How to acquire a gorilla permit - Uganda safaris

Before enjoying a Gorilla Safari in Uganda and Rwanda,one is required to have a gorilla permit otherwise,no one is allowed to see any gorilla in these countries.Each National park requires a different permit that is shows that you are allowed to track the mountain gorillas.

It is advisable to obtain these gorilla permits in advance so as to avoid any inconvenience that may occur.This can be 3 months before your trip.

It should be noted that tracking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is only guaranteed after getting a permit.

How a gorilla permit looks

Getting a gorilla permit becomes competitive and scarce mainly during peak seasons.

In Uganda,a gorilla permit is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) while in Rwanda,they are issued by ORTPN. In Uganda,UWA offices are found in Kamwokya,a Kampala suburb.

The permit allows the visitor to view the gorillas at ease and this is for about an hour,but gorilla tracking can take a minimum of 30 minutes to about 9 hours.Tracking takes a long time because it takes time to find these hiding primates.

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs US$ 500 per person per day,while in Rwanda it is at US$ 750 per person per day.

A visitor is advised to mind about the each gorilla permit he/she purchases.A gorilla permit determines the gorilla family that one will trek plus accommodation/lodge.For some National parks like Bwindi,gorillas are divided into families and each family has its specific place where it stays.This is the reason why the permits have to specify which gorilla family one is going to visit.

To avoid inconveniences, one should order for the permits in advance through tour operators like Maranatha tours and travel company.The company will check the availability of the permits and give you the feedback.On confirmation,you will transfer the funds to the company account who will purchase the permits and send you scanned copies.To help the company get the permits,you are required to send your passport details which are needed by Uganda Wildlife Authority to print out the gorilla permits.

Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - uganda safaris

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 120 mammal species and among these 7 are diurnal primate species.The Park has about 60% of the total gorillas in East Africa.
These gorillas are easy to see while at the park due to there large number and this explains why of recent,the park has registered a rapid increase in the number of visitors.While on a Rwanda gorilla Safari or Uganda Gorilla Sfai,you can make a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable and have a live view of the gorillas.

 

Mountain gorillas are Bwindi's main tourist attraction and these elegant mammals have been habituated since April 1993.Some of the groups that can be visited at the park include;

-Habinyanja group: This has about 23 gorillas and two silverbacks
-Mubare group: with 16 gorillas and one silverback
-Nkuring group:This has 20 gorillas and 2 silverbacks
-Rushegura group: has 1 siverback and 9 gorillas

Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are a bit more friendly compared to other parks, in that they can even come out and play just a few meters from human beings and sometimes visitors get a chance to take clear photos with them.

At the park,it is advisable that you avoid direct contact with the gorillas to avoid contracting some diseases since certain diseases are shared by both human beings and gorillas.

While taking photos with these gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,it is advisable that you keep the flashlight of the camera off and avoid making noise,so as not to scare away the gorillas.

Before tracking the gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,one is required to purchase a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)without this,you are not allowed to go for any gorilla tracking trip in Uganda.


Gorilla tracking fees at the park are as follows:

Non-residents pay US$ 600 per person,while East African Residents pay US$ 475.This fee is exclusive of the gorilla permit fee.
It should be noted that persons below 15 years of age are not allowed to go for gorilla tracking.

What you should know about Gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda - Uganda and Rwanda safaris

Being the number one tourist attraction in Uganda and Rwanda,its vital to know the important facts about the gorillas before going for an Africa Gorilla Safari.

Gorillas mainly feed on vegetables and are herbivorous apes.
A male gorilla's height is 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) and it weighs between 478 to 485 pounds.This size in males mainly depends on the subspecies.
The female gorilla's height is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) with a weight of around 98 kg.

Gorillas have 10 fingers and 10 toes,32 teeth, forward-looking eyes and small ears on the side of their heads,just like humans.

Gorilla's stomachs are larger than their chests and this is because of their enlarged intestines,that are necessary for digesting bulky and fibrous vegetation eaten.
A gorilla eats about 18kg of food per day due to the low nutritional quality of the food eaten.

A Gorilla can walk upright but predominantly walks on 4 limbs.
There is no specific language for gorillas but it is estimated that gorillas have more than 22 distinct sounds,that are used for communication.
A normal gorillas spends 40% of the day eating,40% of the day playing and foraging and 20% of the day sleeping.

Gorillas divide themselves in small groups known as troops and each group has a male leader.
 
A female gorilla reproduces when she is around 8 years old.When this time comes,she leaves her troop and forms her safe troop because of safety reasons.
A newly born gorilla grows very fast and it starts to walk at about 6 months old.

The major predator for gorillas are crocodiles and leopards.

Gorillas mainly live in tropical forests in Africa.
The mountain gorillas are found around Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda,Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Facts about the Gorillas

Order: Primates

Family: Homonidae

Genus: Gorilla

Species: Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei


"Come to East Africa and have a glance at these hard-to find Gorillas"

The elegant mountain gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda - Uganda and Rwanda Safaris

A mountain gorilla

Also known as the"Pearl of Africa",Uganda is a green country blessed with blessed with deep Lakes, mountains and it's one of the favorite for tourists.

One of the greatest attractions in Uganda and Rwanda are the mountain Gorillas and Uganda has half of the world's remaining mountain Gorillas population.

Most of the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 


Gorilla Safaris in Uganda will help you visit this East African country and get a chance to see these hard-to find mammals. 

At the moment,a tourist is required to get a Gorilla permit before seeing these gorillas and these permits are got from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
 
Facts about the Gorillas
Gorillas have an interesting lifestyle and they live in groups of 20-36 members.In each of these groups,there is one male leader and others are females with their young ones.
At birth of a baby Gorilla that weighs about 2.6 kg,the mother takes good care and the males are always there to offer security.
A gorilla spends 30% of the day feeding,30% traveling and 40% resting.The gorillas spends most of its time on ground unlike other primates.They move for  more than a kilometer everyday in search for food.
Since they feed mainly on vegetables,Gorillas spend there time in greener areas where they can easily get the food.A male adult can eat about 20kg a day.

In the day,the gorillas rest and play with their friends and family.This activity is mostly liked by the young gorillas.They hug,bite,hit and pull each other.

As the gorillas wind up their day,they construct their nests where to spend a night.Each gorilla has its own nest except for the young gorillas that must sleep next to their mothers.Constructed of tree-branches and leaves,these nests are built on ground.

"Come for a Uganda Safari or Rwanda Gorilla Safari and see these Gorillas for yourself".

4 Days adventurous Itenerary - Uganda Safaris

This iteneraly will help you have aclue about a Uganda Safari before you personally visit the country

Day 1: Travel to Bwindi
Wake up early in the morning and have a cup of tee before leaving your hotel in Kampala for a Gorilla Safari at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.Before reaching the park,you will stop in Masaka town for lunch and spend a few minutes relaxing.Depending on the gorilla group you want to track,you will chose any of the lodging options in Ruhija,Nkuringo and Buhoma.Spend the whole evening enjoying the breathtaking views of Bwindi while at the lodge.


Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi in Bwindi
Early in the morning,you will be briefed by the guide before setting off for trekking.Mountain Gorilla trekking will start at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and this takes long hours and sometimes the whole day.While tracking these had-to-find species,watch out for other mammals like the buffaloes,black fronted duikers,bushbucks and elephants.Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation,enjoying the splendid views of hills.


Day 3:Cultural walks
On your third day,enjoy a wonderful visit to the local communities which will enable you to meet and greet the local people that live next to the gorillas.Also meet different the traditional healers,the blacksmith at at work and visit the authentic homesteads.Alternatively,you can learn how to grind the millet,make an African-styled baskets and preparing some local dishes.Enjoy some cultural performances by the Batwa and Kiga people.Return to the lodge for dinner and night.

Day 4: Hiking
After your breakfast in the morning (those staying at Buhoma),take an adventurous hike through Bwindi Impenetrable forest to Munyanga Waterfalls.Visitors staying in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can walk from Nkuringo to Buhoma.In the afternoon,you will set off from Bwindi to Kampala together with your luggage.
There is no doubt that this will be the best Uganda Gorilla Safari you have ever experienced

Chimpanzee tracking at Murchison Falls National Park - Uganda Safaris

Chimpanzee tracking is one of the interesting activities at Murchison Falls National Park with over 100 chimpanzees. Chimp tracking can act as a supplement of a Gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda. Apart from the chimpanzees, there are; gorillas, elephants, lions, antelopes, monkeys, leopards, buffaloes  hippos and over 200 bird species, offer a wonderful wildlife adventure at the park. The green Savannah also provides a magnificent breath taking atmosphere.

A chimpanzee at Murchison Falls National Park

The park is located in north western Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. It is named for the Murchison’s waterfall. The park is sometimes referred to as Kabarega national park.

The park is suited in Masindi district in western Uganda and in Nwoya district in northern Uganda, That’s in the northern part of Albertine rift valley. A place where the massive Bunyoro escarpment amalgamated into the enormous plains of Acholi land. It’s well known to be one Uganda’s ancient conservation areas.

         

The park is subjugated by woodland, wetland, Savannah as well as tropical forest that are well known to be a habitat for over 76 mammal species and over 450 different bird species. It’s on a low plain and the temperatures tend to be hot with a maximum of 290c.

 In Murchison there are four of the ‘big five’ that is buffaloes  elephants, lions and leopards. Other mammals include the giraffe, warthog, hartebeest, and the Uganda kob among others. The remarkable Murchison doesn't only have a great diversity of wild animals but also birds, for example the rare shoe-bill stork.

         

Some of the attractions are, the unique Murchison falls (kabarega falls) as well as the river Nile with its streaming hippo and serried ranges of crocodiles along the sandbanks, as well as large numbers of different species getting down to drink and bathe.

          

‘Paraa’ a word from the local Luo language means a place of hippos and this is among the most prominent attractions within the park as it supports the largest concentration of wildlife in the entire park

             

Budongo forest, which is the biggest mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa as well as habitat to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda.

Other attractions include the Karuma falls, the Nile cruise, Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi.

The park has a number of accommodation centers that is, the red chilli rest camp which is mainly for budget travelers, Simbiya safari lodge, Paraa safari lodge, and others. It’s better to come and explore this yourself.

Silverback Lodge - Uganda Safaris

Silverback Lodge is found in Bukoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (western Uganda) and it offers a sweeping view of the park.The park is a home to over 355 mountain gorillas,more than 100 mammals,non-habituated chimpanzees,over 346 bird species and 165 tree species.
The lodge overlooks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and its perched on raised plat form to offer stunning views to visitors on a Uganda Safari.From the front of the lodge,a visitor can watch different species of birds as they roam about the whole area and sometimes primate viewing.

Accommodation
Silverback Lodge has 12 rooms and these include;

• 7 twin rooms
• 4 double rooms
• 1 single room

These locally designed rooms built of local materials are strategically located to offer a wonderful view of the park.The common materials that were used to construct these rooms are:sisal ropes,forest vines and shining slate stones.Each of these rooms has a private en-suite bathroom,a private veranda with comfortable chairs where a visitor can sit and enjoy a wide view of the flora and fauna of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.This makes a Uganda Safari unique compared to others.

Activities
While at Silverback Lodge,a visitor can enjoy numerous activities like:

• Gorilla Trekking:  This is done in Uganda's most visited park (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) which has half of the total number of mountain gorillas in the world.For visitors on a Uganda Gorilla Safari,this  is the best Lodge to stay.
• Nature walks: a visitor at the lodge can enjoy hiking trails that will expose her/him to different primate,birds,tress,butterflies and other organisms.
• Bird watching: This is mainly done in the park which has more than 346 species of birds.
• Cultural Safaris:meet and greet the Batwa people with unique cultural beliefs
• Hiking
• Mountain bikes rides
• The Rushora Trail