What to do On Uganda Gorilla trekking Tour in Buhoma area

When destined for gorilla trekking in Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you must know that this is the origin of all gorilla safaris in Uganda. When booking gorilla trekking safaris but specifically Buhoma area, note that there are so far three gorilla families open for this adventure. book Now

Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda is subdivided into four areas that is Buhoma area in the north, Ruhija area in the east, Ruhija and Nkuringo area in the southern part of Bwindi. When booking the gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi, they are reserved according to these areas.

Although the Uganda Wildlife Authority sells gorilla permits for Bwindi randomly, in order to get the Buhoma gorilla permits it is best to book it in advance. To be on the safe side, it is best to book the gorilla permits in advance atleast 6 month earlier or less.

Other than gorilla trekking, while on safari in Buhoma area, you can also do community visits, birding, quick drive to Queen Elizabeth National park for game drives, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and others. Buhoma area is also one of the juicy safari parts of Bwindi national park and it is strategically positioned.

In terms of accommodation options, Buhoma area has better choices of accommodations ranging from up-scale to Mid-range to Basic of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The main headquarter of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in the northern part that is Buhoma area. Some of the gorilla families of Buhoma area include Mubare family opened in 1993, Habinyanja area in 1998, Rushegura area in 2002 the rest is history as long as gorilla habituation is still going on.

Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped by the researchers and trackers to get accustomed to human presence without altering there nature.

How To Book Gorilla Trekking Permits For Buhoma Area

Select the time you are interested to do the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. If your priority is gorilla permits for Buhoma area, advance booking opens more chances for you to make a choice of which area is most preferred to you.

The more the merrier so if you hope to have company, identify the people you are to travel with in advance to avoid moving back and forth with checking availability.

As soon as we receive your enquiry about the gorilla trekking, our safari consultant check availability from Uganda Wildlife Authority with emphasis to Buhoma area. In case of positive gorilla permit availability, we advise our clients to purchase there permits soon.

The number of gorilla permits is restricted to maximum 8 per gorilla family for conservation reasons. This is to limit the number of people walking in the forest so as to minimize the pressure on the foliage on which mountain gorillas feed.

Later, avail your personal details to be added to your gorilla permit card like your nationality, full names as presented on the passport, date of birth and others.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking safari For Buhoma Area Of Bwindi?

The cost of gorilla trekking tour to Buhoma area starts with gorilla permit cost which at the moment costs $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents and 300000shs for east Africans.

Other than gorilla permit cost, the other logistical costs that may make up the gorilla safari price may include accommodation, number of people in the company, number of days, transport costs and others.

When you contact us about wishing to do the gorilla trekking in Buhoma area, our tours consultant combines all necessary logistics to make up the entire African safari package.

When is the best time to book Uganda gorilla trekking to Buhoma area

Buhoma are is Bwindi being the major administrative are of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is full of activity all year however, it is busier in the dry Season. The Dry season is normally June to September and December to January. The trails in the forest are quicker to navigate and gorillas plus other forest dwellers feed closer to the ground.

 Bwindi forest is a tropical rain forest with high chances of receiving rains any time eve out of season however, the dry period rains may not be so intense. The mountain gorillas and other forest inhabitants are more exciting to watch in the jungle. The forest generally provides a great atmosphere to take quality photographs and film.

This season opens more chances to more people to book the limited number of gorilla permits yet only 8 gorilla permits are open to the public per day. This high competition for gorilla permits of mainly the dry season creates last minute scarcity not only with the gorilla permits but also the logistics that support safaris in Uganda.

You can also make use of the wet season when less competition for gorilla permits and chances of getting discounts are more open. Expect less obstructions from fellow trekkers so you may have to gorilla family to yourself and your company without paying extra.

In case you are specific with doing gorilla trekking in Buhoma area as your main target, during the low season, chances of being accorded this area are high even with last minute booking.

Is the cost of Gorilla Trekking to Buhoma With the time?

Yes, the cost for gorilla trekking in Buhoma area is worth every penny and time. Buhoma is home to the oldest gorilla families in Uganda that is Mubare opened to tourism in 1993, Habinyanja area in 1998 and others. This history is unmatched and is only associated with Buhoma area.

Buhoma area has the highest number of accommodation option that one can have in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park compared to the other three areas. Feom Buhoma area, you can also engage in gorilla trekking in Ruhuja area which is about 2 hours drive although the road is in poor condition.

Buhoma area is also home to gorilla families like Rushegura, Mubare, Habinyanja and others. On the day of gorilla trekking, tourists are allocated to these gorilla families randomly.

How Fast or slow Is Gorilla Trekking In Buhoma Area?

It is quite hard to determine how much time you spend in the forest searching for the mountain gorillas in Buhoma area. Some of the determinants of when to find the mountain gorillas are based on food location, weather conditions by the day, pace of fellow trekkers, level of fitness and others.

Some level of patience is necessary before finding the mountain gorillas or else you can also look out for other forest dwellers like other primates, different bird species, unique mature natural trees, insects and others.

You may hear the gorillas before spotting them so keep your voices low in order not to seem suspicious before the gorilla family. Keep the rules of gorilla trekking as explained by the ranger guides and warden during briefing as mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates.

One hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you spot them to minimize on the impact of human presence to the mountain gorillas and there surroundings.

Get away slowly without appearing suspicious to the gorilla family.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Worth Doing?

Gorilla trekking experience gets you just meters away from the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. A few people have had that golden opportunity of standing just 7 meters from the mountain gorillas with just a population of about 1000 living at the moment. Securing a Gorilla trekking permit is like winning a lottery as just few people get this opportunity.

Gorilla trekking is one of the ways to support the work of conserving the mountain gorillas. At the moment, more funds are still required to support the existence of the mountain gorillas. A portion of the money collected from the sell of gorilla permits is given to the conservation bodies like Uganda Wildlife Authority to continue with the work of protecting these highly endangered primates.

If you wish to prove the reality surrounding the mountain gorillas, gorilla trekking is an opportunity as may people say a lot about the mountain gorillas including portraying them as aggressive. You can only face the reality about the character of the mountain gorillas by joining the gorillas trek.

Gorilla trekking is therapy as you get to walk in the jungle and appreciate nature which is relaxing and gives you the opportunity to bond with nature.

Is gorilla trekking in Buhoma area tiring?

Based on the nature of the topography of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is part of the vast Virunga area which was affected by volcanic action, you have to hike to find the mountain gorillas. The terrain of Bwindi forest has ridges and plateaus resulting from volcanic action in this area. Right from the start, expect to climb in order to find the mountain gorillas.

This move is quite tiring and exhausting especially if your body is unfit. While packing for gorilla trekking, you need to include energy bites to keep you moving while in the forest.

Before gorilla trekking, you need to bear some level of fitness that can support you throughout the walk in the jungle.

Are mountain gorillas aggressive?

Mountain gorillas are not aggressive even though they seem to be aggressive by the outlook. They have dark furred bodies, huge in size, walk by knuckle locomotion. Mountain gorillas are naturally serene and when agitated normally dash into the deeper parts of the forest.

This doesn’t mean you test the patience of the mountain gorillas because they can charge too. when angry, the mountain gorillas thump hard there chests, pull grass around them and much more drama. It is not all the time that you witness such odd behavior that the mountain gorillas are  reacting to you as at times it is there way of teasing visitors. Upon seeing such unbecoming characteristics, wait for the ranger guide to establish the truth behind the matter. Sometimes the mountain gorillas are having a family quarrel, fighting with another gorilla family, playing and much more.

Follow the example of the ranger guide at the moment in order not to through the situation out of proportion.

What Are The Rule Of Gorilla Trekking In Buhoma Area?

In case you catch a communicable infection like flu, cough, volunteer to stay behind in order not to spread it to the highly susceptible mountain gorillas as this may lead to there massive death.

Avoid surrounding the mountain gorillas while on gorilla safaris but stay closer to one another.

Keep a distance of about 7 meters from the gorilla family so as not to open chances to spreading infections to the mountain gorillas.

Mimicking or Provoking the mountain gorillas while on safari is forbidden because you donot understand what you may be communicating

No using flash photography while on gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi forest. Flash photography may scare the mountain gorillas that are already suspicious of human presence in there surrounding.

Never enter the forest without an escorting ranger guide during gorilla trekking. The forest has other dwellers that are not habituated to human presence. These may hurt you.

In case you wish to smoke or drink, don it in about 200 meters away from the mountain gorillas as this may cause them to pull eats from you. Feeding the mountain gorillas is forbidden as they are wild animals that must seek there own food and not depend on humans.

Burry all fecal materials and ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you atleast 30 centimeters deep then cover well beyond recognition.

Littering the forest is forbidden as this alters the nature of the forest where mountain gorillas thrive. While walking in search for the mountain gorillas and you notice some litter, help and remove it from the forest.

Donot spit on vegetation as this is food for the mountain gorillas.

The age limit for gorilla trekking is 12 years and over. This was reduced to this area to enable more children to participate in gorilla trekking.

Keep voices low when with the mountain gorillas so that not to look suspicious before them. mountain gorillas are highly sensitive with intruders in there vicinity.

One hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them for conservation reasons.

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