How To Plan A Fly-in Gorilla and Game Safari in Uganda

To plan a fly in gorilla and game safari in Uganda you need a gorilla permit as the only ticket that confirms this Uganda safari. Afterwards book the plane tickets on the scheduled flights to the gorilla safari parks. Charter flights to the Uganda gorilla safari destinations are available too for high-end clients. BOOK NOW

In Uganda, gorilla trekking and game safaris can happen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Both parks are situated in the southern part of Uganda.

Do check out the logistics that support gorilla and game safaris in Uganda that is accommodation, transport and others in advance. During the dry season, the demand for gorilla and game safaris in Uganda is high yet supply is limited creating scarcity of options at the last minute.

How To Book A Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit

The requirement needed to book a Uganda gorilla permit include a gorilla trekking date, number of people travelling with, number of days on Uganda safari and others.

We recommend that you use the service of a tour operator to help lift off your shoulders the burn of planning the gorilla and game safari in Uganda. The Tour operator checks availability as per the dates of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Upon finding available, it is best to book the gorilla permit as soon as you can because the status of the gorilla permits changes any time without warning. Each day maximum 8 gorilla permits are open for public booking. The demand for gorilla permits is high especially in the peak season months which are normally June, July, August, September and October.

Majority of the Uganda gorilla permits are sold in advance and by 90 days to the gorilla trekking dates, most of the options are out unavailable. Uganda Gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are sold according to the areas under which the park is divided.

No Uganda gorilla permit is booked without payment which you can do fully or in installments according to the policy of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Avail some personal details including personal details like your full names, date of birth, nationality and other details as these are used to fill your identification details to be added to your gorilla permit card.

Book Flights To the Uganda Gorilla safari or game Parks

Reserving the flights to use for transport to the Uganda gorilla trekking and game parks is very important. Two options of flights to these Uganda National Parks are available that is scheduled flights and charter flights. The seats on the scheduled flight to the Uganda National Parks sell out during the peak tourism season in the country so advance booking us required.

Avail personal details to use for booking the flights to these destinations as requested. Note that local people sometimes use these scheduled flights to go up country so finding seat available may be challenging especially for last minute bookers.

The scheduled flights from Kajjansi or Entebbe airport fly to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip then board a transfer vehicle to Bwindi impenetrable National Park.

Charter flight services can be booked anytime however all necessary clearances need to be made in advance.

Reserve Accommodation To Use On Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda

For gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it is best to book accommodation according to the areas under which your gorilla permit is booked. Spending the night within or closer to the area under which the Bwindi gorilla permit is booked saves time of having to drive in the night to get to the briefing point in another area.

The nature of the topography of Bwindi forested area was highly affected by serious volcanic action resulting in the formation of a series of highlands that make it hard to cross from one area to another.

Even Bwindi accommodations sell out during the peak season and so finding the best options under the different categories is quite hard too. chances of ending up sleeping at a facility that is out of your budget or choice may be high and so ruining your experience

Even accommodations to use on game safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park sell out in the dry season. Reserving the accommodation to use on safari in this park is very wise especially when hoping to travel in the peaks season.

When Is The Best Months To Do Fly In Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda

Even though Uganda safaris including gorilla trekking and game safaris are open all year, the dry months are best for these safaris. The dry season in Uganda are normally June, July, August, September, October, December and January. This weather favors traversing the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park without getting stuck in the muddy ground. The vegetation in the wilderness is lower allowing better visibility.

In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where gorilla trekking happens, the conditions in the forest are drier allowing the trekkers to traverse the wilderness faster as they search for the mountain gorillas. Bwindi forest is a moist forest almost all year and even rains fall without warning yet less sunrays are let in through the dense canopy to the ground.

For game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park during the dry season, the grass is generally lower permitting better visibility of game. Even the animals in action may be quicker to spot in the field during this season. On a bright sunny day, chances of enjoying the sparkling glaciers on top of mountain Rwenzori are higher while on the floor of the rift valley.

Even the wet months of the year are not excluded for those hoping to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi and game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The wet season or months in Uganda are normally March, April, May and November when more rains are expected to fall but gorilla trekking still goes on even though attendance may be less.

For game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, chances of witnessing a new life being born are higher in the wet season since the grass which is a hiding places for the vulnerable infants is higher.

Note that the flight changes to the Bwindi impenetrable National Park ( Kihihi) or Queen Elizabeth National Park ( Mweya airstrip) may be made according to the prevailing weather conditions.

How Much Is The Cost Of Fly-In Gorilla Trekking And Game Safaris In Uganda

The cost of fly in gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park varies with category that is Luxury, midrange and basic. The cost of the gorilla safari to Bwindi is currently $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans. This is a compulsory cost for very tourists on this safari no matter the category of tour package.

Other than the cost of gorilla trekking permits, the cost of air ticket also varies with destination, class, baggage weight and others. The cost of other logistics that support the fly in gorilla and game safari in Uganda also matters in this Uganda safari package.

Donot forget to the cost of the transfer vehicle to use from the Kihihi airstrip or Mweya airstrip to your lodge during the gorilla and game safari in Uganda.

Tipping as a token of appreciation is a noble gesture we encourage our tourists to generously extend to those who offer services to them. This is an encouragement or the service providers to eve better their work.

Is The Cost Of The Gorilla Trekking Permit Worth The Money

The cost of gorilla trekking permit for Uganda is worth the money as it is a ticket that gives you chance to be with the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Being in the presence of the mountain gorilla is a dream come true experience shared but a few participants as maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family per day.

Standing face to face with the mountain gorillas brings some chills over the entire body because you get to shiver as you sweat. For those who have participated in gorilla trekking each has a different feeling after meeting these mountain gorillas. Many have emerged from gorilla trekking in tears of joy and sadness not wishing to leave the presence of the mountain gorillas.

When you buy a gorilla permit, you contribute to the fund that supports the conservation of mountain gorillas.

How safe is the Fly in Gorilla Trekking and Game Safari in Uganda

Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park are safe to visit even though they are parks in the wilderness. On ground is a team of professional well trained ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority in place to protect the park and its visitors.

The ranger guides do a joint security operation with support from other Uganda security agencies in order to keep Law and order at these destinations.

Before moving into Bwindi forest in search for the mountain gorillas or any other activities in the park, you need an armed ranger guide in your company. This is to protect you from attacks from other forest inhabitants in case you cross paths with them.

Each Uganda National park has guidelines that every tourist is expected to abide by for personal safety and the wild animal. Before gorilla trekking, all tourists are expected to attend briefing for every gorilla trekking tour you take.

Donot step out of your vehicle during the game safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park unless in the company of an armed ranger guide. In the wilderness there are wild animals that may charge at you from un known direction.

Mountain gorillas are known for there serene nature but can charge when provoked. Donot panic upon seeing such behavior but wait or the ranger guide to find out the cause in the change in the mood of the mountain gorillas. follow the example of actions made by the ranger guide even when it involves trying to chew the foliage. This is normally done to show the gorilla that you have no bad intentions for visiting.

How Long Is The Gorilla Trekking Tour In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park take about two hours or more depending on factors prevailing in the wilderness. From the starting point of the gorilla trekking tour, some of the factors that may determine the time of finding the mountain gorillas include proximity of food source for the gorilla family, mood of the gorillas, weather, pace of fellow trekkers and others.

We encourage our tourists not to focus on only fining the mountain gorillas but open their mind to even other interesting items along the way like rivers, waterfalls, other primates, unique physical features and others.

Some level of patience is necessary before finding the mountain gorillas and when in the presence of these primates, make use of every minute and take as many photos as you desire for you to get back to.

Only one hour is allowed with the gorillas when you find them as a conservation move to allow these primate go on with there way of life.

Packing List For The Fly-in gorilla trekking and Game safari in Uganda

Safari boots to wear during the trek to find the mountain gorillas in Uganda. They must be comfortable to support you for the time you search for the mountain gorillas.

A camera for taking photos while in the wilderness with the mountain gorillas

Energy bites for you to much on during the gorilla and game safari in Uganda

Garden gloves to protect your finger from touching stinging nettles

Back pack to carry with your gorilla trekking gears or game safari supplies

Extra hard cash to use for on ground purchases

Long sleeved shirt and trousers to protect your body from the rough surfaces in the jungle

Safari hat to cover your body from falling leave from the trees in the wilderness

Touch to use for lighting in case lights run out

Waterproof gears in case it falls while in the jungle

Some warmers as the weather of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is cold most of the day as the sun doesn’t shine all day. The mornings and late afternoons in Queen Elizabeth National Park are normally very cold.

Sun screen

Insect repellant

Extra fully charged batteries