What can possibly go wrong on gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda

Gorilla safaris is a dream come true African safari adventure but unexpected disaster may strike when you least expect as you make dreams come to reality. In Uganda you can choose to do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation. Rwanda so far conducts gorilla trekking only.

Securing a gorilla permit is top priority before confirming a gorilla safari however, you may forget to purchase the gorilla permit thinking you will find them on arrival. The gorilla permits for Uganda or Rwanda sell out fast especially the peak season permits. The peak Uganda or Rwanda tourism season normally runs June, July, August, September, December and January.

The low season has more chances to accessing last minute gorilla permits however, it’s not all the time that there is availability. You must enquire first about availability and secure your gorilla permit upfront no matter the season. Uganda or Rwanda gorilla permits are limited to maximum 8 per family per day.

Forgetting to collect your gorilla permit is possible because of excitement or time make catch up with you especially when you organize the gorilla safari by yourself. Before briefing at the ranger station or ORTPN, you first register and present your gorilla permit for identification.

Lets understand first the important terms of the gorilla safaris in uganda or Rwanda

What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is an adventure where maximum 8 tourists are allowed to be in company of a fully habituated gorilla family and stay with them for one hour as a conservation measure.

In Uganda, gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga national Park. Uganda so far has 19 gorilla trekking families. Rwanda currently has 12 gorilla trekking families living in Volcanoes National Park.

What is Gorillas habituation experience?

Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers and trackers in the wilderness to follow a semi-habituated  gorilla family and stay with them for four hours. As of now, Uganda is the only home of gorilla habituation experience specifically the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. book now

What can go wrong on a gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda?

Forgetting the gorilla permit

The entry tickets to a gorilla safari is the permit but when you happen to forget it, atleast have the receipts indicating when you purchased it. All documents given to you upon purchasing the gorilla permit are very important to keep and travel with.

Before Uganda gorilla trekking or habituation adventure, you present the gorilla permit card from which your personal information is retrieved for identification purpose. Rwanda issues paper gorilla permit tickets.

In order not to give chance to missing placing your gorilla permit or forgetting it, you can leave a tour operator like Arch safaris And tours to deal with all clearances.

Overnighting far from Gorilla safari destinations

Although the drive from Kigali city in Rwanda is about 3 hour to Volcanoes National Park, you need to spend the night before gorilla trekking closer to the park. You can overnight in Kigali city and rise up early to drive to Volcanoes National Park and do gorilla trekking. This is a risky attempt because you may get obstructed enroute as you drive early morning to ORTPN.

For Uganda, gorilla trekking or habituation particularly in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park, you must book accommodation within or close to the area where your permit is secured. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is subdivided into four areas that is Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area.

These areas are connected by poor road network and obstructions like finding a log, misty conditions, car tyre puncture and so much more may prevent you from arriving in time for briefing. When you miss briefing before gorilla trekking or habituation experience, chances of getting disqualified are high even though you possess a gorilla permit.

Forgetting to pack gorilla safari gears

Gorilla trekking or habituation experience is a jungle adventure where you actively have to walk in the wilderness. Unlike game drives where most of the time you are in a car, gorilla safaris include getting down and dirty. You have to pack the right gorilla safari gears like long sleeved shirt and trousers, safari cap, insect repellant to mention but a few.

Although you may hire some of these items at the ranger station like at ORTPN, you may not feel comfortable. In order for you to feel better, you need to possess your own gorilla safari gears. Cross Check with the gorilla permit packing list.

Purchasing a gorilla permit for an underage

The age limit for gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda is 15 years and beyond. When you happen to purchase a gorilla permit for an underage, he or she may not be allowed to do gorilla safari. The topography of the Virunga area is generally volcanic with ridges and plateau on whose slopes mountain gorillas may spend there day or lounge time.

Tourists are required to present their passport for identification before heading for gorilla safari adventure. Once its discovered that you are under the mimimum age for gorilla safaris, you may not be allowed to attend.

Children below 15 years get tired very fast and may not go on yet once gorilla trekking or habituation starts, there is no turning back.

Catch a communicable infection before gorilla safari

Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human communicable infections like flu, cough, covid-19, cholera, dysentery and others. Tourists are advise to volunteer and stay behind in order not to pass these germs to the mountain gorillas.

Every tourists is required to carry a clean mask and wear it before coming closer to the mountain gorillas. Sanitizing your shoes before stepping into the forest to search for the mountain gorillas is a must. During the gorilla safari adventure, tourists are advised not to spit on the ground or vegetation on which mountain gorillas feed in order not to pass germs to the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.

In case you are infected by a communicable infection, you may not be allowed to do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience in Uganda or Rwanda.

Mountain gorillas going into hiding during Gorilla Safari

When you deviate from the rules of gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation, you may agitate the mountain gorillas forcing them to go into hiding. Every person who books a gorilla safari would like to enjoy the best experience and mark-off their bucket list having spent some time with the mountain gorillas.

The time you meet the mountain gorillas is precious and so no one would like the mountain gorillas to go into hiding. When you deviate from the rules of gorilla safari and anger these primates, you may push them into hiding reducing on the time in there presence which is either one hour or four hours.

Having no fitness level before gorilla safari adventure

Every tourists is required to have some level of fitness before gorilla safari as you may need to hike in order to locate the mountain gorillas. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend part of there day at the slopes or deep in the valley. You may be required to hike in order to find them.

In order not to delay the rest of the trekkers, you must have some level of fitness. In case you are slow, you may force other tourists to pick on you yet you want to enjoy the entire experience.

The ranger guide follows the paces of the slowest trekkers so that none is forgotten in the wilderness.

Since the time of finding the mountain gorillas is unknown, you need to be in position to withstand the time before finding the mountain gorillas.  Keep an open mind and not focus on finding the mountain gorillas only. The way to the mountain gorillas is dotted with a number of interesting features worth seeing like other primates, birds, waterfalls, rivers, huge natural trees to mention but a few.

Forgetting To Top Up Your Gorilla Permits

Uganda wildlife authority and Rwanda development Board accept instalment gorilla permit purchase of 30% and 70% however, you must buy your permit before 90 days to trekking date. Remember to top up before 90 days to trekking date or receive a penalty.

In case you forget to top up your gorilla permit, it is re-opened to public booking. When you decide to come for the gorilla safari without reconfirming that the gorilla permit is still available, you are not allowed to do the gorilla safari. You loose the money that was prepaid when you miss the top up date.

When Can I Book A Gorilla Safari For Uganda And Rwanda?

Reserving the gorilla safari atleast 6 months to a year upfront is the best decision especially if you hope to travel in the peak season. You can also reserve the gorilla permit 3 months prior to the gorilla safari however choices of availability are slim due to overwhelming demand world wide.

During the peak season that is June, July, August, September, December and January, completion gets high and yet there are limited gorilla permits.

Last minute gorilla permits are hard to find in the peak season or you can risk and wait for no-shows or those on resell.

During the low season chances of finding last minute gorilla permit for Rwanda and Uganda is more open but not a guarantee all the time.

After purchasing the gorilla permit, you have to reserve accommodation within or closer to the gorilla safari destination. This is to be able to make it on time for briefing. Failure to attend briefing may lead to being disqualified from gorilla safaris.

How long are gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda?

The duration of the gorilla trek or habituation experience depends on factors like death of a gorilla family member, weather condition of the day, proximity of mountain gorilla food, pace of trekkers and others. The closer the gorilla family to the starting point of the trek, the faster the time of returning from the gorilla safari adventure.

Upon locating the mountain gorillas, only an hour is accepted before them for conservation reasons.

You need to have some level of patience during the gorilla safari or you will get tired of picking on each other while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.

Have an open mind while you search for the mountain gorillas. There are other interesting features in the forest you can see and enjoy within the ancient forest.

Is gorilla safari safe in Rwanda and Uganda?

The mountain gorillas are first habituated before being opened to the public for booking. They are serene primates whose life depends on the forest for survival. You must wear the right gorilla safari gears that can protect you from stinging nettles and insects in the forest.

The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker so that no one is forgotten in the wilderness.

The parks have other security agencies to keep law and order as the Virunga area has a vast area worth patrolling by more than one body.

Never enter the forest without an escorting ranger guide as the forest is full of other occupants that are not habituated to humans presence.

What are the guidelines of gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda?

In case you catch a communicable infection like covid-19, cough, flu, volunteer to stay behind so as not to pass an infection to the mountain gorillas.

Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them in order not to give chance to passing an infection.

Spitting on vegetation is forbidden as you may pass a communicable infection to the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.

When eating do it away from the mountain gorillas in order not to pass an infection to these primates and not to depend on human provision.

The age limit of a gorilla safari is 15 years and beyond as the adventure is in a volcanic area full of ridges and plateaus.

You are allowed an hour of gorilla trekking and four hours of gorilla habituation experience.

BOOK NOW