Category: BLOG

Cheapest Way To See Gorillas In Uganda

What is the cheapest way to see gorillas in Uganda? Trekking Gorillas during the low season is the Cheapest way to see gorillas in Uganda because you are able to take advantage of the discounted accommodation and transportation Prices. The gorilla trekking low season in Uganda is during the Months of January, February, April, May, October to November.

The key factors that determine how cheap a gorilla tour can be include transportation, accommodation and how long you plan to be in the destination as explained below:

Gorilla safari lodging options

One of the cheapest ways to see Uganda gorillas is by booking a budget gorilla safari lodge. All kinds of gorilla safari lodges exist in Uganda. To keep within your wallet size, we recommend that you book a budget or basic accommodation facility for your overnight stay.

Some of the most affordable gorilla lodges to consider booking while on gorilla tour in Uganda include Engagi Lodge, Eco marvels Gorilla Resort, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge, Cuckoo land Tented Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Buhoma Community Haven Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp and others.

Budget/cheapest lodges to stay on Volcanoes National Park gorilla safari include Musanze Caves Hotels, Kinigi Guesthouse, and Muhabura Hotel. At Virunga National Park, affordable accommodation facilities include Bukima Tented Camp, Tchegera Camp, Kibumba Tented Camp and more.

Length of gorilla trek

Visitors can choose to go on 2 days or 3 days gorilla tour in Uganda or Rwanda. The 3-Day gorilla trip includes 2 nights and it can cost about USD 1275. This is for the case of visitors on budget tour in Uganda where gorilla permits are still obtained at the lowest cost. The Uganda Gorilla Permit Costs USD800 for Foreigners

Transportation

Booking a budget safari car for your ground travel on Uganda gorilla safari  is another cheapest way to see gorillas in the wild. There are several rental cars to book including luxury, standard and budget. To save on your travel costs, we advise you opt for budget rental cars such as 4×4 Toyota Rav4 and alternatively travel in a group so as to spread the cost on transportation amongst yourselves. Traveling in a large group requires you to hire a bigger vehicle and the best options include Coaster bus (for groups of 20-28pax), Super custom/safari vans with a capacity of about 8pax. A good super custom or van can be hired at USD 70-80 per day.

What to wear & pack for a gorilla trip

On actual gorilla trekking, the essentials to consider wearing include waterproof hiking boots/shoes, gardening gloves, long pants, long sleeved shirts, rain coat, pair of socks, safari hat, and others. Other items to pack: high energy giving snacks, a camera free of flashlight, bottled drinking water, insect repellents, gorilla permits, and first aid kit.

When to visit Uganda to see gorillas?

There are 2 dry seasons that are experienced in each of the gorilla parks, and they are considerably the best time to go see gorillas. The longest dry months run from June, July, August to September, also referred to as the peak months of the year. The other option is traveling during the short dry months –December, January to February.

The other months are mainly low season/rainy months, also regarded as the best months for budget travelers to visit gorillas. During these months, there is low turn up of tourists across the Uganda gorilla safari parks and some lodges even cut down on the cost of accommodation.

Timing your gorilla trip is key when planning a gorilla safari. Traveling during the low/rainy months is amazingly one of the cheapest ways to see gorillas.

Book in advance

Booking your gorilla tour early enough should be a must-do whether you plan to go on luxury gorilla tour or budget. At Engabi Tours and Travel, we recommend that you book your gorilla trip and Gorilla permits at least 1 year earlier.

Contact Us to Start Planning your unforgettable Budget Friendly Gorilla Tour. You May also reach us through WhatsApp Texting on +256 757341593

Cheapest Place To See Gorillas Between Uganda and Rwanda

What Is Cheapest Place To See Gorillas Between Uganda and Rwanda?

What Is Cheapest Place To See Gorillas Between Uganda and Rwanda? The Cheapest Place to see Gorillas is Uganda. Uganda without doubt offers the most affordable gorilla safaris in Africa with a Gorilla Permit costing USD800 per person per trek compared to Rwanda’s gorilla permit which costs USD1500 Per person per trek.  Uganda’s Gorilla Safari Lodges are also more budget friendly and affordable tourists compared to Rwanda.

Uganda’s Gorilla Trekking National Parks

Lying in East Africa, Uganda is most popular for its exhilarating mountain gorilla trekking adventures attracting 1000s of primate lovers to come and enjoy up close with the unique mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Trekking with Uganda gorillas is also immersing yourself in the jungles and spend good time enjoy a close encounter with these unique apes.

In Uganda, there are 2 gorilla trekking tour destinations you can visit see mountain gorillas and these include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In each of these parks, there are sectors where gorilla treks begin from and 4 regions exist in Bwindi alone –Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Rushaga while in Mgahinga National Park visitor begin their treks from Ntebeko.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park -BINP gorillas

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a remarkable opportunity to interact with mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is where over 459 of the 1063 mountain gorillas all reside and this park is situated in Southwestern Uganda. While in Bwindi, there are 20 habituated gorilla groups to be visited with each of these taking a maximum of 8 visitors. Bwindi National Park gorilla families to be trekked include Habinyanja group, Mubare gorilla family, Oruzongo, Kyaguriro, Katwe, Bitukura, Mishaya, Kutu, Busingye, Mucunguzi, Nkuringo, Bweza, Kahungye, Nshongi, Rwigi, Bikingi, Bushaho, and more.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Located in Kisoro Southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga is part of the Virunga Conservation Area (VCA). It is the smallest park, created in 1991 and has area coverage of 33.7sq.km. At Mgahinga NP, there is only Nyakagezi gorilla group so far to be visited for gorilla trekking. Tourists start their search for Nyakagezi group at Ntebeko Visitor Centre after briefing and allocation of the park guide.

Gorilla permits for Mgahinga & Bwindi National Parks –Uganda

Gorilla permits are mandatory when it comes to gorilla tours to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. All Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla trekking permits are open for booking at USD 800 per person. Your trusted tour operator – Engabi Tours and Travel is in position to book a gorilla permit without you involving in the long process and further plan the whole gorilla safari holiday.

Gorilla permits in Uganda cost slightly lower than what Rwanda offers. In Rwanda, for you to go track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, permits are required each costing USD 1500.

Budget safari lodges in Uganda to stay on a gorilla trip

The available budget gorilla safari lodges in Bwindi National Park include Gift of Nature Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ride 4 a Woman, Nshongi Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp, CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp, while in Mgahinga National Park, budget lodge include Lake Mutanda Campsite, Gahinga Rest Camp, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, and others.

Other Cheap Places To See Gorillas In Africa

Congo gorillas

In the D.R. Congo, tourists can see both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas while in their natural habitat. The mountain gorillas in Congo thrive in the Virunga National Park, 7800 sq.km vast park which was created in 1925 and has 8 habituated gorilla groups to be tracked.

The lowland gorillas are tracked while in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, 6000sq.km rainforest-dominated park in the D.R. Congo. This park contains 5 habituated gorilla families and is found around Bukavu area.

Congo gorilla permit & how much they cost

Congo gorilla permits are undoubtedly the most affordable, each issued out by the park authorities at USD 400 per person. This makes Congo absolutely the budget-friendly gorilla tour destination.

Where to stay

The available budget lodges to stay on Congo Gorilla tour include Kibumba Tented Camp, and Bukima Tented Camp. At Kahuzi-Biega N. Park, camping is common option for visitor stay but there are some accommodation located in the nearby Bukavu and include Hotel Exodus Bukavu, Coco Lodge, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Orchids Safari Club, Hotel Begonia & Lakeside Hotel Bukavu.

When to go see gorillas in Africa

The most preferred time to travel for gorilla trekking in Africa is during the dry season: June, July, August to September/December, January to February. The remaining months are rainy months of the year and often avoided due to unfavorable weather conditions.

In summary, there are many gorilla trekking options in Africa, but the cheapest places to see gorillas in Africa include Uganda and D.R. Congo. Besides, you can also add Rwanda for excellent mountain gorilla encounters while on African tour.

Contact Us to Start Planning your unforgettable Budget Friendly Gorilla Tour. You May also reach us through WhatsApp Texting on +256 757341593

What Do Gorillas Eat

What Do Gorillas Eat? –Gorillas Diet and Feeding Habits : What do gorillas eat? Gorillas spend about a quarter of their day eating mainly fruits and plants. Around 85% of Gorillas diet is made up of shoots, stems and leaves though they also feed on larvae, ants, rotting wood, snails, roots and bark.

Gorillas’ diet composition does vary depending on the subspecies, seasonality and what the habitat offers. The largest portion of gorillas’ diet is composed of plant parts –they are naturally herbivores. Mountain gorillas in particular depend on green plant parts and lowland gorillas feed on fruits.

During the dry season, there are few juicy fruits and gorillas do depend on seeds and tree barks. When fruits are available on trees, gorillas can climb up to harvest. While the western gorillas diet largely consists more of fruits than stems, leaves, pith and shoots, they consume less of fruit compared orangutans and chimpanzees.

The western gorillas’ food range is wide and capable of feeding on 200 plant species. It comprises of plants from arrowroot and ginger families. Unlike western gorillas, mountain gorillas on the other hand feed on about 142 different species of plants including thistles, gallium, nettles and celery.

Mountain gorillas spend most of their day feeding on shoots, leaves, stems of plants which represent about 86% of their diet. About 7% of these apes’ diet consists of edible roots, 3% consists of flowers while 2% is mainly fruits.

Given the fact that mountain gorillas often spend most of their time at the higher altitude, they may not find much fruits unlike their counterparts the lowland gorillas whose diet largely consists of fruits. Mountain gorillas at times depend on snails, ants, grubs and these make up 2 percent of their diet.

A mature mountain gorilla can consume over 18kg of food daily. They are afraid of water and most of the plants they feed on is highly succulent which makes them usually survive without taking much water.

Mountain gorillas are generally huge and strong naturally. They make the best use of their strength to break up vegetation in order to eat their favorite plant parts. In general, gorillas play a significant part in their ecological niche. They are a few selective species and when feeding, they never finish all the vegetation. There is room for regrowth of vegetation and they move from one area to another. Their unique feeding habit allows faster replenishment to take place, What Do Gorillas Eat.

Mountain gorillas are typical example when it comes to selective feeding habits. They feed on various parts of the plants –they can feed on roots, stems, leaves and fruits. The mountain gorillas live only in the wild, particularly in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. About 1063 of these amazing apes still survive on the planet earth, and is possible to encounter them on gorilla safaris with your trusted tour operator on the ground –Engabi Tours and Travel.

The western lowland gorillas –Gorilla gorilla gorilla, are interesting gorilla subspecies and can feed on over 97 different plant species parts. Over 67 percent of western lowland gorillas comprise of fruits while 17% is made of seeds, leaves, and stems. The 3% is composed of caterpillars and termites.

The Eastern lowland gorilla –gorilla beringei graueri is eastern gorilla subspecies and can eat parts of over 104 species of plants. The cross river gorilla –gorilla gorilla diehli diet is composed of leaves, fruits, stems, piths and at times invertebrates.

A mature grauer’s gorilla male can feed on over 30 kg of plants each day while a female adult can feed on 18 kg. They can chew the plant material to aid its digestion process. Gorillas have strong chewing muscles and teeth made like those of humans, although theirs are a bit long with pointed canines.

The Eastern lowland gorillas inhabit most parts of the D.R. Congo, particularly the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Maiko National Park. The western gorilla largely occupy West African countries; Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and D.R. Congo.

There are only 2 gorilla species –Eastern and Western gorillas each with its subspecies. The Eastern gorilla is comprised of mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas, while western gorilla has western lowland and cross river gorillas.

Gorillas are huge in size and considerably a few most intelligent species on the planet earth. Unlike other animal species, most gorillas are endangered due to poaching and habitat loss.

How do gorillas forage for food?

Gorillas like most apes and humans use senses. They depend on sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing to locate food and also survive in the wild. Smell and sights are amazingly the most valuable senses among gorillas when searching for food. They are can see in color and this sense lets them detect the ripe plants to feed on.

Contact Us to start planning your gorilla tour or to book your Gorilla Permits in Uganda and Rwanda. You may also reach us through WhatsApp on +256 757341593

How Many Days Do you Need for Gorilla Trekking?

How many days do you need for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda?

A gorilla trekking tour takes a minimum of 1 day depending on your location prior to the gorilla trekking experience, your budget, your fitness, how many times you want to see the gorillas and other activities you may wish to add on the gorilla trekking experience.

For example, if you are already in Kigali City in Rwanda or Kabale Town and Kisoro Town in Uganda, it’s possible to do a 1-day Gorilla tour to either Bwindi National Park/Mgahinga National Park in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. To do this, you will wake up at as early as 4:00Am and transfer to the gorilla trekking starting point from where you will start your gorilla watching experience up to until 2:00Pm and then return to your hotel or home in one of the mentioned towns marking the end of the trip.

On the other hand, if you start your Gorilla Safari Tour from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala City to Bwindi or Mgahinga you will need a minimum of 3 days to do your Gorilla tour with day 1 of the trip set aside for transfer to the Gorillas in Bwindi National Park, day 2 for actual Gorilla trekking experience and day 3 for transfer back to Entebbe/ Kigali International Airport to mark the end of the trip.

There are only 3 countries in the world to visit for mountain gorilla encounters and include Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. Each of these gorilla safari destinations are open to trekkers, but require good time for you to have the best of your trekking experience.

To enjoy the best of Uganda gorilla trekking tour, you need at least 2 nights (3 Days) or 3 nights (4 Days) or more. This is taking into account the distance of gorilla safari parks in Uganda from Kampala city centre. There are 2 parks where mountain gorillas live in Uganda- the Pearl of Africa, and include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The 3 nights 4 Day Uganda gorilla tour will include; day one dedicated for you to travel from your home country to Uganda, day two, transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Day three, you embark on gorilla trekking experience and Batwa cultural experience.

Short gorilla tours such as 3 Days, 4 Days focus mainly on one destination –Bwindi or Mgahinga where you will enjoy gorilla trekking adventure. But for nature enthusiasts who desire to explore of Uganda’s hidden gem, you can opt for long tours starting from 5 Days plus and here you stand a chance to visit other parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kibale NP.

Combining gorilla trekking in Bwindi /Mgahinga with Queen Elizabeth National Park on a 5 -Day tour will include game drive and boat cruise. Queen Elizabeth Park is Uganda’s 2^nd biggest park, also home to over 96 mammal species including the rare tree climbing lions and other big game species; 620 bird species and several primates.

Still the 5-day trip gorilla tour can include Kibale National Park and Bwindi/Mgahinga NP. At Kibale Forest National Park, you will be tracking chimpanzees or embark on a full day chimpanzee habituation experience. This means, you will have a close encounter with 2 apes in the wild –chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.

Besides driving to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla NP, there is also option of fly-in gorilla tours. Flights take off from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi airstrip where you can easily connect to Bwindi NP or Kisoro airstrip the nearest airstrip to Mgahinga and the Southern gorilla trekking sectors of Bwindi that is Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda requires just 2 days or more. Given the close proximity of Volcanoes National Park from Kigali city centre, even one day gorilla tour can be arranged and you will be part of gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Volcanoes NP is found not far from the heart of Kigali, and takes visitors just 2-3 hours to drive and they will be at the park. Volcanoes NP is situated in Ruhengeri, Northwestern Rwanda and other than connecting from Kigali, there is an option of traveling from Uganda side –Kabale via Katuna border or Kisoro through Chanika border area. If you are connecting from Uganda, you will need at least 2 days or more.

Visitors who prefer a double gorilla trek in Rwanda / Uganda may need more days at least 4 or 5 days. The advantage of with double gorilla trekking safaris is that you get a chance to visit more than one habituated gorilla group whether in Uganda or Rwanda.

In Uganda, there are 21 fully habituated gorilla groups all open for gorilla trekking and 12 in Rwanda. A normal gorilla trek lasts for 2 to 6 hours, inclusive of one hour of a close encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Gorilla permits

All persons above 15 years are considered eligible to engage in gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda/Congo. Uganda gorilla permits are issued by park authorities at USD800 and in Rwanda, visitors are charged USD 1500 per person for one gorilla permit.

Note, gorilla trekking is an all year round primate adventure although the dry season is the most favorable time. The dry season often occurs from June to September and the 2^nd phase runs from December to February.

Contact Us to start planning your gorilla tour or to book your Gorilla Permits in Uganda and Rwanda. You may also reach us through WhatsApp on +256 757341593

Wild Animals of Africa

Endangered Species and Wild Animals of Africa-African Safari Animals : The various wildlife/animals of Africa include lions‚ rhinos‚ cheetahs‚ giraffes‚ antelope, hippos, Gorillas, leopards, zebras‚ and African elephants among many others and they survive in the diverse habitats ranging from the splendid savanna grassland to tropical rainforests. An estimate of about 1100 species of mammals, 2600 bird species, 60 carnivore species, 3000 fish species and 100,000 species of insects are all contained in the African continent.

If you are an enthusiastic animal/wildlife lover, Africa is one place you should consider a must-visit as a safari in Africa brings you close to your dream/favorite wildlife/animals right in their natural habitat. Africa is the world’s 2^nd biggest continent and prides itself of abundant wildlife including huge concentrations of bird species, reptiles, big cats, and other mammal species.

Top animals/wildlife in Africa

The main animal species to see on an African safari holiday are many and often, they can easily be spotted in the continent’s finest national parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. The most popular animals to encounter in Africa include rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards, and elephants.

The big five game are the most famous because historically, they were the most hunted African wildlife by professional hunters and poachers alike. They are notably the most dangerous and hard to track animals in the wild. The most elusive of all are the black rhinos, with about 5000 of them currently thriving in the wild. The cape buffaloes are among the most dangerous animals while leopards are rare to be seen the fact that they are nocturnal species.

Where to find the top African wildlife

Any animal lover on African wildlife tour should consider the following destinations a must-visit. They include; Kenya, Uganda (with 10 national parks, 356 species of mammals, 1100 bird species), Tanzania (home to 16 beautiful national parks), Botswana, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, and others.

The Best Places to find Your Favorite Wildlife Animals in Africa

• Cheetahs –visit Maasai Mara National Reserve Kenya, Okonjima Game Reserve in Namibia, and Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda.
• Giraffes –go safari in the Serengeti National Park (Maasai giraffes) & for Rothschild giraffes, visit Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.
• Zebras –travel to the Maasai Mara region/Serengeti area, especially during the Great migration season. The grevy zebras live in Northern Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
• Wild dogs –the best places to visit include Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, and Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.
• Crocodiles –visit the Mara River to watch the Nile crocodiles, and they are perfectly spotted during the Great Migration.
  

  

The endangered wildlife/animals in Africa

There are many endangered/vulnerable animals in Africa. Their survival in the wild has been affected by hunting ad poaching. They include the grey crowned crane, wild dog, black and white rhinos, grevy and Rothschild giraffes, okapis, cheetahs, leopards, lions, forest elephants and others. Other animals, especially those that almost got extinct include the cross river gorillas –a sub species of the western gorillas and these survive in Nigeria and Cameroon, mountain gorillas that live in Uganda, D.R. Congo and Rwanda.

Birds

About 2600 bird species have been recorded in African continent alone and they include 25 endemic species. The important birds to be spotted on an African safari include cape glossy starling, lilac breasted rollers, shoebill stork, African white backed vultures, brown snake eagles, ostriches, African penguins, guinea fowl, secretary bird, and others.

Snakes

Several snakes live in Africa, and they exist in different habitats including deserts, tropical forests and water bodies. The 3 types of venomous snakes in Africa include haemotoxic, neurotoxic and cytotoxic. The deadliest snakes in Africa include bush viper, black mamba, cape cobra, boom slang, western African carpet viper, puff adder, and more. The nonvenomous snakes native to Africa include African rock python, brown house snake, ball python, spotted bush snake and others.

Africa’s rarest animals

Other than the big five game, Africa also has other unique species/rarest animals. They include black rhinos, pangolins, Ethiopian wolf, honey badger, African penguin and mountain gorillas.

Africa also supports other diverse primate species besides gorillas. They include chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, bonobos, golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, silver monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bush babies, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, patas monkeys, pottos to mention but a few.

Contact Us for information, Inspiration or a Quotation for a Gorilla Trekking and Big Five Safari Vacation.

Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Worth the Money?

Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Worth the Money/Cost? Yes-Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is worth the money or the cost and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is not staged and take place in the natural habitats of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.

The price of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is USD800 per person per day and it allows visitors to track a single habituated gorilla family and and enjoy one hour of up close and personal with mountain gorillas in the wild.

Here are some of the Amazing Reasons Why Gorilla Trekking is Worth the Money

The experience

Once you have immersed yourself into the dense tropical forest and get up close and personal with a family of massive mountain gorillas in the wild, the experience thereafter is completely indescribable. Trekking with mountain gorillas is a priceless experience and many have always described it as a lifetime adventure. Unlike other African wildlife safari tours, trekking mountain gorillas isn’t done anywhere else except only in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda.

Contribution to gorilla conservation efforts

Mountain gorilla and wildlife conservation has come a long way although authorities still encounter challenges achieving their goals. The largest percentage of the fees paid on gorilla permits/gorilla safaris is put back to supporting different conservation practices aimed at ensuring survival of mountain gorillas and other wildlife for future generations. Booking your gorilla permits/gorilla safari with Engabi Tours and Travel means you have supported conservation efforts.

Gorilla conservation has had and still faces many challenges. These include habitat loss, poaching, and spread of infectious diseases, etc. Ensuring that these threats are curbed, it requires financial support and thanks to gorilla tourism for its incredible contribution.

Endangered species

Mountain gorillas remain among the endangered species in the wild and strictly, they survive in the 4 National Parks. The four parks to locate these apes include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga NP (Uganda), Virunga National Park (Congo) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda). The most preferred destinations for gorilla trekking include Uganda and Rwanda thanks to their long prevailing peace and stability.

About 1063 of mountain gorillas currently survive in the entire world and with many threats, their survival is at higher risk. 95% of mountain gorilla DNA is same as that of humans making them our closest relatives and also susceptible to infectious human diseases.

Enjoy one hour face-to-face with gorillas in the wild

Trekking through the lush tropical forest and finally come across gorillas is a special experience of its own. The beauty about gorilla trekking is that tourists enjoy up close and personal with the rare mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. These apes DON’T exist in the zoo and visiting them is only possible while in the natural forest in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

The cost of permit –is it worth it?

Gorilla permits are required on every gorilla trek in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. A single permit for gorilla tracking in Uganda costs USD 800, USD 1500 for Rwanda and USD 450 for D.R. Congo. The tour operator on ground (for this case Engabi Tours and Travel) is in position to assist you secure your gorilla permit and plan the entire gorilla safari holiday.

When is the best time to track gorillas?

Tracking mountain gorillas is open all year round, although the most favorable time by most tourists is during the dry season. This is during the long and short dry spell with short dry season/months running from December, January to February while long dry months occur from June, July, August to September.

Contact Us for information, Inspiration or a Quotation for a Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Safari Vacation.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Safe?

Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Safe or Dangerous for Tourists?

Yes-gorilla trekking in Uganda is safe both for you and the gorillas themselves as long as the laid out gorilla trekking rules and regulations are followed and the trekking is done with a habituated Gorilla family. Safety on a gorilla trekking safari is guaranteed but some considerations must be observed. Mountain gorillas are by nature not dangerous thus being a few humble creatures any nature lover should expect encountering on Uganda safari this 2023/2024.

A mature adult male (silverback gorilla) weighs about 400 pounds and when standing it can reach 6 feet. When you bump into a silverback or even black backs, it is possible for one to get frightened but these are peaceful creatures and can easily be interacted with face-to-face. Tourists should note that through the habituation exercise, these apes get used to human presence before being visited. The process lasts for 2 or more years although some groups can take shorter period a case in point being Bitukura gorilla family.

Important tips to safety during gorilla trekking

The trackers & experienced park guides

All gorilla treks start with the lead of an experienced park guides and trackers. These are not only well-versed with the behaviors of mountain gorillas but also ensure safety of visitors while in the forest. The park ranger guides are fully trained and while on an actual trek, they will be equipped with guns. In case of any intimidating behavior from gorillas for instance (In case they charge at you), the park ranger guide will give instructions that all guests must observe.

Gorilla families per trekkers

All gorilla trekking expeditions are conducted on gorilla families that have undergone full habituation. Each group comprising of 8 visitors is entitled to visit one habituated gorilla group and this is a standard rule whether you are in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo. After long day trek, you will be allowed to watch gorillas face-to-face for only 1 hour and when taking photos, it is recommended that you turn off the flashlight.

How to behave in the presence of mountain gorillas

• While you may wish to have direct eye contact with mountain gorillas, it should be brief. When they have charged, avoid direct eye contact as much as you can –and alternatively look down which is a sign of submissiveness.
• A safe distance of 8 meters must be observed away from the family of gorillas at all times. This safe measure is intended not only to protect visitors but also gorillas from contracting infectious diseases.
• When coughing, please cover your mouth and or nose when sneezing. Failure to do so may mean putting these endangered species at the risk of contracting the infectious diseases. This is why it is advisable that all trekkers visiting gorillas must be free of any illnesses.
• Keep your voices low when trekking or even at the time you will be observing gorillas face-to-face.

Mountain gorillas are unique animals thriving only in 3 places: Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. They are among a few threatened or endangered species in the wild as a result of habitat loss, poaching and spread of infectious diseases, etc. About 1063 of these massive apes thrive in the world and trekking them can be done in the 4 National Parks: Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Mgahinga & Bwindi in Uganda then the Congo Virunga National Park.

Contact Us for information, Inspiration or a Quotation for a Gorilla Trekking and Uganda Safari Vacation.

Difference Between Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experiences

Difference Between Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experiences

What is the difference between ordinary Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience? The major differences between ordinary gorilla Trekking and Gorilla habituation experience are the cost of the permit and time spent with the Gorillas. An ordinary Gorilla Trekking Permit costs 800USD for Foreigners and 700USD for foreign residents while a gorilla habituation experience permit costs 1500USD  for Foreigners and 1000USD for Foreign Residents.

An ordinary gorilla trek lasts for 2 to 6 hours and visitors have 1 hour to spend face-to-face in the presence of a habituated gorilla group While a Gorilla habituation experience lasts a whole full day with a guarantee of 4 hours for close encounter.

In this article, we bring you a detailed comparison between Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experiences.

Where to go for gorilla trekking & habituation?

Gorilla trekking to see mountain gorillas is done across the four Gorilla safari Destinations where these apes only live. That is Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Virunga National Park Congo, Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Gorilla habituation experience in Africa is conducted only in one park –Bwindi National Park in Southwestern Uganda.

Gorilla families to visit

During gorilla trekking in Uganda, tourists can visit anyone of the 21 habituated gorilla groups -20 families in Bwindi and only one in Mgahinga NP. Habituation is enjoyable in only one region and one group in Rushaga sector, Southern gorilla safari region in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.

Length of the activity

A normal gorilla trek lasts for 2 to 6 hours and visitors have 1 hour to spend face-to-face in the presence of a habituated gorilla group. Gorilla habituation is process of making semi-habituated gorilla groups get used to human presence and day activity involves following gorillas for full day or half day with guarantee of 4 hours for close encounter.

Actual day visit of gorillas

On actual day gorilla trek, a group of tourists can be led by an experienced park ranger guide in Bwindi Impenetrable N/P or respective park you visit for gorilla trekking. Habituation experience is done by researchers, scientists, environmentalists, trackers, doctors and the idea is to take note of daily behavior of mountain gorillas.

Gorilla Permits and Their Rates

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are open for reservation at USD 800 per person –foreign nonresidents, USD700 foreign residents and shs.300,000 East African citizens –Ugandans inclusive. Gorilla habituation experience permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are obtainable at USD 1500 –(all foreign nonresidents), USD 1000 for foreign residents and Ugandans plus the rest of East African citizens pay shs. 750,000 per person.

About gorillas in Uganda

Uganda is a complete gorilla safari destination with multiple habituated gorilla groups, inhabiting over half of all the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas. In Uganda, only mountain gorillas live here and they survive in 2 parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N/Park. There are five regions/sectors where tourists can track and explore about Uganda’s mountain gorillas and include Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma and Nkuringo sectors in Bwindi NP; Ntebeko for tourists visiting Mgahinga National Park.

When best to visit Uganda for gorilla tours?

Uganda is an all year round gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation destination, thanks to its ideal weather conditions. However, two dry seasons are the best for visitors to have the most of the gorilla trek or habituation. The first and longest dry spell starts from June, July, August to September and the second phase begins from December, January to February.

The remaining months of the year are wetter/rainy months/low season. They start from March, April, May and October to November of every year.

What to carry for gorilla trip in Uganda

Among the many important things to consider packing for your gorilla trip include waterproof hiking boots, camera with extra batteries, light but waterproof daypack, long sleeved shirt, rain coat/jacket, trousers, safari hat, energy giving snacks, enough bottled water, and others.

Accommodation options

The available gorilla safari lodges in Uganda include budget, midrange/standard and luxury. Top lodges to book for overnight stay on Gorilla Safari Discovery include Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Silverback Lodge, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge and more.

How to reach there

All the two gorilla tour parks (Bwindi & Mgahinga) in Uganda are found in the far Southwestern part of the country. Getting to the two parks to see mountain gorillas is possible on road or air. Driving time is estimated to last for about 9-10 hours but there are many other sites to be visited en route and include the Equator crossing. By air, fly from Entebbe airport to Kihihi airstrip (perfect for connecting to Bwindi) or Kisoro airstrip for visitors heading to Mgahinga NP.

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How Long Is The Gorilla Trek in Uganda?

How Long Is The Gorilla Trek in Uganda? How Long  is the gorilla trek in Uganda? A gorilla trek in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga takes between 1 to 6 hours on average. Ultimately how long a gorilla trek in Uganda takes entirely depends on the time the gorillas were last seen and where, visitor fitness levels and nature of habitat. This time includes right from the start of the trekking point, then watching the gorillas and returning back to the meeting point of the National Park.

Once you have decided visiting Uganda or Rwanda to track mountain gorillas, next should be prepare adequately. Areas of interest when preparing for your gorilla trekking expedition should be your fitness level. This primate adventure is all about navigating via the lush tropical forest, steep slopes and at times, you can find yourself in a muddy ground depending on the season. Overcoming all these factors and enjoy round trek requires one to be physically fit.

How difficult is gorilla trekking –Uganda or Rwanda?

Mountain gorillas as their name suggests are few species that spend most of their time in montane areas. Before you come across these apes, it involves some hiking through the altitude range of 1160m to 2607 depending on the location. In Bwindi National Park, the highest point is 2607m and this is for tourists visiting Ruhija sector, the eastern gorilla trekking region.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (VNP) rises at altitude range of 2400 to 4507 meters. This is considering the fact that it is situated within the Virunga Region, whose highest point is Karisimbi Volcano (4507m). Whether you choose to visit Uganda or Rwanda, it is always important to be prepared physically to conquer any kind of tough terrain.

How long can it take for you to see mountain gorillas?

A gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda is generally unpredictable. At times, you can spend 2 to 6 hours and you come across a family of mountain gorillas. This includes the time you depart from the briefing area, the close encounter and photography with mountain gorillas and when you get back to a briefing area.

What if am physically unwell?

There are options for cases such as persons with disabilities. First, when planning a Gorilla safari, you must communicate to your tour operator on the ground (Engabi Tours and Travel) about your fitness level. If you fall under category of persons with disabilities, we can go further and book sedan chairs that can used to carry you throughout the gorilla trek. There will be a team of energetic porters who will be hired to carry the sedan chairs.

To better enjoy your Gorilla trekking safari, we recommend that you plan your trip around the dry season. During this season, hiking through the terrains of Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga NP or Volcanoes National Park in search for gorillas is a bit easier because the ground can be drier. Low rainfall amount is received during this period and this is usually around June, July, August to September or you can travel around December, January to anytime around February.

How prepared should you be for your gorilla trekking experience?

You should be reasonably fit enough to conquer the tough terrains in Uganda or Rwanda. First, you should give yourself time to practice to make your body acclimatized to the terrains or better still, travel early and exercise in the hilly areas in Kampala.

On actual gorilla trekking Tour, you should consider carrying enough energy giving snacks, and bottled drinking water. Additional items include waterproof hiking boots, walking stick for support, gardening gloves, waterproof daypack, and others.

Depending on your level of fitness but in case you are badly off; don’t forget to communicate to our team early. This can enable us communicate to the park official of your status and he or she can assign a gorilla family that is a bit easier to track.

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Gorilla Trekking Uganda Minimum Age

Gorilla Trekking Uganda Minimum Age-Can a Child Trek Gorillas? The acceptable gorilla trekking Uganda minimum age or age limit is 15 years and above. Anyone of this age bracket and at their better health status can be allowed to track one habituated gorilla family in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. This Gorilla trekking minimum age applies to the rest of the mountain gorilla destinations: D.R. Congo and Rwanda.

Gorilla Trekking is the most sought for primate adventure when it comes to all safaris in Uganda. This unique wildlife activity is only enjoyable in Africa offering nature enthusiasts a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Besides Uganda, these large apes also survive in Rwanda and D.R. Congo. As a standard gorilla trekking rules, there is a set age limit/minimum age that is acceptable of anyone interested in engaging in this experience.

However, there can be some exceptions where those below the acceptable age limit can be allowed to trek to see the massive mountain gorillas in the wild. The circumstances leading to this will be explained later on.

Why minimum age limit?

There are many reasons why age limit for gorilla trekking is set at 15. First, it is believed if you are 15, such persons fall under the category of children. Such persons may not be in position to deal with the negative reactions, especially when mountain gorillas get irritated/charges at visitors. Mountain gorillas like other species are naturally calm and gentile animals, except when disturbed that they can be aggressive.

When a gorilla charges, children may not handle the situation and they can be forced to scream thus irritating these apes further or they can be tempted to run away and gorillas can follow them thinking otherwise. The only way to handle such situations is being submissive. While tracking gorillas, your park guide will often inform you on how you should behave when interacting with these creatures in the wild. Unlike children, grown up persons above 15 years can control emotions even if the gorillas charges.

Mature visitors are also less likely to get carried away as children can. They can easily observe the park guide’s instructions and generally the briefed gorilla trekking rules/guidelines. The gorilla trekking rules include among many no littering the park, maintaining a distance of 8 meters away from a family of mountain gorillas, no touching gorillas, no use of flashlight cameras and more.

Persons below 15 years may not also be mentally mature for gorilla trekking. For mature travelers, once they have decided to undertake Gorilla Safari Tour, they already know what they going for. Often children go for safaris just to accompany their parents. The excitement won’t be like that of the adults. Besides, to track mountain gorillas from start till the end requires certain level physical fitness and determination since it all involves walking through the vegetation and steep slopes.

Children usually carry communicable diseases such as flu and cough. These can be contracted by mountain gorillas considering the fact that they share up to 95% of their DNA with humans.

 Under What Circumstances Can Child Track Gorillas?

There is an exception where persons below 15 can be allowed to track mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda. First, if there is proof that he or she is making his or her 15^th birthday. But exception applies to visitors on gorilla safaris in Bwindi National Park in Uganda. But he or she should be physically fit to complete the entire gorilla trekking journey.

To be allowed to participate in gorilla trekking, the parents must provide evidence/proof that the child is making 15^th birthday. The current photos and copy of passports must be provided.

What can one Do if the Child is Completely Young?

The fact that gorilla trekking Uganda age limit stands at 15 years doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel with children. There are plenty of options for children too to engage in while adults take on the thrilling gorilla trek. The available options include guided nature walks, visiting local schools, cultural visits/walks and more.

Where To Go To Trek Gorillas in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is only carried out in 2 places and includes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These protected areas are located in Southwestern Uganda and accessing them takes 8-9 hours. They protect up to about half of the remaining 1063 mountain gorilla population with about 21 habituated gorilla groups.

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