There are only about 650 individual gorillas left in the whole world. Half of these endangered species are located in Uganda.
Gorilla Safaris are done in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The other alternative of Gorilla tracking is in Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda
-Permit costs USD 500 per person.
-East African Residents pay USD 355
The cost includes park fees and guides fees.
Its advisable to book gorilla permits several months prior to your visit: Only 24 tourists per day are allowed to track gorillas. 18 in Bwindi and 6 in Mgahinga National park. Each tracking party is accompanied by a guide, 3 trackers and 4 army personnel.Uganda safaris
Read about Gorilla tracking Rules Here
-To inquire on the availability of a gorilla permit contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Find the Tour operators doing Gorilla Safari tracking Uganda.
Uganda gorillas
Uganda is a safari country that has been prominently known as the land of the mountain gorillas. The famous national parks for the gorillas are bwindi and Mgahinga.
Mgahinga national park is located on the extreme section,deep in the south western part of Uganda or on the slopes of the Virungas. Besides trekking the gorillas, you can experience the sights and sounds of the leopard, bushback, buffalo and the golden monkeys.
Bwindi National is found in the south western part of Uganda, the pearl of Africa. About a half of the remaining mountain gorillas live here in this area of about 200 square miles with thick thickets of the impenetrable rainforest. Uganda safaris As fun filled with adventure, trekking through this densely populated (by vegetation) area will expose to you various wildlife that you can never imagine. You will see the chimpanzee and variety of forest birds. If you are slow and very observant, the small insects, butterflies, and so much more is equally amazing!
Rwanda gorillas
Rwanda mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga national park or parc national des Volcans PNV. With about 46 sq kms, emcompassing a total of six volcanoes, there is much fun in just this area of Rwanda. The gorilla permits are at a cost of USD 500 per person just like it is for Uganda. The famous Dina Fossey’s research center used to be here. Trekking the gorillas in Rwanda less strenous than at bwindi since the radius of the gorilla movement is less than that of Bwindi national park.
Congo gorillas
Gorilla safaris in Congo is a recent trend in the tracking of gorillas. The Virunga National Park in Congo with 7,800 sq km is an immense protected area. It acquires its name as a result of the eight volcanoes, of which Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira are still active.
The Park is not independent. Its found in the Virunga Conservation Area, which comprises 3 national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, (PNV)Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, plus Virunga in Congo. In 1979 the Park was designated as World Heritage Site and become well known for gorilla safaris.
Mountain gorillas are the major attraction in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The only remaining population of these endangered apes needs to be conserved by you and me. All policies in these 3 destinations encourage conservation of wildlife in the parks and environmental protection of the natural resources. We also echo the same sentiments and believe in conservacy trends. We dont not encourage hunting sfaris in any way.
Besides gorilla tracking or trekking, there is more to see like the primates including the chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons e.t.c while on your safari vacation or tour to Africa.
This online tourism guide will help you plan your trip or vacation that will take you to see various wildlife such as the Africa lions, Elephants and other animals, not in a zoo but in the wild!
Safari includes city tour, visit to the top of the falls, game drives, boat trip, village walks, forest walks, chimpanzee trekking, Gorilla Tracking, Lake Bunyonyi, Lunch and water enroute and other activities that are mentioned in the itinerary.
You will warmly be welcomed by our professional guide at Entebbe airport. After a short transfer to your hotel the guide will be brief about you safari. Primate safari Depending on the time of arrival e.g if your flight arrives in the morning, you will go for a city tour. You can visit some of the landmarks in town with the Gorilla Holidayhelp of our driver/guide. Overnight at either Serena Hotel for luxury accommodation, Fang Fang Hotel for medium accommodation or Forest Cottages for budget accommodation.
Drive north west have a stop over for lunch at Masindi then to Murchison Falls National Park.Gorilla Tour You will reach late afternoon proceed to the top of the Falls where you can see the Nile’s beauty perfected! Marvel at the Nile, compressing from up to one km squeezed through a 7-metre canyon dropping 150 metres with a thunderous roar,Mountain Gorillas creating a beautiful rainbow. In the evening enjoy the superb comfort and service of either Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Camp for Luxury accommodation,Mountain Gorilla Tours Sambiya River Lodge for medium accommodation or Red chili for budget accommodation.
Go for an early morning game drive on the northern bank. With the help of the guide, you will spot elephant, lion, Roth child’s giraffe, cape buffalo, waterbuck, hartebeest, bushbuck, if you are lucky the leopard and other animals. Gorilla Expedition After lunch go for a boat safari upstream the calm Victoria Nile to the base of the falls stopping just tens of meters from the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’. Gorilla Tracking You will spot the hippos, crocodiles and over the 17km stretch you may see waterbuck, elephant and Uganda Kob. You will also have an opportunity to view many bird species like goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican bee-eater, Apes Conservation kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant and the rare shoebill stork. In the evening return either Paraa Safari Lodge or Nile Safari Camp for Luxury accommodation, Sambiya River Lodge for medium accommodation or Red chili for budget accommodation for an over night.Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda
Early morning transfer to Fort Portal arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. Relax at your hotel in the afternoon. In the evening, the guide will brief you on the activities that will take place on the following day program. Overnight at either Ndali Chimpanzee Trekking Wildlife SafarisLodge for Luxury accommodation, Rwenzori View Guest House or Ataco Guest House for medium accommodation or Toro Resort for Budget Accommodation.
After breakfast, go to the hot springs and crown the day in the pygmy villages located near the Ituri Rainforest. The visit to the villages has proven to be an interesting cultural experience. Rwanda Gorilla Safaris The guide will have lunch arranged for you to be served as a picnic while you experience the “real Africa”. Afternoon transfer to Fort Portal and Gorilla News arrive this evening at either Ndali Lodge for Luxury accommodation, Rwenzori View Guest House or Ataco Guest House for medium accommodation or Toro Resort for Budget Accommodation.
Early morning go for chimpanzee tracking which will start from Kanyanchu River Camp. This will give you an Gorilla Trekking in Uganda opportunity to see primates including l’hoestes, red colobus, blue red tailed and gray cheeked mangabey. The guide who will give you Safari trip detailed information on primates, forest, flora and fauna. After lunch, visit to Bigodi swamp which will give you an opportunity see other small mammals and birds. Overnight at either Ndali Lodge for Luxury accommodation, Rwenzori View Guest House or Ataco Guest House for medium accommodation or Toro Resort for Budget Accommodation.
Transfer to Wildlife Safari Uganda , Queen Elizabeth following the mystical Rwenzori Mountain Range. You will have an enroute game drive giving you an opportunity to view lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, hyena and a variety of antelope species.
Have an early morning Game drive where you have an excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, giant forest hog, cape buffalo, elephant, defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kob, topi and bushbuck with the help of the guide. After lunch, Safari Vacation Uganda enjoy the unique 2-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel into Lake Edward.
Primate Safari Uganda, Incase your flight is in the evening, you will go for either a city tour or shopping then you are later taken to the airport for your return flight back home.
Uganda Tourism Trip After a rigorous day at Bwindi, most clients will welcome some relaxing moments on the shores of this peaceful lake. The options here are birding, cycling, swimming or canoeing. Overnight at Bushara Island Camp.
Uganda HolidayAfter an early morning breakfast, leisurely drive back to Kampala with a stop over for lunch. Overnight at either Serena Hotel for luxury accommodation, Fang Fang Hotel for medium accommodation or Forest Cottages for budget accommodation.
Uganda Tour Bwindi Go for gorilla tracking walking up steeply in the dense rain forest through different animals’ trails allowing access to tourists. Gorilla tracking is an inspiring and wonderful adventure which one can’t miss. Overnight at either Gorilla Forest Camp for luxury accommodation, L. Kitandara Tented Camp for medium accommodation or Buhoma Community Bandas.
Uganda Excursion Tour Early morning proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Park. This drive will take you through the Kigezi highlands, known as the “Switzerland of Africa”, with Safari Expedition terraced farming and mountain scenery to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Overnight at either Gorilla Forest Camp for luxury accommodation, L. Kitandara Tented Camp for medium accommodation or Buhoma Community Bandas. Safari Adventure The Gorilla is a shy and peaceful animal and it is an unforgettable experience to watch and photograph them as they interact. Enjoy the Buhoma Village Walk organized by the local community.
This boat cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. Overnight at either Mweya or Jacana Safari Lodge for luxury Mountaineering Safari accommodation, hippo hill camp for medium accommodation or Mweya Hostel for budget accommodation.
Jungle Safari After lunch, you will visit the bat cave and hunters cave where we take a close look at the bats, rock python and forest cobras. Rwenzori TourThe same walk will provide a chance of seeing birds, primates, tree species etc. Overnight at either Mweya or Jacana Safari Lodge for luxury accommodation, hippo hill camp for medium accommodation or Mweya Hostel for budget accommodation. Gorilla tour
Aboutuganda.com is reccommended by the National Geographic Magazine, The Bradt Travel Guide, Guide for Africa and other professional Bodies in Africa.
Organisations involved in the conservation of Gorillas include the Dianney Fossey Foundation and International Gorilla Conservation Program.
For your adventure holiday in Uganda,a gorilla trekking safari will make the best of a safari expedition. The Endangered gorillas are one of the prominent apes and primates of the world. Read more about the imp, lemur, monk, orangutan, rascal, scamp and simian and anthropoid ape.
Visiting mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the things a person must do in their lifetime. It is a unique experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 320 of the 700 remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Three family groups are habituated to humans and eight visitors are permitted to spend an hour observing each family each day. Permits must be purchased in advance at the UWA office in Kampala. The tour companies take most of the permits as they become available, so the independent traveller has to act fast and appear in person with $500 US per person. Bills must be dated 2002 or later and older US bills will be rejected.Gorilla Safari to Rwanda We stayed at Buhoma Community Rest Camp, a community operated facility with a few bandas and campsites. It is good to see the money going to the local people instead of an upscale commercial operation. Facilities are rudimentary, but well maintained and clean.
Checking in for your gorilla trek is time consuming, so show up early. First you have to go to the booth at the entrance to the park, where a ranger will want to see your permit and passport, will ask whether you have any communicable diseases and will check your name off on a list. You are then directed to the park ranger compound where a more senior ranger will want to see your permit and passport, ask about communicable diseases and check your name off on another master list. Finally there is an orientation meeting where you are instructed about behaviour near gorillas, the possibility of trekking through the jungle an seeing no gorillas and the fact that if the guide determines you have a communicable disease you will be sent home with no gorilla sightings and no refund. You are given a chance to hire a porter for 10,000 Uganda shilling (about $6.30 CAD). This is a wise investment because carrying a pack with your camera, rain jacket, lunch and water in a humid jungle is not pleasant and it is good to provide income to the locals. Several of the ladies in our group found that the porters could help them up steep climbs and across streams in the jungle. One porter even carried a lady who developed a sore knee for about half he distance. These slight looking young porters are incredibly strong and able to run up steep hills carrying a heavy load.
You have to drive from the assembly point to the start of your trek. The other trekkers were with tour groups who had 4×4 vehicles, but we had a little 2 wheel drive Toyota Corolla and were concerned we would not be able to keep up. The ranges offered to let us ride in their 4×4 Land Rover pick-up. There is a bench seat where my wife and daughter could sit beside the driver and I got to sit in the back with the porters, rangers and guides. I got a good close look at the AK47′s the rangers carry in the jungle. The young people in the back of the truck had a good time as we drove to the start of our trek. I could not understand much of the African language they were speaking, but there seemed to be some good natured teasing of a cute female porter involving the word Impenetrable from the park name.
We finally arrived at the start of our trek. Gorillas move through the jungle as they feed so it is not possible to tell in advance how far the trek will be. One of the groups had to walk 35 minutes to see their gorillas and the other 45 minutes. Our gorillas had moved during the night so it was a 3 1/2 hour hike before we caught up with them. This started with about a kilometer through some very steep farm land before we got to the jungle, and then up and down jungle covered hills and across several streams. As you move through the jungle, a guide stays at the head of the group and porters are assigned to watch the back for stragglers. Rangers armed with AK47 assault rifles move ahead, to the flanks and to the rear of the group. These rangers seem to do most of the work of locating the gorillas and finding a good place to stop, remove packs and get cameras ready before approaching.
We finally caught up with our gorilla family and spent an hour observing and photographing them from close distances. This is an unforgettable experience.
The guides decided it would be shorter to change the pick up point and take a different route out of the jungle. They radioed the trucks when they got out of the jungle to open farm land where there was radio reception
Gorilla safari and Chimpanzee trekking
The information provided on this tour and safaris website is intended to help you have a perfect vacation holiday in Uganda or any voyage to Africa. You will find a wealth of information related to visiting primates, cruises, adventure trails, sightseeing tours,mount trekking and trips covering many safari journeys in Africa.
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