HOW MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA HAS TURNED TO BE OF GREAT VALUE TO TREKKERS

If you have been depending on movies to watch mountain gorillas, it is a high time you deceased from it. Come and experience the reality about the world’s largest Apes in Uganda! Whereas Uganda is famous for its stunning sceneries, endangered chimpanzees, golden monkeys, lush vegetation, fresh water body, craters, magnificent mountains, the big game (African Lions, African elephants, Cape buffaloes, leopards and White Rhinos), it is also credited for its charismatic mountain gorillas that are only found in the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. With more than 480 gorillas that are all confined in Southwestern part of this country, traveling for your gorilla safaris is undoubtedly the loveliest experience of a life time. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is incomparable, as it comes with 12 habituated gorilla groups that are set for gorilla trekking and 2 more that are set for gorilla habituation experience.

$600 TO VIEW THEM IN ANY OF THE 12 FAMILIES

Mountain gorilla conservation and protection has been of crucial factor mainly to ensure that their population escalates since they are highly at risk of extinction in the world today. There are numerous measures that have played part in ensuring gorilla tourism, one of which is sustainable type of tourism whereby the park management has designated a specific number of tourists to track gorilla group per day. Mountain gorilla adventures are dully regulated and the revenues that are generated from gorilla permits, has been invested into conservation and protection of these species and their natural habitat. Today, mountain gorilla trekking has become the Uganda’s landmark and star attraction.

The current status:

Globally, mountain gorillas are fewer than 900 (2012) and they are only distributed within 3 countries that represent only 4 national parks in African and the world at large. Besides Uganda, mountain gorillas are also found in the Virunga Massifs of Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Uganda inhabits the largest portion of these creatures with more than 400 of them residing in the misty jungles of Bwindi while 80 reside in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and this makes it the perfect destination for you travel for your next safari holiday in Africa. For the last decade, a significant population of trekkers featured in the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek these magnificent species. From this, tourism development and efficient management and preservation of these critically endangered species also improved. Today, there are various stakeholders that have joined the move to protect the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s wilderness which has set away forward for other national parks and countries. Some of the stakeholders include the local communities, government of Uganda, Non Governmental Organizations and responsible travelers. The main player of mountain gorilla conservation and protection in Uganda is Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) whose responsibility largely involves taking care of all Uganda’s ten national parks. Most importantly, conservation and protection of these critically endangered species has been through the following;

1.       Anti poaching and hunting mechanisms within the conservation areas

2.      Regulation of tourism activities with the conservation area.

As well, UWA has also largely collaborated with the local communities around the protected areas especially in establishing the laws and regulations that help to maintain sustainable use of natural resources and inspire them to engage in conservation and development of country’s tourism. In return, these techniques have massively improved the conservation and tourism development and the country has experienced an even escalating population of gorilla trekkers and other wildlife safaris.

Ensuring responsible tourism:

Mountain gorillas are the world’s critically endangered primates and their conservation in the wild has become the major issue to curb down the declining population. Mountain gorillas are susceptible to infectious human diseases and that is why tourists are always advised to keep a distance of about 7 to 8 meters while tracking them in their natural habitats. In order to overcome the spread of human diseases to these incredible species, the park management has set forward strict rules and regulations for trekkers to follow while in they are enjoying fantastic experiences with these incredible creatures. These rules are basically the do’s and don’ts and they include tourists with infectious diseases are not allowed to go for gorilla trekking, only 8 visitors are allowed to track one gorillas group and only one hour is given for tourists to view the gorillas.

Gorilla tourism benefits other national parks:

Besides visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for mountain gorilla experiences, Uganda also has other 8 more incredible national parks for visitors to catch remarkable wildlife safari experiences. Most importantly, tourists can add Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing where you can have opportunity to sight at the big game (elephants, leopards, buffaloes, lions, rhinos as well as other remarkable wildlife species like zebras, giraffes, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, antelope family. Chimpanzee trekking is fantastic while at Kibale Forest National Park.

THE TREE CLIMBING LION AT ISHASHA-QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK  

Gorilla trekking permits:

Like any gorilla destination, gorilla trekking in Uganda also requires visitors to have permits in order for them to be allowed to track a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The gorilla permits are purchased at $600 for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. For tourists who may wish to track mountain gorillas in Uganda during the low season especially in the month of April, May and November, gorilla permits are purchased at $450 for foreign non residents, $400 for foreign residents and shs.150000 for East African residents. Whereas if you are interested in participating in Gorilla Habituation Experience and enjoy all the four hours in a face to face encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild, gorilla permits are sold at $1500 for foreign non residents, $1000 for foreign residents and shs.750000 for East African residents.

In conclusion, gorilla trekking is a breathtaking adventure that you must not miss out in Uganda. Intending travelers should be physically fit to be able to hike through the strenuous steep hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mountain gorilla experience comes with great value for tourist right from unique tourism products to relatively affordable gorilla trekking permits. Try to reach the misty valleys of Southwestern Uganda and be rewarded with charismatic travel experiences of life time!!

REMARKABLE MOUNTAIN GORILLA FILMING ADVENTURES IN UGANDA

Are you a film maker or a producer? Do you wish to make a documentary about the world’s critically endangered primates? Do you know where to go for gorilla filming experiences in the world? Are you a film enthusiast? Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers visitors with yet another remarkable opportunity to experience the perfect film shooting with the world’s largest primates-mountain gorillas in its wilderness. Unlike the usual treks where all the eight tourists go to the jungles and spend only one hour with these tremendous species, doing photo taking; gorilla filming experience is now available for you to have the best of your documentaries with these stunning wild creatures. Whereas you can easily record your gorilla trek using camera, television, there is need for you have the most spectacular film shooting that is why visiting the misty valleys of Southwestern Uganda is worthy if you are planning your next safari holidays in Africa.

Most importantly, interested visitors must take note that mountain gorillas are critically endangered primates and they count nearly 900 in the entire world. Ensuring best record on these creatures is not only better for creating awareness but also as a way to encourage conservation practices and escalating their numbers in the natural habitat. Gorilla conservation was first familiarized by Dian Fossey both in her book and movie “Gorillas in the Mist” and still, more documentaries on mountain gorillas have cropped up.

The cost of gorilla filming permits in Uganda:

In order to reserve a gorilla filming trip, tourists must book for all the eight permits that are meant for that particular gorilla group. The number of film takers is not an issue! After you have secured all the 8 gorilla trekking permits, you will then pay for filming permits that Uganda Wildlife Authority issues out for film makers and any interested travelers. Gorilla trekking permits normally are purchased at least 4 to 6 months in advance to that particular time that you intend to go for your filming adventure or gorilla trek. Gorilla trekking permits are sold at $600 per tourist for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. For Gorilla Filming adventure in Uganda, tourists pay $4000 excluding gorilla trekking permit.

$4000 PER FILMING PERMIT IN UGANDA

Where to go for filming:

Just like human beings, mountain gorillas also form families and these families are led by a dominant silverback gorillas whose responsibility is entirely to protect the rest of family members from external attackers. For gorilla filming safaris in Uganda, tourists are only given 1 (one) gorilla family per day apart from such cases where there are 2 distinct groups with other crews filming a different gorilla group. You will then be given one hour with these creatures whereas the trek or tracking them may take you nearly 1 to six hours but this depends on your speed and that of mountain gorillas. Uganda has two gorilla groups set for gorilla filming experiences.

In order to allow you have the most comfortable and perfect time to shoot your film, you can hire a porter around the visitor centre who can assist you to carry the luggage including filming equipment and by so doing you would have supported conservation efforts by offering some income to these ex poachers.

Gorilla filming in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is vital for professionals, individuals, film crews, TV production companies or agencies as well as other interested travelers. You only need to contact Maranatha Tour and Travel to help you plan for your mountain gorillas and any safari holidays in Uganda and East Africa at large. Uganda is best suited for gorilla filming given the fact that nearly 480 mountain gorillas which represent half of the entire world’s species that live on earth. Incredibly, they are protected in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where your filming adventure takes place in Uganda.

Media Cards and clearing of filming gargets:

All Television crews, individuals, international journalists and photographers are required to posses media cards and a person to help clear the filming and photography gargets at Entebbe International Airport and that is why we are there for you. We can help you get media cards and clearing agent to help clear your crew’s gargets when you land in Uganda. Note that Media Cards are also provided by Uganda Media Center in Kampala Headquarters.

In conclusion, gorilla filming adventures are one of the most remarkable experiences that you must not miss out in life. This experience is only possible in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda as well as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Enjoy your adventure with us as you take most remarkable photos with the world’s stunning creatures!

REMARKABLE TWIN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA

Have you ever thought about seeing gorilla twins in the wild? Did you know that mountain gorillas give birth to twins? Mountain gorillas are rated as the world’s critically endangered primates in the world. In the whole world, they only count less than 900 and only reside within the jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) making them the most sought after primates by trekkers. Uganda mountain gorillas are only found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park just as you head to Southwestern part of the country and tracking them costs $600 per visitor. Uganda isn’t only popular as one of Africa’s best or safest countries but also as destination to excite the mind with tremendous wild mountain gorillas.

MOTHER GORILLA

With not more than 900 mountain gorillas in the world, Uganda is proud to be a home to more than 480 gorillas, taking more than half of mountain gorillas that live on earth. Just like humans, these spectacular wild creatures also live in families with a silverback gorilla as their main leader. For travelers who intend to have their safaris to the misty valleys of Southwestern Uganda, they will have opportunity to explore more about the daily behaviors of these incredible creatures in any of the 12 habituated gorilla families that are all set for tourism purposes while those who may wish to engage in gorilla habituation experience, there only two gorilla groups for them to achieve their dreams that is say Bushaho and Bikingi gorilla family. If Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is your best option, there are 11 (eleven) habituated gorilla families that are set for gorilla trekking and only one gorilla group is tracked in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Like any wild primate, mountain gorillas usually give birth to only one baby gorilla at a time!  Surprisingly, Uganda has time and again encountered one of the astounding moments of a kind in the jungles of Bwindi impenetrable Forest. If you wish to see exciting and playful baby gorillas that people have talked about and inspired the minds of many travelers, then Bwindi is preferably the best option for you to have your next safari holiday. The only unfortunate bit of it is that, even when these creatures give birth to twins, they find it hard to raise them up to maturity age and factors underlying their low survival rate in the wild aren’t yet ascertained. For many, they attribute it to hardship that the mother gorilla encounters while taking care of all the babies at once. The mother gorillas are usually carry the sole responsibility of taking care of these infants at their early birth age and even with high energy demands to nurse the twins, the mother gorilla won’t allow any other family member to carry her babies in any way as it is a case with humans!!

On record, there are currently four documented cases of gorilla twin births in Uganda for the past 50 years. There are several other birth cases that have been encountered in the wilderness of Bwindi although they are not yet included on records. It is a exciting moment to experience twins in a gorilla habitat and Bwindi has time and again been on top list with gorilla birth rates. This treasure has not come for the sake but it takes one to be patient enough and given the fact that 50% of the Bwindi mountain gorillas are not yet habituated, chances are the number of twin gorillas can even double and given the fact that many of them have not been put on record and in most cases, monitoring them in the wild isn’t that easy. Usually, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) trackers have encountered three mothers from wild unhabituated gorillas with twin gorillas. With these figures, we can say Uganda is a home to 7 twin gorillas.

In 2004, Uganda encountered its first set of twin gorilla babies and this occurred in Nkuringo gorilla group of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Unfortunately, one of the infants passed away just after the mother gave birth because the mother wasn’t in position to take care of all them at once. The twin gorillas in Nkuringo group were encountered from mother Kwitonda and they were named Katungi and Muhozi. Katungi passed on when he was one year and half because of sickness. However, another set of twin was experienced in 2008 and still in Nkuringo gorilla family. There are many records about twin gorillas around Kyaguriro gorilla family.

The only major challenge that most of the mother gorilla encounter is raising the twins during the early weeks. Keeping them with other gorilla family members is in deed a hectic responsibility. In most cases, these weak mother gorillas are seen struggling to take care of the baby gorillas in the wild.

In conclusion, mountain gorillas have a slow reproductive rate and female gorilla becomes sexually active at six years. The gestation period for gorilla is 8.5 months and they have birth interval of 4 to 5 years. Enjoy your trips with us in Uganda!

HOW TO GET A RWANDA GORILLA PERMIT

Gorilla tracking is famously the most thrilling and rewarding adventure, and Rwanda is one of a few countries in the world where thousands have fulfilled their long time dreams. Out of 900 mountain gorillas that are believed to be still living in the world, Rwanda takes a 3^rd of all those that reside around the Virunga Massif. These remarkable primates found their home in the Volcanoes National Park, one of the popularly known destinations for gorilla tracking in East Africa. The park lies in Northwestern Rwanda and it comes with ten habituated gorilla families for visitors to track these spectacular Apes in the wild. Remember that mountain gorillas are critically endangered species and they are never found in the zoo a reason you must visit a few of Africa's remotest national parks. Setting yourself into the only remaining jungles of Africa, comes with splendid experiences of a life time. Although these experiences are so inspiring in life, they also come at a cost in Africa for those who intend to achieve their dreams in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. A gorilla permit is a must to have, yes but how much does it cost in Rwanda?

GORILLA TRACKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Gorilla trekking is only done in the Volcanoes National Park and reservations for gorilla permits are managed by the Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks. Permits for gorilla tracking in Rwanda cost $1500 per visitors especially for foreign non residents, East African residents, East African Citizens, Rwandan residents and Rwandan Citizens. Other price packages include, the 30% discount which represents $1050 on gorilla permits for visitors who intend to extend their visit to other Rwanda National Parks for instance Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park. This discount applies for a visit of about three days and beyond especially during the low season (for the month of November to May). 15% discount represents $1275 for conference visitors who may be interested in staying before and after MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) events to see mountain gorillas. $15000 for private gorilla tracking of an entire gorilla family with an exclusive personalized tour guide services while $30000 applies to a minimum of three consecutive days.

Although a gorilla permit doesn’t guarantee a visitor to see a gorilla in the wild, it is a must to have and better to book in advance since the demand is very high. There are only eight visitors who are allowed to track a gorilla group per day and booking should be at least six months for a peak season (for the month of September to June and December to February); and for a low season you can book a permit between one and two months (for the month of October, November and March to May). As the principle of first come first served applies in gorilla trekking permits, obviously there is stiff competition when it comes to acquiring these permits. For any delays in permit confirmation or payment can mean that a visitor will not be able to get a permit on his or her preferred date. Just after making a booking, you then send money for the permit and the date can’t be altered; for any changes, a visitor will incur a charge of $100 for each gorilla permit date altered.

There are only two choices for you to successfully obtain a gorilla permit in Rwanda.

First, through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)/the Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), which governs tourism in Rwanda where you can email the office through reservation@rwandatourism.com. By contacting the Rwanda office you will then ascertain about the availability of tracking dates you wish to go for the trek. Just in case you fail to get the dates, you can then go a head to request the ORTPN to let you aware of the next available dates. You will be required to reply to them expressing your wish to reserve the permits and hold them for you as you arrange for the payment. This will require you to get the banking details of Rwanda, where you will go to do an electronic money transfer. The money transfer doesn’t take more than three days and ORTPN grants clients tentative booking for about seven days. However, you will be required to send your copy of receipt by email or fax to ORTPN. Make sure you clear the bank charges to avoid disappointments.

The second option is via a tour and travel agent:

In most cases, this is the fastest procedure of booking gorilla permits in any destination given the fact that the first option is a bit hectic and tiring. The tour agent will then charge you about $25 to $60 per gorilla permit. However, if you are purchasing a gorilla permit and other tour services such as transfers and tours via them, the tour operator won’t charge any fee. Contact your trusted and authorized tour operator and have a glimpse at these incredible primates!

Where refund or cancellation proves necessary, RDB shall refund 50% of the gorilla trekking fees for those visitors who shows signs of illness. Remember these primates are susceptible to human diseases and visitors who may be feeling ill are not allowed to go for the trek. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda begins with visitors briefing at 7:00 to 7:30 local time. 

In conclusion, visitors who intend to go for gorilla trekking should know that it is a must to have a gorilla at hand. However, the permit only grants you 98% chances but doesn’t guarantee you to see a gorilla. You must be above 15 years if you are to track mountain gorillas in Africa. Enjoy amazing experiences with gorillas at the land of a thousand hills and you won’t regret!