How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Uganda gorilla trekking families are booked under areas where they are located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was partitioned into four areas that is Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south.

When booking Uganda gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi, you must note where the gorilla permit is booked especially when securing accommodation. At the moment, Uganda is celebrating 19 gorilla trekking families living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Some Uganda gorilla families include Rushegura, Nshongi, NKuringo, Kahungye, Muhozi, Mucunguzi, Oruzogo, Rwigi, Christmans, Nyakagezi and others. ENQUIRE NOW

Chances for more Uganda gorilla trekking families are open as the gorilla habituation process is still going on. Gorilla habituation process is where a wild gorilla family is helped by researchers and habituators to get accustomed to human presence without altering there nature.

As you prepare for the gorilla trekking safari, ensure you note where your gorilla permit is booked to avoid having to drive in the dark to catch up with briefing in another area.

What are the Gorilla trekking families in Buhoma area?

At the moment, Buhoma area has three gorilla families that is Rushegura, Mubare and Habyinyanja. Buhoma area of Bwindi forest being the pioneer area for gorilla trekking activities is more famous than other area. Its where the main administrative office of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are found.

Buhoma area being a historical section of Bwindi had its first gorilla trekking family Mubare opened in 1993 sometimes known as Group M. in 1998 another gorilla trekking family called Habyinyanja was opened to public visits. By 2002, Rushegura gorilla family was also added to the gorilla trekking families of Buhoma area the rest is history.

In terms of accommodation, Buhoma area offers the longest list of accommodation for all categories( Luxury, Mid-range and Budget facilities) to use during gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

• Buhoma accommodations : Gorilla Forest Lodge, Mahogany springs, Engage lodge, Lake Kitandara Tented Camp, Buhoma Community Bandas, Gorilla Resort, Silverback Lodge
• How to get to Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Several routes lead to Buhoma area from which ever destinations you are coming from. Some of these routes include :

Entebbe/ Kampala to Kabale To Kanungu To Buhoma a distance of about 534 kilometers

Kampala /Entebbe to Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kihihi to Buhoma a distance of about 472 kilometers.

Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kihihi to Buhoma a distance of about 160 kilometers from Mweya and 64 kilometers from Ishasha sector

What are the Gorilla trekking families for Ruhija area?

Ruhija area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts about four gorilla trekking families that is Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro and Mukisa. These gorilla families are allocated to tourists on briefing day but the criteria of gorilla family allocation is not easy to determine. Sometimes gorilla families are allocated according to age brackets, physical capability, relationship and others.

Ruhija area is affected by its poor road condition, which makes it a challenging area of Bwindi to visit. For keen birders, Ruhija area is the prime birding area of Bwindi forest.

Accommodations options for Ruhija area are limited but you can also overnight in Buhoma area then drive to the briefing pint early morning. From Buhoma are, Ruhija area is about 2 hour’s drive. Remember to carry packed lunch from your lodge in Buhoma area because other than the unknown time to return from gorilla trekking, you have to also drive back.

• Ruhija area accommodation: Ruhija gorilla Lodge, Broadbill Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Engage lodge
• How to get to Ruhija area of Bwindi

Getting to Ruhija area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Buhoma area is possible but you can also directly drive from Kabale to Ruhija.

The poor condition of the road to Ruhija makes travel to this area challenging so you need to have atleast a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition.

Entebbe or Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija area. The drive from Kampala to Kabale is about 414 kilometers then connect to Ruhija for about 47 kilometers. During the severe rain season, the road to Ruhija is very messy and should only be attempted by a 4x4wheel drive vehicle.

What Gorilla trekking Families are found in Nkuringo area?

Nkuringo area at the moment has gorilla trekking families like Nkuringo family, Christmas and Muhozi family. This area hosts the first gorilla trekking family to be opened to the public in the southern sector of Bwindi that is Nkuringo family in 2004 and by the time of opening it had 19 mountain gorillas under 1 dominant silverback. From Nkuringo area, you can also go for gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure in the southern sector of Bwindi where tourists accompany a team of tourists to spend four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

• Nkuringo area accommodations: Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Clouds Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backerpacker’s Camp.
• How To get To Nkuringo area of Bwindi

Nkuringo lies in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park . from Kampala or Entebbe, you can get to Nkuringo area by taking the :

Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale to Nkuringo route. The distance you drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Kabale is about 414 kilometers then drive 105 kilometers to Nkuringo area. In case you overnight in Kisoro town, which is about 80 kilometers from Kabale. You have to wake up early morning to drive to Nkuringo area of Bwindi which is about 35 kilometer from Kisoro town for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

What are the gorilla trekking families of Rushaga area of Bwindi?

Rushaga area of Bwindi has currently about 8 gorilla families some include Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Rwigi, Mucunguzi, Bweza. From Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can get to the gorilla habituation experience families. Gorilla habituation expreince currently has two gorilla families and its an opportunity to enjoy extra time with the mountain gorillas on the same day that is four hours. Gorilla trekking experience allow one hour with a fully habituated gorilla family.

For accommodations of Rushaga area, you can also overnight in Nkuringo area which is just a short distance away.

Rushaga accommodations: Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Camp

How to get to Rushaga area of Bwindi

From Kampala or Entebbe you drive to Kabale to Rushaga area. The distance you cover from Kampala or Entebbe to Rushaga is about 519 kilometers for about 8 to 9 hours.

What are the Gorilla trekking families of Mgahinga National Park?

Mgahinga national Park so far has one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi. This gorilla family used to meander into Rwanda in the past making it hard to pre-book its permits. Currently, the Nyakagezi gorilla family has settled in Uganda and its permits are available for pre-booking.

Although Mgahinga National Park is the smallest Uganda National park covering about 33. 7 kilometers, the park hosts other interesting endangered primates called the golden monkeys. They are a special monkey specie with a larger body compared to normal monkeys ad charming to visit too.

Since Mgahinga national Park has been less visited, it still bares its virgin look and for authentic gorilla trekking experience, this is the ideal destination of Uganda

Note:

By Air

All Bwindi Impenetrable National Park areas  and Mgahinga National Park can be reached when you use the daily domestic flight from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe Airport. Each day flights depart Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe airport to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrips up country. You must hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge which two hours’ drive.

Seats on these daily domestic flights need to be booked in advance because they sell out too especially in the peak season which is June, July, August, September , December and January.

Charter flight services are available too from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip for those wishing to take private transport. You need a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

When Can I Book Gorilla permits For Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour?

Booking the gorilla trekking permit in advance is the best choice as you save yourself the last minute panic especially during the high season. Some tourists book the gorilla permits at least 6 months to a year upfront so during the peak season they have nothing to worry about. To confirm attending any Uganda gorilla safari, you must have secured a gorilla permit.

At the moment, Uganda has 156 gorilla trekking permits opened to the public to book but because of the overwhelming demand worldwide, these permits sell out especially during high season. First come first served basis is the criteria used to book Uganda gorilla permits as per the policy of Uganda wildlife authority. None of the gorilla trekking permits can ever be reserved without payment.

Gorilla habituation experience permits area available too but currently only 4 permits are open to public booking per day per family.

Booking your gorilla permits late may cause you to loose out on them.

How Much Is The Cost Of Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit?

The Uganda gorilla trekking permit currently costs $ 700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and 250,000shs for East Africans.

The gorilla trekking permit cost covers park fees lasting 24 hours from entry time into the park in gorilla trekking day, mountain gorilla conservation, one hour of gorilla trekking, government tax and others.

Exclusions in the cost of gorilla trekking permit include tips, porter hire, souvenirs and any other individual expenses.

Can I Buy Uganda Gorilla trekking Permits in Instalment?

Uganda wildlife Authority accepts instalment gorilla permit purchase as long as you are within the required time limit.  The authority accepts instalment gorilla permit purchases of 30% and 70% respectively. To qualify for instalment gorilla trekking permit purchase, you must buy the permit before 90 days to trekking day and top up before 90 days to trekking day.

Failure to honor the top update may cause your permit to be released back to the public without notifying you. You also loose the deposit.

At Arch Safaris And Tours, we encourage clients to purchase there gorilla permits in fully just to prevent chases of forgetting to top up.

Is Gorilla Permit reschedule accepted in Uganda?

Yes, Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts gorilla permit reschedule but you need to fix the next date within the year for which the permit was booked. The gorilla trekking permits must also be fully paid for before rescheduling it.

Procedure

Write to Uganda Wildlife Authority reservation office request gorilla permit reschedule to a new date. In case you have standing reason why you cannot travel and do gorilla trekking per the previous date, include it too as back up.

Upon accepting your request, your gorilla permit is moved per the prevailing gorilla permit availability.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

The duration of the gorilla trekking safari is hard to determine as its based on factors prevailing in the wilderness. Finding the mountain gorillas is influenced by the location of there food, weather conditions prevailing in the day, mood of the gorilla family, pace of fellow tourists and others.

Visitors are request to bare some level of patience before finding the mountain gorillas. Look out for other charming features in the wilderness like plateaus, ridges, waterfalls, different flora, fauna and a lot more.

In order not to delay the rest, engage in some exercising before the gorilla trekking safari so as to keep fit. Sometimes when the mountain gorillas spend there day at the slopes, tourists have to hike where they are. Hiking is quite challenging because of the slippery slopes and decomposing matter along the way. Wear the right gorilla trekking gears that can protect you from getting hurt.

When you find the mountain gorillas, only an hour is allowed with them. As you get away, do it sneakily without getting noticed as advised by the ranger guides. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates that can get moody when faced by anything that can agitate them.