Ultimate Guide To Planning Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda

Overview

When planning a luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, you hope to get a blend of upscale service in an untamed, misty, pristine environment of Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. For every gorilla trekking tour no matter the category, booking the gorilla permit is the foremost step and compulsory for every eligible tourists. Request A Quotation

Secure other necessary gorilla trekking safari logistics including luxury accommodation that offer services you desire to receive while on your Africa safari. It is best to reserve accommodation to use during gorilla trekking that is closer to the area where your Uganda gorilla permit is booked. This is to avoid inconveniences early morning as you have to report to the ranger station in time for briefing.

Reserve the most comfortable transport means to get to Bwindi forest or Mgahinga National Park.3 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari In Mgahinga National Park Travelling in a specious, comfortable and terrain resistant vehicle is a better option especially if destined to do gorilla trekking in ragged south western Uganda. It is better to reserve a jeep with 4×4 wheel drive and in company of a professional driver guide. The Uganda roads upcountry are quite bumpy and messy.

 Flying gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda options are available too and you can decide to charter for more private and specious travel experience to the Uganda gorilla safari destinations. Scheduled domestic daily flights from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro air strip are available too on request.

Carry the relevant gorilla trekking gears that are wilderness friendly are recommended. Carry safari attires that blend with the wilderness, foldable drinking water bottle, camera, binoculars and more. Do not over pack for gorilla trekking safari because this may be an inconvenience especially if you have travel partners.  

Do not forget some hard cash to use for on ground purchases during gorilla trekking because credit cards are not a common payment method used in Africa. Sometimes card reader machines may have technical issues and not so many people have knowledge on how to operate them.

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Where To Do Gorilla Trekking safari In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Over 19 gorilla families are open for gorilla trekking in Uganda inclusive of Habinyanja, Nshongi, Rushegura, Busingye, oruzogo, Mucunguzi, Rwigi, Mubare and more. When booking the gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, they are reserved according to the four areas under which the park is divided. Bwindi is divided into Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Nkuringo area and Rushaga area.

Beyond gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience is open to the public too. During gorilla habituation experience tourists have four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family. Only one hour is allowed with the fully habituated mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking.

In addition, Bwindi forest is home to more than 350 bird species, more than 200 natural tree species, 88 months, 312 butterflies, amazing water falls created by interrupting the course of several rivers and stream and more.

Mgahinga National Park

Even though at the moment Mgahinga National Park has one gorilla trekking family open to the public called Nyakagezi, the forest hosts other amazing inhabitants and features. Golden monkeys are residents of Mgahinga forest and these are another highly endangered primate specie.

Other resident primates of Mgahinga forest include black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and more. Mgahinga forest is a haven for keen birders who explore this forest in search for the resident birds as over 115 bird species have so far been recorded as residents.

The topography of Mgahinga National Park is stunning with towering three  of the six Virunga Volcanoes outstanding that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo.

Tips To Planning Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda

Book Gorilla Trekking Permits In Advance

Reserving the gorilla trekking permit is on the top tier as you plan to do this African safari. The gorilla trekking permit is a document that allows tourists to participate in this adventure on a particular day.

It is best to reserve the gorilla permits in advance because they sell out as there supply is restricted to maximum 8 per day. This number is insufficient for the worldwide overwhelming demand especially in the peak season. It is better to book the gorilla permit atleast 6 month to a year in advance to avoid last minute disappointments.

Currently the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 foreign residents, $500 other Africans and 300,000shs for east Africans. The cost of gorilla trekking permit of Uganda includes one hour with the gorillas, conservation fees, ranger guide fees, security and more.

Reserve Luxury Accommodation To Use During Gorilla Safari

Staying in an upmarket accommodation nestled in a feral surrounded, watched by the cool breeze from the natural rain forest, no fear of being savaged and having top notch services creates unforgettable memories. Some Luxury facilities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are open to contribute to that gorilla trekking safari fantasy you have been dreaming about.

Luxury accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Uganda include Clouds Lodge, Mahogany Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Engage Lodge and more.

The average cost of luxury accommodation to use during gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda is about $300 per night and over depending on facility, inclusions, desired service and more.

Ensure to know the inclusions and exclusions in the cost of luxury accommodation to use during gorilla trekking safari in Uganda so that you can plan better.

Note that the demand for accommodation to use during gorilla safari is high in the peak season and options run out making it hard for last minute bookings.

Book Transport To Use During Gorilla Trekking Tours In Uganda

Road transport is the main means to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. Note that the drive time to Bwindi or Mgahinga forest is between 8 hour to 10 hours but astounding. A request for a stopover to enjoy the splendid features along the way is accepted. The greater Kigezi sub area is decorated with charming features.

It is best to reserve a 4×4 wheel drive spacious jeep in good condition and a professional experienced driver guide in order to learn more about the gorillas, Uganda in general and more. The roads up country are quite rough so do not expect a smooth ride but winding and may get slippery sometimes.

The cost of transport to use during gorilla trekking safari may include:

• Gas or fuel cost
• Vehicle hire
• Vehicle maintenance
• Driver guide fees and more.

Flight services during gorilla trekking tours are available and you can book scheduled daily domestic flights or charter flights for a more private experience. Do not forget reserve a transfer vehicle from the airstrip to your lodge. Flying gorilla trekking safaris can be arranged on request.

Keep Fit Before Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda includes scrambling to find the unrestrained mountain gorillas that explore the expansive rain forest of Bwindi or Mgahinga. The topography of Virunga area is generally steep from the effect of volcanic action that formed several highlands. At times the mountain gorillas stage their day location on the slopes or deep in the shady valleys so you must find them.

You need to keep your body ready to hike when preparing to do a gorilla trekking tour. Even the mountain gorillas have to find new feeding grounds in case food runs out. Eve though searching for the mountain gorillas is quite hectic, the pleasure derived from finding the is worth every effort. The misconceptions you have about the mountain gorillas suddenly wash away when face to face with them.

No need to do vigorous exercises in preparation for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda but start with strides beyond the regular ones.

Use Gorilla Trekking Gear Guiding List to Pack

As you pack for gorilla trekking safari, use the assistance of the list of items to pack for this safari. Some of the notable items to pack for gorilla trekking safari include safari waterproof boots, rain coat or poncho, sweater or fleece, camera, safari hat, snacks and more.

There are less chances of doing shopping on ground in Uganda especially if your gorilla trekking itinerary is fixed and starts soon after arrival it may be hard to do shopping time on ground. Even when you get the chance to do shopping for the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda on ground time may be insufficient.

Be in Good Health during Gorilla Trekking

In case you have a communicable infection you may not be allowed to visit the mountain gorillas because they are vulnerable to human communicable infections. It is suspected that if the mountain gorillas catch any communicable infection, it may end in their massive death

Conduct medical check up before travelling to do the gorilla trekking tour to avoid getting disappointed at the last minute.

What To Expect During Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari

Wake up early for Gorilla Trekking

On gorilla trekking day, expect an early rise, take breakfast, packed lunch, carry gorilla trekking gears and report to the ranger station. Do not forget to carry some cash in case when heading for gorilla trekking. You will find other adventure lovers or at times be the only one on gorilla trekking tour for the day. The more the merrier so its more interesting to have company while exploring the forest to find the mountain gorillas.

Briefing on Gorilla Trekking day

Attending briefing before gorilla trekking tour is compulsory no matter how many times you have been to this adventure. It has been discovered by gorilla researcher that mountain gorillas also undergo evolution over time so you need to be equipped with the most recent information about them.

It is better practice to hire a porter at this point which is normally about $20 and more depending on the weight of your bags.

The ranger guides explain in details the rules of gorilla trekking, provide some advise on how to survive in the jungle, what is expected of you when with the mountain gorillas and more.

Later, each tourists is allocated a gorilla trekking family to trek but criteria used is still hard to determine. Gorilla trekking is universal no matter the category of gorilla safari you are booked to do. In case you wish to have no company during gorilla trekking you have to close off the entire gorilla family by purchasing all other permits. The ranger guide leads the way via the trail leading where the gorilla family allocated to you was last seen.

Nature of trails to use during Gorilla trekking

The trails used to search for the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking are usually wet most of the time because rain falls in this area any time no matter the season. The dense network of rivers that crisscross Bwindi forest or Mgahinga forest keep the ground and forest humid most of the times.

At times undergrowth protrudes to cover the path obstructing gorilla trekkers but the ranger guide with a machete trims it to create better trails to explore the forest. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekkers so that no one is forgotten in is seemingly endless jungle.

Along the way, you may get the opportunity to find other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others. Keen ornithologists have a double opportunity of spotting a variety of bird species including Albertine rift endemics.

When with the Gorillas

Finally, when you locate the mountain gorillas, expect the family to pretend not to notice your presence but do not be fooled by their behavior because the spy gorillas are at work to check out possible faults.

Remember to keep the required distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas even though out of curiosity they may break this gap and reach out to touch you. Watch with your eyes and camera during gorilla trekking so that you do not end up missing out on the amazing moments that happen when with these primates