Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe – How and when to organize a European Uganda gorilla safari
Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe. Among the most sought-after safari pursuits available in Africa is a Uganda Gorilla safari. Are you from Europe planning a Uganda gorilla safari? Are you in one of the 44 countries in Europe, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, or Hungar,y among others and you would want to visit Uganda for a gorilla safari? If so, here are some pointers to enable you to arrange an unforgettable Uganda gorilla safari from Europe.
Information to be aware of when organizing a European Uganda gorilla safari
From whether to use a tour operator or not, various Uganda gorilla safari options, the best time to book a Uganda gorilla safari, where to go in Uganda for a gorilla safari and so many other vital things as below, you should learn more about a Uganda gorilla safari from Europe before booking one.
- Regarding gorilla climbing in Uganda
- Where in Uganda could I go for a gorilla safari?
- How to reserve a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?
- A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs what?
- Going gorilla trekking in Uganda costs how much?
- Is travel to Uganda’s gorillas safe?
- Which of Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park best shows gorillas?
- My Uganda gorilla safari from Europe should be booked when?
- Procedures for making a European Uganda gorilla safari booking
- Which gorilla safaris in Uganda are most sought after?
About Ugandan gorilla trekking
Searching for habituated mountain gorillas that depart together in a certain gorilla family group and are used to human presence, gorilla trekking is a gorilla activity consisting of walking or hiking through the forest.
Once you locate them, you will be meeting them, snapping pictures, and learning about them from your ranger guide. One hour with the mountain gorillas is made possible by gorilla trekking. Eight people are doing a group gorilla trekking in one particular gorilla family.
Which gorilla safaris in Uganda are most sought after?
The minimum number of days you need for any gorilla safari excursion to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga in Uganda is three. These are the most popular gorilla safaris in Uganda you can book from Europe; personalize it to your interests.
- Three Days of Gorilla Trekking Tour
- Three Days Gorilla Habituation Experience Tour
- 4 Day Double Gorilla Trekking Tour
- 4 Day Trekking and Habituation Experience Tour for Gorillas
- Five Days Gorilla and Game Tour
- Five-Day Trekking Tour for Gorillas and Chimpanzees
How can I view mountain gorillas in Uganda on a safari?
Mountains gorillas found in Uganda are limited to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Nearby one another in the southwestern region of Uganda are the two national parks.
Because of the many mountain gorilla groups found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, contrasted to Mgahinga, which only has one gorilla family, Nyakagezi, many visitors choose to trek gorillas in that park. With so many gorilla families in Bwindi, obtaining a gorilla permit is simple and guaranteed, unlike in Mgahinga.
The actual fact is that mountain gorillas abound in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; the experience gained at the conclusion of your trip is not much different.
The key distinction is that mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are in the Virunga/hills with mostly bamboo as the main flora, whereas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, these mountain gorillas are in a tropical rain forest with a variety of trees and plants.
98% of the chances of seeing gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park will allow you to observe these amazing creatures in their natural habitat whatsoever park you visit.
About Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994, Bwindi Forest is among the first in Africa. Among the roughly 400 types of plants found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, up to 150 mammals—including the well-known Gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, forest elephants, and antelopes, among others find cover.
One of the main pleasures of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the gorillas there. Gorilla permits for gorilla trekking let you see the gorillas for one to four hours. Under licenses, the Uganda Wildlife Authority is in responsibility of safeguarding gorillas; all tourist operations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are under control under their direction.
About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga National Park is in East Africa’s Kisoro area, southwest Uganda. Among the Virunga volcanic mountain range of Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda, noted for Mountain gorilla safaris, is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bound by Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, the park is the smallest national park in Uganda.
Of the three volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park—Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhabura—all of which form part of the six Virunga Mountains, Mgahinga National Park has Golden Monkeys and the threatened mountain gorilla.
Lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, montane rain forest, and mountain bamboo make up the park’s tropical rain forest. Among Uganda’s ten National Parks, Mgahinga National Park is the second one for gorilla tourism.
You should not miss this park when visiting Uganda, as it is such a beauty. Under the direction of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government agency overseeing all of the country’s conservation sites,
For what length and intensity is Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park, Uganda?
Timings and circumstances for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park vary greatly as the gorillas travel constantly around the rain forest, depending on the natural conditions at the time of your trip.
Being ready and keeping in mind that the weather might change with somewhat little notice is wise. Often, the terrain is hilly and over places devoid of obvious pathways. Although it may simply be a few hours, it may also be for a whole day of up to 8 hours or more of trekking in hot, high altitude circumstances; therefore, please be ready for this by being as fit as possible.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs what?
The Gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 per person for the Foreign nonresidents, $700 per person for residents, and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan). This allows you an opportunity to spend one hour encountering the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
With 17 habituated gorilla family groups located in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga, Uganda has 136 daily gorilla permits for gorilla trekking availability.
Under the direction of trackers and researchers, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda offers you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through the Gorilla Habituation Experience, only done in Bwindi forest. A gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person, allowing you to spend 4 hours encountering the semi-habituated mountain gorillas instead of one hour for the regular trekking.
Purchasing gorilla permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable tour operator in Uganda, Katland Safaris, allows one to get them straightforwardly.
The price of a Uganda gorilla safari holiday?
Apart from other services such as transportation, lodging, and guiding, the Gorilla permit fee for every gorilla safari in Uganda reflects a considerably higher expense. A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for the foreign nonresident; a gorilla trekking permit costs USD800.
Apart from the gorilla permit, you will pay for additional services like transportation, lodging, and guiding to ensure a great gorilla safari. Starting USD 1572 per person, a 3-day Uganda gorilla safari costs.
Is visiting gorillas in Uganda safe?
Due to the recent attacks by 4 poachers and the killing of Rafiki, the Silver Back head of the Nkuringo group in the southern sector of Bwindi, many prospective visitors interested in visiting this park have asked whether Bwindi Forest National Park is safe for Gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Only two National Parks in Uganda—Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park—allow Gorilla Trekking. Although there has been border unrest between Uganda and Rwanda, this has not affected travel across the border from one nation to another since national parks like Bwindi Forest National Park share a border with DR Congo and subsequently Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
What level of safety does Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda offer? Given the fact that gorilla tracking activity in Bwindi Forest and Volcanoes National Parks is quite well-organized and regulated activity from start to finish, Uganda and Rwanda are both rather safe for gorilla trekking. Two fully-armed park rangers and tourist police will assist you all through your journey against outsiders as well as dangerous animals discovered in the woods during gorilla tracking.
When should I start my Uganda gorilla safari from Europe?
From June to October and December to March, Gorilla safari in Uganda is ideal for treks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, as well as during this time, the vegetation is not fully grown, and it is easy to view the mountain gorillas, providing fantastic views for pictures.
Normally, in a wet season, this causes the vegetation to grow high, which makes sightings difficult. However, during the other months of April, May, and November, treks tend to be shorter since mountain gorillas do not travel great distances searching for food. Since gorilla safaris in Uganda are a very well-organized activity with 99% probability of spotting mountain gorillas, they may be done all year round.
How to arrange for Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe
Booking a Uganda gorilla safari from Europe is simple; nevertheless, you must have your gorilla permit locked in ahead of time to verify your booking is for a Uganda gorilla safari. Once you have your intended travel dates confirmed, we will need you to email us so that we may check for availability of gorilla permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your intended dates.
We will let you know so that we may send you an invoice for you to pay for the permits. Once the money is processed and we have your permit on our account, we will immediately buy your permits and provide a scanned copy of them to you for review and records, thus verifying your booking for the Uganda gorilla safari. Given the fact that permits sell out very rapidly on first come first basis, it is advisable to reserve your Uganda gorilla safari at least two to three months before your arrival.
Where should one stay while on Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe?
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest National Park is conducted in southern areas under Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors and in northern areas under Buhoma and Ruhija. Staying at Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Icumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, and Karungi Camp in Rushaga. All of the resorts at Nkuringo—Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge, or Lake Mutanda Resort—are near the beginning of Gorilla Habituation.
In Ruhija, you can stay at Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Agandi Eco Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Broadbill Tented Camp; in the northern part, in the Buhoma sector, at Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Ride 4 a Woman.
Within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, resorts include Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, and Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge.
How can one visit Bwindi Forest National Park for Uganda Gorilla Trekking?
Accessing Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from Entebbe/Kampala via Mbarara, Kabale, then either the northern or southern side of Bwindi, depending on which side you have booked for your gorilla trip. Southwestern Uganda is where this is situated.
On the northern side, take this route to either Ruhija or Buhoma sector after turning off along the Kabale-Kisoro highway. You will notice a signpost of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Branching out from Muko town along the Kabale-Kisoro highway, the southern sections, Nkuringo and Rushag, are reached.
By Air: Entebbe International Airport, run by Aero Link Uganda, and Kajjansi Airfield, run by Air Uganda, have regular flights to both Kisoro and Kihihi airstrips near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. From here, you will travel for one to two hours to approach the park for gorilla trekking.
How would one reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
By Road: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is near Kisoro town and can be reached by the major highway from Entebbe/Kampala, around 8-9 hours driving. You will travel toward your lodge in the park after passing through Kabale town and heading to Kisoro town. One may easily reach the Park from Kigali, Rwanda, ain round two to three hours’ driving.
By Air: To reach Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airport, fly from Aero Link and Fly Uganda, local airline companies provide scheduled and chartered flights. You will have to arrange with your tour operator for a shuttle from the airfield to the Lodge you have chosen for your stay.
Why arrange your Uganda gorilla safaris from Europe with Katland Safaris?
Contact us now to assist you in booking your Uganda gorilla safari from Europe. Katland Safaris will guide you through the booking procedure. We can also arrange for you several Uganda gorilla trekking safari packages ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury alternatives, including the gorilla permits. View our TripAdvisor reviews and read from a community of contented customers at will.
You know you will have a fantastic Uganda safari experience with us. Our priorities are giving great client pleasure and service. Our staff of outstanding tour guides is always ready to assist with all your safari queries. With us, you will be guaranteed an outstanding gorilla trip in Uganda.
