How To Plan Gorilla Trekking Safari For Family Vacation

Creating family memories on vacation is exquisite but taking gorilla trekking with family is an exceptional plan. Many travelers spend years planning and saving for gorilla trekking but sharing this precious experience with family is a treasure chest for memories.

A lot of travelers search for options on the internet and check for the most cost friendly gorilla trekking prices but the gorilla tracking permit must be the number one cost. Gorilla permits are sold person per trek. They are not shared nor discounted according to the number of people travelling with. Each individual gorilla permit in Uganda costs $ 700 and in Rwanda the gorilla permit price is $1500 per person.

What To consider For Family Gorilla Trekking In Africa

The Number of People Travelling with for Gorilla Trekking

The thought of gorilla trekking with family is exciting but who is travelling for this experience. The less the people you are travelling with the more the cost per person. In case you are the overall funder of this great Africa holiday you must lookout for the number of people you are planning for.

In case each person is paying for there tour expenses then the more the people added to the family vacation, the less the cost price per person. You get to share costs on gas, vehicle, the guide driver, accommodation and so much more.

Gorilla trekking permit booking in Africa

As mentioned prior, each individual needs a gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda. The dates preferred to do gorilla trekking are vital for availability search.

Each day the Rwanda Development Board ( RDB) or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) issue  gorilla trekking permits per day of the year. Travelers book permit as early as a year in advance but booking 3 months to the date of travel is possible basing on availability.

Confirming availability of gorilla permits doesn’t guarantee that the status quo will remain the same in the next hour or two. The number of gorilla permits available changes timely since allover the world gorilla trekking permits are sold in three countries only that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

 The Ages For Family members Doing Gorilla Trekking in Africa

Doing all activities on an Africa safari as family is nice but with gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, there is a cap to the age limit which is 15 years and above.

This is because of the nature of the topography of Bwindi forest or Volcanoes park that needs some hiking to get to the gorillas. At times it may be strenuous locating the mountain gorillas.  Children below this year may find it tiring to move on at some point. This delays the rest of the group yet the forest is huge returning after you have moved a distance is time wasting.

At times these children are affected by altitude which is about 2600m above sea level. This may not work well on children below this age.

The park has some activities which may involve children like the village walk, visiting the Batwa and even the some lodges have children activities but these are upon request.

Immunization before gorilla trekking in Africa

After the Covid-19 pandemic, immunization for Corona per country became relevant. Initially, one of the rules of gorilla trekking included being communicable disease free and now more action on disease control is being followed.

To be allowed to do gorilla trekking, you must present covid-19 immunization certificate or negative test Corona Virus results atleast 72 hours prior to travelling to see the mountain gorillas.

This may seem so stressing but mountain gorilla conservation has taken so many years from the time only about 500 gorillas were existing in the world to currently about 800 mountain gorillas. This conservation achievement can go down the gutters by only one mistake of allowing a communicable disease infected person to trek the gorillas.

Immunising for other diseases like yellow fever, malaria and others as recommended by the travel guidelines is important for your gorilla trekking safari preparations.

Booking a gorilla trekking package for the family

Having an itinerary to follow during gorilla trekking safari in Africa is time saving and reduces on the panic you may go through if you travel with no plan. A range of safari packages are available like 3 day gorilla trekking,

 4 day gorilla trekking and White water rafting trekking

5 day gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safari

6 day gorilla trekking and Wildlife safari

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safari

Check For More

These give you a better guideline on what you wish to do and on which date. In case you want to have a special moment during gorilla trekking like engagement, birthday surprise and so much more, you can follow the days provided.

You need to inform your travel agent prior to travelling in case you have any special arrangements so that the park authorities are in the know and also make special arrangements for this. Ask Arch Safaris and Tours safari consultant.

Rwanda has a 2 day gorilla trekking safari itinerary but this may not be suitable for family vacation since lots of baggage is involved. At times it’s consuming to get all people travelling with in the same place at the same time in the shortest time. This itinerary is a rash program arrangement.

Make Early Flight Arrangements Before Gorilla Trekking with Family

International flights get over booked during holiday seasons. If you hope to travel with family for gorilla trekking in Africa, depending on the number of people travelling with, you need to book international flights in advance.

Gorilla trekking permits are not rescheduled when it gets to some days towards your booked date. This may call for a hefty price as per the rules set by authorities.

Even if you are not coming from the same place or country and booked on different flights, you need to be in Uganda or Rwanda at least a day before starting the gorilla trekking safari. This enables you to put all required gorilla trekking gears to travel with to the countryside together.

In case any flights are missed by someone on the party, you need to communicate with us at Arch Safaris and Tours so that private arrangements are made for this person to catch up.

 Domestic flights to gorilla trekking parks in Uganda also require prior arrangements. In case you choose this arrangement for the family vacation, advance reservation is need. This is because domestic flights get overbooked especially during peak seasons.

Hire a comfortable vehicle for gorilla trekking safari with family.

Although gorilla trekking packages we tailor at Arch Safaris And Tours include car hire, reserving a comfortable car for families is special. Each person needs a window seat or a comfortable position for the entire safari.

Most of the vehicles have limit in the number of seats and access to a window. No one wants to be obstructed during the safari. The more the family members the more the safari vehicles to book.

Advise On Meal Arrangements Prior To Gorilla Trekking

Travelling with family members with allergies can be challenging in case you don’t advise anyone on their meal plan. Before travelling for gorilla trekking, we recommend our clients to give us there meal plan in advance in case some have food allergies.

Some travelers want to taste local cuisines which is an additional adventure but do ask for assistance from your guide driver. He knows the best hygienically approved spots where this local food arrangement can be made.

Lots of street food is sold on the way but we do not advise clients to buy this because of food poisoning possibility.

Most of the accommodations up country are Full Board facilities but you need to advise on what you prefer to be served at meals. This is in case you are not comfortable with a certain meal arrangement.

Lots of organic fruits and vegetables are locally grown and served at these lodges. For vegans you are fully covered during your stay during gorilla trekking.

Organize Gorilla Trekking Gears in advance

Sharing a list of gorilla trekking gears with each member of family travelling is helpful. On ground there is less time to go shopping for any gears because of the proximity of most shops in Town.

Even on departure day to go to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park there is no time to waste shopping. The program is normally tight because of the long hours expected to drive on the road.

Additional Safari Tours To Book With Gorilla trekking in Africa

Chimpanzee trekking in Africa

Where gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda, you can do chimpanzee trekking. In Uganda Kibale Forest National park has the largest number of habituated chimpanzees in Africa. Rwanda chimpanzee trekking is in Nyungwe National park.

Chimpanzees are lovely to trek especially with family because of there behavior resemblance with human families. Trekking to see them is lovely family bonding time.

Game drives After Gorilla Trekking

Although gorilla trekking is a whole day adventure, you can still connect to the game parks like Queen Elizabeth National park depending on the time of return from Bwindi Forest or Volcanoes national park.

Lots of wild animals and scenery are lovely to look at. Some wild animals include tree climbing lions, leopards, herds of elephant, topis, water bucks, bush bucks, huge mountain of the moon (Mountain Rwenzori).

A game safari to Murchison falls National park gives you chance on River Nile especially the Launch Trip to Murchison Falls. The pack is endowed with great scenery like the platue overlooking River Nile Valley with lots of birds. Lots of wild animals like wildebeests, lions, herds of buffaloes, giraffes, bush bucks, huge Nile Crocodiles, excited hippos and so much more.

White water fating on River Nile with family

Relaxing on River Nile after gorilla trekking is absolutely refreshing. It doesn’t matter if you have no experience in peddling. Experienced divers and trainer are present to take you through short lessons on how to overcome the tides. Kayaks are also present for any one not comfortable with rapid tides

You can do family floating River Nile.

BOOK NOW