tourism.

Tourists may acquire the permits directly from UWA headquarters in Kampala or contact a licensed local tour operator to obtain them on their behalf.

Usually, the tour operator will charge you a logistical cost for booking your permit.  Nonetheless, the gorilla permits in Uganda are offered at face value; that means the price of the permit is the same no matter where you acquire it.

Contact our tour coordinators to assist you acquire your gorilla trekking permit for your selected tracking days.

How to acquire gorilla permits

Walk into UWA main office in Kampala at Plot 7 Kira Road and get your gorilla permits.  If you can endure the logistical bureaucracy, contact the office at an email.  The only thing you should bring is money (cash or card) and your valid passport.

However, an easier approach is to obtain your permit via a certified tour operator, who will take care of all the ground details, including rescheduling the permit when you modify your trip dates.  They’ll ask for your passport and complete payment for the permission.

The tour operator will then give you a scanned copy of your booked permit displaying your name, date, and tracking via email to guarantee you have the permit on your arrival.

To prevent fraudulent purchases, read our extensive essay on picking a reliable tour operator.

Can you acquire last-minute gorilla permits?

Yes, you may acquire last-minute gorilla permits from tour companies that receive the permits from UWA in bulk, expecting to sell to last-minute passengers.

During the busy season, gorilla permits in Uganda are in great demand and frequently sell out months in advance.  If you’re planning a last-minute gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, email our tour advisers; we typically have a few on standby.

Can you cancel a gorilla permit?

Yes, you may cancel your gorilla permit and request a refund only if you’ve completely paid for the permit.  You don’t receive a return on cancellation when you book with a deposit.

If you have completely paid for your gorilla permit, UWA’s following cancellation rules apply.

91 days + before trekking – 75% refund

46 to 90 days before – 50% refund

9 up to 45 days prior – 25% return

0 to to eight days before – No refund

However, if the park warden determines (on-site) that you can not trek due to sickness, you’ll obtain a 50% refund on your gorilla ticket.  Human infections may be dangerous to gorillas, thus the warden on-site performs due diligence to assess everyone’s health before authorizing gorilla trekking.

If you accidentally let the permit expire beyond the trekking date, that’s it; the gorilla permit will be useless.

On the other hand, you or your tour operator may reschedule your permit to another day a week before the tracking date.  UWA may enable the postponement of your gorilla permit twice, for up to two years forward.  A third rescheduling incurs a 25% penalty charge.

Also, you may postpone your gorilla permit to another date if it’s half paid with a deposit.  That can only be done once; you’ll have completely purchased the permission for a second rescheduling.

You may book a gorilla permit for up to two years ahead with a 30% payment.  UWA demands you to pay 70% of the permit payment 90 days before your trekking date; else, the permit is revoked.

Suppose you don’t spot the gorillas after easily hiking for hours.  In such situation, UWA may approve to postpone the permission to the following day, subject to availability.  If there’s no availability, UWA will grant a refund of 50% of the permit payment on confirmation from the warden.

Book With Katland

Cut your preparation time and schedule your gorilla trekking safari with Katland Safaris.  We organize custom-made gorilla safaris that include gorilla permit processing, lodging, and transport.

Last-minute booking, don’t even worry about it since we’ve stored away many permits expecting you would ask.  No waiting, no promises.  Email us to chat to our tour consultants right now.

How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

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

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

Gorilla habituation experience permits

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

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

How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

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

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

Let’s look at the real maths

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

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

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

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

How to book and pay for gorilla habituation permits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About gorilla habituation experience (FAQ)

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

Which nations in Africa do give gorilla habituation experience tours

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

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

Which National Park in Uganda provides gorilla habituation experience safaris?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are the possibilities of seeing gorillas on this experience?

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

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

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

Where to stay for my gorilla habituation experience safari?

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

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

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

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

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

How long is gorilla habituation experience excursion?

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

Hire services of a skilled Tour Operator

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

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

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

How to buy Mgahinga gorilla permits in installments.

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

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

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

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

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

How much is 30% of $800 as installment?

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

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

Where and how to get Mgahinga gorilla permits in installments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Mgahinga National Park

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

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

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

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

How to go to Mgahinga National Park

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where to stay in Mgahinga National Park

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Katland Safaris

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

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

Planning a Honeymoon Holiday in Tanzania.

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

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

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

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

Which locations to visit

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where to stay on honeymoon break in Tanzania

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

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

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

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

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

When to go

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

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

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

The cost of a honeymoon break in Tanzania

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

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

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

How to Prepare For A Safari in Uganda.

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

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

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

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

Shaping Your Expectations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Process Your Visa & Vaccines

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

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

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

Check Your Health & Fitness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plan What To Pack

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Start Preparing Your Uganda Safari

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

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

How To Prepare For A Rwanda Safari.

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

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

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

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

Safety and Health Check

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

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

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

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

Clothing and luggage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What More To Bring

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

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

Discover Rwanda, The People & Culture Here

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

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

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

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

Get ready for a Safari in Rwanda.

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

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