How to Plan A Luxury Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari in Uganda Through Rwanda

When planning to do luxury gorilla trekking and game safari in Uganda through Rwanda you need to secure a Uganda gorilla permit first. Uganda has a number of premium  accommodation facilities that offer a blend of nature and eco based facilities with a touch of modern technology to create a home away from home. Accommodation on safari plays a big role in determining the type of gorilla safari package you enjoy. Enquire Now

In Uganda gorilla trekking is happening in Bwindi impenetrable national park with more than 20 gorilla families situated in the four areas that make up the park. Mgahinga national park is the other home to gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda with one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi so far. If you wish to enjoy gorilla trekking in an untamed environment, Mgahinga National Park has that opportunity.

While on gorilla trekking safari, you get up-close with the few left over mountain gorillas there is in the entire world that cannot exist elsewhere in the world other than the Virunga area that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo. Amidst gorilla trekking the core goal for this adventure is to promote sustainable existence of these endangered mountain gorillas for sustainable existence.

Two entry points from Rwanda into Uganda are open that is Cyanika border and Gatuna on ground and daily flights from Kigali into Entebbe airport by air

Guidelines To Planning Luxury Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda

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Book the Uganda gorilla trekking permits in advance  

Having a gorilla trekking permit for the Uganda safari is the first step to planning the luxury gorilla safari in Uganda through Rwanda. Each day a few gorilla permits are open to the public yet they are over demanded world over and last minute bookings normally end in disappointments.

Gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi forest are reserved according to four areas under which the permits are booked including Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south. Note the area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where your gorilla permit is booked because all other bookings are based these areas.

Reserve Luxury Accommodation For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Reserve accommodation to use on gorilla trekking safari in Uganda putting in mind the area of Bwindi forest where the gorilla permit is booked. This is to enable you get to the briefing point in time because this is compulsory for any gorilla trekking safari.

Some luxury accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda include clouds lodge, Volcanoes Gorilla lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla forest Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma lodge,

In general, most luxury gorilla trekking accommodations offer full board services but you need to know more details about the inclusions in the cost of accommodation to plan accordingly.

Book Transport To Gorilla Trekking Destinations in Uganda

Road transport is the main means to get to different Uganda safari destinations however it is best to hire a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition. The roads in the countryside are quite bumpy and winding because of the serious volcanic activities around the Virunga area.

From Kigali to Uganda it is about 5 to 6 hours drive and the border length is 169 kilometers. To reduce on time to spend making clearances at Gatuna or Cyanika, do apply for the necessary visa in advance especially if it is one of the necessary travel documents you must have because there are normally long ques.

Do General Medical Check Up Towards Starting The Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda

While on safari, you need to be in good health in order to enjoy the entire experience. Gorilla trekking adventures require you to be in good health with no communicable infections to pass to the vulnerable mountain gorillas. One of the gorilla trekking rules necessitates you to volunteer and stay behind in case you contract any communicable infection.

Walking to find the mountain gorillas also requires being in good health to maneuver the time you take to find the mountain gorillas.

Where to do game safaris in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Taking in a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park is an amazing experience where you get the chance to see animals including lions, giraffes, leopards, waterbucks, bush bucks, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, hartebeests, oribi and more.

The launch trip to Murchison Falls is the most amazing but along the way, you spot arrange of wild animals because this is a prime wildlife spectacle including herds of elephants, crocodiles basking under the sun, schools of hippos grunting and more.

As you cruise upstream from the comfort of your boat, watch out for  a wide range of water birds and huge colony of cliff nesting red throated bee eaters.

When finally enjoy the explosive 40 meters high Murchison Falls where the entire River Nile course squeezes the 6 meters wide canyon of the rift valley escarpment then violently cascade. When you decide to hike to the top of the Falls, you get to watch where all this drama is generated from as River Nile flows over 80 kilometers rapids before pushing through the narrow bend.

Chimpanzee trekking in Murchison falls National Park gets you closer to the endangered chimpanzees in Kaniyo Pabidi forest.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

On the floor of the rift valley lives a multitude of wild animals which you may get see while on game drive including cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, hyenas, and more. Driving through the amazing crater lakes region hosting about 27 crater lakes both wet and dry.

Queen Elizabeth National Park has some of the amazing views with the backdrop of Rwenzori rolling hills that stretch about 4000 meters above the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley. On a clear day, you may enjoy the sparkling all year around ice topped Rwenzori even though the country Uganda is a tropical country.

Taking a launch cruise on Kazinga channel is amazing as the banks are regularly flocked by a number of birds including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe. Number of animals can be seen close to the Kazinga channel including lions, elephants, buffaloes and more.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is exciting as you get to meet some of the chimpanzees that are closest relatives to humans in their natural setting. Getting into the Kyambura gorge requires hiking because these primates live on the floor of the rift valley.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Uganda’s game haven is Kidepo Valley National Park hosting some of the animals that cannot be seen else where in Uganda. Kidepo Valley National Park is the furthest Uganda National Park too situated in North Eastern Part of the country with semi-arid climate too.

While on game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park, you may get spot animals including giraffes, lions, aardwolf, hyenas, bat eared fox, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, elands, dik dik, hartebeests, oribi and more.

A visit to the Morungule Mountain, Kidepo valley and more with the Kidepo River, 50 meters wide bed of white sand with Borassus palm forest, A hot spring on the Sudan’ border can be spotted too.

Lake Mburo National Park

The herbivore planet of Uganda is Lake Mburo National Park situated on the way to Uganda National Park in the western part of the country.

While driving on the tracks of Lake Mburo National Park, you may spot elands, zebras, herds of cape buffaloes, elephants, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda kobs and more.

Taking a boat ride on Lake Mburo National Park is incredible where you get to see hippos, animals that come down the Lake Mburo to quench thirst and more.

When Is The Best Time To Do Luxury Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda

The sunny season is most preferred for gorilla trekking and game safaris in Uganda. The environment has less precipitation especially in the dense forests where untimely rain is expected.  While on a game safari in the park, the environment is drier and grass lower allowing better wild animal sighting.

The wild animals freely explore the grasslands in search for better feeding ground.

Gorilla trekking in the dry season which is normally June to September and December to January as the forest receives less precipitation. The mountain gorillas and other primates are actively seen closer to the ground which gives you better chance to identify them. Rivers and streams in Bwindi or Mgahinga forests flow within normal course.

Even other tourists are fully active booking safaris in this season and this is referred to as the dry season in Uganda. Demand for gorilla permits and other safari amenities in Uganda is over the top too yet the best options sell out earlier so advance booking is recommended.

For the rainy season, that is March to May and November must not scare you when planning the luxury gorilla trekking and game safari in Uganda. Fewer tourists are expected in the Uganda National Parks during the wet season but there is so much to enjoy in this season.

Seeing the mountain gorillas is guaranteed no matter the season because even though nothing stops their movements, they may not trek out of reach.

If you desire to have exclusive time especially when on honeymoon on gorilla trekking and game safari in Uganda where you need less interference from others, the wet season may avail the perfect time.  

How Sure Can I Be To See Gorillas And Game during Wildlife Safari In Uganda Through Rwanda

Seeing the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking is 99% chances because these primates may be free to move in the forest but they cannot go out of reach. The mountain gorillas are habituated for a period before opening the gorilla family to the public to see that is why they can at least be with humans for an hour.

Each day a team of ranger guides follows the mountain gorillas to find where they nested and estimate the possible direction they may be taking for the day. Some of these clues are what ranger guides with tourists use to trace the mountain gorillas.

While on game drive in Uganda, expect to see a variety of wild animals in the game parks but consider starting the search for the wild animals early morning. Most wild animals in the jungle are less active early morning before gaining momentum to proceed to their day hangout spot which may be out of sight.

In order not to get disappointed while on game drive, do not be specific with seeing particular animals only but be open minded. Most Uganda game parks have so much to see beyond wild life like while on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may bypass the stunning crater lakes area, the stunning view of Rwenzori ranges and more.

Note that taking a game drive on African safari is a probability activity where you are not sure of the location of the freely living wild animals. It is not a zoo or wildlife center where animals are identified by their location.

Is The Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari Package In Uganda Worth The Time And Money

The gorilla trekking and game safari package for Uganda is worth the money and time giving you the opportunity to get up close with the few leftover mountain gorillas there is in the world. Uganda is one of the three only countries in the wild that host the mountain gorillas an endangered primate species.

Over time, misconceptions have been made on mountain gorillas portraying them as aggressive primates yet in reality it is the opposite despite their huge size and dark fur covered bodies. Standing a few meters from the mountain gorillas it electrifying as it is like a reunion with lost relatives. Many tourist normally come out wishing for more time with the gorillas yet only one hour is allowed for gorilla trekking.

Beyond the mountain gorillas, the thick forest here is a primate haven where you can see other rare primates including black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, blue monkeys and more. The game safaris in Uganda give you chance to experience the best of wildlife in an untamed environment but with less interference from other tourists. These are fewer vehicles driving on the tracks of the game parks in Uganda.