When To Do A Combo of Gorilla Trekking With A Game Safari in Uganda

The dry season is the most convenient time to go on a gorilla trekking and game tour in Uganda. In Uganda gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. For game tours in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

For gorilla trekking in Uganda, you must have a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). A gorilla permit is a document that allows you entry to be part of the gorilla trekking tour. The dry season which is normally June,  July, August, September, October, December and January is more exciting as the forest is full of life.

For game safaris in Uganda the grass is generally lower permitting you better visibility of the drama in the wilderness. The dazzling sun shines bright over the grass and surrounding vegetation creating a lovely ambiance and a number of animals are easier to spot. Which on Uganda game safari, you may spot animals like herds of elephants, giraffes, lions, hyenas, cape buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, leopards and so much more.

What Are the Most Important Details When Planning The Gorilla Trekking and Game safaris in Uganda

Book The Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit

Having the gorilla permit is the only entry ticket to conform any gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. Most of the gorilla permits especially those for the dry season which is normally the peak Uganda tourism season sell out in advance. There is a limited number of gorilla permits open to the public each day as a means used to minimize the effects of mass tourism.

To be on the safe side, booking the gorilla permit atleast 3 months to a year in advance  is one of the safest approaches that can save you from panics at the last minute when the permits sellout.

Select Accommodation To Use On Uganda Safari

Whether destined for gorilla trekking or game tours in Uganda, you need accommodation for the nights on safari. Accommodations to use on Uganda safari are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. For gorilla trekking in Uganda, it is best to boo accommodation within or closer to the destination. For Bwindi gorilla trekking it is best to book accommodations within or closer to the area where your permit is booked.

There are different categories of accommodations situated within or out of the Uganda game parks. During the peak Uganda tourism season, most of the accommodations in these National Parks sell out due to high demand.

Identify the People travelling with for Uganda safari

While making the Uganda safari plan, note the number of people you hope to travel with. This helps with all the necessary planning include the number of gorilla permits you hope to purchase. Gorilla trekking in Uganda has the age limit of 12 years and over so if hoping to travel with children below this age take note of this.

Select Uganda safari activities to combine with gorilla and game safari in Uganda

Most of Uganda safari destinations are more than the activities for which they are famous. Other than gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, you can do nature walks, golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga forest, birding and much more.

Other than game safaris in Uganda National Parks, depending on the park you visit, you may do activities like the magical launch trip, stunning scenic viewing, Uganda birding, horseback riding, fishing and others. our safari consultant are always available to help you with selecting the activities you can include in your Uganda safari itinerary according to your holiday time and budget.

Choose transport means to the Uganda safari destinations

To get to the Uganda safari destinations, you may use road or air transport. For Road transport using a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is very important because most of the destinations are in the countryside where roads are in bad condition. Having a professional and experienced driver guide is an added advantage to the great feeling during the safari although they quite costly but worth the adventure.

Air transport is another way to get to these Uganda safari destinations.  You may book the daily domestic flights or charter. In order to meet all the air travel requirements, you need to book in advance. During the peak Uganda tourism season, the seats on the scheduled fights to these Uganda safari parks may sell out too. Most of the upcountry flights require hiring transfer vehicles to these Uganda safari destinations.

How much is the cost of safari to do Gorilla trekking with Game safari in Uganda?

The cost of safari to do Uganda gorilla trekking and game safaris in Uganda varies according to the package  you choose. At Arch safaris and tours, we cost our safaris according to Up-Market, mid-range and basic. Other than gorilla trekking or game drives, there are optional activities in all the Uganda National Parks which you can include on your to do list.

The  gorilla permit cost per person is compulsory for every tourists expected to be part of this adventure. At the moment, the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for residents foreigners, $500 for other African countries and 300,000shs for east Africans

Par entrance fees are a compulsory cost before entering any Uganda National Park but however, the gorilla trekking permit includes this cost. The cost of Park entrance fees to the Uganda National Parks varies but rangers from $40 to $45 per person.

Including other Uganda safari costs much be included in the planning that is cost of accommodation, transport, ranger guide and others. For better planning, you need to book your Uganda safari in advance before you run out of options of logistics. Other than the activities, the feeling you get after the safari is a combination of events while on Uganda safari.

What Itinerary To Follow On Uganda Gorilla And Game Safari?

Day 1 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Rise up earlier and start on the journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which may take about 8 to 9 hours excluding stop overs. There are different routes to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is best to spend the night where your permit is booked.

Bwindi forest is s pristine dense forest situated in southwestern part of Uganda. The word “Bwindi” Impenetrable and this double meaning fits perfectly with the nature of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This forest is a biosphere reserve hosting a plethora of birds including Albertine rift endemics. More than 10 primate species are confirmed as regular residents of Bwindi forest.

Arrive late evening to relax and get ready for the next day activities.

Bwindi accommodations Silverback lodge, Gorilla Forest camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Clouds lodge, Nshongi Camp, Nkuringo Gorilla lodge

Day 2 Gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Carry your gorilla safari gears early morning as you head for briefing before the gorilla trek. Since return time from the jungle is hard to determine, donot forget your packed lunch and snacks to munch on. After you are allocated to a gorilla family to trek, you follow the ranger guide but keep on the trails that were constructed by the earlier visitors.

Enjoy the jungle fun by looking out for other forest inhabitants like the blue monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, grey cheeked mangabey and others. An array of birds flock Bwindi forest each day including Albertine rift endemics. Bwindi hosts over 350 bird species as of the current statistics.

Finally as you get closer to finding the mountain gorillas, you may hear them murmur at each other. Wait for the ranger guide to establish the mood for the day before taking photos. Remember the rules of gorilla trekking so as not to fall out with these highly sensitive mountain gorillas. Take as many photos as you can to keeps as memories of your African safari. Watch out for the mountain gorilla drama too.

Only an hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas on gorilla trekking day so as they can be left alone to go about there daily activities like feeding, playing, napping, hair combing, grooming and much more. The more time humans are in the presence of the mountain gorillas, the more they are deprived of the chances of engaging in there daily activities.

Get away without looking suspicious to the mountain gorillas to return back to your lodge. Donot carry anything from the forest and leave nothing so as to maintain the natural appearance of the forest where these primates thrive. The mountain gorillas have the forest as there sole provider and littering alters the forest nature.

Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Bwindi forest, the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 4hour to 5 hour. Enjoy game drive enroute as you enter the park. In case you drive through Ishasha sector, you may have the chance to spot the tree climbing lions, visit the Albert flats. You may get the opportunity to spot animals like herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs and much more

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies on the floor of the rift valley with a backdrop of the Rwenzori ranges. The floor of the rift valley can best be viewed when at the Mweya Peninsula.  Number of crater lakes are dotted on the floor of the rift valley too creating a stunning view. Queen Elizabeth National Park host over 95 mammals, more than 615 bird species and others.

The survival of different inhabitants of Queen Elizabeth National Park is accredited to more than 57 vegetation zones some of which include Acacia woodland, bushy grassland, forest vegetation, swamp or Lake vegetation and others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodations Mweya Safari Lodge, jacana lodge, Bush Lodge, Simba Safari lodge

Day 4 Game Drive And Launch Trip In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Starting the game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park is rewarding with high chances of finding wild animals as they emerge from there night hideouts to face the day. Drive on the tracks within Queen Elizabeth National Park with highlight track like the Kasenyi track where ungulates love spending there day. If you are in for lion drama, chances of witnessing them in action are more open on this track

While on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs and others. Watch out for the different birds that flock different parts of the park too. Enjoy driving through the eye captivating crater lakes area with both wet and dry craters.

After the lunch break, embark on the relaxing launch trip on Kazinga channel for about 3 hours return trip. The banks of Kazinga channel are regularly flocked by a plethora of birds including foreign migrants. Some wild animals may be seen moving down to the banks of the channel to quench thirst and take a bath. Watch out for a series of Nile crocodiles, schools of hippopotami and others.

Return to the lodge to relax.

Day 5 Return to Entebbe Airport

Get up early for breakfast and drive to Entebbe airport to catch up with your home return fight. You need to book your return flight for the late evening so that you donot have to panic or miss on your flight time. You need enough time to catch up with check in time or even reconfirm your flight time from Uganda.

What Are The Tips To Gorilla And Game Safari In Uganda

Pack the right safari gears for your time on this Uganda safari. For gorilla trekking gears, check the packing list first so as not to leave out the most important items.

Check the ages of all the people wishing to do gorilla trekking because there is age limit and children under age of 12 years are disqualified and not refunded.

Book the gorilla permits are booked in advance because there supply is limited and yet they are few.

Donot get out of your vehicle during the game safari because these wild animals may hurt you without your knowledge.

Follow the guidelines of the gorilla trekking or game safari in Uganda.

Dumping garbage in the wilderness is forbidden because it alters the nature of the wilderness The time for planning the gorilla trekking and game safari in Uganda is in the dry season when the wilderness has less precipitation. The grass is lower and these animals can be from a far distance. Book Now