17 Fundamental Gorilla Trekking Tips On UgandaSafari

The fundamental gorilla trekking safari tips for a Uganda tour include purchasing the gorilla trekking permit in advance, carry the right gorilla safari gears, have some level of fitness and more.

In Uganda, gorilla trekking safaris happens in two pristine parks Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. These dense rain-forested National Parks lie in a ragged mountainous area affected by Volcanic forces that ended in the creation of several highlands that is plateaus, ridges, valleys and more. Request A qoutation

It is very important to plan gorilla trekking in a season that favors your reason for visiting in case you have a motive. Advance preparations for such a gorilla trekking tour is important to avoid last minute preparations but be specific on what your intensions are right from the beginning to avoid getting disappointed.

Be flexible to as you plan to go gorilla trekking in Uganda in case the gorilla permit availability may not favor your preferred dates. The number of gorilla trekking permits open to the public is maximum 8 per day a number too small compared to the overwhelming demand world over.

Pack the right gorilla trekking gears that favor the walk in the dense jungle. Carry safari boots, rain proof gears, a pair of binoculars, garden gloves, camera, safari hat and more. Most of the Uganda safaris begin almost as soon as you arrive which opens no ample time to do on ground shopping, Alternatively, you may spend some days in Uganda before travelling to do gorilla trekking safari.

Reserve your international flights in advance so that you do not have to panic to get to the gorilla trekking destination when you miss your flight or even end up not attending this adventure. Gorilla trekking is a once a life time Africa Safari experience but the gorilla permit is only valid to the date for which it is booked. The gorilla trekking permit not used on the date it was booked is deemed invalid afterwards.

Do not forget to carry some snacks to munch on during the search to find the mountain gorillas because breakfast is taken to early to last the entire time in the jungle. During gorilla trekking tour, the ranger guides offer some breaks while walking in the jungle and then you can take a bite at your eats.

Having company during the gorilla trekking safari makes this adventure more interesting as you get back to the lodge to have a recap, wind and unwind from the day’s events. Each of the people on the gorilla trekking adventure has something interesting to talk about this experience since you may all not get to visit the same gorilla family. Travelling with others for gorilla trekking safari is cost saving too.

Appreciate what is in front of you during gorilla trekking and do not focus on seeing the mountain gorillas only. The Bwindi forest and Mgahinga forest are endowed with amazing inhabitants and features that keep your eyes entertained. Spice up your gorilla trekking experience so that you do not get bore or lose the moral for organizing this African safari since time of finding these primates is hard to determine.

In Bwindi forest there are other primates including blue monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more. Over 350 bird species are residents of Bwindi rain forest and over 115 bird species are residents of Mgahinga forest and more.

Book the gorilla trekking permit in advance because there supply is minimized to maximum 8 per day. This number of permits is too few for the overwhelming demand for them world over. The gorilla permits for the high season that is June to July and December to January are highly demanded and sellout in advance.

How To book the gorilla trekking permit for Uganda below are the tips.

• Select the date when to do gorilla trekking in Uganda
• Choose the people to travel with for gorilla trekking in Uganda in case you have company.
• Find availability of gorilla permits through either a tour operator or directly call Uganda wildlife Authority. At Arch Safaris And Tours, we can help you find availability of gorilla permits and arrange other necessary safari amenities Contact Us
• Reserve the gorilla permit as soon as you can because the availability status of gorilla permits changes any time without warning. No gorilla permit is reserved without payment.
• The best approach is to pay for the gorilla permit in full to avoid forgetting to top it up.  You may also purchase the Uganda gorilla permits in instalments that is 30% and 70% terms and conditions apply.
• Provide necessary personal details including your full names as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth and more.

Look with your eyes and camera when with the mountain gorillas because you have to maximize every moment of the one hour allowed before them. When with the mountain gorillas, you have to strike the balance of viewing and taking photos of these primates.  Mountain gorillas are so adorable to watch because of the way they conduct their life and make a comparison with the human way of life.

Whether travelling for luxury or budget gorilla trekking safari, the different is mainly with accommodation and transport. During gorilla trekking day, you all go together to watch the mountain gorillas as gorilla family allocation is done randomly without considering category.

Road transport is the main means to get Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park but it is best to use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition. You may decide to hire a jeep or safari van. The road condition poor especially in the countryside so do not expect a smooth ride.

Make friends with your drive guide because they have experience on the road and is enticed to take to spots which may be interesting and are not included on your itinerary but can quickly be accessed.

Flying gorilla trekking safari in Uganda can be arranged to reduce on the possible travel time to these primate destinations. You can board the daily scheduled domestic flights or charter flights for more private safari experience. Advance booking is recommended so that all necessary clearances can be made.

Service during the gorilla trekking safaris is usually generally slow so have some patience. Most service provider be in at the bar, restaurant, room service and others, deliver at a slower pace generally in Africa. Do not lose your cool because you may ruin the rest of your safari yet gorilla trekking is a dream come true experience that requires no stressing moments while on ground.

When booked on full Bord arrangement during gorilla trekking most of the times food is served in form of buffet for both lunch and supper. In case you wish to have a special meal arrangement, place your order in advance so that preparations can be made upfront.

Carry some hard cash during gorilla trekking safaris because credit cards are not normally used. This is because of the lengthy process of colleting money from them, fewer acquainted operators up country and more.  You may use the hard cash to purchase souvenirs, tip, purchase gorilla safari gears and more.

Do a community tour during gorilla trekking in Uganda to know how the close by communities co-exist with these primates or their daily life. When you return from gorilla trekking early and wish to do an additional safari activity, a community visit is a perfect choice. There are some activities you may take part in including, visit to the local medicine man, community hospital, schools, gardens and more.

While on a community in Bwindi or Mgahinga forest you get to taste the local cuisines as part of the adventure but this must have a recommendation from your driver guide to avoid getting food poisoning.

Hire a porter during gorilla trekking in Uganda because the topography of Bwindi or Mgahinga forests is steep. A porter is a person to help with carrying your gorilla trekking gears to avoid getting worked out by the extra weight yet time of tracing the mountain gorillas is hard to determine.

Most porter are reformed poachers who resort to utilizing the forest and its inhabitants for a better good. From the funds they collect, the porters use it to support their daily life and family.

The cost of hiring a porter during gorilla trekking range from $20 to $40 depending on the number of bags, weight of items and more.

A porter may give you a push when tired to extend and to you when crossing some difficult spots during gorilla trekking.

Choose the appropriate season for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. The dry season that is June to October and December to January is best preferred for gorilla safaris. More people in this season however get to book gorilla trekking safaris minimizing on the chances for last minute bookings. Note that the gross cost price for most logistics that support safaris is used

Shoulder season must not be ignore when planning gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda that is March to May and November. Fewer tourists are expected to do most Uganda safaris in the off season providing you the chance to get  more intense moment with these primates less interference.

Even those with a limited budget may take advantage of the low tourism season to do gorilla trekking when chances of bargaining for discounted costs are more open. For a private gorilla trekking experience without spending extra to close off the gorilla family are more possible.

Have some fitness level before the gorilla trekking safari. This is to assist you traverse the forest which is ragged with less difficulty. The mountain gorillas at time spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys of the several highlands and you have to follow them. Having some level of fitness gets you to this gorilla family without much difficulty.

No need to engage in vigorous exercising in preparation for gorilla trekking safari but start with simple exercises beyond the normal. Ask your fitness instructor for the right exercises to do suitable for your body.

Sedan chair or basket service is available for those with physical challenges but wish to go gorilla trekking in Uganda at an affordable cost. Advance booking is required so that all necessary plans can be made.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda

The cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda varies with category, number of people travelling, season, addition Uganda safari activities to combine with this safari.

Note that the cost of the gorilla trekking permit cuts across all categories of this safari whether going on Luxury, mid-range or entry safari.

The difference in the gorilla trekking safari categories is influenced by mainly the accommodation type, transport and more. You need to find the inclusions and exclusions in each gorilla trekking package to enable you prepare approprietly.

As you plan on how much to spend during the gorilla trekking safari, do not forget to include some cash to use for personal expenses. We encourage our clients to tip those who extend a service a token of appreciation that encourages them to even better their services.

What Are The Chances Of Seeing The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda

There are more chances of finding the mountain gorillas in Uganda that is about 99%. Uganda has the biggest population of mountain gorillas and even the gorilla families open for gorilla trekking are more compared to the counterparts Rwanda and D.R.Congo. Uganda has currently about 20 gorilla trekking families fully habituated and open to the public.

Each day a team of trackers follows the mountain gorillas and their report is used by the ranger guides escorting the tourists as clues to trace these primates. Sometimes the gorilla family may move far from this location so you need to have some level of patience. The mountain gorillas may move to a new location in search for better feeding grounds, weather condition of the day especially on an intense rainy day, mood in the forest and more. No matter where the gorilla family allocated to you may be, you are assured of finding them.