How Much is The cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda

The cost of gorilla trekking safari in Uganda starts with the gorilla permit price which is currently $800 for foreign nonresidents. Other factors that may be considered in the gorilla safari package quotation include number of people travelling with, additional Uganda safari activities, number of days on safari, timing and much more.

The Uganda gorilla safari packages are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic each of these composed of varying amenities which you can consider before selecting a gorilla safari package.

To confirm any gorilla tour in Uganda, you must have a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Due to high demand for gorilla permits yet they are limited in number, it is best to secure your permit in advance. The number of gorilla permits open to the public per day is maximum 8 per gorilla family a conservation move taken regulate mass tourism.

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda live in two parks that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. The mountain gorillas in the entire world are existing in only three countries Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo. These primates are some of the highly endangered because current census shows that about 1000 mountain gorillas are living in the entire world.

After securing the gorilla permit, accommodation to use during the gorilla safari is very important. This is because there are limited facilities in these Uganda safari destinations which sell out during the peak season. The peak season is normally June, July, August, September, early October and is characterized with high influx of tourists all on different missions other than gorilla trekking.

Tending Gorilla Safaris

10 day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari

9 day gorilla, wildlife and chimpanzee tour

8 day gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife tour

6 day gorilla and chimpanzee safari

3 day gorilla trekking in Uganda

3 day gorilla habituation experience

3 day gorilla safari in Rwanda

Before booking accommodation for Bwindi impenetrable national Park, consider the area where your gorilla permit is booked. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is partitioned into four areas that is Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south. All these gorilla trekking areas are separated by some physical obstacles that make it challenging to cross easily from one area to another.

To save time during the gorilla safari in Uganda, consider the area where your gorilla permit for Bwindi is booked so that you donot have to panic and drive early morning to catch up with briefing in another area.

Tipping on a gorilla trekking tour is one of the ways to encourage the lodge staff, driver guides, ranger guides and others to perform better at there work. It may not be compulsory but a token of appreciation. We encourage our clients to generously tip these service providers.

When Can I Book A Gorilla Trekking Safari To Uganda?

The best time to book a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda is any time of the year but reservations for the peak season which is June to October requires advance gorilla permit booking atleast 6 months upfront.

Since the gorilla permit is the only entry permit into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park yet there supply is restricted to maximum 8 per gorilla family, it is more secure to do advance booking.

The low season that is March, April, May, November may come with opportunities to last minute gorilla permit booking however, this is not a guarantee all the time. To be in the safe side, book your gorilla permit in advance no matter the season you plan to travel.

Can I Reschedule the Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit?

In case you are incapable of travelling to do the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda but hope to do so in the future, you can reschedule your gorilla permit to a future date but within the year for which it was booked.

The procedure for gorilla permit reschedule in Uganda include

 Write to the reservation office of Uganda Wildlife Authority requesting to reschedule the gorilla permit. State the date for which you wish the gorilla permit to be moved too. You may also state the reason for not honoring the pre-booked date for the gorilla safari and attach evidence to back this up.

When this request is granted, the gorilla permit is rebooked per your requested date depending on the status of availability.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda?

12 years and over is the set age limit for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda. This was changed from 15 years to give opportunities to more children to learn more about the ecosystem and appreciate the relevancy of conserving the mountain gorillas in there natural setting.

Based on the nature of the topography of Bwindi forest and Mgahinga forest which is jagged, children below 12 years may not be in position to hike the steep slopes to get to where the mountain gorillas may be spending the day.

At a glance, the intimidating look in the deep sunken eyes of the mountain gorillas may send a cold chill down your spine which may cause the children under this age to shout. This is may scare the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers causing chaos in the forest.

How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking Adventure In Uganda?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are safe for gorilla trekking because ion ground there is a team of well trained ranger guides and other Uganda security agencies to protect these habitats.

All tourists must attend briefing before venturing into the pristine forest to search for the mountain gorillas, during briefing, guidelines of the gorilla safari and other important information necessary for your safety in the forest is given in detail

On a personal level, you must never enter Bwindi or Mgahinga forest without an escorting ranger guide as these carry some basic defense weapons in case of an emergency. Other than the mountain gorillas, these forest host other unhabituated dwellers that may harm you.

Which Accommodation To Book For Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda?

When booking accommodations to use during the gorilla safari in Uganda, you also need to note where your gorilla permit is booked. Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national Park accommodations are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic.

Bwindi Accommodations: Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge, Clouds Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Bwindi Backpacker’s Camp

Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Lodge, Traveller’s Inn

How To get To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

By Road  

Several routes lead to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park a journey that may take about 8 to 9 hours. Some of the routes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kampala include:

Kampala to Kable to Kanungu to  Buhoma

Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma

Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo

Note: 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is preferred during this gorilla safari tout because of the challenges on the roads in the countryside of Uganda.

By Air

 Daily scheduled flights depart Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip but you need a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

Charter flight arrangements can also be made but this must be done in advance.

How To Get To Mgahinga National Park

By Road

The drive from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park is about 540 kilometers for about 8 to 9 hours excluding stops.

From Kampala drive to Kabale to Kisoro to Ntebeko the headquarters of Mgahinga National Park. From Kabale to Kisoro town, the 80 kilometers winding road sometimes gets messy so you need to drive carefully in this mountainous area.

By air

Daily scheduled domestic flights are available for booking at Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrip. A transfer vehicle is required as it takes about 14 kilometers from Kisoro airstrip to Ntebeko gate.

 Charter flight arrangements can also be made but require advance booking so that all necessary clearances are made.

How Easy Or Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda?

Generally gorilla trekking is quite strenuous because of the nature of the topography of the Virunga area which is volcanic. The Mountain Gorillas are mobile primates that traverse the forest without any barriers stopping them not even the high cliffs.

From the starting point of the trek, prepare to slope or hike some highlands in order to get to where the mountain gorillas may be spending the day. Sometimes the mountain gorillas are at the slopes so you have to hike or deep in the valley.

Hiring a porter to help lift your bags leaves you with nothing to weigh you back so you can move faster and are not afraid of the approaching mountain gorillas.

Along the way is thick vegetation that has culminated over time making it quite challenging to break though unless trimmed. Sometimes you may be required to creep under the vines which may challenging.

Finally when face to face with the mountain gorillas, stay composed and not to try walk away even though there curiosity brings them closer to where you are.

Why Do Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda?

The gorilla Trekking safari in Uganda is an unforgettable experience that lasts a lifetime. The mountain gorillas in Uganda are some of the few leftover in the world with no chances of finding them elsewhere in the world.

The limited number of gorilla trekking permits open to the world leaves out many potential travelers wishing to visit the mountain gorillas each year.

When you purchase the gorilla permit, a portion of the money is added to the mountain gorilla conservation fund, a portion given to the community around the parks to support there projects and much more.

When you hire a porter to help with carrying your bags, it is one of the direct ways to give back to the local community.

Gorilla trekking is a dream come true Africa safari experience worth adding to the bucket list before you age. Even when you age gorilla trekking can still be done using sedan chair service.

What More To See In Bwindi Impenetrable And Mgahinga National Park Other Than The Mountain Gorillas?

Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks are prehistoric forests in South western Uganda that are believed to have survived the arid conditions of the ice age era. There existence gave home to some of the remnants of this period which earned them the name biosphere reserves.

They both support a tremendous list of flora and fauna because of the varied habitats ranging from lowland to Afromontane vegetation.

 Some of the inhabitants of Bwindi forest you may get chance to spot include more than 200 tree species, reptiles, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, chimpanzees, LHoest’s and others.

The long list of birds that roost in these forest are a magnet to keen birders on safari in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. these forests are home to a number of Albertine rift endemics including those on the red data list of IUCN. Some of the birds in Bwindi and Mgahinga forests include Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori turaco and others.

How long is Gorilla Trekking Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park?

Even though the duration of the gorilla trekking tour in Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable National park is hard to determine, it may last about 2 hours to more before locating the mountain gorillas.

It is best to open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers like the primates, birds, sparkling water falls, different tree species and much more. This will expand the list of what you get to see in these forest and also keep you yarning to finally get face to face with the mountain gorillas.

Upon locating the mountain gorillas, only one precious hour is allowed with them because they are habituated to be before humans for just that time. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to human presence without altering there nature.

While with the mountain gorillas, donot stare into there eyes because this makes you look suspicious before them. They are very sensitive primates that retreat very easily into the deeper forest when provoked. As you get away from the gorilla family, do it without causing any suspension and follow the ranger guide’s directions until you are finally out of sight.

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