Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda And Uganda : Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most incredible wildlife experiences in the world currently offered in 3 Africa countries that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
Many visitors from allover the world, visit Rwanda and Uganda for the remarkable mountain gorilla experience. There are many questions around gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda and they are answered below.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TREK THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS
The most frequently asked question about Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is “when is the best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda”.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be tracked throughout the year, however the best time to do gorilla trekking is in the dry months of June, July and August to early – September and December to February.
There is no guarantee that it will not rain in the jungles of Bwindi, Mgahinga and Volcanoes national park as they are dominated by tropical rainforest, the climate is influenced by micro weather conditions of the area.
HOW MUCH IS A GORILLA PERMIT IN RWANDA AND UGANDA
A gorilla permit in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs USD 800 for Non- Residents, USD 600 for Foreign Residents and 300,000 UGX for East African Residents, in Uganda the permits are issued and obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
In Rwanda, mountain gorilla permits are issued and obtained from Rwanda Development Board and each permit costs USD 1,500.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE GORILLA PERMIT
A gorilla permit allows you to stay for one hour in the presence of mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
The Gorilla Permit includes park entry fees for the respective parks, services of the National Park guide and armed rangers who escort you for your safety in the forest.
HOW LONG DOES MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING TAKE?
Gorilla trekking experience takes approximately 30 minutes to 5 hours or more, so you need to prepare for the day and requires a certain level of fitness. The time taken on mountain gorilla trekking experience depends on movements of the mountain gorillas, where they spent the previous night and their feeding range. It may also depend on the speed of the trekkers as the rangers have to move following the slowest person in the group.
WHAT IS THE AGE LIMIT FOR TREKKING MOUNTAIN GORILLA?
The age limit of Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Uganda and Rwanda is 15 years, the park authorities are very strict on the age limit as way of avoiding sad incidents like children being harmed during the trek.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking – Rwanda And Uganda
WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR GORILLA TREKING?
You need to prepare well for gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park, some of the items to include in your packing list includes trousers, long sleeved shirts, garden gloves, a hat, sun glasses, hiking boots, insect repellents and energy giving foods and drinks.
WHAT IS GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE?
Gorilla Habituated Experience offers visitors a chance to learn the process how the gorillas are made familiar/used to human beings and it is only offered in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority set aside 2 gorilla families for visitors to experience how gorillas are turned from being wild to being familiar with human presence, the visitors escort the researchers, scientists and rangers on this experience.
Gorilla Habituation Experience is currently done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, a gorilla habituation experience permit costs USD 1,500 USD per person offering visitors only 4 hours of being in the presence of partially habituated mountain gorillas.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO TREK BWINDI GORILLAS THROUGH KIGALI?
Yes, it is possible to trek Bwindi gorillas in Uganda through Rwanda’s Kigali City, this is by flying to Kigali International Airport. By flying to Kigali City, you will be able to reduce the drive time to Bwindi impenetrable national park to 5-6 hours compared to 9 -10 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The introduction of the East Africa Tourist Visa, once can visit both Uganda and Rwanda with no hassle, one can apply for the visa upon arrival in Rwanda thus making the process easier. The permit costs USD 100.00 and allows to visit the three countries of East Africa that is Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking – Rwanda And Uganda
WHAT IS GORILLA TREKKING?
Gorilla trekking is an activity where by a group of tourist head into the jungle in search for gorillas in the wild, gorilla trekking is currently available in only 3 African countries in the world that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo where visitors can see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Normally gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with briefing at the respective park headquarters then hike in to the forests following the trail looking for mountain gorillas, once you find the gorillas you will spend only one hour with the gorillas. You will then return back to offered a gorilla certificate as souvenir, the trek takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours or more with one hour of being in the presence of mountain gorillas.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED ON A TREK PER GORILLA FAMILY:
A maximum of 8 people are allowed to part in a visit to each gorilla family in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 16 habituated gorilla families and each family is allowed only 8 trackers. For gorilla habituation experience, only 4 people are around to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF SEEING MOUNTAIN GORILLAS?
This is one of the most frequently asked question by travelers intending to visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, chances of seeing the gorillas are 98% in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is organized in a special way that there is an advanced team of trackers who wake up very early every morning and head into the forests to find out where mountain gorillas are. Once they find them, they will then communicate with the park headquarters and your rangers on that day of gorilla trekking. You will then start your trek head to where the gorillas have been spotted, the advanced teal will keep communicating with your guide to make sure you do not get lost.
If the gorilla family you keep on tracking keep moving very fast, communication will be made and if the trackers feel like they cannot keep up with the speed, the park authorities may decided to take you to another family.
WHEN TO BOOK GORILLA PERMITS?
Gorilla permits both in Uganda and Rwanda sell out quickly so you are advised to book your gorilla permit in advance, gorilla permits tend out to run most especially during the high season months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February.
In Uganda, gorilla permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda, the permits are issued by Rwanda Development Board.
Gorilla permits can only be acquired through a registered tour operator and we can help you acquire a gorilla permit and book a gorilla safari as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking – Rwanda And Uganda