Gorilla Trekking Uganda, Gorilla Tracking Uganda, Gorillas in Uganda, Uganda Gorilla Safaris, Buy Gorilla Permits

Uganda Safaris to Murchison Falls, Uganda Tours, Safaris in Uganda

Animal Safaris: Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Tours in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo

Enjoy Uganda gorilla trekking and safaris, Rwanda gorilla safaris and Congo tours with Animal Safaris. Book Uganda gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These mountain gorilla parks in Uganda are the bases for gorilla tours. We offer three categories of gorilla safaris including, gorilla tours in Uganda from Kigali, Gorilla safaris by flying and those gorilla trekking trips by road from Kampala or Entebbe. These gorilla tours are mainly of 1, 2 and 3 days packages. The 3 days gorilla trips start from Kampala/Entebbe or Kigali but those of 1 and 2 days begin from Kigali specifically. The tours by taking a flight from Entebbe (landing at Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip) are also our available packages.

We have been organizing gorilla holiday tours in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo for over a long period of time. We offer budget Uganda safari tours, mid-range and luxury holiday packages at good rates. While on our trips, you will get a unique adrenaline experience with the endangered primates. With our Gorilla trekking tours, we take you to the gorilla national parks as well as other tourist destinations in the region. Get the dependable details about gorilla permits, costs and safari bookings plus trekking rules and regulations without forgetting what to pack for an African safari. We always confirm permit availability to our clients before they make any permit booking with us. While on a gorilla safari, you will trek any of the gorilla families in Uganda. Our alternative gorilla trips to Uganda are Rwanda gorilla safaris and Congo  gorilla tours.

Uganda Tours plus Rwanda and Congo Safaris

Besides the Gorilla Trekking, enjoy Uganda safaris and tours to some of the best safaris destinations including all the national parks in Uganda.  Explore all the tourist attractions in Uganda and appreciate the beauty of the Pearl of Africa. Take tours like chimpanzee safaris in Uganda to all chimp trekking destinations, mountain climbing and adventure tours. We have longer trips as well as 1 day tours in Uganda to sites not far from Kampala. Other safari activities include wildlife safaris, outdoor recreation activities, bird watching, cultural, nature and community tours among others. We further take you to adventure the most charming places like game reserves, cultural sites, forest reserves, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and rivers plus major historical sites and cities among others. Our safaris go beyond Uganda to Rwanda and eastern DR Congo among others. If you are planning a tour in Uganda, find our best packages and Let’s Go Travel together. Its also important to read about the latest East Africa Tourism news and updates. Experience the most memorable prime tours and safaris in the Great Lakes region with us.

3 Days Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali Rwanda

Take 3 days of a gorilla holiday adventure to Uganda from Kigali to Bwindi and to Bwindi. Enjoy Kigali city tour and gorilla trekking and an amazing nature during the tour. This tour is conveniently done in the south of Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park.

2 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari from Kigali to Bwindi

Enjoy a 2 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari in forests of Bwindi Forest. Bwindi forest is a habitat to Gorillas in Uganda. This is one of the budget gorilla tours in Uganda because of its short duration. Secure a Gorilla Permit and take pride in it.

1 Day Gorilla Trip to Uganda from Kigali in Rwanda

A 1 day gorilla trip to Uganda begins from Rwanda with a pickup in early morning and a drop in the evening. From Kigali, you drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an adventure. This package is among the budget gorilla trekking tours.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON GORILLA TREKKING

There are many frequently asked questions on gorilla trekking whose answers help on the proper understanding of the adventure activity leading to its enjoyment. The answers to these question address issues regarding gorilla tracking meaning, mountain gorilla habitats, prices and costs of the trips to see gorillas, trekking permits, what to pack or wear during the trip and trekking rules and regulations. They further include the best time for trekking gorillas, safari bookings, and age limit for gorilla trekking plus many more issues one may need to know before visiting gorillas in their natural habitats.

WHAT IS GORILLA TREKKING?

Gorilla trekking is an outdoor hiking excursion by tourists into the the tropical rain forests of Africa in a search to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla Trekking is an adventure where tourists go in the forest while hiking looking for the gorillas. The process begins with the transfer to the gorilla park offices, get briefing and be allocated a gorilla family to trek. Gorilla trekking is only available in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The destinations for gorilla trekking include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga in Congo. Habituated Gorillas for trekking are grouped into families which spread across the park. Each gorilla group is allocated 8 tourists to trek it. Park guides and rangers lead visitors into the jungle in search of the gorillas. These wildlife staffs watch over, guide visitors and answer questions during the whole tracking encounter. Gorilla trekking is done by someone with a gorilla permit, which is the gate pass to the park. Gorilla visitors spend an hour with the gorillas and then return to the park office for an award of a gorilla trekking certificate.

IS GORILLA TREKKING WORK THE MONEY?

Yes, Gorilla trekking is definitely worth the money, effort and time spent on it. Tourists who have done gorilla trekking either in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo absolutely agree with us that the experience of physically facing these gentle giants is much worth every coin, effort and time committed onto planning the entire holiday. Wondering why gorilla trekking is expensive and whether its worth it, read further and find out the details.

HOW MUCH DOES GORILLA TREKKING COST?

The cost of a gorilla trekking safari vary depending on the country, number of days, accommodation options and transport type used. In case you are wondering how much does it cost to trek a gorilla, you cannot get a specific price for trip. But you can have an estimation until you ask for a tailored quote based of your safari preferences and a given figure is offered. A gorilla tour in Uganda and Congo where permits are cheaper would definitely be different from that of Rwanda where a single permit is at USD 1500. A permit in Uganda costs USD 700 and USD 400 in Congo. A gorilla habituation experience permit for Bwindi is at USD 1500 and visitors are granted four hours to be with the gorillas. The cost for a 1 day gorilla tour in Rwanda or Uganda will be lower than that of a 2 or 3 day gorilla safari in the same destinations. When you opt for Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali or Kampala, the cost would differ from when you fly from Entebbe to Bwindi or Kisoro. In a nutshell, you can only know the cost for a gorilla tour in any country once you contact us, state your likes and we give you a quotation.

WHO IS ANIMAL SAFARIS? 

Animal Safaris is a gorilla tour company registered in Uganda and operating in East Africa mainly in Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern Congo. The company specializes in arranging gorilla trekking safaris and tours in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We focus greatly on agreeable trip itinerary design, gorilla permit bookings, accommodation reservations, and running safaris from the time of guest arrival, all through the tour and departure, managing every component of the holiday. Animal Safaris is a proud member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO), an umbrella body of all profession safari and travel companies in Uganda.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR GORILLA TREKKING?

The best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is during the drier months. These months run from June, July, August plus early September and then from December up to February. These are the most preferred periods for trekking gorillas. However, mountain gorillas may be visited throughout the year even in the rainy months. Whoever is planning a tour tend to ask about the best time for gorilla trekking. Considering the costs involved in the gorilla safaris ranging from a gorilla permit, transport and accommodation, knowing the best time to visit is aimed at maximum enjoyment. Gorillas live in the tropical rest forests and so the weather is unpredictable. It can rain or shine anytime regardless of the period of the year. Read more about the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda.  

HOW DIFFICULT IS GORILLA TREKKING?

Gorilla trekking is an enjoyable wildlife activity but involves hiking through the mountains jungle to reach the gorillas. From the park offices, some gorilla families involve trekking for longer hours and others not. The longer trekking may be difficult for the elderly or weaker visitors but may not be hard for the youthful energetic travelers. It is always advisable to report any trekking preference in case you are not able to walk for a longer period. But all in all, having trekked strenuously long or easily shorter distances meeting gorillas is worth the hike. In terms of transfer to the park, gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali is a better and easier option that from Kampala or Entebbe.

WHAT IS THE PRICE FOR A GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT IN UGANDA OR RWANDA?

The price for a gorilla permit in Uganda is at USD 700 for foreign non-residents and USD 600 for foreign residents. In Rwanda, a permit is at USD 1500 since 2017 when it was increased up from USD 750. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is responsible for selling and issuing Uganda gorilla permits. People visit gorillas in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park. Rwanda Development Board (RDB) sells gorilla permits for trekking gorillas at the Volcanoes National Park. A gorilla permit is an official card or document that a tourist must hold to be granted entrance to the national park to trek mountain gorillas. Get more details about gorilla permit availability and bookings.

HOW ABOUT GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA?

Gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali in Rwanda is among the most preferred and cheapest ways to see gorillas. It is now possible to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park going via Rwanda. You do this by flying into Kigali International Airport and connect to the gorilla parks in Uganda. To drive from Kigali to Bwindi, it take between 4-5 hours compared to 8-10 hours when you go through Entebbe Airport. When gorilla permit in Rwanda were increased to USD 1500 up from USD 750 in 2017, visitors started flying into Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda in big numbers.

With the East African tourist visa in place, a tourist can move freely between Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda with ease on the same entry visa. An available immigration convenience is that one may apply for a Rwanda Visa on arrival in the country, a smooth treatment every visitor would love. The East African tourist visa is at USD 100 and permits a visitor to cross to the 3 member countries including Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Get in touch with Animal Safaris for further details gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BOOK A GORILLA PERMIT?

To book a gorilla permit, 3-6 months in advance is an ideal time to do so. We recommend so because gorilla permits are competitive and are bought so fast. Booking a permit early will give enough time to plan for your safari than doing it at a short notice. It is advisable to book 5-6 months earlier for Gorilla trekking permits in the high season months of June, July, August, September, October, December, and January up to February. In Uganda alone, the demand for permit is almost the same throughout the year with no due regard to high or low season. So early gorilla tour bookings as the best thing to do to achieve pre-safari contentment. It is always advisable to book a gorilla permit about four months to the trekking date. For the high-season months like July, august, September, December to February, it is advised to secure a permit 6 months in advance. Gorilla permits are sold on the first come, first serve basis, meaning they may be bought out anytime by other operators for their prospective visitors. The buying of a permit confirms a gorilla tour. Contact us today so that we reserve and book your gorilla permits.

HOW MUCH IS A GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT IN UGANDA?

A Uganda gorilla permit costs USD 700 for foreign non-residents and USD 600 for foreign residents. To secure a gorilla permit in Uganda, you have to contact your tour operator for details. You safari organizer will make a permit booking for you, keep it and also organize a gorilla trekking trip in that regard.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE GORILLA PERMIT PRICE?

Included in the price of a gorilla permit are park entry fees for the gorilla parks, services of guides and rangers who attend to and body guard you into the jungle. Booking a gorilla permit in advance is advisable to be sure of tracking the primates. A permit allows you entry to Bwindi or Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga in the DR Congo. Transport, accommodation costs plus non-gorilla safari activities are excluded on the permit fees.

WHAT ARE THE GORILLA TREKKING SECTORS OF BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park In south western Uganda is divided into four gorilla trekking sectors or regions. There is Buhoma region in the North, Rushaga and Nkuringo Regions in the south and Ruhija region in the eastern side of the park. Every region has habituated gorillas groups for tracking. Accommodation facilities around Bwindi are also positions around these sectors of the park. When booking a gorilla tour, you tour organizer will choose for you a region to visit gorillas. In case you are flying from Entebbe for a gorilla trek, where you land will determine the tracking region. In case you fly to Kihihi Airstrip, you will have to trek gorillas in Buhoma. But when you fly from Entebbe to Kisoro, you will have to tour gorillas in the southern regions. And when you choose to do Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali, you will either go to Rushaga, Nkuringo or Ruhija region as Buhoma will be very far for trekking. The region for gorilla trekking determines the lodge to stay in.

HOW LONG DOES A GORILLA TREKKING TAKE?

The gorilla trekking adventure safari may take from 1 to 8 hours and trekkers should be prepared for shorter or longer duration. Gorillas are wild animals living in their natural habitats, so their movements and locations are not determined.  The hiking speed of some group members either slows or quickens the movements. Guides and rangers have to ensure that all members are moving together as a team.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE FOR GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA?

The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years and above. But there is no upper age limit. Park authorities are very strict on ensuring that all gorilla visitors are not below 15 years. The age limit standard applies both in Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla tracking is a strenuous adventure activity which need maturity plus bodily strength and a sound healthy. It is advisable that patients with various ailments don’t trek gorillas. Where as there is no maximum age limit on gorilla trekking, people who are over aged and weak may not manage to hike in the jungle. However, older and weaker people may track gorilla families which don’t need much hiking to reach at. On the other hand, we can make arrangements with porters to carry on stretchers guests who are unable to walk so that they see gorillas.

WHAT TO PACK FOR GORILLA TREKKING?

When going for a gorilla trekking tour, you need to pack the following items so that you enjoy the adventure. Carry with you a long-sleeved shirts or blouses, trousers, long socks to for tacking into trousers and garden kind of gloves. Do not forget also hiking boots, a hat against sunshine, pair of binoculars, sun glasses, insect repellents and some snacks for generating energy. You may not take a flight with everything mentioned as some items can be bought locally on arrival.  Read more about the Gorilla Trekking Packing List.

Note: For dressing, green, brown or grey colors are the most ideal for the gorilla sights. Avoid red as much as possible.

What to Pack and wear for gorilla trekking encounter.

• Water– Hiking across the mountainous jungle can be tiresome and dehydrating. So you need enough water to keep hydrated throughout the trek.
• Boots– water-resistant hiking shoes will protect you from water and mud during an unpredictable rain.
• Rain Coat – A rain jacket is essential for weather conditions that change any time while in the forest.
• Snack– Hiking is energy-consuming and snacks consumed bring back that lost energy.
• Long-sleeved shirts or blouses – The forest has got insects or thorns. A long sleeved dress will protect you against such bites or possible bruises.
• Trouser and Shirts – With the presence of forest undergrowth and thickets, those dresses will protect you safely.
• Socks– With longer socks, you are able to tack in your long trousers into for proper fastening. This is your protection against insect bites as well as scratching undergrowth.
• Gardening Gloves – This type of gloves will protect your fingers and hands as you touch the various vegetation covers during hiking.
• Camera – Come with a camera with strong batteries to be able to capture every moment for memorable purpose. Remember not to use a flash while taking gorilla pictures. This may irritate them, a thing that may cause them to react badly.

WHAT IS GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE?

Gorilla Habituation Experience is a form of gorilla trekking activity where tourists stay four hours with the mountain gorillas. Out of the 3 countries with mountain gorillas (Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo), this kind of experience is only offered in southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority charges USD 1500 for a gorilla habituation experience permit. The 4-hour Gorilla habituation experience was launched in 2014 to cater for tourists who want to spend more time with mountain gorillas. Only four people are permitted to see gorillas in Bwindi National Park under the habituation experience encounter. We also organize the gorilla habituation experience tours in Uganda.

WHAT ARE DISCOUNTED GORILLA PERMITS?

Discounted gorilla permits are permits sold at a lower from price from the usual official price. These are permits are common with low-season months. At the moment, such permits are only offered in Rwanda and DR Congo. Uganda Wildlife Authority scraped discounted gorilla permits in 2017.

Rwanda Discounted Gorilla Permits.

There are low season discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda. The period considered low season in Rwanda are the months of May and November. To benefit from such permits, you have to book a safari at least for 3 more days in one of the country’s National Parks. The parks include Nyungwe Forest National Park and Akagera National Park.  A discounted gorilla permit in Rwanda is at USD 1050 down from the ordinary price of USD 1500 per permit.

Congo Discounted Gorilla Permits

The Democratic Republic of Congo, a home to mountain gorillas in its Virunga National Park also offers discounted gorilla permits. Congo sells discounted gorilla permits at USD 200 only.  A gorilla permit to see gorillas in Congo is priced at USD 400 including park entry fees, tracking gorillas for an hour plus ranger guide services.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PERMITTED TO TREK A SINGLE GORILLA FAMILY?

Eight people are the one acceptable to trek gorillas in a given group. There are around 19 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga National Park. The park authorities at times allow more than 8 people depending on some exceptionally inevitable conditions at the park. The park management would explain to other visitors in case such situation happens. For gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi, only 4 people are allowed per group and they spend 4 hours with the mountain gorillas.

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF SEEING MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA?

The chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo are 99%. Some prospective gorilla visitors tend to get concerned about the likelihood of not seeing the gorillas. Our assurance has always been that the likelihood is close to 99%. We live 1% for any other unlikely circumstances like the bad weather or anything beyond human control. In the worst case scenario that you have not seen the gorillas, a second chance is given on another day. This is only when by not seeing the gorillas, it was not out of your own making. Usually, an advanced team of trackers would ensure that they find out the likely whereabouts of the gorillas on that day. These trackers are always in constant touch with park guides and rangers who are leading the guests. Please contact us for more details.

WHERE CAN YOU SEE GORILLAS IN UGANDA?

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda gorillas are organized into habituated groups for trekking. To see gorillas in Uganda, one must have booked a permit which allows him entry to the park. Bwindi forest has the biggest number of gorillas organized into 19 gorilla families. One can trek gorillas in Uganda from Kigali or Entebbe to the parks where these endangered species live.

HOW DO I GET TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK?

To access Bwindi national park, you can go through the various routes in Uganda. You can choose to do Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali whereby you just have to fly into Rwanda and transfer to Bwindi or Mgahinga by road. Alternatively, you may fly into Uganda via Entebbe International Airport and connect to Bwindi. Through Entebbe, you may take an inland flight to Bwindi landing at Kihihi Airstrip and transfer to Buhoma region by road. Another mean would be to move by road from Entebbe or Kampala and drive straight to Bwindi via Mbarara. In case you are doing wildlife safari say in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can go through Ishasha sector and proceed to Bwindi’s northern Buhoma sector.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A GORILLA TREKKING ENCOUNTER PRIOR TO THE SAFARI?

After booking a gorilla trekking permit, start walking daily to increase your body health. Gorilla trekking is a tiresome activity but cannot excessively exhaust a person who has been walking for some weeks prior to the safari. Running and stretching are thing you should do to keep in a fine shape. In case you have an ailments, ensure that you take the right medication to have the best health at the time of trekking. And when you are coming on a safari, remember to read through the gorilla trekking pack list for what to carry.

HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND THE GORILLAS?

How to keep safe on a gorilla tour is to follow some of the guidelines below:-

• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas
• Avoiding trekking gorillas when you are sick.
• Stay within your trekking group, don’t isolate yourself from others.
• Do not make direct eye contact with gorillas and always remain calm when they come near you.
• Dress well against insects, thorns, scrubs. Try to avoid shouting colors like red or blue. Green is most preferred.
• Move with guides and armed rangers.
• Avoid taking photos with a flash camera. Disable a flash so that you don’t irritate the gorillas.

HOW MANY GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST?

There are 19 gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These families are a combination of all the four gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi.  The four regions of Bwindi include Buhoma Sector, Ruhija Region, Nkuringo sector and Rushaga southern sector of Bwindi forest.

Other Things to do in Uganda besides Seeing Mountain Gorillas

Besides gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali or Entebbe to Bwindi and Mgahinga, there is a lot to do in terms of activities. On your gorilla trip, you may stop by Lake Bunyonyi and have an amazing boat cruise, birding, community tours as well as seeing animals of Kahugye Island. While at the gorilla parks, secure some time and do nature and community tours around these areas. Pygmies in Bwindi are the type of people you should visit because of their amazing traditional lifestyles that you need to witness and learn more about.

Uganda Safaris and Tours 

Some of our Uganda safari packages include safaris to Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park. These are the biggest game parks in Uganda. Our tours take to all the national parks as well lakes, rivers and communities. Uganda has 10 National Parks, numerous wildlife reserves, sanctuaries as well as cultural and historical sites. These tourist sites defines Uganda’s tourism. At Animal Safaris, we organize tours to all holiday destinations in Uganda and Rwanda. With our professional guides who understand the region very well, the state-of-the-art safari vehicles plus well-chosen hotels, lodges and tour activities would make your African safari a memorable one.

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