Gorilla tracking remains one of the most thought after activity in the world and Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo being the only three countries in the whole world where mountain gorillas can be sighted in their natural habitat, it can be a bit expensive to have a chance to trek these mountain gorillas but worth it.
Mountain gorillas being wild animals, chances of seeing them during your trek depends on so many factors and in this article, we will dwell tout Gorilla tracking in Uganda or Rwanda.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TREK GORILLAS
Every client wants to get the best out of the fee paid for gorilla safaris in either Rwanda or Uganda and the first question that arises is-When is the best time for gorilla trekking? While mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda can be trekked throughout the whole year, drier months of June, July, August, and early September then December up to February are the most preferred. There is no guarantee that it won’t rain as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a tropical rain forest and its climate is influenced by micro conditions of the area. During high season gorilla permits to visit gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi National Park is at USD1500.00 and USD600.00 per person respectively.
HOW MUCH IS A GORILLA PERMIT IN UGANDA OR RWANDA
A gorilla permit is a document/card that is obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority for the case of Uganda and Rwanda Development Board for Rwanda to allow you spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park respectively. Currently Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD1500.00 for Non residents. Uganda gorilla permits to visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga cost USD600.00 (Non residents) USD500.00 for Foreign Residents.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi Impenetrable National park is located in south western Uganda and is divided into four regions. Buhoma region in the North, Ruhija region in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. Each region has given habituated gorillas families for gorilla tracking. If you are to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then you need to mind about a specific region where you are going as this will affect the Lodge to be booked, gorilla permit as well as your transport. Contact Contact Travel 256 on details about Bwindi gorilla tours and holidays.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY GORILLA PERMIT/TOUR?
You are advised to book your gorilla permit at least three months in advance to shortage most especially during high season. Please contact us with the date when you intend to trek and we will advise availability of permits on that day.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A GORILLA PERMIT?
A gorilla permit allows you one hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park. Included in the cost are park entry fees for the respective parks, services of National Park guides/rangers who will escort you to the forest. Travel 256 Ltd will ensure that you secure permits in advance.
HOW LONG IS A GORILLA TREK IN UGANDA OR RWANDA?
Mountain gorilla trekking exercise can take from twenty minutes to three quarters of the day so one needs to prepare for both. This depends on several factors that include, mountain gorilla movements, where the gorillas stayed the previous night and the mood of the gorillas. It may also depend on the people in your group since the guides/rangers move following the slowest person in the group. Travel 256 ltd is more than happy to provide all relevant advice.
WHAT IS THE AGE LIMIT FOR TREKKING GORILLAS?
The age limit for gorilla tracking (Uganda and Rwanda) and golden monkey trekking (Uganda) is 15 years. The authorities are very strict on this, so kindly make sure all clients and children are 15 or older in order to avoid any sad incidents like guest(s) kids being refused to track!
The age limit for trekking chimpanzees in Uganda is 12 years old and children 10 years and older are allowed to trek golden monkeys in Rwanda as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Children under 15 years are allowed to Dian Fossey’s tomb – although the latter hike is a stiff one so we do not recommend that either to children under 12-13 years.
WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR GORILLA TREKKING?
You need to prepare very well for your gorilla trek, we advise trousers, long sleeved shirts or blouses, long socks to enable you tack in your trousers, garden gloves, a hat, sun glasses, hiking boots, insect repellents and some energy giving foods.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GORILLAS?
Please send us an email via info@travel256.com we will answer all your questions concerning gorilla trekking to enable you prepare for a memorable experience with us.
WHAT IS GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE?
Gorilla habituation experience is an activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where tourists are allowed to stay four hours with mountain gorillas after paying USD1500.00 for a gorilla habituation permit. Gorilla habituation safaris are currently taking place only in Rushaga located in south of Bwindi Forest.
DOES RWANDA HAVE DISCOUNTED GORILLA PERMITS?
It is true that Uganda abolished low season discounted gorilla permits in 2017 but Rwanda still offers discounted gorilla permits or Low season discounted gorilla permits in Low season months of May and November. The condition for benefiting from Rwanda discounted gorilla permits is that you have two book at least three more days in one of Rwanda’s National Park. These National Parks include Akagera National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park. Rwanda discounted gorilla permits cost USD1050.00 per person per trek to trek Rwanda gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The 1050.00 includes Volcanoes Park entry fees for Volcanoes National Park, watching mountain gorilla for one hour with habituated mountain gorillas and services of well-trained gorilla ranger or guide.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO TREK UGANDA GORILLAS VIA KIGALI?
It is now possible to trek Uganda or Bwindi gorillas through Rwanda by flying through Kigali International airport. By flying through Kigali International Airport, one is able to reduce the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to 5-6 hours compared to if one uses Entebbe International Airport where the drive time is 8-9 and sometimes 10 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With the introduction of the East African tourist visa, one can now visit both Uganda and Rwanda without hassle. The good news also is that one can now apply for Rwanda Visa upon arrival something that is making the process of obtaining Rwanda visa easy. East African tourist visa costs USD100.00 and allows you to visit three east African countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Uganda. Contact Travel 256 for details about Bwindi gorilla safaris through Kigali Airport.
Planning to travel to Africa for gorilla tour, get in touch with us via info@travel256.com or call us on +256701367970 or WhatsApp +256772367972.