WHAT MUST YOU HAVE FOR A GORILLA TREK

Are you planning to take a safari to Uganda, Rwanda or Democratic Republic of Congo for gorilla trekking experiences? Are you interested in seeing mountain gorillas or eastern lowland gorillas in Africa? Africa's gorillas are the most thought after wild creatures across the world, and undoubtedly gorilla trekking in Africa is the most unforgettable and non regrettable travel experience that comes once in a life time. Gorillas are all over the world but what kind of gorillas are you interested to see? Mountain gorillas are the world’s critically endangered species that are only found in three African countries in the whole world: Uganda, Rwanda and DRC.

Tracking mountain gorillas only occurs in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DRC. Whereas the Eastern Lowland gorillas are only found in DRC and they can be tracked in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Maiko National Park. Gorilla tracking varies based on respective countries, for Uganda the permits are obtainable at $600 per visitor and this applies for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. These prices apply for the peak season in Uganda and in the low season, they drop to $450, $400 and shs.150000 especially in the month of April, May and November. It is a must that you have a gorilla permit to allow you track a gorilla family in a given destination of your choice.

For visitors who are interested in extending their stay with Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, they can obtain permits at $ 1500 per visitor for foreign non residents, $1000 for foreign residents and shs.750000 for East African residents. Unlike gorilla trekking where visitors have only an hour of face to face interaction with gorillas, habituation experience offers visitors all the four hours and it is an all day gorilla experience which is only done in Uganda.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN AFRICA

There are things that you can not do without and this means you must have them if you are interested in gorilla trekking in Africa. A gorilla trek in Africa isn’t a mere walk around the park but hiking through the dense jungles of Africa’s tropical rain forests to spend that only one hour with these spectacular creatures in their natural habitats. Some of them may sound obvious but once you are there you certainly appreciate the help that these items will offer to you thereafter.

The following are some of the things that you must not forget for a gorilla trek.

A walking stick:

You might wonder why you must have a walking stick on gorilla trek but hiking through the jungles of African forests demands you to have one. Gorilla tracking isn’t just a walk that you always take on flat landscape but challenging yourself through the steep slopes and terrains to see these incredible primates. A walking stick will relieve you off from the stressful and tiring terrains on gorilla home as it offers you a balance and grip. They are obtainable at the park visitor centers in any of three countries where gorilla trekking takes place. You can purchase one at any souvenirs around the park or get one at the lodge where you will spend your a night; other lodges can even give it to you at a free cost! This walking stick is plain and mostly goes up to five feet in height with more ornamental and carved in nature. Having one will offer you steadiness while in your trek, don’t risk tracking gorillas without a walking stick!

WALKING STICKS FOR YOUR TREK

A porter:

Gorilla tracking is unpredictable at times and given the fact that you have heavy property to carry, you will need a person to help you. By delegating the heavy load to a porter can relieve you from the tiring hike and you will have much time to concentrate on the trek. Offering responsibility on porters isn’t bad since this is one way through which they can also have something to eat, pay their fees, rent and solve many issues pertaining themselves. Porters can be hired between $20 and $24 and this will grant you a wide array of relaxation as you freely enjoy the trek experiences. It is not easy hiking through the dense vegetation to see the gorillas with a heavy load on your back. A porter will always be there with you through out the tracking process including the difficulty or trickier areas of the trails. Whether you are still young and feeling energetic it is better to have a porter as the only way of investing in the lives and the future of these Africans.

In conclusion, gorilla trekking is the most hectic adventure experience that needs trekkers and trackers to be physically fit to hike through the steep slopes where these incredible creatures live. You should also not forget to have your permit at hand as you go for the trek, waterproof hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts or T-shirt, shocks, rain jackets and many other things that are necessary for you to pack. Enjoy your trek without stress!

TOP ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES YOU MUST EXPERIENCE IN RWANDA:

Adventure safaris are one of the most craved experiences by many travelers around the world and yet there are very few destinations to offer such enticing memories. For adventure travelers who have ever watched the “Indiana Jones Movies” or probably read several adventure novels by “Karl May”, such adventure spirit in most cases is ingrained within ourselves but unfortunately we can’t find it. Well, if you are adventure lover or interested in experiential safaris in East Africa, visit Rwanda-the land of a thousand hills for real adrenaline adventure experiences of a life time. Adventure seekers need to worry less while in East Africa or Africa now; Rwanda’s countless adventures a wait for you. The list of experiential adventures is just numerous in the country and you stand to choose from the variety. You can even be combine your safari with Uganda and have a wide range of experiences. Let Rwanda be a must to visit if you are interested in authentic African experiences of a life time. With all a thousand hills, you shouldn’t miss a million smiles in this remarkable landlocked country!

Below are some of adventure activities that can excite your mind as you spend your time in Rwanda.

Experiential gorilla trekking adventures:

Rwanda is a renowned destination for mountain gorilla experiences of a life time. Gorilla trekking takes place in the Volcanoes National Park. Tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda is one of the most sought after adventures in Africa and tourists can even trek more than ones. Mountain gorillas form the major reason that visitors from around the globe get into remarkable Rwanda. Gorilla experiences are incomparably the loveliest African adventures that visitors get after spending only one hour of face to face interaction with these outstanding creatures in the wild. Rwanda has ten habituated gorilla groups that visitors are assigned to track mountain gorillas. Gorilla safaris/tourism started way back in the times of Dian Fossey when she had traveled purposely to carry out her research in the volcanoes. It will be amazing, if you included this “life changing” experience in the list of experiential activities that you are going to encounter in Rwanda.

Other experiential adventures within the Volcanoes national park include the Dian Fossey hike that offer opportunity for adventure seekers a chance to explore more on the renowned primatologist and zoologist that committed herself in saving the mountain gorillas around the Virunga region.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA

Golden monkey tracking adventures

Expect more than mountain gorilla gorillas in Rwanda because higher chances are that you will also interact with golden monkey-the world’s striking primates. As you plan for your gorilla tracking safari, ensure include golden monkey experiences in the bucket list of activities in your safari. Golden monkey tracking is done in the Volcanoes national park and for those interested in gorillas can add this as their extra experiences. Golden monkeys are one of the most the magnificent primates that are worth visiting in the jungles of the Volcanoes national park. Unlike mountain gorillas, golden monkeys are unique on their own and they are renowned for their roaming behavior and visitors are required to keep an eye to sight them. Like mountain gorillas, golden monkeys are also habituated and this denotes that they are acclimatized to human presence in their natural habitat. Include this adventure in your safari and prove the best experiences of a life time in Rwanda.

GOLDEN MONKEY

Chimpanzee tracking adventure

Just at the Nyungwe Forest National Park, comes chimpanzee tracking as another fascinating adventure to excite the minds of travelers. The adventure begins a bit early and by 5:30, visitors are expected to be well prepared before they set off into this thick tropical rain forest to spend some hours with these beautiful close relatives. The best time for you visit the park, is basically during the rainy season. The chimps in this area are half way habituated and it is a bit simpler to track them. In addition, visitors can also include Ruwenzori colobus monkeys or gray cheeked mangabeys in the list and enjoy the best experiences with Rwanda’s primates. There are more than 400 monkeys with all 13 primate species that live in Rwanda! Don’t miss to hike in any of 130 hiking trails that are found within the jungles of Nyungwe forest national park.

CHIMPANZEE TRACKING

Volcano climbing

For hikers, climbers or mountaineering adventures, visit the Volcanoes national park for such dramatic experiences of a life time. The Volcanoes is a renowned home to about 3 (three) Virunga volcanoes that offer adventure lovers opportunities to hike on their summit to enjoy the stunning beauty of Rwanda and beyond. Two of these take a full day to climb while the other is an overnight adventure. They include; Mount Bisoke that stretches to about 3700 meters above sea level, Mount Visoke that seems to be best volcano especially at its foot hills while its summit is filled with spectacular a crater lake. Mount Muhabura is the second highest summit in the Volcanoes National Park. This is also the Virunga Volcano chain mountain that lies east and expands across Rwanda and Uganda. It forms one of the most magnificent land features in the park whereas the Mount Karisimbi hike also known as the white shell mountain takes about two days to the fifth highest snow capped summits in African continent. Visiting this mountain is indeed an experience of a life time.

Biking adventures

Is riding or biking one of your lovely adventures? Rwanda has come beyond mountain gorilla tracking with African biking experiences around the hills of Kigali that are backed by guided tours. The most strenuous biking adventure is mainly the Congo Nile Trail along Lake Kivu. There are also other additional trails that can extend your biking experience just like the Congo trail. You can take around three days, two days or even one day. They are however guided and for advanced bikers, they can do it on their own. Along the way, you can visit the tea and coffee plantation and this demonstrates the true heart of Africa.

For those interested in relaxing with water body activities, they are never left out of choice. There is sport fishing, kayaking, canoeing as well as experiential boat ride on Lake Kivu, Muhazi and Lake Ihema. For family trips, this is the best leisurely ground that you shouldn’t miss out in the land of a thousand hills. You can also do bike rides along Lake Nyarutarama-Kigali and then explore Rwanda’s city and its surrounding areas including the tree lined streets of Kiyovu for a chilly sun shine.

In conclusion, Rwanda has countless experiential adventures for many of the world’s adventure seekers. It offers a range of adventure activities right from mountain gorilla tracking, Volcano climbing/hiking, sport fishing, and hiking, golden monkey experiences to chill and relaxing experiences water bodies. Visit Rwanda for delightful experiences of a life time!

UGANDA’S GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS REMAIN AT THE SAME PRICE.

A gorilla permit is a card that is being issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to allow a visitor to go and track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The permit enables the visitor to see the mountain gorillas for only one hour but it doesn’t guarantee him or her 100% that they will see these creatures in their wilderness.

Although gorilla trekking is the most sought after adventure in African continent, many travelers are still left pondering about its cost. The fact is that respective countries where mountain gorillas are found charge different prices for gorilla trekking permits. Recently, Rwanda one of the three famous destinations for gorilla trekking went a head and drastically increased the price of their gorilla permits to 100% for all tourists which stands at $1500 today some thing that raised speculations about Uganda’s gorilla trekking tariffs too. This however became a concern of every one in the tourism industry including the travelers, tour operators, conservationists and marketing bodies among other stakeholders. People were concerned about Uganda’s gorilla trekking tariffs like will Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) also follow Rwanda’s decision to increase the price of gorilla trekking permits?

SILVERBACK MOUNTAIN GORILLA

However, we can say there is good news about Uganda’s gorilla trekking permits now, UWA-the overall body that manages Uganda’s national parks and Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) have decided to maintain the cost of gorilla permits to a usual price for 2017. The two bodies accepted to keep the same rate for a period of 12 months. Gorilla permits in Uganda are purchased at $600 for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and sh.250000 for East African residents and they apply per person per trek especially during the peak season! During the low season, UWA offers discounted gorilla permits to visitors at $450 for foreign non residents, 400 for foreign residents and shs.150000 for East African residents and this applies in the month of April, May and November 2017. Why not grab this opportunity now? Remember it is not yet known whether discounted permits will stay or will be scraped in 2018-2019 so the only chance is to book for your discounted permit for November this year as we wait for more up dates and confirmation from UWA! Alternatively, you spark your imaginations beyond expectations with Gorilla Habituation Experience still in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda and then enjoy all the four hours with mountain gorillas. Gorilla Habituation Experience costs $1500 for foreign none residents, $1000 for foreign residents and sh.750000 for East African residents!

GORILLA PERMITS' PRICE IN UGANDA

Uganda has a total of 96 gorilla permits that are available every day base on the number of habituated gorilla families. in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National has a total of 88 permits since there are 11 gorilla groups that are ready for visitors to track the mountain gorillas while in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, only one gorilla family is habituated for visitors’ experience. A gorilla trek in Uganda allows only 8 people to track a particular gorilla family per day.

Uganda is renowned country that offer refuge to over 480 mountain gorillas out of 880 individuals that said to be still surviving in the world. This translates to about half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is conducted in only two places and if a visitor misses to track the mountain gorillas in one park, he or she has opportunity to achieve their dreams in the other park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the two renowned places where thousands of travelers flock to see the wild mountain gorillas in their natural home. Mountain gorillas are one of the global worth natural resource and their protection or conservation is first priority in most of UWA’s decisions.

How to access Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

By road: Tourists can take the Kampala-Queen Elizabeth National Park-Kihihi-Buhoma route. This is one of the interesting routes that will fill you with lots of pre-tracking experiences especially with rare tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth Park and the photo taking at Equator.

The second route can be through Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma and takes about 5-6 hour’s drive. Another convenient route can also be through Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Kihihi-Buhoma or Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma or Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo area.

By air: You can take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and then land in Kisoro Airstrip and for visitors to Buhoma, they can take on flights and land in Kayonza Airstrip.

In conclusion, it is a requirement that all visitors intending to do gorilla trekking in Uganda to have a gorilla permit. The permit is an important tool that allows visitors to explore one of Uganda’s twelve habituated gorilla families in the South-West. Don’t miss a life time experience with our close relatives as they relax in their natural habitat just in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda.

RUSHAGA THE BEST GORILLA TREKKING SECTOR IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is centered within the four (4) major areas and most importantly Rushaga sector is one of them. Rushaga is famous as an highland for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This area is situated in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and it is also blessed with a series of Habituated Gorilla Families. Rushaga’s gorilla groups are frequently sought after by visitors and they include Nshongi, Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye and Mishaya. All these mountain gorilla families are dully habituated which means, tourists can go for gorilla trekking in any of them. Due to its strategic location, even tourists from Rwanda can still connect to Rushaga to see the rare mountain gorilla. Rushaga is also popular for stunning panoramic view of the Virunga Volcanoes, Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi together with its 29 islands.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AT RUSHAGA

Besides gorilla trekking, Rushaga area is also famous as the only place where tourists can visit for Gorilla Habituation Experience. Did you know about this? The Gorilla Habituation Experience is one of the remarkable experiences of a kind. No where else offers this kind of experience even if you checked other countries where mountain gorillas are protected. If gorilla tracking is a life time experience, then gorilla habituation experience rewards beyond imagination. Gorilla habituation experience offers tourists a total of 4 (four) hours to be with the mountain gorillas whereas gorilla trekking tourists are allowed to spend only one (1) hour. Gorilla habituation experience takes place in Bikingi gorilla group and Bushaho gorilla group near Nkuringo area. For gorilla tracking/trekking, the gorilla permits are purchased at $600 and for gorilla habituation experience, the permits are purchased at $1500. Gorilla trekking is also adventure for many tourists about 8 (eight) visitors per gorilla group unlike Gorilla Habituation Experiences where only 4 people are allowed per gorilla family per day.

While at Rushaga area, your expectations should go beyond seeing mountain gorillas because the area also offers a range of interesting activities like village walks and walk in the Buniga Forest where you will explore about the Batwa pygmies. Have you ever thought about encountering the first inhabitants of Bwindi Impenetrable rain forest? If so, then count visiting Rushaga a must! Your experience in the Batwa community is not just, staring at their heights yes they have incredible heights but your experience will involve lessons concerning their culture and traditions, life styles in the forest. Imagine they lived in the Bwindi's jungle for about 500000 years probably they never wished to get out of this forest but due to conservation, they found themselves out. They lived in the forest for centuries and to day the Batwa cultural encounters are much appreciated by visitors who get into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Combine your mountain gorilla safari with the Batwa Cultural Encounter. By so doing, you will have supported the Batwa Community greatly!

THE BATWA PYGMIES

What makes Rushaga area famous for mountain gorilla trekking? There is nothing more tiring like lengthy journeys. However, Rushaga’s accessibility is the major reason why it is regarded as the best gorilla trekking area in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The tourists interested in tracking the area spend only 3 (three) hours to drive from Kigali. You also use Aero-link and then fly up to Kisoro from Entebbe International Airport and this will takes a client only 45 minutes to connect to Rushaga.

Alternatively, you can drive from Entebbe-Kampala-Rushaga sector which will take you 9-10 hours. The interesting bit of long journeys is that, a tourist has opportunities to include or enjoy other incredible activities and fantastic products along the way especially from Kampala-Kibale Forest and then enjoy chimpanzee tracking or spend the whole day with Chimpanzees during the Chimpanzee Habituation Experience and as well, you have chance to stare at incredible tree climbing lions at Ishasha area-Queen Elizabeth National Park.

THE RARE TREE CLIMBING LION 

Lodging facilities in Rushaga:

For any one interested in tracking gorilla families at Rushaga area accommodation facilities are key. Rushaga has a range of Lodges right from budget to luxury and these include Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, and Gorilla Valley Lodge. Other lodging facilities for you to choose from include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort for moderate choice, and travelers Rest Hotel for budget.

What else is required of you?

You can as well obtain an East African Tourism Visa and Yellow fever certificate and then you will ready for Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga, Uganda.

Further more, tourists also have an opportunity to do hiking in and around the Rushaga sector. The hiking trails include the Kapata trail which takes about 3 (three) hours which also comes with nature, local history and culture.

The Kara ridge trail is another moderately hard trail which offers panoramic view of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Rubuguri. While in this trail, your experiences are centered on local cultures, traditions not forgetting the only ancient forest occupants the Batwa pygmies. Amazingly, your six hour trail is little challenging but you will appreciate the views at Congo, Rwanda and other surrounding areas within Uganda. You can also take trail via Bwindi Forest which starts from Kisoro or you can choose to end the journey at Kisoro and then include canoeing experiences across Lake Mutanda.

In conclusion, Rushaga area is the best sector for mountain gorilla trekking and also the only area for Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visit Rushaga sector and you will appreciate the unique experiences that this area provides to the world. Enjoy Rushaga-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Uganda.

BWINDI THE AFRICA’S BEST NATIONAL PARK

Had you ever imagined about the best national parks in Africa? Do you love exotic destinations? Have you ever thought of meeting our close relatives in the wild? Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has all the answers for your questions, just at the valley mist in South-Western Uganda. For abundant species in Africa, explore Bwindi's natural wonders right from forest birds, butterflies to endangered species such as the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.

THE MISTY JUNGLES OF BWINDI 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a remarkable destination not just for visitors to admire its misty covered hillsides but a place to spark imaginations with our close relatives the “spectacular mountain gorillas.” Thousands of tourists, who travel to this destination, come to inspire the senses with exotic gorilla adventures that come once in a life time!  Currently, Bwindi boasts of over 400 wild gorillas which also represent half of the world’s mountain gorillas. When it comes to gorilla safaris in Uganda, Bwindi comes on top list with the most outstanding tourism products that for long have positioned Uganda on the world map as best destination. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is globally recognized for gorilla trekking/tracking and currently the park management has introduced a new and the most rewarding product called “Gorilla Habituation Experience”, an experience that visitors won’t find in any part of the world except in Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla families, Uganda. The gorilla habituation experience costs $1500 per tourist and visitors spend all the four hours observing the daily behaviors of these incredible creatures.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

Mountain gorilla experiences in Bwindi National Park don’t just come from nowhere but the 11 (eleven) Habituated Gorilla Families which visitors go to observe the mountain gorillas. Habituation process takes 2-3 years and this is meant to improve on the clients’ experiences while enjoying the product in the destination. The habituated gorillas mean that they are accustomed to human presence! The gorilla groups in Bwindi National Park are the basics for the tourists’ experiences in Uganda and it is from the eleven habituated gorilla families that the country’s economy revenue is realized after selling off the 88 gorilla permits for visitors to go for gorilla trekking. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was recognized by CNN on 16^th/5/2017 among 5 Africa’s best national parks that tourists should travel to observe. Other national parks include; Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Virunga National Park in Congo, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. This is good news for Uganda because your treasured adventure "gorilla tracking" is specifically sighted as the major tourist attraction which also generates revenue for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Approximately, $15 per year counts as a direct sum of income that is realized from gorilla visits in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

DISCOVER THE NATURAL WONDERS OF BWINDI 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the overall body that manages all the ten national parks in Uganda and it is also sets tariffs for all the tourist activities in the park. For mountain gorilla safaris in Uganda, the gorilla permit costs $600 for each visitor who is interested in gorilla trekking.

$600 FOR YOU TO OBSERVE OUR RELATIVES IN THE WILD

Bwindi National Park has 4 (four) trailheads where tracking starts from and they include Buhoma sector, Rushanga sector, Ruhija and Nkuringo sector. Each of the sectors has got habituated gorilla families for visitors to see the mountain gorillas. Buhoma trail-head is the busiest area for gorilla trekking and it is comprised of the following gorilla families; Habinyanja, Mubare and Rushegura gorilla group. Ruhija sector includes; Oruzogo and Bitukura gorilla groups. Rushanga sector is recognized as the best area for visitors to do gorilla tracking/trekking and the only area where visitors can do gorilla habituation experiences in Uganda. The sector is composed of Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye and Bweza gorilla family. Nkuringo sector is made up of only one habituated gorilla family “Nkuringo” and it is one of the challenging families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. If you are interested in gorilla tracking in this gorilla family, then you must be a bit energetic to hike.

While planning a trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you shouldn’t worry about accommodation facilities since they are several facilities that you take choice. Some of the notable facilities in Bwindi include the Cloud Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany springs and Bwindi Volcano Lodge.

Despite the fact that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park take a tourist about 9-10 hours on the road, still visitors can access the park by air (Aero-link Uganda) especially from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi airfields and land in Kihihi and Ishasha airstrips in Kanungu district where they will be transferred to Bwindi National Park. On road, visitors can access the park from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the North which takes about 2 to 3 hours or Kabale to the South for about 1 to 2 hours and alternatively, from Kampala-Mbarara which takes visitors about 6-8 hours. Traveling on road is one of the incredible moments if you are targeting to reach Bwindi National Park, especially on stop over which gives a client an opportunity to enjoy the natural wonders en-route to the South-Western Uganda. Make a stopover the Equator area at Queen Elizabeth National Park or view the rare climbing lions as they blend themselves on the tree trunks.

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a true natural wonder where you can discover a lot about the world’s critically endangered Mountain gorillas in large numbers. Not just the mountain gorillas but also diverse forest species that come your way during the trek. Don’t miss the ultimate gorilla experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park!

GORILLA TREKKING TARIFFS IN UGANDA AND RWANDA

Glancing at the eyes of our closet relatives the “rare mountain gorillas” in their wilderness is in deed some thing full of thrilling and inspiring experiences that come once in a life time. Unlike the normal nature walks, gorilla trekking hikes in Uganda and Rwanda are filled with magical miracles of nature. Just within an hour that you spend with the mountain gorillas is enough for you to spark your imaginations with natural wonders in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, South Western-Uganda and Volcanoes National Park, North Western-Rwanda. Think of any adventures in the world and you will agree that gorilla trekking experience is truly a special one that you must include into your list.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA

Globally, there are not more than 900 mountain gorillas that are still in existence and all of them live in only 3 countries. If you wish to see these beautiful creatures, then bring yourself to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But due to instability in the DRC, gorilla trekking is currently convenient in Rwanda and Uganda. In Uganda, there are more than 480 species of mountain gorillas while the balance is distributed within the Virunga Massif; of which Rwanda takes 62%.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

To go for the trek, the park management assigns tourists to only one Habituated Gorilla Family each day and only 8 visitors are allowed per gorilla group. In Uganda, there are 11 fully Habituated Gorilla Families for tourists to view the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and only 1 Habituated Gorilla Family can be booked for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. 

In Rwanda, there are 10 Habituated Gorilla Families for you to do gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park. Uganda in this case is out weighs Rwanda in terms of Habituated Gorilla Families. As well, Uganda has recently introduced Gorilla Habituation Experience for visitors which you won’t find in any gorilla destination in East Africa or even in the world except, visiting the Biking and Bushaho gorilla families-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. While here, it is all about spending the whole day while enjoying 4 hours exploring the daily behaviors of these impressive primates. Only 4 visitors are allowed to be in these gorilla families with researchers or conservationists. Each gorilla family takes only two visitors each day and the gorilla permit for Habituation Experience costs USD1500.

SPEND $1,500 AND HABITUATE GORILLAS IN UGANDA

Like Gorilla Habituation Experience requires visitors to have a gorilla permit, gorilla trekking too is a must to hold a gorilla permit in order for you to attain such special moments in your life with these extraordinary primates. Here you ask yourself, much must I pay for gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda? 

In Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has maintained its price for gorilla permits for the year 2016/1017 at USD600 per visitor especially during the peak season. The peak season here starts between June and September; between December and February. During these months, it is a dry season and it is sunny in the gorilla habitats but this doesn’t mean that there won’t be any rain showers.  Mountain gorillas live in rain forests and so you to expect it to rain at any time of the day. During the low season which occurs in the months of March to May and October to November, UWA reduces on the gorilla trekking tariffs from $600 to $450 per visitor for foreign none residents and $400 for East African residents. During this period, it is wet season and the steep slopes also tend to be muddy hence making it difficult for visitors to hike. However, it is season when there is plenty of food in gorilla habitat and visitors can easily track the mountain gorillas within the foothills of bamboo forest while they are feeding.

Uganda has 88 gorilla permits each day for visitor to trek for the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and only 8 gorilla permits in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In total, Uganda has 96 permits readily available each day for visitors who are interested in gorilla trekking. It is also important for you to note that only 8 visitors are allowed per day to go for gorilla trekking whether in Uganda or Rwanda. You are therefore requested to book for your gorilla permit in advance since the demand is high.

SPARK IMAGINATIONS IN UGANDA AT$600

GORILLA PERMITS DURING LOW SEASON IN UGANDA 

In Rwanda, the cost for the gorilla permit is so different based on the current increment by Rwanda Development Board on 6^th May 2017. If you are interested in gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda, the gorilla permit costs USD1,500 per visitor and this applies to all tourists. If you want to book for an entire family of rare mountain gorillas, the permit goes at USD15,000 and there are 80 gorilla permits that are available per day for you to track the mountain gorillas. At end of day you understand how much you are supposed to spend on particular destination.

TREK GORILLAS IN RWANDA AT $1500

In conclusion, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is a special adventure experience where visitors get value for their money, highly distinct and authentic products that one can never find in any part of the world except in the rain forests of East Africa. Despite the price tag in the permits, the experiences here are never regrettable in any way. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us in East Africa!!

COMPARISON BETWEEN GORILLA TREKKING AND GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE, BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK-UGANDA

Do you love gorilla safaris? Do you know the difference between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience? Well, traveling to either Uganda or Rwanda to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas is some thing that every visitor yearns to achieve in life. However, many visitors face great challenge when it comes to distinguishing between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience hence a critical factor in decision making especially on tourism products in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Besides the famous gorilla trekking that has captured the eyes of most tourists in the world, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has also launched Gorilla Habituation Experience one of the spectacular products for visitors to spark imaginations with the world star attractions the “rare mountain gorillas.” In case you are planning your trip to Uganda, it is important to consider not only gorilla trekking but also Gorilla Habituation Experience in order to have a life time experiences. Gorilla trekking was introduced in 1993 in the Northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with its ancient Mubare Habituation Gorilla Group while Gorilla Habituation Experience was launched recently in 2015, South of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest-Rushaga. These two remarkable tourism products tend to confuse visitors but we can help you to understand them.

MIST AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

Below is comparison between Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience. We hope this will be of help to you as you plan your gorilla safari to Uganda.

TREK AND HABITUATE MOUNTAIN GORILLA

The cost of gorilla permits

If you are interested in partaking gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda, the permit costs $600 during the peak season. This price applies to visitors who wish to track the mountain gorillas from the months of June to September and December to February. It is during these months that gorilla tracking or trekking is said to be at its peak season in Uganda and several tourists travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a reason why the price for the gorilla permit remains at $600. During the low season the price for the gorilla permit costs $450 especially from the months of March to May, October to November. The gorilla permit is very vital in for Gorilla trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience because it is what allows the visitors to interact with the mountain gorillas. These gorilla permits also include costs on park entrance, tour guide who will be there to make your trek fantastic. However, price for gorilla trekking is relatively cheaper. Whereas Gorilla Habituation Experience, the cost of gorilla permit goes at $1500 per person and this caters for the same costs like it is in gorilla trekking but the difference is a visitor is accompanied by Researchers whose duty is to habituate the wild mountain gorillas. Remember gorilla permit gives visitors over 95% golden opportunity to stare into the eyes of these impressive creatures. Get your permit and share your experiences with the rest of world because a handful of experts have managed to see these world stars in their jungle!

GORILLA PERMITS ARE ONLY $600 AND $1500 

To book the gorilla permit

The gorilla permit for habituation experience can be obtained on the ground whereas for gorilla trekking can be obtained at any authorized tour operator and in this case you can consult Maranatha Tours and Travel to help you book your permit in advance from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) head offices in Kampala.

The time spent in gorilla trekking and habituation experience

The cost of the gorilla permit is worth rewarding the senses with spark of imaginations mostly with the majestic mountain gorillas once in a life time as you spend only 1 hour with them during the trek. Depending on the Habituated Gorilla Group that will be assigned to you, but in normal cases visitors spend from 30 minutes to three quarters of the trek while looking for these astonishing wild creatures in their habitat. On the other hand, never miss to get an incredible experience during Gorilla Habituation Experience because visitors have all the 4 hours to be with the mountain gorillas in their wilderness, some thing that rewards beyond what you expected in life. If you are not on hurry and you want to spend much time or to explore the reality about the mountain gorillas, then consider Gorilla Habituation Experience in your list of experiential gorilla adventures to be encountered in Uganda. One most important thing to note is that Gorilla Habituation Experience is an all day experience that visitors have to spend while habituating the mountain gorillas with the researchers. This is an amazing experience indeed for scientists or researchers to grab to help them explore more on the feeding, nesting, mating and other unique features of the mountain gorillas in their wilderness.

SILVERBACK GORILLA

Where to go for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla trekking can be perfectly done within the 4 trail-heads of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visitors are assigned one of the habituated gorilla groups that are set for tourism purposes in any of the four trail-heads. However, for Gorilla Habituation Experiences you will be at Rushaga area because it is the only place for you to inspire the senses. At Rushaga, there are only 2 gorilla groups that are set for visitors to do Gorilla Habituation Experience and this takes place in Bushaho and Biking. You should also bear in mind that only 4 persons are allowed to go for Gorilla Habituation Experience hence only 2 groups are allowed per day and there is no crowding unlike for gorilla trekking only 8 people are allowed to trek one gorilla family each day.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AT BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST

In conclusion, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park has got diverse opportunities for visitors to achieve their dreams on gorilla safaris. Visitors can now choose to do Gorilla trekking or Gorilla Habituation Experience where they will be acclimatize the mountain gorillas to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience is only found in Uganda, no where else in the world! However, if you fail to trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then never miss to be at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for you to get fascinating gorilla experiences. Enjoy your gorilla safaris in Uganda!