What Do I Need For A Gorilla And Wildlife Safari In Uganda Through Kigali

When planning the gorilla and wildlife safari in Uganda through Kigali Rwanda, you must have a gorilla permit from Uganda. To book the Uganda gorilla safari permit, you must know the ages of the people travelling with, have confirmed dates and number of permits in case you have company.

These lift off your shoulder the burden of having to move back and forth with checking availability and in case one of the people travelling with is not eligible for gorilla safari that is below 12 years, he or she may not be allowed to trek.

Purchase the East African Visa as this allows you to enter atleast two countries in this community for which Uganda and Rwanda are members. From Rwanda, you can cross into Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable national Park or Mgahinga National Park through Gatuna or Cyanika border to Kabale to Kisoro and Bwindi.

Before tailoring the gorilla and wildlife Uganda safari from Kigali, select the Uganda safari destinations you hope to visit and consider the number of day available on your Africa holiday. Most Uganda safari activities are located in the countryside which requires atleast a day or some hours to get there. For gorilla safaris, you can choose to do gorilla trekking or habituation experience.

Gorilla trekking is an adventure where tourists search for a fully habituated gorilla family to have one magical hour with them. Uganda currently has 19 gorilla trekking families.

Gorilla habituation experience is a safari where tourists escort a team of mountain gorilla researchers and trackers to have four hours with semi-habituated gorilla family. At the moment two gorilla habituation experience families are open to the public in the southern part of Bwindi.

Uganda wildlife safari destinations are several but our safari team is ready to give you advise on each of these destinations and open chances for you to make a choice. Some Uganda wildlife destinations include Kibale National Park for chimpanzee safaris, Murchison Falls National park for thrilling game safaris and spectacular Launch trip. A visit to Queen Elizabeth National gives you an opportunity to enjoy a number of wild animals, stunning features like the ragged mountain Rwenzori with its sparkling snowcapped top all the year. Uganda is Africa’s birding haven with over 1000 bird species an unrivalled record. Lake Mburo National Park with its huge numbers of herbivores. Kidepo Valley National Park the Uganda Carnivore destination and so much more.

How To organize a Uganda Gorilla and wildlife Safari through Kigali

Reserve the Uganda Gorilla Permit

Before confirming any gorilla safari activity, the permit is key. Since maximum 8 gorilla trekking or 4 gorilla habituation permits are open per day, advance booking is necessary. During the peak season which is June to September and December to January, there is scarcity of gorilla permits for this season because they are booked in advance. Last minute gorilla permits are hard to find.

When booking the Uganda gorilla permit, you must be ready to purchase it because none can be secured without payment. First come first served basis is used yet the status of gorilla permit availability changes anytime without warning.

Although gorilla permits may be available in the low season that is March, April, May and November it is not a guarantee all the time. No matter when you wish to go for a gorilla safari, let the permit be booked upfront. At Arch Safaris And tours through our safari consultants, we assist clients book the gorilla permits and accompanying logistics like accommodations, transport and others.

Select other Uganda Wildlife activities

Uganda is rich with safari destinations and majority ae eco based. Majority of these Uganda safari destinations can be accessed in case you have some long time on safari. With the help of our professional and knowledgeable safari team, you can select your preference.

While on safari in the Pearl of Africa, you can engage in chimpanzee safari in destinations like Kibale National Park, Kyambura gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary, Uganda wildlife Education Center and others. Uganda Game drives are spectacular and you can enjoy them from Murchison falls National park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Lake Mburo National park and Kidepo Valley National park.

Birding in Uganda is never disappointing to keen birders with over 1000 bird species as residents of this park. Mountaineering on Rwenzori mountains or excursion hiking on Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo. Golden monkey safaris in Mgahinga National park. White water rafting, launch trips, visit the source of River Nile in Uganda.

Book accommodation for the Gorilla and wildlife safari in Uganda

Great nights equals great memories of your safari holiday so before all the options of accommodations you would like to stay at run out, you need to make advance reservations. Gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park or Mgahinga National Park start early morning with briefing  which is a must attend. It is best to spend the night before the gorilla safari within or closer to the park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is partitioned into four areas which are separated by the dense vegetation cover and difficult to go navigate land forms.

For you not to miss briefing, you need to stay closer to the gorilla safari destinations.

The best game drives are early morning and late afternoon which require you to have spend the night within the park or at its periphery. If you do not want to drive in the extremely hot sun light during game drives, you need your nights within or closer to the park.

Pack the Right Uganda gorilla and wildlife gears

Packing for the gorilla and wildlife safari is very important as this gives you comfort while away from home. You need to check on the list of gorilla safari gears before packing so as to have only what is relevant and not to over pack.

During the game safari, sometimes, the parks experience very high temperatures especially during the dry season that normally run July to September and December to January all factors kept constant. You need to know the possible weather conditions that may prevail in the park during your stay and pack accordingly. Check the list of what to pack for Uganda game safari

Brief Children or people travelling with before the Gorilla and wildlife safari

Surprising children may sometimes turn into misery especially with adventure safaris. Meeting the mountain gorillas for children eligible for the first time may be challenging because it involves walking in the jungle for unknown time.

At a glance, the mountain gorillas may stimulate some adrenaline that may force some one to behave inappropriate to the rules of gorilla safaris like shout, people travelling with for gorilla safari must have a brief back ground about this.

While on safari, you must be conscience of strangers so as not to have bad company. Do not eat where you are not sure of to avoid cases of food poisoning.

Book Transport for the gorilla and wildlife safari in Uganda through Kigali

Road Transport

Reserving a safari vehicle in good condition and 4×4 wheel drive is a great choice because of the nature of the roads and terrain of the countryside. Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable national park or Mgahinga through Kigali may take about 5 to 6 hours going passed steep escarpments, winding roads and during the severe rainy season, some routes are slippery. You need a professional and experienced driver guide with knowledge of this area.

To cross in to Uganda from Kigali Rwanda by road, you use either Gatuna or Cyanika Boarder.

Air transport.

Air transport is available too that is from Kigali Airport to Entebbe Airport then you can drive to the different Uganda safari destinations as per your itinerary. Since the drive from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours, you can decide to break the journey.

Enroute to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park, you can make stop overs to Lake Mburo National park for game drives, Chimpanzees safaris in Kibale National Park, game drives and launch trips in Queen Elizabeth National Park, visit Semuliki National Park for the Sempaya Hot springs and others.

 Daily domestic flights are available too at Entebbe airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to different Uganda safari destinations.

Charter flights for private Uganda safari arrangements can be secured too at Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip.  You need a transfer vehicle to your lodge as majority of the upcountry air strips lie quite a distance from the actual Uganda safari parks.

 When Is The Best Time To do Gorilla and Wildlife Safaris In Uganda through Kigali?

Uganda gorilla and wildlife safaris are open any time of the year however the dry period is most preferred. The wild animals spend there day time in the open during the dry season so its quicker to see them. In the forests, the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and others primates are full of life too in the dry season.

The dry period in Uganda is usually the peak tourism season however you need to arrange all necessary safari amenities in advance. Last minute gorilla and wildlife bookings normally create tension as safari logistics like gorilla permits, accommodation and others services run out of supply.

The wet season which normally serves as the low season may have less people booking in but not a guarantee all the time. There is generally less competition for the gorilla and chimpanzee safari permits but because of there limited supply chances of not finding them available are open in this season.

In case you have  a limited budget for the  Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari, the low season may offer you some opportunities to upgrade to better packages when the service provider want to break even.

What is the cost of Gorilla and wildlife safari in Uganda Through Kigali?

Other than the cost of the gorilla permits and park entrance fee that do not distinguish which safari package you are travelling, the rest of the costs vary. At Arch Safaris and tours or safari packages are graded according to Luxury, Mid-range and Budget. At the moment the cost of Uganda gorilla permits:

Gorilla trekking permit

$700 for foreign nonresidents

$600 for foreign residents

250000shs for East Africans

The cost of gorilla trekking permit covers park entrance fees, one hour of gorilla trekking, security, certificate, mountain gorilla conservation, community support.

Gorilla habituation experience

$ 1500 for foreign nonresidents

$1000 for foreign residents

750000shs for East Africans.

Inclusions in the cost of gorilla habituation experience permit are: four hours with the mountain gorillas, researcher fees, park entrance fees, mountain gorilla conservation, government tax, local community support and others

Park entrance fees

The current Park entrance fees for Murchison Falls National Park is $45 per person lasting 24 hours from entry time. At the moment the park fees for Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki National Park, Mgahinga National Park excluding gorilla safaris is $ 40 per person per 24 hours from entry time.

Is The Cost Of The Gorilla And Wildlife Safari Worth The Money?

Sure, the cost of the gorilla and wildlife safari is worth the money as you get to enjoy the wild life in there natural setting while supporting there conservation. World over, the number of wildlife habitats have been encroached on prompting inhabitants to flee.

Just a few game parks and primates parks are existing and need to be sustainably conserved. Children are allowed to be part of some of the wildlife activities which gets them to appreciate the relevancy of eco systems like as parents go for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, children 12years and below may engage in batik making, photography, cyanotype, pond dipping and others under the supervision of the children’s ranger guide for atleast two hours.

While on Uganda game drives in different wildlife parks, children of all ages can accompany you in the vehicle to see animals like lion, cape buffaloes, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, zebras, impalas, warthogs and others in there normal setting other than the zoo.