When you choose fly in Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda you need to secure a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority first. Ensure you book a seat on the daily domestic flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airport from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip. Charter flight services from Kajjansi or Entebbe airport are available. Enquire Now
Ensure you book a transfer vehicles from Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips as each of these airstrips is about 2hours drive away from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.
The fly time from Kajansi airstrip or Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips may take about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park all in the South Western part of Uganda. Each day, the gorilla trekking tourists are allocated to the different gorilla families within these parks.
To Book Gorilla trekking permits for Uganda, one needs to choose a date when you wish to do gorilla trekking or state the starting and ending time for your gorilla safari in Uganda. This helps with checking availability of the gorilla permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
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To book the Gorilla Trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you need to note that gorilla permits are booked according to area. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Book the Uganda Gorilla Permit
For any gorilla safari in Uganda whether gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience , booking the gorilla permit is the only guarantee to being part of the tourists to see the mountain Gorillas on a particular date.
Check for gorilla permit availability first and confirm the permits before committing yourself to this Uganda safari. The status of gorilla permits in Uganda changes any time without warning so it is best to secure the gorilla permits as soon as you can especially when hoping to travel in the peak season( June, July, August, September, December , January, February.
Note that Bwindi Gorilla trekking permits are booked according to the four area under which this park is divided and so for other logistics bookings like accommodation, consider these areas.
Later forward some of your personal details to be added to the gorilla permit card for identification on the day of gorilla trekking.
Book Transport to use during the Gorilla Trekking Tour
When you decide to book fly-in gorilla trekking in Uganda, ensure you secure a seat on the daily domestic flights. These Uganda domestic flights to Bwindi or Mgahinga are scheduled on the morning and afternoon leg.
Charter flight services can also be arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip.
Because of the high demand for flights to do gorilla trekking in Uganda, it is best to book the seats in advance to avoid inconveniences at the last minute.
Secure a transfer vehicle from Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip as these are about 2 hours away from the main gate of both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Another option is the using ground transport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. The distance from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park is about 530 kilometers and 540 kilometers respectively. The time taken from Kampala or Entebbe airport to Bwindi or Mgahinga is about 8 to 9 hours excluding the stops.
Book Accommodation For The Gorilla Trekking Tour In Uganda
For accommodation booking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to do gorilla trekking, choose those close to the area where the gorilla permit is booked. This is to ensure that you can get to the briefing point in time. Gorilla trekking in Uganda starts very early morning about 0730hours with briefing which is compulsory.
Missing gorilla trekking briefing may lead you to getting disqualified from attending this adventure
Bwindi accommodations: Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Buhoma Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Bwindi Backparker’s camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Engage lodge
Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge
Book other Uganda Safari activities
If you hope to do fly- in gorilla trekking with other Uganda safari activities, advance booking is required. Other uganda safari activities include chimpanzee trekking, game safaris, white water rafting in Uganda, visit source of River Nile and others.
Some of these Uganda Safari destinations where these activities happen can be reached by air too and can be added to the fly-in Uganda Safari itinerary.
When is the best Time To Book Fly-in Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda?
Uganda is open for gorilla trekking tours at any time but the most preferred season is the dry season. The dry tourism season is normally June to September and December to January. Although Bwindi and Mgahinga forests are known for receiving untimely rains, which condition the climate of this area to be cold almost the biggest part of the year, the dry seasons may be quite different.
The trails in both Bwindi and Mgahinga forests are dryer and rivers flow within the normal course. The vegetation along these trails is more controlled and doesn’t protrude through to obstruct the way.
Tracing the mountain gorillas is quicker in the dry season when they spend most of there time closer to the ground. Note that there is food scarcity too in the dry season so they have to seek new feeding grounds in case there is insufficient food supply.
Other forest residents including different monkey species, birds, mammals, butterflies and much more are full of life in the dry season so may be quicker to spot.
This being the peak Uganda tourism season too expect high competition for the gorilla permits of Uganda.
The cost of the fly in gorilla trekking tour in Uganda include the cost of gorilla permit which is compulsory to every tourist no matter the package you choose. Uganda Gorilla trekking packages are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and budget.
Some of what is considered to make a quotation for a Gorilla trekking package includes number of days on safari, people travelling with, time of booking, other Uganda safari activities to engage in and others.
Include other personal costs too while planning the fly-in gorilla trekking tour.
The current cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and 300000shs.
Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Difficult?
Gorilla trekking is quite challenging because of the different landforms resulting from volcanic action in this area. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park topography was affected by volcanic action that led to the formation of several landforms like ridges and plateaus. The vegetation that drapes down these highlands dates back thousands of years ago.
Walking through the jungle as you search for the mountain gorillas you may encounter some rough surfaces but you need to wear appropriate safari clothes and apply insect repellent to keep away stinging insects. The time taken walking in the jungle is hard to determine because of the free movement of the mountain gorillas in jungle.
Before travelling for gorilla trekking in Uganda, do pre-gorilla trekking exercises to keep some level of fitness so that you can with stand the conditions in the jungle.
What is the age limit for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda?
The age limit for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda is 12 years and over. This is because of the challenges in the jungle which children below this age may not be in position to withstand. Searching for mountain gorillas is takes sometime which may result into getting so tired yet children below this age may not be in position to withstand such a long time. At a glance mountain gorillas look scaring which may stimulate some adrenalin for most tourists and children below twelve years may not be in position to withstand this.
Even the mountain gorillas sometimes reach out to touch there visitors which may not go well with a child below 12 years.
Are mountain Gorillas dangerous?
Mountain Gorillas are not dangerous although there external looks seem to be scaring because of there dark furred body. In nature, mountain gorillas are serene and calm but donot provoke there patience. When agitated, mountain gorillas may act in an odd way like hooting, grab grass around them, thump hard there chests and much more.
It is not all the time that this happens that the mountain gorillas are angry but sometimes its away for them to tease there visitors, may be a family issue or just having fun. Wait for the ranger guide to first establish the root cause of the matter. In case you run away, the mountain gorillas may rage causing a stampede in the forest.
How Many People Are Allowed To Go Gorilla Trekking In Uganda?
Maximum 8 people are allowed to go gorilla trekking for every gorilla family. Uganda at the moment has about 20 gorilla families. The number of people allowed to go gorilla trekking is regulated to this to reduce on the effects of having a large population in the wilderness.
If many people are allowed to visit the mountain gorillas, they may trample on the grass on which these primates feed.
In nature mountain gorillas are vegetarian and feed on foliage to survive through the day and night despite there huge body weight.
What Time Do You Locate The Mountain Gorillas during Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Time of locating the mountain gorillas is hard to determine because mountain gorillas live freely in the wild and keep walking in the jungle with nothing to stop them. Searching for the mountain gorillas takes unknown time but finally when you come face to face with the mountain gorillas, the feeling of being close to the mountain gorillas is unmatched.
Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you get closer to them. This is to allow the mountain gorillas to go on with there day life activities like grooming, combing there hairs, feeding and much more. The presence of humans disrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are such lovely primates to be in company with and it is very easy to fall in love with these primates. As you get away from the mountain gorillas, it is very hard to get away from because the mountain gorillas are highly vulnerable primates.
Can I Go Gorilla Trekking Twice In Uganda?
You can go gorilla trekking in Uganda as many times as you wish as long as you purchase the gorilla permit for each time and the permits are available per your dates. You can also engage in gorilla habituation experience where tourists are allowed 4 hours in the company of semi-habituated mountain gorillas. At the moment, there are 4 gorilla habituation experience families open to public booking.
Each day gorilla trekking happens once and only 8 people are allowed to visit these mountain gorillas. This gorilla trekking safari starts very early in the morning with briefing and return time after this safari is hard to determine.
What is the Packing list for a Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda?
A camera to take photographs during the gorilla trekking tours
Insect repellant to keep away insects that can bite and hurt you as you search
Garden gloves to protect your palms from rough surfaces in the jungle
Safari foldable hat to protect your head from buzzing insects
A torch to use for lighting especially when lights go down.
Back pack waterproof to protect your belonging from getting wet and scattering in the wilderness.
Water bottle to carry with drinking water in order to quench thirst.
Safari boots to cover your feet from the rough surfaces in the jungle.
Safari clothes in colors that are wilderness friendly.
Warm clothes as it gets very cold in the morning and afternoon
Raincoat as it tends to fall any time in Bwindi or Mgahinga forest without warning.
First aid kit for any emergency treatment
Extra fully charged batteries
Binoculars
Toiletries
Flip flops