How to spend more hours with mountain gorillas in Uganda.
There is just one viewing hour for gorilla trekking in Uganda, but you might require more time to spend with the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are only used to spending a few hours with people. This allows them to be left alone to continue their daily routines, which include eating, grooming, relaxing, and other activities.
Some visitors feel that spending just an hour with the mountain gorillas is insufficient. Some choose to trek with two gorillas. To spend more time with the mountain gorillas, people get gorilla permits for two or more days. Eight individuals is the maximum number permitted to undertake gorilla trekking.
What is Safari Gorilla Trekking?
You are only permitted to spend an hour in front of a fully habituated mountain gorilla family during this safari excursion. A gorilla permit, which presently costs $800 in Uganda, is necessary for gorilla trekking. 19 gorilla families in Uganda are now available for reservations by tourists. They are found in two gorilla parks: Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How Much Does a Ugandan Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost?
The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is $800 per person per day of trekking. You must get a permit for each additional gorilla trekking date if you want to double or more. These licenses are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. To allow mountain gorillas to be left alone to continue their daily routines, which include eating, grooming the young, relaxing, and much more, gorilla trekking is conducted once a day.
Others buy permits for gorilla habituation.
Gorilla Habituation: What Is It?
Permits to accompany semi-habituated mountain gorillas are known as “gorilla habituation permits,” and they allow you to do so without changing the gorillas’ natural behavior. Only four individuals per day each hike are allowed to get habituated to gorillas.
What is the duration of gorilla habituation?
When you find mountain gorillas during gorilla habituation, you are only permitted to spend four hours with them. Because mountain gorillas are still getting used to being around people, it is normal for them to hide during gorilla habituation.
Since mountain gorillas are wild creatures who must forage for their own food, it is uncertain how long it takes to locate them after habituation because they continue to wander aimlessly around the jungle.
You must be patient and adhere to the guidelines and information provided during the briefing. This is due to the fact that the mountain gorillas are still developing trust with people during habituation and are still extremely sensitive to outsiders.
How Should Gorilla Habituation Be Prepared?
You must continue performing basic workouts after receiving the gorilla habituation permit in order to further expand your muscles before beginning your expedition. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s terrain is mostly volcanic, with plateaus and mountains.
You must be somewhat fit to complete the full journey because you will need to hike at times to find the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas occasionally like spending time on the highland slopes.
In order to avoid being delayed in the event that there are no seats available, make your international travel reservations in advance.
To ensure your comfort when hunting mountain gorillas, get the required gorilla habituation equipment.
How much do gorilla habitat permits cost in Uganda?
The cost of each gorilla habituation permit is $1500 each expedition. The ranger tour charge, park fees, gorilla fund support, security costs, and four hours of mountain gorilla watching are all included in this price.
Tipping, porters, transportation, beverages, a packed lunch, and other personal belongings are not included in the price of the gorilla habituation permit.
Where in Uganda Can I Perform Gorilla Habituation?
Thus far, the only gorilla habitat is in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Only a maximum of four people are permitted to participate in this expedition, while two gorilla families are now available for habituation.
Tourists who have made reservations for gorilla habituation accompany a team of habituators and researchers into the jungle each day in order to find and spend time with the mountain gorillas. Since this data is utilized to provide information on the mountain gorilla family, you might need to take some notes.
To avoid having to get up so early for a briefing, be sure you reserve lodging for your gorilla trekking safari in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
What Time of Year Is Best to Reserve a Gorilla Safari in Uganda?
Although you may schedule a gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation safari at any time of year, most tourists prefer to obtain their gorilla permits at least six months to a year in advance.
This is because there is a strong demand for permits but a limited supply. Each gorilla family may only have a maximum of eight gorilla trekking licenses. There may be no more than four gorilla habituation licenses issued each day.
Many individuals are left out because of this small quantity and the tremendous global demand, particularly during the busiest travel seasons. You must book your permit in advance to ensure that you don’t miss one on the day of your choice.
How to Travel by Road to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Travel from Kampala to Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kihihi, and Buhoma
From Kampala, this is the quickest way to go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It takes around 390 kilometers to drive from Kampala to Rukungiri, and another 90 kilometers to connect to the Buhoma region.
Kabale, Kampala, Kanungu, and Buhoma
It takes around 414 kilometers to drive from Kampala to Kabale, and another 150 kilometers to connect with Kanungu and Kanyantorogo.
Nkuringo to Kabale to Kampala
It takes around 414 kilometers to drive from Kampala to Kabale, and then another 115 kilometers to go to Nkuringo. You might choose to stay at Kisoro town, which is around 80 kilometers from Kabale. From there, you can go another 35 kilometers to Nkuringo.
By Air
Domestic flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airports leave daily from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi. To be able to take these flights, you must secure a seat in advance.
Although charter flights can also be arranged, advance planning is required in order to get air clearances.
Do Mountain Gorillas Pose a Threat?
Because of their physical characteristics, mountain gorillas appear frightening at first glance. They have black eyes that are sunken, are enormous, and use their knuckles to walk. At first, this could make your heart race, but as soon as you see how peaceful and content these primates are, you will relax.
These monkeys are timid, and they have never attacked their guests in the history of gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation.
To avoid upsetting the mountain gorillas, you only need to abide by the guidelines for gorilla trekking and the information provided during the briefing. They are extremely sensitive primates who pay close attention to trespassers and their actions. When they become irritated, they leave their guests and retreat into the deeper reaches of the forest. While four hours are permitted with the mountain gorillas during the habituation experience, keep in mind that you are only permitted to spend an hour with them when gorilla trekking.
Other Attractions in the Impenetrable National Park of Bwindi Aside from mountain gorillas
Bwindi Forest’s Diverse Bird Life
More than 350 different bird species may be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Approximately seven bird species in the park are included on the IUCN Red List. Approximately 23 of the 24 species known to exist in Uganda are found in this park, which is home to several unique species of the Albertine Rift.
You might be able to see birds like the red-faced Woodland Wabler, African Hill Babbler, Rwenzori Batis, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, collared Apalis, Mount Masked and Chestnut-Throated Apalises, African Green Broadbill, and Shelley’s Crimmsonwing when you go on a birding safari to Mubwindi Swamp in the Ruhija area of Bwindi Forest.
Numerous Other Primates
Other primates, including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, blue monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus, and others, may be found at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in addition to mountain gorillas.
Community Walks in the Area
The local community must support mountain gorilla conservation efforts for them to be effective. There are community projects in the Bwindi area that are managed by the locals, and all of the money raised goes toward helping them with things like developing water sources, maintaining roads, constructing schools, supporting health care centers, and much more.
The Buhoma community walk project, where you may engage with local homesteads, meet traditional healers, visit a local brewer, and much more, is one of the community-run initiatives in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Visit the local brewery, traditional healer, blacksmith, and other establishments along the Nkuringo community path.
A stroll in nature
You may stroll along the paths of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a ranger guide to observe a variety of naturally occurring trees. More than 300 tree species have endured over time in the Bwindi Forest.
The Bwindi Forest is home to around 310 different kinds of butterflies and more than 88 months of life. There are also glistening waterfalls in Bwindi Forest. By following the Muzabajiro Loop Trail, you reach the top of Rukubira Hill, where you may take in stunning views of the western Rift Valley, the Virunga Volcanoes, and Bwindi Forest and its canopy.
Things to Bring for Ugandan Gorilla Trekking
Because it may be so cold—temperatures might dip as low as 7 degrees Celsius—you should wear thick clothing in the morning and late afternoon.
Use bug repellent to protect yourself from stinging insects that might hurt you while you’re out searching for the mountain gorillas.
Wearing garden gloves will shield your hands from nettles and any uneven terrain you could trip over and fall on.
In the event that your room is contaminated, bugs spray.
Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t have any or your skin is really sensitive.
Breakfast is eaten too early to survive the whole day in the bush, so you’ll need snacks to eat in case you feel hungry.
If it rains while in the bush, bring a raincoat or poncho. Rainfall can occur suddenly and at any moment in this location.
To protect your body from the severe circumstances in the forest, you should wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
In order to keep insects out of your clothing and to keep your trousers in place, you should wear stockings.
Because the wilderness is frequently wet and rivers overflow, particularly during the intense rainy seasons, safari boots that can withstand the moist surfaces of the jungle are essential.
If it rains or dew drips off the leaves, use a safari hat to protect your hair.
pajamas to put on before sleeping in the evening.
Keep your valuables in a duffel bag since sometimes you won’t get assistance loading or unloading your baggage.
If you’re bored of wearing closed shoes after gorilla trekking, you can change into flip flops.
Clean face masks to wear in front of the mountain gorillas; enough cash to convert into local currency when you want to make any purchases locally. This was embraced following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that they have around 96% human DNA, mountain gorillas are vulnerable to human illnesses and might become infected by this virus.
A camera to capture images and preserve memories of your gorilla trekking adventure.
Your gorilla trekking equipment should be carried in a lightweight, waterproof bag, and if you hire a porter, they can carry your baggage for you. You don’t lose any gears even if you trip and tumble.
