Mountain gorilla census 2024.

In order to determine how many mountain gorillas are still in existence, the 2024 census is set to begin. Reliable data from the Uganda Wildlife Authority indicates that the global population of mountain gorillas has been rising consistently as a result of successful conservation initiatives in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The most recent count of mountain gorillas placed their population at 800, with 400 of those animals residing in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park, 400 in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and 400 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park.

An outline of the mountain gorilla population

Most of the known habituated gorilla families have given birth to numerous infants in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, hence the population there has been steadily growing since the previous census. Finding out whether the number of mountain gorillas has gone up or down and how to best protect them is the primary goals of this census.

As far as protecting mountain gorillas is concerned, both Rwanda and Uganda have always kept to high standards. Because of this, the number of mountain gorillas in both countries has increased.

Incidents of tourist and ranger kidnaps have been documented throughout the years, and the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been damaging to all efforts aimed at mountain gorilla conservation. Rwanda and Uganda continue to be the safest places to undertake gorilla trekking, and the governments get the most money from tourists visiting their gorillas than any other attraction or activity.

This mountain gorilla census 2024 effort has the backing of Katland Safaris as it will allow us to monitor the fluctuating mountain gorilla populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Safaris with Katland Safaris can arrange for you to view mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. If you’re short on time but still want to spend up to four hours in Ugandan rainforests with mountain gorillas, choose one of our three-day gorilla trekking safaris departing from Entebbe, Kigali, or Uganda.

The gorilla permit in Rushaga costs USD1500 per person for a four-hour trip, and at USD800.00 for an hour-long hike, Uganda is still the most budget-friendly gorilla trekking location in Africa.

The gorilla treks to Uganda and Rwanda that Katland Safaris arranges are the most reasonably priced and worth the money. Anyone planning a Rwandan trekking adventure should know that Katland Safaris can arrange for gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park for a price of USD1500 if you book an all-inclusive trip with them.

For gorilla experiences in Rwanda and Uganda, Katland Safaris is still the greatest and most dependable firm to work with. Our gorilla tours are the most affordable and come highly rated on safari reservations and Trip Advisor.

Our gorilla trekking safaris often include wildlife watching in nearby parks including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo, as well as chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. By reserving a safari in Uganda with one of the country’s most reputable tour operators, you may see firsthand the rich cultural diversity of the country’s residents.

The 2024 mountain gorilla census is a fantastic plan that will significantly increase the population of these endangered animals and their protection. To get a price quotation for a mountain gorilla safari in Rwanda or Uganda, contact Katland Safaris.

Kutu gorilla family under habituation.

Now habituated are the Kutu gorillas of Rushaga, which are situated in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Katland safaris offers a Kutu gorilla group for those who are interested in gorilla habituation experiences.

There are eight members of the Kutu gorilla family, including one dominant silverback, according to credible sources from the Rushaga section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With the addition of the Kutu gorilla family now under habituation, Uganda will have the most habituated mountain gorillas in Africa and the globe once the project is finished.

Knowledge on the Kutu gorilla group as it pertains to habituation

It is in the Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that habituated Kutu gorillas live. A troop of eight Kutu gorillas is led by a dominant silverback. Get in touch with Katland safaris to book a gorilla habituation encounter with this particular troop.

The Habituation Experience of Other Gorilla Families

The Uganda Wildlife Authority set aside two groups of gorillas specifically for the purpose of habituation. You may reach Bikingi and Bushawo by Nkuringo and Rushaga at Rubugiri; these are the areas where gorillas have been habituated.

According to Bwindi, the Bushawo gorilla family is now ready for regular mountain gorilla trekking, but the Bikingi and Kutu gorilla families are still adjusting to the four-hour habituation session.

Around four hours spent acclimating to Bwindi’s gorillas

The pioneering tour company to arrange for visitors to Rushaga to participate in gorilla habituation experience safaris was Katland safaris. When it comes to information on gorilla trekking and habituation experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we continue to be your reliable source.

From 3-day safaris departing from Entebbe to 3-day safaris departing from Kigali, Rwanda, we design itineraries specifically for gorilla habituation experiences. Contact Katland safaris if you are interested in scheduling a fly-in safari or our three-day gorilla habituation adventure.

Only in Uganda, namely in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Rushaga and Nkuringo), is it possible to have a gorilla habituation experience. A gorilla habituation permit allows visitors to spend up to four hours in the company of habituated wild mountain gorillas and costs $1,000 USD.

Accompanying you on your journey will be a group of knowledgeable researchers and specialists who will explain and demonstrate the process of socializing wild mountain gorillas. Not only will you get to see these enormous apes up close, but you’ll also get to help in gorilla habituation tasks like naming the animals, testing their poop, and learning about the group’s and each gorilla’s unique habits.

From Kigali International Airport, we will take you to the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla habituation adventure. The travel from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park may be cut down to four or five hours instead of nine or ten if you choose for our three-day gorilla habituation experience trek from Kigali.

Gorilla watching uganda packages.

Details on how to plan a trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda to see gorillas are available. The budget for your gorilla viewing trip in Uganda should be your first concern. You will be ready to plan your Uganda viewing safari after you have a solid idea of how much everything will cost.

There are a lot of factors to think about while organizing a gorilla watching vacation in Uganda, such as the amount of days you want to stay there, the number of gorilla viewing sessions you want to arrange, the cost and availability of gorilla permits, the location you want to visit to see mountain gorillas, and many more.

Browse our three-day gorilla tour to Bwindi National Park or three-day gorilla habituation experience road trip if you’re interested in gorilla viewing vacations in Uganda.

How long are gorilla safaris in Uganda?

When departing from Entebbe International Airport, a gorilla viewing excursion requires a minimum of three days. An international flight out of Entebbe International Airport will be your final destination after a first day of hiking mountain gorillas in the bush. The second day of your safari will be spent traveling to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

While you’re here, choose our three-day budget gorilla safari or, for a more upscale experience, our three-day luxury gorilla safari. Since Kigali is much closer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park than Entebbe International Airport, it is now feasible to arrange a two-day safari to Uganda where one may see gorillas from Kigali, Rwanda.

Fly into Kigali, then cross the border into Uganda at Katuna or Chanika, and then carry on to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park if you want to skip the lengthy drives and several days of this gorilla viewing Uganda tour. Yes, this choice does allow you to cut down on travel time and the number of days set out for your gorilla viewing vacation. We offer two different Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris, one lasting two days and the other three days, all of which depart from Kigali.

Planning your gorilla viewing adventure in Uganda with the help of gorilla permits

Only once you book your gorilla permit can you be sure that your safari to Uganda will include seeing gorillas. All the information you need to arrange and purchase your gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is outlined by Katland Safaris. (Gorilla permit booking information may be found in the next reading).

For non-resident foreigners, the cost of a gorilla permit is USD800.00 per person, per hour of trek; for foreign residents with work permits, it’s USD700.00 per person, per hour; and for citizens of East African countries like Rwanda and Uganda, it’s USD500.00 per person, each hour. For an hour, the price is Shs300,000 in Southern Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Consider reserving a gorilla permit for a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi if you would want to spend more time in the company of mountain gorillas during your gorilla viewing excursion in Uganda. Gorilla habituation experience is discussed more in this article.

Tourists may go as near as four hours to mountain gorillas in the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the first and only gorilla habituation experience in Africa and the globe. Read our Frequently Asked queries (FAQ) on gorilla habituation experience safaris for answers to your queries regarding the experience, how to book it, and the minimum age requirement for a trip that includes a gorilla habituation experience.

The cost of a gorilla habituation experience permit is 1500 USD per person for non-residents from outside of East Africa, 1000 USD for four hours, and 750,000 SH for nationals of East Africa. Gorilla trekking permits and habituation experience permits may be costly, so it’s helpful to know the price before you plan your trip to Uganda to see the gorillas.

Those interested in witnessing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat may take advantage of Katland Safaris’ fascinating and reasonably priced gorilla watching Uganda programs. Listed below are a few of our favorite short gorilla trekking excursions, where you can choose between an hour or four hours of gorilla viewing.

When you book your Ugandan gorilla viewing vacation with Katland Safaris, you’ll be staying in one of the hotels inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Thanks to our extensive network of lodges in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we are able to get excellent rates for you from these establishments.

All types of gorilla safari lodges are part of our network. Gorilla safari lodges may vary in price from $50 to $70 per person sharing a mid-range room, $100 to $150 per person sharing a luxury room, and $300 or more per person sharing a very large room.

If you’re interested in seeing gorillas, Katland Safaris has partnered with lodges around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park so that you may select the one that best suits your needs. In Rushaga, we have three different gorilla lodges to suit different budgets: Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Rushag Haven Gorilla Lodge.

Transportation to and from your gorilla-watching safari in Uganda Africa Safaris has a variety of 4×4 cars that are perfect for your safari in Uganda where you can see gorillas. For your gorilla viewing vacation in Bwindi, we provide 4×4 RAV 4s, 4×4 safari vans, and 4×4 land cruisers.

You may see images of our cars and the Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, and Nkuringo Mountain Gorilla Lodge by clicking here and here, respectively. View our three-day luxury gorilla viewing trip and three-day economy gorilla watching tour as well.

Ugandan hikes accompanied by gorillas offered by Katland Safaris

We have an impeccable reputation. For a long time, we have been in this business. You may see our team’s credentials on the ABOUT US page. Safari Booking and TripAdvisor both give us great reviews.

Because of our extensive experience in safari planning in Rwanda and Uganda, Katland Safaris is widely considered to be among the top destination management outfits in those countries. We tailor cheap and all-inclusive gorilla trekking tours to fit your schedule, interests, and budget.

Choose from three different 5-day gorilla safaris in Uganda: one with chimpanzee trekking, one with wildlife viewing, or one with white water rafting if you’re interested in combining your gorilla viewing with other activities.

Congo Discounted gorilla permits.

To increase the number of visitors that visit Virunga National Park to see the mountain gorillas, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is offering cheap or low season gorilla permits. Note that the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are the three nations where mountain gorillas may be found. at Rwanda, you can find gorillas at Volcanoes National Park, while in Uganda, you can find them in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, respectively. The last rare mountain gorillas call the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park home.

Gorilla permits in the Congo at a bargain or during the low season

Gorilla permits in the Congo, whether during the low season or reduced, cost USD400.00 each permit, per trip, as of 2024. Those lucky enough to get one of these permits may spend an hour in Virunga National Park interacting with habituated mountain gorillas.

For an all-inclusive Congo gorilla safari, you may purchase these reduced or low-season permits with Katland Safaris, a top tour operator specialized in cultural and primate trips throughout East Africa and beyond.

When will the Congo low season gorilla permits and reduced gorilla permits be available?

Gorilla licenses in the Congo are distributed in two stages. From March 15th to May 15th, 2024, the first batch of Congo low season gorilla licenses, often known as discounted gorilla permits, will be distributed. From October 15th to December 15th, 2024, we have the second set.

Reach out to Katland Safaris, your reliable ally for primate safaris in East Africa and beyond, for additional details about the availability of reduced gorilla permits or low season gorilla permits in the Congo, so you may hike mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.

The best time to get discounted or low season gorilla permits to the Congo

We advise that you get your cheap gorilla permits for a 2024 visit to Virunga National Park in advance, since the park is beginning to draw a substantial number of people. We will arrange for your Vuringa reduced gorilla permit and visa if you book an all-inclusive Congo gorilla safari with Katland Safaris.

Virunga National Park: Why Visit to See Mountain Gorillas in the Congo?

Permits to see gorillas in Virunga National Park continue to be the most affordable around. Unlike in Uganda (where permits cost USD800.00) and Rwanda (where permits cost USD1500.00), Virunga National Park typically charges USD400.00 per person each trek for its gorilla permits.

Visiting the Virunga Mountains to see gorillas also has the added benefit of being in a politically stable area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A great debt of gratitude is due to the numerous conservation groups and the United Nations for keeping this area reasonably safe. Save a ton of money when you book your gorilla safari in the Congo with one of their reduced permits.

An Overview of Reduced Gorilla Permits

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla parks in Uganda were the first to provide cheap permits. In honor of Uganda’s 50th anniversary of independence, this program was initiated. The goal of instituting low season gorilla permits was to increase the number of visitors visiting Uganda in April, May, and November, which are not peak tourist months.

Uganda eliminated the low season gorilla licenses, which cost USD450.00, in response to the USD750.00–USD1500.00 price rise in Rwanda. This was done to ensure that gorilla permits in Uganda remained affordable while still being competitive. At this time, low season gorilla permits are only available in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Congo Gorilla Safaris Offered by Katland Safaris: Why Choose Them?

When it comes to primate safaris in East Africa and beyond, one of the top tour companies is Katland Safaris. Our years of experience and stellar reputation are undeniable.

Our extensive investigation has led us to the conclusion that we cannot provide reasonably priced gorilla safaris to the Congo at this time. Use our knowledge and affordable rates to plan a gorilla safari in Virunga National Park.

Rwanda is promoting Uganda gorilla tourism indirectly.

Recent events in Rwanda are, in fact, encouraging tourists to visit Uganda to see the gorillas, which is fitting given that Uganda is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in East Africa.

There are a number of questionable methods in which Rwanda is marketing gorilla tourism in Uganda. Please be informed that the following national parks are home to mountain gorillas: Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga.

Since Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks are closer to Rwanda than Entebbe, many visitors choose to fly into Kigali Airport instead of Entebbe International Airport to reach these parks.

Rwanda is encouraging gorilla tourism in Uganda in this way.

Since it takes around four to five hours to travel from Kigali Airport to Mgahinga or the southern portion of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rwanda is pushing Uganda gorilla tourism instead of Entebbe International Airport, which takes eight to nine hours.

Tourists may now experience a two-day gorilla tour in Uganda via Rwanda, an opportunity that would not have been available through Entebbe International Airport. It is true that Rwanda is indirectly encouraging gorilla tourism in Uganda via this.

As part of its marketing strategy to attract high-end tourists, Rwanda hiked the price of gorilla licenses from $750 to $1500. The inexpensive cost of gorilla permits in Uganda—currently USD800.00 per person each trip—has attracted an influx of visitors who choose to journey with Uganda’s mountain gorillas, therefore the country has profited from this future-oriented endeavor.

Even if someone were to part with $1500, they would still choose to spend four hours habituated to mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park rather than an hour in Volcanoes National Park.

It would be unfair to misquote someone who claims Rwanda is indirectly marketing gorilla tourism in Uganda. Rwandan tour companies have been compelled to go to Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks due to the exorbitant cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda.

Budget, midrange, and luxury safaris to Rwanda and Uganda are offered by Katland Safaris, which also does gorilla safaris in both countries. Get in touch with our knowledgeable team to take advantage of our 2024 and 2025 deals.

Free entrance for Tour Company driver guides.

With the rapid expansion of the tourism industry in Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has announced that all tour company driver guides in the country, as well as safari guides with credentials from recognized schools, will receive complimentary admission to all of their destinations.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), and the Uganda Safari Guides Association (USAGA) have all worked together to make this happen.

Safari guides and tour company drivers will be able to enter the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s parks and wildlife reserves at no cost.
As per a letter that Mr. Stephen Masaba wrote and sent to the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), Tour guides are trained experts with credentials from accredited institutions, while tour drivers transport visitors in tour vehicles, according to the Director of Tourism and Business Services at the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Because they are only transporting guests and not coming to enjoy the parks on their own, tour company drivers are eligible for free admission. He goes on to say that the Uganda Wildlife Authority would work with the Uganda Tourism Board to try and confirm the status of safari guides before issuing them special safari guides’ passes.

Additionally, other travelers will foot the bill if the guide doubles as the driver. He went on to say that many visitors miss their scheduled transportation to the park and must make do with whatever is available. Here, the Uganda Wildlife Authority will coordinate with area stages and associations to vet and suggest taxi drivers from their own associations for the permit program.

The elimination of the need for tour company driver guides to pay to enter popular national parks in Uganda, like Murchison Falls, Kidepo, and Queen Elizabeth, is a welcome change that will undoubtedly lower the price of vacation packages to these destinations. People who accompany visitors from the start of the trip all the way to its conclusion are called tour guides.

Such encouragement and assistance from UWA and Lodges is essential if they are to carry out their duties effectively. In light of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s decision to waive entry fees for tour company drivers, we are crossing our fingers that lodges would follow suit and provide free rooms for guides.