What Is The Best Way To Enquire About A Gorilla Trekking Safari

Enquiring about gorilla trekking in Africa either Uganda or Rwanda doesn’t guaranteed that you are participating on the date you present. At Arch Safaris And Tours when you send an enquiry about gorilla trekking, we treat it as a tentative booking until you pay for your gorilla permit, this is the only confirmation that you are fully interested in going gorilla trekking.

The gorilla trekking permits are booked on first come first served basis so even after getting positive gorilla permit availability without payment, no one secures it for you. This is the policy of Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority.

If preparing for a gorilla trekking safari but do not know what to enquire about, we have stated some guidelines you can base from. Some of the tips below must be on your fingertips so that to avoid back and forth emails and calls and answering about your possible gorilla trekking safari

Highlights of What to Known Before Enquiring About Gorilla Trekking Safari

Where you want to do gorilla trekking safari

When Do You Wish to go gorilla trekking

How many people you are travelling with for gorilla trekking

What safari package do want to use for gorilla trekking safari

What means do want to use to get to the gorilla trekking parks

Where you want to do gorilla trekking safari in Africa

Mountain Gorilla trekking is only done in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo. These are the only habitats of the mountain gorillas in the world and distinctive countries in East Africa. To trek gorillas in either countries, you need a gorilla trekking permit.

In Uganda the Uganda Wildlife Authority is the gorilla permit selling body. In Rwanda, Rwanda Development Authority is the selling body for gorilla permits. In D.R.Congo, Virunga are Institute Congolais Pour La conservation (ICCN) and Virunga Foundation for mountain gorillas are responsible for selling the gorilla trekking permits.

The daily phone call ques in the Authority offices are tight and long so you need some patience. At Arch Safaris And Tour, we act on behalf of our clients and save you the frustration of making calls and wait for a reply that may never go through at times. This is because the offices deal with other conservation work too not only gorilla trekking. We do the work on your behalf and secure the gorilla permit plus additional components of your Africa safari. ENQUIRE NOW

When Do You Wish To Go Gorilla Trekking

Having a tentative date when you wish to do gorilla trekking saves you from altering your dates of gorilla trekking. Each day the authorities of each country release 8 gorilla permits for every gorilla trekking family for the public to book.

Although few permits are released, the idea of checking every date of the year gets frustrating and tiring. You must atleast have a provisional date or time when you are comfortable to enjoy gorilla trekking.

The tourist calendar in Africa is busiest in the months of June to September and December to January. The shoulder Africa Safari months are March to May and November. The shoulder season sometimes comes with discounted gorilla trekking permits but this is not guaranteed.

How Many People You Are Travelling With For Gorilla Trekking

The more the merrier so knowing the possible number of people travelling with for gorilla trekking helps in securing enough gorilla permits. Booking your Africa safari to the gorillas late may cause you to book permits in different families and areas. If you wanted to share that precious gorilla viewing moment together, this is the time to plan for it in advance.

In case you are booked in different families or areas, the fun you wish to experience is gashed out.

Knowing the number of people travelling with for gorilla trekking makes it easier to calculate the cost per person. This is in case every one of funding themselves for this African trip

Everyone planning a holiday would love to share the postmortem of it fun whenever you get together. My advice is do not book your gorilla permits late to avoid such an era.

In case you have one camera and booked different gorilla families or area, you get frustrated if you secure no photos of your great encounter with the mountain gorillas.

What Safari Package Do Want To Use For Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla Safaris in Africa are packaged according to Luxury Safari, Mid-range or Modest Safari. Its how much you are willing to spend that determines the package you choose. Selecting a package that doesn’t soot your budget sometimes may strain you and end up frustrating you.

We require you to have zero balance to cater for all safari requirements included in the package before starting your gorilla trekking safari. We understand that you wish to have value for your hard earned money and so we want you to make memories and have a blast during the entire gorilla trekking adventure.

What Means Do Want To Use To Get To The Gorilla Trekking Parks

Getting to the gorilla trekking parks is mainly by road. In Uganda, the drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park may take between 8 hours to 9 hours on the road. The way has interesting points where you can make stops and take photos especially the landscape, rare birds, lovely vegetation cover, the equator, local people, some animals both domestic and wild animals and so much more.

The Road trip to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda from Kigali Airport is shorter taking about 3 hours driving through meandering road curved out of lovely hills and valley

Flying gorilla trekking safari packages are mainly available in Uganda. Every day domestic flights depart Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Air strip. You can secure a seat on the flight but you need a transfer vehicle from the air to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Charter flight arrangements can be organised too for a more private gorilla trekking expedition. This is in both Uganda and Rwanda.

Make International flight arrangements

Booking your international flights in advance before commencement of your gorilla trekking safari saves you from missing out on your gorilla trekking experience. Since gorilla permits are booked based on days, rescheduling to another date may be difficult at the last moment. Even the authority terms and conditions may not favor you.

One you miss-out on your gorilla trekking date because your flight did not arrive in time to get to the destination in time, you automatically loose the validity of the permit.

To avoid such fracas, secure your international flight arrangements in time to get to Africa in time probably a day before the start of your gorilla trekking safari.

How To Book Gorilla Trekking Permits

Gorilla permits are the entry tickets to confirming gorilla trekking safari. When you send an inquiry about your interest in gorilla trekking, we check availability and get back to you. In case there permits as per your date, you are requested to make payments to secure your gorilla permit. This also shows your commitment to be part of the gorilla trekkers for that date.

We request you if the dates can be altered in case you have other activities combined with gorilla trekking in case they have availability.

In Uganda the gorilla trekking permits costs $700 and in Rwanda the gorilla trekking permits costs $1500.

Some Gorilla Trekking Safari itineraries

3 day gorilla trekking safari

4 day gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking

6 day gorilla, chimpanzee and Wildlife safari

8 day gorilla trekking, chimpanzee and wildlife tour

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking In Africa

Travel Adapter

In Case you have to recharge your batteries, carry an adapter

Long safari shirt and trousers

The wilderness has some bugs that may feast on your skin in case you do not cover it. Wear something that covers the biggest part of your body and in colors that are wilderness friendly.

Tracking Safari boots

Covering your feet from the sharp surfaces in the wild gets you through the jungle. At times you need to hike the slope to get to the gorillas so carry boots that will withstand this.

Secure Travel Insurance

Just in case you need some assistance while on safari, the insurance company will carter for the rest of the arrangements. Ask the insurance whether it covers the gorilla trekking permit too.

Insect repellants

As the wilderness harbors lots of stinging insects, the insect repellant will protect from them advancing to you.

A Safari Hat

Protect your hair from flying insects, water dripping from the leaves and so much more.

 poncho or rain coat

It rains any time in the forest so carry some rain gears that will protect you from getting wet

Pajamas

You need to carry your pajamas for the night

A fleece or sweater

The gorilla trekking area is generally cold especially before dawn and at dusk carry some warm wear to keep you from getting cold.

Garden Gloves

To protect your fingers and palms from rough surfaces in the wilderness, wearing garden gloves is worth.

A spare battery

 Carrying a spare fully charged battery to exchange with in case one runs low

A pair of stocking

Tacking in your trousers into your stockings during gorilla trekking keeps away insects that would climb into your clothes.

Sound proof flash-less Camera

Carrying a camera to keep memories of your experience with the gorillas is very important. You can still go back to check on these memories.

A light water proof bag

Because your belongings need to be protected from getting lost and wet from the humid conditions in the wilderness.

First Aid Kit

In case you get an accident while in the wilderness, you can use the first Aid box.

Energy snacks

Re-energizing while you trek to find the gorillas keeps you moving.

Which Is the Best Gorilla trekking Family To Book

No matter which gorilla family you are assigned to trek, the fun of locating the gorillas during gorilla trekking is unmatched. You may be allocated a family with many gorilla members, having several infants, playful juveniles, autocratic silverback and so much more.

Just don’t limit your expectations to a particular gorilla family. There mood change based on the conditions in the forest. Just have fun

What Is the Best Time To Trek Mountain Gorillas

Gorilla trekking is open all year round. The dryer months that is June to September are more appealing because the ground is not as soggy as the wet seasons. The shoulder seasons happen in the March to May and November but at times call for discounted gorilla permits but these are based on terms and conditions.

Is Gorilla Trekking Safe

Yes gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is safe. The area is usually patrolled by security organs of both countries.

How Aggressive Are The mountain gorillas Mountain gorillas are serene in nature but this doesn’t mean provoke them. They get agitated by over staring at them, touching there infants, using flash photography and much more