Booking a gorilla permit in advance of travel is the advice given to anyone interested in gorilla trekking. At least one should book the gorilla permit 3 months earlier. This is because of the high demand for gorilla trekking permit yet the number released for tourists booking is so small.
Chances of last minute gorilla trekking permits are available but this depends on the no-show clients. Even during shoulder seasons that is March to May and November gorilla permits may be available till last minute but this is a probability too.
Despite the high gorilla trekking permit demand worldwide, conservation of mountain gorillas takes precedence as the amount of vegetation that can be trampled upon is reduced. The mountain gorillas are generally vegetarian and feed on high amounts of foliage a day to last them through the day and night.
The peak seasons June to September have many group bookings that consume most of the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda. Many travelers even book gorilla trekking permits as early as a year in advance.
When you book your gorilla trekking permit at least 6 months to the date of gorilla trekking, you are allowed to pay for it in instalments according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority terms and conditions. To avoid panic during preparations for your gorilla trekking safari in Africa, try to book at least 3 months in advance of travel.
Have your preferred date of doing your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda and number of people travelling with then send an Inquiry.
Our Safari consultant checks availability of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board and get back to you as soon as feedback is given. Our turnaround time is 24 hours because most times the authority phone lines have a long queue of calls. Getting availability may take some time but we ensure we get back to you even if it means sending someone to walk into the Authority offices to check for availability.
Finding availability doesn’t guarantee that the same number of gorilla permits will be available the next hour or day. This is because no gorilla permit is reserved without any payment. First come first served basis is used.
After paying for your gorilla permit, send your details so that the permit is issued. Some of the details include full names as per your passport, date of birth, nationality, expiry date of your passport, nationality and others
The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per person per trek and $1500 per person per trek for Rwanda.
This price includes mountain gorilla conservation fees that even include medical treatment, ranger fees, community support, park fees, park maintenance to mention but a few.
Hiring a porter to carry your property and give you a push when in the wilderness is optional and a personal expense. This is one way to directly support the local community that was once full of poachers but now trying to value the presence of the mountain gorillas in there vicinity.
The locals used the money got from being a porter to support there family needs like medical care, school fees, buying basic needs like sugar and so much more.
Tipping after gorilla trekking is a personal expense too but not compulsory because its a token of appreciation.
Which Gorilla Trekking Park Is Best Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Or Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking in Africa is on the top must dos of most travelers who come to Africa but where the best adventure is the question.
Bwindi Impenetrable National park is on Uganda and has the largest numbers of mountain gorillas in the world. Because of its vast size, gorilla permits in Bwindi are booked according to area. The drive from Entebbe Airport lasts about 8 hours on the road.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has the shortest time from the airport to the gorilla trekking park. The trek to the mountain gorillas is steeper than in Bwindi National park. The gorilla permit of Volcanoes National Park is more pricy than in Bwindi too. Rwanda has the shortest number of days to do gorilla trekking that 2 days gorilla trekking. The fun to get to the gorillas is incredibly fantastic.
Whether gorilla trekking in Uganda Bwindi impenetrable National park Or Rwanda Volcanoes National park, the feeling of being in front of the mountain gorillas is unmatched. It’s a special Africa safari moment knowing that you are one of the lucky travelers standing in front of the only mountain gorillas in the world.
A number of gorilla trekking accommodations are available ranging from luxury, mid-range and Modest. Your budget arrangements determines where to spend the night.
Some accommodation available in Bwindi National park include
Clouds Lodge, Gorilla forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Engage Lodge, Lake Kitandara Resort, Mahogany Springs, Silver Back Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bwindi Community Bandas to mention but a few.
Some accommodations available in Volcanoes National park Rwanda
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Hotel Mille Colins, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou, Kinigi Guest House and others.
When booking accommodations in Bwindi forest National Park, you need to consider the area where your gorilla trekking permit is booked. This is because the way connecting these areas in the Northern sector to the southern sector is long and sometimes the roads are blocked by falling logs or muddy impassable roads.
Briefing for gorilla trekking adventure start early morning about 0730hrs yet missing the briefing denies you chance to see the mountain gorillas. You need to sleep in an area close or within the sector of your gorilla permit booking.
When Is The best Time To Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit
Gorilla trekking is open all year round but you need a gorilla trekking permit. The drier months that is June to September and December to January are most comfortable for gorilla trekking.
This is because the trails with the forests of Bwindi or Volcanoes National park are not as soggy and in the severe rainy seasons that is March to May and November.
The mountain gorillas feed closer to the ground during the dry seasons so tracing them may not be as challenging as when they are feeding from the slopes during the wet seasons. No matter the time you wish to do gorilla trekking send your Enquiry and our consultant advises you as you wish
Packing light and carrying the relevant safari gears is comfortable and convenient even when travelling in a group. You do not inconvenience anyone.
A camera to keep memories of your gorilla trekking experience is worth packing. It must be flash less too.
Warm wear to protect you from getting cold because gorilla trekking areas have tropical climate that is cold all year round.
A pair of tracking boots comfortable to for hiking and going through boggy grounds in the wilderness.
Garden gloves to catch a tighter grip when you slide or by passing stinging nettles.
A pair of binoculars to give you clearer view of the creatures in the jungle that seem to be fur from reach of naked eyes.
Toiletries even if most lodges provide them, its best to carry your own for personal safety
Dirt friendly wear are most comfortable as the jungle is muddy
Energy snacks that will keep you going as you get hungry at times
A light water proof bag to protect your belongings from getting wet or losing them in the jungle.
Insect repellants to keep away stinging insects that linger the forest all day long. You need to be safe while in the jungle
A vaccination card with full detains of having completed the entire process of Covid-19 vaccination. Carry at least 2 mask to change into when with the mountain gorillas.
Travel documents to verify your personality during gorilla trekking briefing and receiving certificates of having completed your gorilla trekking safari.
Being jungle gorilla trekking activity, anyone would fear for there safety but gorilla trekking is safe. Even the gorillas that seem to be the master of the jungle are serene animals habituated to be in the presence of humans.
You just need to follow the ranger guides’ instructions to be part of your own safety. Stay close to the rest of the group as you trek to locate the mountain gorillas. The jungle is vast so getting lost in the forest is possible if you stray from the rests. During gorilla trekking, the ranger guide follows the slowest trekker.
Which Food Do Mountain Gorillas eat
Mountain gorillas are generally vegetarian and there delicacy is bamboo, soft stems, fruits, ants. There bodies may be huge but all day long they feed on vegetation to support there size.
Try not to throw plastic wraps in the jungle as this alters the nature of this food habitat for the mountain gorillas.
Feeding the mountain gorillas is prohibited because they are wild animals that must look for there own food. No depending on human providers.
Spitting on vegetation is not allowed because it may infect the mountain gorillas when they pick that particular leaf and eat. This is unhygienic too because every day gorilla trekking clients visit the forest and if every body spits it gets unhygienic and disgusting too.