The gorilla safaris in Uganda during the peak the highly competed for yet the gorilla permit supply has a limit as a conservation measure used to protect them. During the Uganda Safaris, one may choose to do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience in the peak season. The peak tourism season of Uganda is June to October and December to January.
Gorilla trekking is a tour where maximum 8 tourists follow a fully habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with them. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to have 4 hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.
During the peak season of the Uganda safaris, competition for the gorilla permits that is a document used to allow a tourist access to the mountain gorillas tightens. Even other logistics that support tourism are competed for in the peak season such as accommodation, transport and others. As the high season opens, availability of options that support tourism gets slimmer. You may do a combo of gorilla safaris with other Uganda safaris like chimpanzee trekking, game tours, golden monkey safaris, water activities and others. These Uganda tour activities are also highly competed for so require advance booking.
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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the largest home of the mountain gorillas in Uganda covering an area of 327 square kilometers of forested land. Almost half of the total of population of mountain gorillas in the world are residents of this park in the southwestern part of Uganda.
To ease administrative matters, Bwindi was subdivided into four areas that is Buhoma in the northern part, Ruhija in the eastern part, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the southern part. Each of these areas has gorilla trekking families but booking the gorilla permits for Bwindi is by the areas. Gorilla habituation experience families are so far situated in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
At the moment, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 19 gorilla trekking families including Mubare, Nshongi, Mucunguzi, Bitukura, Rushegura and others. Four gorilla habituation experience families are so far open to the public.
Other than the mountain gorillas, Bwindi forest is home to other occupants including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys and others. Bwindi forest hosts over 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics, about seven bird species on the IUCN red list.
Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park may be the smallest Uganda National Park with an area of 33.7 square kilometers but is home to the highly endangered mountain gorillas. So far one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi has been opened to the public in this park. The gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga National Park is quite steeper because of the presence of several highlands in the park. Some of the most significant highlands in Mgahinga National Park include Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo.
Mgahinga National Park is home a number of other primates including golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and several others. More than 115 bird species have been identified as residents of Mgahinga National Park including Albertine rift endemics.
Booking gorilla safaris in Uganda is best in advance as there availability gets scarce as the season unfolds. It is safer to book the Uganda safari atleast 6 month to a year in advance because of there scarcity especially in this period. Towards the starting of the Uganda tourism season that is June to October and December to January, availability of gorilla safari permits gets slimmer.
The late comers who hope to book Uganda gorilla safaris at the last minute usually hassle finding the permits and other related tours logistics.
Note that even logistics that support tourism are usually competed for in the high tourism season of Uganda including accommodations, transport to mention but a few. More tourists visit Uganda in the high season so expect to share space with other tourists.
In the wilderness, the mountain gorillas and other forest inhabitants are full of life and may be quicker to spot as they traverse the forest. The mountain gorillas normally feed closer to the ground most of the time during the dry season which normally serves as the peak tourism season in Uganda. There is food scarcity in the forests in general prompting different gorilla families to move into the deeper forest.
The low tourism season of Uganda is also great for books the gorilla safaris in Uganda. The low tourism season which is normally characterized with heavy rains must not be ignored when booking the gorilla safaris. No matter which season you choose to go for a gorilla tour in Uganda, be sure to find them.
The low tourism season of Uganda is normally March to May and November and this is usually as the wet season of the country. It is possible to book the gorilla safari tours of this season at the last minute.
The number of tourists on most Uganda safaris in the low season is smaller so in case you wish to have less disturbance during the gorilla safari in Uganda, you may take advantage of this season. Even those with a limited budget may have better bargaining power on some logistics that support tourism like accommodations.
The cost of Uganda gorilla safaris is categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. The cost of the gorilla permits cuts across all categories but it is according to the gorilla safari that you choose that is gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience.
The current cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, $500 for other Africans and 300,000shs for east Africans.
The cost of other logistics that support tourism also varies according to category that is upmarket, midrange or basic. Before booking the logistics that support tourism, you need to note the inclusions and exclusions of each package so that you can prepare for the Uganda safari accordingly. For accommodations some facilities at the gorilla safari destinations in Uganda offer full board, other half board, Bed and Breakfast or Bed only.
At Arch Safaris And Tours, we cost our safaris according to upscale. Mid-range or basic.
The cost of the Uganda gorilla safari is worth every penny and time bestowed upon it. The mountain gorillas in the entire world are living in only three countries Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo and seeing them must be with a permit. Even the number of gorilla permits opened to the public by the Uganda Wildlife Authority is restricted as a conservation measure to control mass tourism and its effects to the mountain gorillas.
Seeing the mountain gorillas is like paying a visit to the forgotten relatives in the wilderness. These mountain gorillas my seen scaring on the outside but they are very friendly and calm in character as these are some of the things you notice when with them.
Purchasing the gorilla permit is a noble act that supports the conservation of the mountain gorillas. The population of the mountain gorillas in the world was at the rim of extinction in the 1980s and below until Dian Fossey an American primatologist opened there fate to the public but was murdered later. Her quest for the conservation of the mountain gorillas was supported by different conservation organization world over and one of the ways to be used to fund this work is by selling the gorilla permits.
If you hope to give back to the community during the gorilla safari in Uganda, by hiring a porter you are directly giving back to the people.
What Is The Return Time After Gorilla Safari Experience In Uganda
The time of returning after the gorilla safari in Uganda varies as some tourists have found the mountain gorillas in 2 hours while other may spend three quarters of the day. No matter when you find the mountain gorillas, the excitement of being a few meters from them is that unforgettable moment in life.
The time of finding the mountain gorillas is influenced by factors such as weather condition of the day, pace of fellow tourists, mood of the mountain gorillas, location of food and others. Instead of focusing on finding the mountain gorillas, it is better to open the mind to seeing other forest inhabitants such as different primates, birds, butterflies, different plants to mention but a few.
Finally when with the mountain gorillas one hours is allowed with them during gorilla trekking and four hours during gorilla habituation experience. The limit to the amount of time allowed with the mountain gorillas was applied as these primates have to be left alone to carry on with the day today life. The presence of humans disrupts the running of the life of the mountain gorillas.
How easy or difficult is the gorilla safari in Uganda
In generally the nature of the topography of Bwindi and Mgahinga forest in Uganda is rugged because of serious volcanic actions that affected this area forming different highlands. During gorilla safaris, the way is quite tough because you sometimes have to hike to where the mountain gorillas may be spending time. The forest has some creepers that are tangled on the tree trunks that you have to walk through to get to where the mountain gorillas spend there time.
In order not to be weighed back by the heavy weight, hire a porter to help with your backpack. The porter may give you a push when tired.
Having some level of fitness is very helpful especially if you have to hike to find the mountain gorillas. Wearing the right gorilla safari gears protects you from the rough surfaces in the wilderness and the slippery ground that results from the heavy rains that often fall.
The ranger guide with a machete may use it to trim the obstructing creepers that drape down the ridge and tree trunks.
What Else To Do During The Uganda Safari After The Gorilla Tour
Uganda is a country endowed by nature even though it is less traveled. Other than the gorilla safaris in Uganda, the country offers other safari activities including chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey safaris, birding in Uganda, forest walks, water activities in Uganda, mountaineering and others.
One needs an itinerary that is well tailored to suit your needs and wants. Our safari consultant at Arch Safaris And Tours are available to provide all the necessary help and advise on the Uganda safaris and beyond.
Is Uganda safe to Visit For A gorilla safari
Uganda is a safe destination to visit for gorilla safaris because on ground there are well trained and professional ranger guides trained to protect the mountain gorillas and other forest inhabitants. The ranger guides and other Uganda security agencies are on ground to keep law and order. The park security team for Bwindi and Mgahinga forest often do joint operation to monitor the safety of these destinations.
As a tourists, you are expected to pay attention to personal as you protect your belongings from potential thieves. Try not to engage in unlawful activities when at the destinations because you will land in the hands of the wrong doers. In case you loose anything valuable, report the matter to the authorities responsible just in case it is traced, this may be returned to the rightful owners. Your safety must be your priority.
Try to avoid eating street food while on Uganda safari because you donot know the standard of there hygiene. Carry a first aid kit too in case you get an emergency that requires emergency action. Do pack insect repellant and sunscreen because Uganda is a tropical country where the sun gets too much and may damage your skin. Do not forget a drinking water bottle where you can carry water to quench thirst. The facts about Uganda gorilla safaris for the peak season is you need to book a gorilla permit in advance. Ensure to reserve the necessary accommodations for the gorilla safari as they sell out in advance.