Volcano hiking and gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Volcanoes National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park hosts gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. with case you want to appreciate breathtaking views, these parks have ridges, plateaus, and mountains covered with volcanic terrain.
Five of the Virunga ranges—Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Gahinga, and Mountain Karisimbi—are found in Volcanoes National Park. You could undertake a return trip to any of these summits in a day, but you will want an accompanying ranger guide.
Mountain Sabyinyo, Mgahinga National Park sits on the northern slopes of three of the five Virunga volcanoes; you trek to the summit and see boundaries of three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo. Mountain Muhabura has lovely landscapes and a crater surrounded by alpine flora.The Mountain Gahinga path winds via bamboo forest to observe rich swamps.
There is opportunity for gorilla trekking in any of the 13 gorilla families now accessible to visitors in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Among them are Group 13, the Amahoro gorilla family, Hirwa gorilla family, Sabyinyo gorilla family, and others.
Book Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda and Uganda
Book Gorilla Trekking Permits
First step in organizing this African trip is getting a gorilla trekking permit. To gorilla trekking, every visitor has to have a permit acting as an entrance ticket. A few gorilla permits for either Rwanda or Uganda are made available for public booking.
Especially in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda gorilla trekking licenses are reserved based on area. Before arranging lodging, find out where your Uganda gorilla trekking permit is scheduled as each of these locations may be far off from another. Sales of all gorilla licenses in Uganda is under the responsibility of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are booked based on gorilla family and under first come first served basis is utilized to guarantee its gorilla permits. Getting a gorilla permit for the easiest gorilla family to travel in Rwanda is difficult as mountain gorillas constantly move in search of fresh food sources.
Book lodging for Gorilla Trekking Safari
Key is overnighting in the region or very near the park where your gorilla trekking safari is planned. It encourages early rising and being ready for the briefing. While in Uganda at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in the park, in Rwanda gorilla safaris take place at ORTPN.
One of the possible causes of your disqualification from gorilla trekking even with a properly paid for permit might be missing briefings.
When your gorilla permit is purchased, it is based on area; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is a large forest. You must find lodging either near or within the gorilla trekking destination. Among the Bwindi gorilla trekking sites are the Buhoma, Ruhowicz, Rushaga, nkuringo, regions.
Among the lodging options for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are Buhoma lodge, Gorilla safari camp, Gorilla Forest lodge, Engage Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Trekker’s Tarven, Gorilla Resort, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge and others.
Among the lodgings in Volcanoes National Park are Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, La Palle, Kinigi Guest house, Mountain Gorilla view Lodge and others. Given that Kigali City is almost three hours from Volcanoes National Park, you could want to spend the night there.
Mgahinga National park in Uganda offers limited choices for nearby lodging. While there are more alternatives in Kisoro town, around 14km, some of the Mgahinga National park lodges are up market.
Hire a driver guide for your Gorilla Trekking voyage.
Having a competent guide spices your Africa safari experience as they have enough to share with you about even beyond the mountain gorillas.
Having an expert driver guide also allows you to reach to your location without running across roadblocks or being lost. Hiring a guide will cost more the more experienced and informed they are.
Imagine traveling inexpensive with a dull guide. The whole journey makes you feel bored. Meeting the mountain gorillas and spending that priceless one hour with them excites everyone who plans gorilla treking.
Vehicle Loan for Road Trip to Gorilla Trekking Safari
Although the geography and kind of soil at the gorilla trekking sites is volcanic, sometimes the roads going there are slick and impassible due to rain. To appreciate your trip and negotiate rural, uneven roads, you need a 4×4 wheeler.
Should you plan a fly-in gorilla trekking adventure, you will need a transport car from the airfield to your lodge. Two hours from Kihihi Airstrip lies Bwindi Impenetrable National park in Uganda.
Extra Activities Within Gorilla Trekking Package
Combining gorilla trekking with other pursuits offers a whole experience of the naturally abundant wildlife of Africa.
Combining Gorilla Trekking with chimpanzee Trekking, birdwatching in Africa, white water rafting, game drives, Launch tours, climbing and others is possible. Whether gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, you should be aware of where each of those extra activities might be carried out.
Customizing the proper schedule for gorilla trekking safari and other pursuits helps you avoid backtracking.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda may be done at Nyungwe National park and Akagera National park.
Together with gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Uganda safari parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and others
When should one book Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda?
Although gorilla trekking is available all year long, visitors peak seasons in the drier months, June through September and December through January. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda are highly sought after and sold quickly.
Although the Virunga region is well-known for getting early rainfall, the summer season gets less rain under usual conditions. The sunray penetration into the earth creates navigable paths. Even the busy forest dwellers—monkeys, birds, butterflies—are more active.
For those looking for unique gorilla trekking experiences, low tourist seasons are also very unique. Though the terrain could be wetter than usual, you can still expect to see the gorillas during this season. Those who want to photograph or video the mountain gorillas have opportunity to see the gorillas unhindered by other hikers.
Which nation best suits Gorilla Trekking & Hiking of Uganda?
While Uganda boasts around 19 gorilla trekking families accessible for public booking, Rwanda boasts about 13 gorilla trekking families.
While the travel from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Mgahinga National park is roughly 8 hours to 9 hours, your drive to Volcanoes National park from Kigali International Airport is about 3 hours.
While Bwindi Impenetrable National park has quite high terrain as not too many highlands, Volcanoes National park in Rwanda has much steeper topography for hikers.
While Uganda “s Mgahinga National Park has only three volcanoes that is Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Muhavura and Mountain Gahinga Rwanda has about five volcanic ranges: Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Muhabura and Mountain Gahinga.”
While Rwanda shares the count of its mountain gorillas with D.R. Congo, Uganda has over half the worldwide population of mountain gorillas.
While Uganda gorilla licenses are $800 per person every trip, the expense of gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is $1500 per person.
The Difficulties of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
Since the park runs on the slopes of five volcanic mountains, going gorilla trekking in Rwanda can anticipate to climb on difficult hills. Uganda gorilla trekking takes place on really steep hills. Usually, the Virunga region is covered with Afromontane flora and twisted crisscrossing creepers. After African forests vanished under dry circumstances during the ice age, the vegetation here represents part of the remaining forest cover.
While you follow paths built by frequent visitors to this region, sometimes a ranger guide needs to use a machete to clear the path where mountain gorillas are spotted.
Wearing safari boots shields your feet from jagged wilderness terrain, therefore preventing self-injury throughout the hike. It will be easy for you to walk the trail if you carry the appropriate safari clothing in the wilderness in Khaki and tan tones.
The wooded people live on stinging insects, hence they carry insect repellants to keep them away from harming you.
How Expensive Is Gorilla Trekking & Hiking in Uganda and Rwanda?
Other safari costs depend on the activities included or omitted in the whole package, as long as you have obtained the gorilla trekking permit.
Other expenses of gorilla trekking depend on the amount of days you want to spend on safari like 3 day gorilla trekking, 6 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, 9 Day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safaris and so many more.
Your gorilla trekking and hiking excursion will need a Luxury, mid-range or Budget safari package.
The cost of the whole package for gorilla trekking decreases the more the paying guests scheduled for this safari book. The whole cost of the program decreases with decreasing trekker count. This is an excellent journey. This is so since you split expenses on things like petrol, lodging in case of rooms sharing, and car hiring.
The season you want to go gorilla trekking and hiking in. Usually associated with low season, the peak season arrives with demand for gorilla permits, lodging, and other safari conveniences.
The whole cost of the program depends on the frequency of gorilla trekking you want. The overall fee is variable if you want to conduct gorilla treking more than once.
The fee is great to cover in case you want to incorporate other activities in other parks like game drives, hiking, chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching and others.
How safe is gorilla Trekking & Hiking in Rwanda and Uganda?
Because of the combined security supervision including ranger guides and other top security authorities of both Uganda and Rwanda, the gorilla trekking places there are secure.
But first you have to consider your own safety by choosing the correct gorilla trekking equipment to guard against wild buzzing insects.
Keep your gorilla trekking party closer and avoid dispersing into the wild. This is a large region; if you get lost in the jungle, tracking you might be somewhat difficult. Since there is no network connectivity here, losing contact becomes difficult.
Counting big amounts of public money can help you avoid drawing the wrong kind of people. Also carry little cash to go through the safari days.
The mountain gorillas may lose their cool and wander out into the deeper reaches of the park, hence never harass them. Every gorilla trekking family is used to be among people for just one hour. Everyone has to make good use of it.
Never purchase roadside prepared meals from outside approved locations. This helps to prevent food poisoning.
Should you have any valuables, do not go with them on a safari or notify the lodge captain so that they may be securely housed at the lodge.
Walking alone in the forest without an accompanying ranger guide is perilous as other forest inhabitants like forest elephants, duikers, Giant forest pigs live in the forest despite the presence of the mountain gorillas. Should you have no defense, they may hurt you. Unlike the mountain gorillas, these wild creatures have not been habituated to human presence.
It is against policy to provoke the mountain gorillas as they can get agitated should you engage in activity the gorillas find unacceptable.
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