Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking Safari Destinations in Uganda
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Gorilla tracking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, both in southwestern Uganda. They are near the border of Uganda with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This makes it easy to access both national parks from either Kampala or Rwanda through the land borders. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 22 habituated gorilla families, and Mgahinga National Park has one gorilla family. There are 186 gorilla permits available every day for gorilla trekking.
Bwindi, the leading gorilla trekking destination in Uganda, has four sectors. These are the Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo sector, and Rushaga sector. Each of the four sectors has several gorilla families that are open for trekking. Tourists who wish to take on the habituation process do so in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. Each sector has one family undergoing habituation. This means that 8 gorilla habituation permits are available daily. Mgahinga National Park only has the Nyakagezi gorilla family. There are therefore only 8 people who track gorillas daily in Mgahinga throughout the year.
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Can I Go For Multiple gorilla treks in Uganda?
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda- Can I do multiple gorilla treks? Absolutely! Multiple gorilla treks in Uganda involve tourists purchasing extra permits. The permits allow them to be able to trek the different gorilla families in Bwindi and Mgahinga. You have to purchase gorilla permits in advance. Additionally, a person can buy as many permits as they can afford at the going rate. They should however be of legal age and provide the necessary information necessary to purchase the permits. This is an expensive way to spend more days with the gorillas. However, it is the only way to spend more days in Uganda gorilla trekking.
Organizing multiple gorilla treks in Uganda has its pros and cons. Therefore, before you go about it, you have to know them to either proceed or just go for normal gorilla trekking. Remember that when one purchases a gorilla permit, it gives you an hour with the primates. You only access a gorilla section and family that the ranger assigns to you during the briefing process. Once you purchase a permit, it’ll be inclusive of a gorilla trekking sector, for example, the Ruhija sector. On the trek day, a habituated gorilla family will be assigned to that sector. You can not use that permit to trek in other sectors say, Nkuringo, Rushaga, or Buhoma.
The pros of organizing multiple gorilla treks include:
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda – pros of multiple gorilla treks.
You get more time to spend with the gorillas.
You trek in different gorilla sectors/ gorilla families. This gives you a chance to compare the behavioral patterns of the different gorilla families.
You will be highly contributing to the conservation of the gorillas and their natural habitat.
The cons of organizing multiple gorilla Treks
You might be assigned the same sector when gorilla trekking. This is because the permits are sold on a first come first serve basis. You therefore need to contact us so we can organize trekking in a different location or gorilla family.
The trekking exercise is different even when you have done it before and it might tire you out.
If you want to enjoy the multiple gorilla treks in Uganda, make sure that the permits that are purchased are for different days because trekking is a tiring exercise and you do not want to faint while trekking if you have permits purchased for the same day. Make sure that the permits purchased are a few days spaced out so that you have recuperating days before engaging in another gorilla trek safari. Contact us for more information.
What is needed for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda- what you need for Gorilla Trekking. You need to plan and talk to your tour operator about the different options that you might have when it comes to getting the services needed for gorilla trekking like accommodation and transport. Before you can think of other services, the first thing that you need to get is the gorilla trekking permit.
The gorilla tracking permit is a document that the Uganda Wildlife Authority gives to tourists for 15 years. It allows an individual to gain access to the endangered gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga. You can buy the permit through a tour operator. It goes for $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX for East African citizens. The gorilla habituation permit costs $1000 for foreign residents and African citizens, $1500 for foreign non-residents, and UGX750,000 for East African citizens.
Get in touch with a trusted tour operator about gorilla trekking in Uganda. An advisor will get in touch with you and you have to provide details like your full name, passport copy, details about the number of permits needed, and the trekking dates. Note that you can provide as many dates as you can and you have to provide this information in advance. The advisor will then check for the availability of the permits on the dates you have provided. Once the permits are available, you are to make payments for the permits because purchases are not made when there is no proof of payment. After purchasing the permits, we send you a copy of the permit. We’ll also go on with booking other services like accommodation and transport.
The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda- the gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla trekking in Uganda starts after an early breakfast and then with all the trekkers, you attend a mandatory briefing with the guides. The briefing will take you through the rules and regulations that you need to follow. It’s during this time that groups of trekkers are divided into groups of 8 and assigned gorilla families.
The trekking starts immediately after briefing and can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on your physical fitness and the location of the gorillas. With trackers, armed rangers, experienced guides, and a porter if you need one, the trek starts officially following evidence left by the gorillas, like poop, among others. When you find the gorillas, keep a distance of 7 meters, and then you have an hour with the gorillas taking photos, recording videos, and studying their behaviors.
When the one hour is up, all tourists then head back to the park headquarters, and throughout the trek, you will also be able to see other primate species, including baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and several bird species. At the park headquarters, you will be awarded a certificate of participation for trekking and conserving the Mountain gorillas.
Rules for gorilla trekking in Uganda
As you plan to spend more days with the gorillas of Uganda, there are a few rules that tourists have to follow while trekking and after meeting the gorillas. The rules are set and implemented by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and failure to follow these rules might lead to fines and being banned from trekking gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga. Below are gorilla trekking rules and these work in both Mgahinga and Bwindi.
- Tourists have an hour with the Mountain gorillas after tracking and locating them.
- The maximum number of people trekking a habituated group is 8 for gorilla trekking and 4 for gorilla habituation
- All sick people especially those with contagious diseases do not trek gorillas in Uganda
- 15 years is the minimum age limit for gorilla tracking
- A gorilla permit belonging to a specific sector cannot be used to trek gorillas in a different sector
- You have to keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas to minimize contact between you and the gorillas
- Feeding gorillas is prohibited
- You should only eat and drink if you are 200 meters away from the gorillas
- You should not touch gorillas
- Communication should be done using low tones
- No Taking photos of the gorillas with the flash on.
- When you feel like using the toilet, dig a hole of 30cm. After, cover it well after you are through with using it.
- Keep the national park clean by taking all your rubbish with you after gorilla trekking.
What to bring for a gorilla safari
Safari Destinations for Gorilla Trekking- Packing list for a gorilla safari. Packing right for the gorilla safari will allow you to enjoy the jungle experience maximally. Below is a list of items that every tourist should bring on their trek safari. You should avoid the blue color because it attracts tsetse flies, black absorbs heat, bright colors do not blend in easily with the forest, and camouflage clothes are associated with the army.
- Two pairs of long-sleeved shirts and lightweight trousers if you are spending 3 days on your safari.
- A waterproof jacket or raincoat to keep dry during treks when it is raining
- Sweaters, ponchos, or anything else that might keep you warm
- Socks are essential given the fact that trousers are tucked into the stockings to keep termites from crawling up your leg and they also keep you warm
- Gardening gloves to protect your hands from getting blisters during the trek. You will be holding onto different trees and shrubs to keep balance and not forgetting the walking stick.
- Gaiters and it is better to get the adjustable type
- Comfortable and well-fitting ankle-length hike boots. Tourists if possible should bring waterproof hike boots
- A waterproof backpack to carry everything that you might need during the trek
- Foldable and refillable water bottle
- Snacks for when you get hungry during the trek
- Toiletries
- First aid kit
- A camera that comes with extra batteries, lenses, and memory cards
- A pair of binoculars
At Safari Vacations and Travel Services, we have years of experience in organizing gorilla safaris across Africa, and we can easily organize a safari where you can spend more days with gorillas in Uganda. Get in touch with our staff through our emails and let us organize a memorable gorilla trekking safari for you to Uganda. Start by filling out the form below.
