Author: Katland Safaris

The Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda – The best time for Gorillas in Rwanda – The best time to book your gorilla trekking safari.

The Best Time for Gorilla Trekking. Gorilla trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda can be carried out all through the year, but because gorilla trekking is the most exciting tourist activity in both destinations, every traveler wants the best time to encounter the gentle giants in the natural habitat.

The best time for gorilla trekking is determined by mostly one factor and that’s the weather. Bwindi’s impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks being thick rainforests, receive a lot of rainfall in March, April, and May. Too much rain, combined with the nature of the forest terrain makes it difficult at times for tourists to navigate through the thick forests. Therefore, the best time of the year to track the mountain gorillas in Uganda starts from June, July, August, early September, December, and January to February. During these months of the year, there is relatively less rain as compared to other months.

These months, therefore, offer the best gorilla trekking safari experience ever. During the dry seasons, it’s easy to navigate through the thick tropical rain forests of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Bwindi national park.

It should However be noted that because these are tropical rain forests, the two destinations can receive rain any time of the year and that’s why we advise all our visitors to pack wisely for their gorilla trekking safari to Uganda. 

Best time for Gorilla  Trekking in Rwanda.

Just like the case is for Uganda, the months of January, February, June, July, August, early September and December are the best months for gorilla trekking in Rwanda because the country is relatively dry in those months compared to other months of the year. We advise all our victors to consider booking their gorilla trekking safaris in those months as the experience will come out better. However, it should be noted that despite the time of the year you chose to go for a gorilla trekking safari, you should carry the equipment that will make your gorilla trek easy even when it rains. Your gorilla trekking picklist must include rain jackets, long pants and shirts, comfortable hiking boots, gloves, and headgear.

Best time to book your gorilla trekking safari 

We advise our guests at all times to book their gorilla trekking safaris six months in advance or even a year before.  Booking in advance makes it so easier for Katland Safaris or any other travel agent to secure your gorilla trekking permit and put all other logistics like transportation and accommodation for an amazing gorilla trekking safari.

Why book your gorilla trekking safari early enough?

Starting to plan for your gorilla trekking safari early enough gives you a variety of options to choose from in terms of dates, the gorilla destination, trekking sector, Accommodation, and inclusion of other tourist activities like wildlife and community encounters on your gorilla safari.

Feel free to contact us with any inquiries on the Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda and how to plan and book your gorilla trekking safari in advance.

Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda – Gorilla trekking – Gorilla Habituation.

Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda. Uganda is the most opted-for destination for gorilla trekking in the whole world. This is so because the country is home to more than half of the remaining population of these gentle giants worldwide.

In Uganda, mountain gorillas can be trekked from only two destinations and that’s in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national game parks.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national game park

Bwindi impenetrable forest national game park lies the in southwestern Uganda 0n the edges of the great East African rift valley. Its mist-covered hillside is blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain forests dating 25000 years. Bwindi is famously known as a safe home to more than half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas.

The park has over 19 habituated gorilla families and these are found in two famous sectors, and that’s the southern and the northern sector. The southern sector is known mostly for three gorilla families that’s Nshogi group, the Mishaya group, and the Nkuringo group. The northern sector is known as the Oruzongo group, Habinyanja group, and Rushera group.

Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda

Mgahinga national park.

At just 33.7 km2, Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The Park covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The Park is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and to the west by the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries. Each of these countries protects its portion of the Virungas, in the Parc National des Volcans and Parc National des Virunga respectively. The three parks together form the 434-sq. km. ‘Virunga Conservation Area’ or VCA. Mgahinga is 33.7 sq. km, just 8% of the VCA. The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 33.7 sq. km and consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes. From far away, the huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape and beckon you as you approach. When you reach the park, you can get a great overview of the area by walking up the viewpoint, just 15 minutes from Ntebeko Gate.

Mgahinga Park has great biological importance because, throughout the climatic changes of the Pleistocene ice ages, mountains such as these provided a refuge for mountain plants and animals, which moved up or down the slopes as the climate became warmer or cooler. The Virungas are home to a large variety of wildlife, including about half the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. Read More

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga.

There is only one habituated gorilla group within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda

Nyakagezi Gorilla Family

This gorilla family is the only fully habituated gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that offers visitors a great opportunity to track the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. This gorilla group is found in South-Western Uganda, just on the renowned slopes of the three Virunga Volcanoes including the Muhabura, Sabyinyo, and Gahinga. This fascinating group is the only habituated gorilla family popularly known for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The group is comprised of 9 members including 4 silverbacks, 2 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 2 infants.

Both Bwindi and Mgahinga are extremely safe for the gorilla trekking adventure.

However, it should be noted that no visitor is allowed to go gorilla trekking in both destinations without a gorilla trekking permit. gorilla trekking permits should be booked early three to four months or even a year or two years before the adventure happens. They can be booked by a client directly from Uganda’s wild authority but we always advise booking it with a trusted tour company like us for easy preparations and a more swift safari. can be directly booked from the Uganda wildlife authority

Contact us by mail, direct phone call, or by a what’s up with any inquiries about organizing a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda.

When should one book a gorilla safari – The best time to go gorilla trekking – Book a gorilla trip early

When should one book a gorilla safari? A safari to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is a lifetime experience no one should miss out on when still alive. Gorilla trekking is currently the most treasured and most popular tourist activity in Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda, gorilla safaris are conducted in only two gorilla destinations and that’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks, and in Rwanda, gorilla trekking is carried out in only one destination and that’s Volcanoes national game park.

The majority of travelers from around the world come mainly to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural wild setting and the most asked question by all travelers considering coming to East Africa for this encounter is “When should one book a gorilla safari?”.

Gorilla trekking being one of the most opted-for adventure experiences in both Uganda and Rwanda, we at all times encourage our victors to consider arranging for and booking their gorilla trekking safaris to east Africa early enough, six months or even a year before their gorilla trekking dates.

When contacted early enough at Katland Safaris, we tailor-make your gorilla trekking safari by putting all logistics in one place to give you the best gorilla trekking holiday ever. When planning for your gorilla trekking safari to either Uganda or Rwanda, acquiring a gorilla trekking permit must be at the top of the list of the things you need. This official government document allows an hour or four with the mountain gorillas in the wild. Make sure you book your gorilla permit in advance.

 Best time to go for a gorilla trek in Uganda and Rwanda

When should one book a gorilla safari? Gorilla trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda can be done all through the year, however, consideration should be made on which particular months should one go gorilla trekking. The dry season is of no doubt the most preferred time for gorilla trekking starting from June to September and December to February.

It’s advisable to do gorilla trekking in the dry months because of the nature of the terrain most especially for Bwindi’s impenetrable national game parks. The forest is so thick to the level that at times trails are created by guides using pangas during the wet season. This an exciting experience but at most times a challenging one, and that’s why we advise visitors to go gorilla trekking in the dry season.

 Why you should book your gorilla safari early?

Gorilla trekking is the most demanded tourist activity in Uganda and Rwanda, yet only eight people are permitted to trek a single gorilla family or group in a day. This means very few gorilla permits are released and immediately booked out by clients.

A gorilla trekking safari comes with logistics from transport to and from the gorilla destinations, to accommodation to park entrances and guides. All these things tend to be booked out quickly.

Booking for a gorilla trekking safari early enough makes it so easy to find good accommodation facilities for your overnight stay. There is a high occupancy rate for most accommodations and that’s why you need to book your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda very early enough to avoid frustrations and disappointments.

Feel free to contact us with any inquiries about booking a gorilla safari to Uganda in advance.

What to pack for gorilla trekking.

A Detailed Guide on What to Pack for gorilla trekking to Uganda and Rwanda

What to pack for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is one of the most opted-for tourist activities in the East African countries of Uganda and Rwanda. However, it becomes more exciting when planned for early enough with the right things packed for the safari. Planning to encounter the East African mountain gorillas can at times be overwhelming because of the many questions that come with planning and the most popular question being, what to pack for gorilla trekking to East Africa.

Our practical guide to packing for your gorilla trekking safari will help you pack for the right things to make your gorilla trekking tour a memorable one. With this write-up, we take a detailed look at what should be included in your travel bag before you jump onto that plane for your gorilla encounter in Uganda or Rwanda.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

1. Gorilla permit

This is the most important thing and the very first one that should go into your safari bag before embarking on the journey to encounter the mountain gorillas. A gorilla permit is the government official document that grants you access to spend time with mountain gorillas.  Permit in Uganda costs 750 dollars for East African non-residents, 600 dollars for East African residents, and 250,000 shs for Ugandans. It includes entrance to the gorilla destination, ranger, and guide fees to the forest, and spending one hour with the gorillas for normal trekking and not more than 4 hours with the gorillas for the habituation experience. Only eight guests are allowed to trek a particular gorilla family in a single day. Gorilla permits at all times get finished very quickly and that’s why we advise our clients to book them early enough six months or even a year before the trekking dates.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

2. Comfortable Hiking shoes.

A pair of comfortable hiking boots is very essential. Both Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks are dense and thick rain forests with challenging steep slopes and therefore navigating through them with open or uncomfortable shoes is almost impossible. Therefore, hiking shoes are the most preferred choice for a trek to encounter mountain gorillas.

3. Rain jackets

Bwindi impenetrable is a rain forest and it can at any time receive heavy rain without notice even at times in months considered dry. A light rain jacket is important to have if the skies open up unexpectedly.

4. 4. Long sleeve shirts, Tuckable socks, and tour trousers

Long-tour trousers and long-sleeved shirts protect you from scratches from sharp plants and at times thorns. They also protect you from funny insects like red aunts that might climb and irritate you as you trek for the gorillas.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

5. 5. Warm sweater

Gorilla trekking starts very early in the morning and at that hour it’s extremely chilly. Besides that, gorillas live in high-altitude areas where morning and night temperatures sometimes come close to freezing. Therefore, a warm sweater is recommended to protect you from the cold.

6. 6. Garden / Outdoor Gloves

Pack a decent pair of hand gloves to protect you from injuries and abrasions. While trekking for the gorillas, you will find yourself holding to all kinds of roots and plants and these at times might cause injuries and that’s why we advise packing gloves.

7. 7. Camera

Gorillas are such amazing creatures to see but we can’t take them with us. The only things we can take from the jungle to share with our loved ones are great images and beautiful videos. That’s why we advise packing a good camera when going for a gorilla trekking safari. However, when taking pictures, you are not allowed to use a flash as this might irritate the gorilla and cause it to charge at you.

8. 8. Drinking-Water

Before leaving your hotel to go gorilla trekking, make sure you ask for drinking water of not less than two liters. The trekking at times takes quite long hours of walking through challenging dense forests and this makes you get thirsty almost all the time.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

9. 9. Packed lunch or snacks.

Hiking can take anything between thirty minutes to five hours of trekking. we advise you to carry packed lunch from your hotel or dry foods for your gorilla trek. With past experiences, it is better to pack the lunch and not need it than to leave it behind and need it. You can’t afford to be hungry for the gorillas.

10. 10. Insect repellent

These help keep insect bites away. With so many insects in the forest ecosystem, it is better to avoid all the irritation and likely illness that can come from insect bites. You are advised to spray your trekking clothes and bag before starting the hike. If your skin is sensitive, then make sure you get a skin brand that works for you well.

11. 11. Toiletries

On your day of gorilla trekking, it’s advisable to go into the forest with some toiletries just in case you need to use them.

10. 10. A Light Backpack

you will need some way of carrying the items listed above to the jungle. That’s why advise carrying a very light backpack that will be comfortable for you to carry on your back.

Feel free to contact us with any inquiries on what to pack for gorilla trekking to Uganda or Rwanda.

Other things to see in Uganda and Rwanda besides Gorillas.

Wild Life Safaris – Mountain Climbing – Community Encounters – Primates Trekking Tours – Adventure Tours.

Other things to see in Uganda and Rwanda besides Gorillas. Besides gorillas, there are many things to see and activities to participate in other than mountain gorilla trekking. These include activities such as wildlife safaris, mountain climbing tours, culture and community encounters, filming and photography safaris, and volunteer tours among other activities. By participating in a Wildlife safari for example, one may encounter exciting wild species including tree-climbing lions, elephants, Rhinos, leopards, buffaloes, chimpanzees, Birds such as a shoebill stork, beautiful lakes and rivers. We always advise our travelers to couple a wildlife safari with a mountain gorilla trekking safari in Uganda for the best Africa Safari Adventure. Uganda is endowed with the most beautiful flora and fauna, culture, and people. From the source of the Nile to the wide Savannah planes, to the birds and Africa’s big 5 games, Uganda will remain with you everywhere you go after a Uganda gorilla Safari.

Other things to see in Uganda and Rwanda besides Gorillas. Uganda may be the best safari country in Africa for a large variety of bird species and great birding safari habitats. Determined birders often see more than 400 species on a 12–14-day Uganda birding safari. There are also many other species of primates you are likely to see on a Mountain Gorilla trekking safari or a pure birding safari trip. The Rwenzori Mountains invite more extended hiking. Wetland habitats and Lake Victoria also hold cultural and natural history safari attractions.

Rwanda

Other things to see in Uganda and Rwanda besides Gorillas. In Rwanda besides gorillas, one can see wildlife in Akagera national park, Chimpanzee in Nyungwe Forest, visit Dian Fossey Museum, Kigali genocide memorial, and local markets.  Rwanda is a beautiful, green, thriving country attracting many visitors for wildlife viewing in Akagera national park and Nyungwe Forest. Rwanda is well known as the land of Thousand Hills. The volcanic soil is very rich and subsistence agriculture produces food year around. The genocide of 1994 is powerfully memorialized in Kigali Genocide memorial center and at other sites around the country offering visitors an opportunity to partake in these experiences and learn from them. Currently, there is no apparent ethnic conflict or significant insurgent or militant activity. There is a dynamic rebuilding of the social fabric and a commitment to the youth of the country. You might wish to hike to Karisoke where Diane Fossey conducted her pioneering research, or take a trek to see Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. This park has the greatest diversity. Other wildlife parks of Rwanda generally do not compare in diversity of species or quality of management with the parks and reserves of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Participate in Chimpanzee trekking.

Trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and Uganda is done similarly to mountain gorilla trekking because chimps and gorillas are closely related to humans by sharing their 95-98% of DNA Genes with humans. There are more Chimpanzees than Mountain Gorillas left in the wild and they survive over a much broader range. The parks authorities of Uganda and Rwanda also monitor Chimpanzee populations and the groups which have been habituated for tourist visitors. Two main sites for viewing chimpanzees in Uganda are Kibale Forest and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will hike in groups of 6-12 visitors accompanied by a park guide. Close encounters with Chimpanzees seem to be less predictable than with Mountain Gorillas, though less hiking may be involved.

Contact us for a combination of Gorilla trekking with other exciting activities while on a safari through Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda – Spend More Time with The Gorillas in their natural habitat – Uganda gorilla trekking adventures.

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda. This is the most exciting and thought-after tourist activity opted for by visitors wishing to visit Uganda. In all the East African gorilla destinations of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gorilla habituation can only be well experienced in only Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national game and only in the Rushaga region of Bwindi.

This tourism activity was introduced and opened to tourists by the Uganda wildlife authority in 2014 and since then it has turned out to be the most exciting tourist activity of all.

Gorilla habituation

Gorilla habituation is the act of training and getting gorillas ready and used to the presence of human beings. This act involves researchers visiting a particular group or mountain gorilla family. It starts with spending a reasonable number of meters from the gorillas, the meters are reduced with time until the gorillas get used to the humans. This whole process of gorilla habituation takes in most cases two to three years for the process to be complete. With frequent visits to mountain gorillas, researchers give mountain gorillas names to be able to differentiate them from others.

When the habituation process nears an end, and researchers are now certain that the gorilla family is ready for humans, a maiden trek is conducted with researchers and the press before other members of the public are invited for the trek.

The gorilla habituation experience.

Like normal gorilla trekking, even gorilla habituation starts very early in the morning with a transfer to the park headquarters of Bwindi impenetrable national game park. Upon reaching the gate, you will be briefed by a ranger guide on how the gorilla trekking experience is going to be conducted highlighting the dos and don’ts of the habituation experience. Once the briefing is done, and all requirements are checked and in place, the gorilla trekking and habituation experience starts with the leadership of the ranger guide into the thick forest.

Bwindi is very thick and at times impenetrable, paths through the forest are created by the ranger using their pangas.

When with the mountain gorillas

The trekking in search of mountain gorillas can take anything between 30 minutes to six hours depending on how fit you are but most important of all dependent on where the mountain gorilla was seen the previous night because this is where the trekking starts.

Upon encountering the mountain gorillas on habituation every tourist is permitted a t more than four hours to observe them and take pictures and videos to share with loved ones back home.

The cost of gorilla habituation permit

The permit for gorilla habituation in Uganda goes for 1500 us dollars per person per experience. The gorilla permit includes entrance to the gorilla destination, fees to the ranger guides, and four hours with the mountain gorillas.

What to carry for Mountain gorilla habituation in Uganda

Long comfortable shirts and trousers, Insect repellent, Sturdy gardening gloves and a hat, Waterproof backpack, Snacks, lunch, and enough drinking water.

Contact us with any inquiries about the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Flying to Bwindi for gorilla tracking

Fly-in safaris for Gorilla trekking  – Uganda gorilla tracking Adventures 

Flying to Bwindi for gorilla tracking. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is Uganda’s and the world’s premium destination and home to more than half of the remaining population of the most endangered primate specie; the mountain gorilla. Almost close to 70% of travelers choosing Uganda as a destination come for the gorilla trekking experience to Feel enthused overtaking this once in a life lifetime experience, gorilla trekking Uganda and encountering these mighty apes of Bwindi Forest impenetrable national park. Watching little juveniles play from one tree branch to the other is simply an experience for life.

The most pressing concern though for almost more than half of the traveler population that seeks to do mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is the 8 to 9 hours drive from Entebbe international airport to the home of mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga gorilla national park.

This journey takes almost a full day of just transferring to the park while sitting in the vehicle and this is something that most travelers find to be so tiresome and time-consuming, especially to those with little safari time.

It’s because of the reasons above that many Uganda’s tourists to Bwindi national park have been currently visiting the park by flying to Kigali Airport Rwanda because for is much closer and more convenient to connect to Bwindi from Rwanda than driving from Uganda’s capital Kampala and her main airport Entebbe and transferring to Bwindi by road.

However, the drive from Entebbe to Bwindi is no longer a challenge to travelers more concerned about the long 9hr drive transfer journey to the park ahead of their gorilla trekking experience the next morning. At Katland Safaris, we present to you flying Bwindi gorilla safaris to Bwindi’s impenetrable forest national park to make your Uganda gorilla safari a great adventure.

Uganda currently offers excellent domestic flight services through domestic flight offering companies like Aero Link, and Eagle Air and so far, all operations are going on smoothly, no failures have been registered on our Flying Bwindi gorilla safaris. Flights are scheduled on different hours and days. However, even chartered services can be provided.

There are direct flights from Kajjansi airstrip to different national parks in the country like Queen Elizabeth Np, Murchison Falls Np, Kidepo Valley Np, and the mighty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP. Including other tourist destinations around the country to ensure that their accessibility is paramount. Therefore, Flying Uganda Safaris offer travelers with limited time, a chance to encounter and explore the pearl of Africa in a very short convenient time.

In addition to that; now with domestic flights to Bwindi impenetrable national park, Ugandan gorilla trekkers are saved from the 9hr drive journey by flying from Kajjansi to Kihiihi airstrip and which takes about 1hr. Then from Kihihi, travelers are transferred by vehicle to their respective regions/sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest Np. And the fact that flying to Bwindi national parks takes about 1 hour, it is very easy and convenient for trekkers going through the gorilla trekking experience in just two days using the scheduled flights, and if at all it’s a chartered flight, it can be possible even trekking the gorillas and fly back to Kampala on the very same day.

Leaving wildlife interests aside, Katland Safaris enables you to explore the multicultural country with over 50 cultures of different norms and beliefs, clothing, cultural songs and dances, and even languages. Uganda is simply one African destination that all travelers should not stop only hearing about and reading about but instead must take a step to visit Uganda the pearl of Africa.

Contact us for any more inquiries about booking a fly-in gorilla safari to Bwindi Forest national game park, the home of mountain gorillas.

Flying Bwindi gorilla safaris

Paying for a gorilla permit in installments

Paying for a gorilla permit in installments – Gorilla trekking Uganda – Gorilla permits – Bwindi Impenetrable national park.

Have you thought about an encounter with the mountain gorillas of Uganda and you still have lots of time to plan, check on the weather put all logistics in order, and important of all acquire your gorilla trekking permit while paying for it in installments, this is the right blog.

If you still have time on your hands to plan for your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, purchasing a gorilla permit in installments is possible and this is how you can do it.

What’s a gorilla permit?

This official government document allows you access to spend time with mountain gorillas in two of Uganda’s National Parks: Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. To go on any gorilla trek to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you need a valid gorilla permit that includes spending one hour with these great apes, park entry fees, a ranger guide, and a certificate at the end of your trek. For those interested in spending more hours still, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a chance to spend four hours if you book a gorilla habituation experience permit.

How much is a gorilla permit?

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs 700 dollars for foreign nationals and is only issued to individuals of 15 years of age and above. Foreign residents with work permits in Uganda are charged 600 dollars and 250,000 Uganda shillings are charged to East African residents. The gorilla habituation permit cost 1500 dollars including four hours of access to the mountain gorillas from when you encounter them.

Paying for a gorilla permit in installments

All gorilla trekking permits for both Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national game park are issued by one body and that’s the Uganda Wildlife Authority UWA the official government of Uganda body in charge of all national parks and conservation areas in the country. You can choose to pay your permit with 100% full payment or pay in installments with a 30% initial deposit, and 70% later.

Make an initial deposit of 30% of the total fee of your gorilla permit.

On booking your gorilla permit, you can pay 30% of $700 which is $210, and then pay the remaining 70% which is $490 three months before the trekking date. If you are interested in the gorilla habituation experience, your initial deposit of 30% will be $450, and the last deposit of 70%, $1050 three months before the trekking date.

What is included in the gorilla permit?

A gorilla permit is the most important element in planning your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda and the only document that guarantees access to the gorillas.

Paying for a gorilla permit in installments allows visitors effectively plan for their gorilla trekking safari to Uganda.

Terms and conditions followed when paying for a gorilla permit in installments

Whereas paying for your gorilla trekking permit in installments is possible there are terms and conditions to follow for this to happen

• The initial 30% deposit is only accepted if the client is planning to trek three months or more before the actual trekking date. This, therefore means, paying for gorilla permits in installments applies to those visitors planning to go gorilla trekking in advance for 6 to two years
• All permits bought in installments must be topped up three months before the trekking date otherwise the holder stands to lose out if not done.

Where to buy gorilla permits in Uganda

All gorilla trekking permits in Uganda for both Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks are only issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). One can buy his or her gorilla permit directly by contacting UWA by email or telephone for the reservation of their gorilla trekking permits. This however has at many times proved to be challenging to many victors who have tried it and that’s why we advise using option two, which is using a licensed tours and travel agent in Uganda like Katland Safaris. Licensed tour operators are knowledgeable about booking a gorilla permit and putting together all the logistics necessary to make your gorilla trekking safari through Uganda an experience.

Process of booking gorilla trekking permit in Uganda

Whether planning to pay your gorilla permit in full or in installments, the process of reserving and securing your gorilla permit remains the same. It starts with checking the availability of the permit on the desired date of your choice, followed by reserving and then making payment. A gorilla permit can only be guaranteed if it is paid for. Gorilla permits are very scarce and to secure them, payment must be made as quickly as possible to avoid disappointments.

Much as it’s possible to book your gorilla permit directly, it is wise to hire the services of a licensed tour operator like Katland Safaris to do the job for several reasons. When contacted, checking availability, reservation, and securing your gorilla permit becomes extremely very simple and swift. If you get any challenges and you want to cancel or postpone your gorilla trip, Katland Safaris comes in to assist instead of you having to contact the relevant offices at the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Things to consider when paying for a gorilla permit in Uganda

Before proceeding with any gorilla bookings, note that permits are issued as per sectors and it is this that will determine your overnight accommodation and route to be used to the gorilla destination.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four sectors with each sector having around 4 to 5 habituated mountain gorilla families open for gorilla trekking. These regions are Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. When booking gorilla trekking permits for a particular region, we recommend that you consider lodging options in that region and their availability.

Feel free to contact us with any details about Paying for the gorilla permit in installments.

Africa Gorilla tracking for the first time – Complete guide to Planning for a gorilla tracking adventure to Uganda for the first time –  Uganda – Rwanda Gorilla Trekking.

Gorilla tracking is one of the most adventurous tourist activities for any traveler planning to carry out a safari through Africa. However, planning for it more especially when you are gorilla trekking for the first time can be a challenge.

This article by Katland Safaris gives you a detailed guide on how to prepare for a gorilla trekking safari for the first time explained in various steps as explained below.

 Where to Go when Africa Gorilla trekking for the first time

Uganda is a prime and the most popular destination for gorilla trekking in East Africa. There are two gorilla destinations in Uganda and these include Bwindi Impenetrable national game park and Mgahinga Gorilla National game park.

Planning for your first gorilla trekking safari starts with choosing which National Park to do gorilla trekking from. Bwindi’s impenetrable forest is the most popular known gorilla trekking destination in the whole world because it’s home to more than half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas. Bwindi forest has got 18 gorilla families that are situated in different regions of the forest with the most popular ones including Rushaga, buhoma, Ruhijja, and Nkuringo.

When to Go When Africa Gorilla trekking for the first time

After a decision is made on which park to go to for your first gorilla trekking adventure, you then choose what time of the year to do it. Important to note is that gorilla trekking in Uganda can happen any time of the year.

However, the terrains are easier to take on in the drier months of June, July, August, and September. Throughout these months, there is little rain and chances are that the trek will be easy. The months of April, May, and November are the wettest months and the clients avoid them.

Consult a local travel agent when Africa Gorilla trekking for the first time

Katland Safaris at all times advise clients, especially those visiting Uganda or any other East African country for the first time to consult a local travel agent who understands the country and whatever is required for the activity. A travel agent will help you with all the necessary guidance you need and other any questions about all other steps that follow.

Book a Gorilla Permit

A gorilla permit is an official document that gives you access to gorilla trekking in any gorilla destination in Uganda. No visitor treks mountain gorillas without a permit. It gives a full hour with the mountain gorillas on normal trekking and four hours when doing gorilla habituation.

Once you buy the gorilla permits, you are good to go. We at all times advise visitors to contact a local tour operator. They will check and advise you on the availability of the permits. In Uganda, the permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority through the registered tour operators on a first come first serve basis. To keep away from the shortage of gorilla permits, organize this in advance.

Book logistics for your Gorilla trekking safari when Africa Gorilla trekking for the first time

Once you have obtained the gorilla permit, you can determine to be booked for you among many other factors. You have to create your interest and in case you need a simple trek, it’s better to book the permits for either Ruhija or Buhoma. In case you need a more demanding trek, you can go to Rushaga region or Nkuringo. With the altitude problem, then you should avoid the southern sector of the Bwindi Forest since it has got the highest altitudinal point.

After the Accommodation is done, you then book your transport and guide for that safari.

 Book Your Flights and pack for your gorilla trekking safari.

After you have booked your gorilla permit and all other logistics like accommodation are put in place, you then book your flight to that destination with a packed safari bag.

What to pack for a gorilla trekking trip.

Trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi is sometimes a challenge because of the thick nature of the forests. Some of the things that can’t miss out on in your safari bag include hiking boots, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, gloves, long stocks, insect repellent, a camera, a hut, sunglasses, and energy-giving food.

Get more information about Your Destination when Gorilla trekking for the first time

After all that is put in order, you can get more information about the country from which you are taking the safari, get to know her political climate, her  weather, and other possible safari activities to do besides gorilla trekking

Embark on your first gorilla trekking safari.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

Budgeting for a safari to Uganda – Luxury and Mid-Range Safaris Through Uganda

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?. Independent travel in Uganda is inexpensive by most standards. The cost of your safaris through Uganda will therefore largely depend on how you want to travel and what destinations and activities would you wish to go to and do.

A Ugandan safari costs anywhere between $125 and $1,500 per person per night. A budget safari averages $150 per night, mid-range $350, and luxury $750. The extreme top safaris can easily go up to $1,500 per night, or more. There is a safari to suit every budget.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

In most parts of the country, it will be difficult to keep your basic travel expenses below 30 dollars per day including transport, food, and accommodation.

When you choose to go on an organized safari, the only expense over and above your basic travel costs will be incurred in national parks where you can expect to spend around 85 dollars per day every 24 hours on entrances and activities as well as on meal prices. If you choose to go gorilla trekking, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is 700 dollars per person per trek.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

If Funds are very tight, it’s usually advisable to consider cheaper options like camping or urban Lodging instead of going in for the high-end lodges.

For a fantastic safari experience, we recommend a safari cost of between 1000 to 2000 dollars per night per person sharing per night. This cost will include transportation and Guides, accommodation in nice lodging facilities, Land air Transfers where required, and tourist activities while in the national parks.

Our guests tend to prefer smaller, more intimate, and more exclusive properties which are more expensive to operate. As a result, these luxury safari properties are more expensive to book. Of course, rates vary greatly depending on the season and it’s possible to find better rates during shoulder seasons.

Because we’re a boutique-style team with close friends in the industry, we can make “the impossible” happen. We can arrange the safari of your dreams If you’re willing to be flexible with your budget, we can honor any request.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

Other Factors Influencing the Cost of a Safari to Uganda

• When you want to go

Visiting much of Africa during the school holidays costs more than going outside the holidays, but other local factors can also impact the cost of your safari. The majority of African national parks have periods when the wildlife spotting is better than other times. If you want to keep costs down, try visiting during a park’s off-season. While this can mean less visible wildlife and, if it’s the Wet season, occasionally washed-out roads, it does bring significantly lower prices, fewer tourists, and gorgeously lush countryside.

The best time to visit Uganda is between July to September and between November to January.

• How many days do you want to do a safari?

We hardly need to state that the length of time you spend on an African safari has a direct impact on how much it’s going to cost you. And the more days you spend on safari (with the same company), the less you’re going to end up paying on a per-day basis.

• Where do you want to go

Many people are surprised to discover that much of Uganda, where park infrastructure is often better and self-drive and camping safaris easier, offers a cheaper safari experience than in any other East African country.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

• What level of accommodation you are comfortable with

As with any holiday, accommodation is going to eat up the lion’s share of your budget. Starting at the very top are the highly exclusive, tented camps. Deliciously romantic they might be, but there’s no getting away from the fact that these places cost a fortune. In high season many come in at a cool $600 per night for two people.

• Specific requirements due to interests or hobbies

National Park boards are fully aware that people are willing to pay more to see a cheetah than a hornbill (a type of bird). Visiting a park with an abundance of large and visible mammals will invariably cost you more than visiting a small, low-key park where wildlife attractions are more specialized. If keeping costs down is important then limit your time in big-name parks and instead get excited by the birds and the bees in the smaller, lesser-known protected areas.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

If your budget is slightly less than $650 pp/day, here are a few ways to maximize your travel investment:

Travel during the shoulder season

Choose a program that includes large, permanent lodges and camps that accommodate between 30-80 people

Choose destinations that offer greater value due to economic and climatic conditions

Shorten the duration of your trip and experience superior conservation areas and accommodations.

How much does a Ugandan Safari Cost?

Katland Safaris specializes in tailor-making and crafting Unique safaris throughout Uganda. Contact us with any inquiries about organizing a trip of your dreams through Uganda.