Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda; gorilla trekking is an exceptional activity that involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks that is Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park while gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Uganda is one of the most visited gorilla trekking destinations due to the fact that it harbors half of the world’s mountain gorilla population which are found in Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda in Kanungu district on the edge of the Albertine rift valley. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of over 21 habituated mountain gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector in the north, Rushaga sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the east and Nkuringo sector in the south.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is also done in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in southwestern region in Kisoro district bordering with Virunga national park in Congo and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of one habituated gorilla family which is available for trekking on a daily basis.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park which is located in the northeastern region in Musanze village. Volcanoes national park harbors about 10 habituated mountain gorilla families which are available for trekking daily.
Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Trekking of mountain gorillas takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, animals, bird species, different plant and tree species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record videos.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda
A gorilla trekking permit is a legal card that is issued to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit any habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park or Volcanoes national park. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
A gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park Rwanda costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities.
How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) by contacting the head offices via email or telephone calls to check for permit availability.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda can also be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris whereby you will contact us with the date, months, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits available on your desired dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once we receive the payment, we will purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation. Booking gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda through Achieve Global Safaris is the best option to use in that we will also be able to plan for your entire gorilla trekking safari which involves transportation to the gorilla destinations, accommodations, other activities to engage in after gorilla trekking and other destinations to visit.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda should however be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are advised to book in advance.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be thin which allows you to have clear views of the mountain gorillas and other wildlife species, access roads to the national parks and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking Tours
There are a number of items to pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda which include Long sleeved shirt and trouser, Garden gloves, Hiking boots, Waterproof rain jacket, Energy snacks and bottled drinking water, Insect repellent, Camera and extra batteries, A pair of binoculars, Waterproof backpack, warm sweater, hiking stick among others.
For more information about gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or contact our tour consultants to book a gorilla trekking safari package.
