Gorilla Trekking On Summer Holiday 2019-2020

Summer holiday is a time to relax and have fun but if you are tired of the usual congestion at the holiday site, here is a new adventure. Gorilla trekking has a limited number of trekkers and just a few gorilla families are available for tourism therefore this avoids congestion. CONTACT US

Gorilla Trekking Safari

How to reserve your gorilla trekking safari

If you are sure of the days you wish to take your vacation, you send your inquiry with details of the safari days and number of people you are interested to travel with. We will call Uganda wildlife authority to inquire about gorilla permit availability. We will get back to you with the possible availability.

Upon confirming your gorilla trekking safari, we request you to send details of all the people you are travelling with like nationality, names on the passport, age, date of birth, expiry date of passport. We will book the permit for you upon payments for commitment. Scan a copy of your payment slip and we shall get back to you when the money reflects on our account. This takes about 4 to 5 days in case of a wire transfer.

Gorilla Trekking To Book

Payment by credit card is not so common in Uganda because of the number of days it may take to approve the payment yet booking a gorilla permit is very urgent.

What is the best time to book a gorilla trekking tour

Gorilla trekking is done throughout the year. During your summer holiday, you are free to choose any day for your trek even the renowned world public days are not excluded.

These best time to book a gorilla trekking tour is based on your availability but you must note that gorilla permits are on high demand so the time to you wish to reserve your safari must not be taken for granted. 

During the peak seasons especially late June, July, August, September and October, gorilla permits are on very high demand so chances of missing out are high. April, May and November normally have discounted gorilla permits in Uganda.

 Summer holiday can also be fantastic when you take a gorilla trekking tour.

Some of the packages to book include

Uganda Safaris not to miss on your Bucket List

Uganda safaris vary based on what your interest are when you send an inquiry like in case you wish to see the gorillas only, this is called gorilla trekking safaris, game safaris involve seeing other animals like the lions, elephant, leopards, buffaloes,  while chimpanzee trekking  safari is another encounter with wild primates. Fishing is another tour possible in Uganda. The list of choices to make is endless. Below are the safaris not to miss out on your bucket list of Uganda safaris CONTACT US

Uganda Safari

Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla trekking is a lifetime experience that gives you a chance to stare in the brown eyes of the giant apes. There body is covered up with a black coat from head to toe and move by knuckle walk. The Silverback has a more muscular body and grey hair at its back but commands respect from the rest of its family member

Before gorilla trekking

To be part of this memorable experience, you must have a gorilla permit sold at $ 600 per person. You embark on the trek early in the morning after briefing. While you trek to see the gorillas, you may encounter other primates like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, baboons, rich avian life.

While with the gorillas

When in the presence of the gorillas, you may stand at least 7 meters away but staring directly in there eyes is not advisable because they easily get agitated by the presence of humans and that is one of the reasons why just one hour is allowed to stay with the gorillas

Game Safari

Uganda is endowed with a number of animals that live freely in the wilderness. You may get to see them on a game drive like in Queen Elizabeth national park which is a biosphere reserve is home to animals like leopards, tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector, herds of buffaloes, elephants and so many others this park has amazing views that leave you breathless. During the launch cruise on Kazinga channel keen birders have a chance to identify over 100 species that flock to the banks.

Murchison Falls national park

This park is crossed by River Nile which is the longest river in Africa. Its northern sector is known for its fantastic game drives that give you a chance to see animals like elephants, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes and so much more. Hike to the top of the falls where you get a clear view of the vigorous Nile as  it water squeezes through the narrow gorge and bursts out to produce a thundering sound.

Game drive in Kidepo valley National park

This semi-arid park is a flat plain is situated in the fur North eastern corner of Uganda. This park is rich in game like cheetahs, lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, herds of buffaloes to mention but a few however, its very inaccessible by road. The distance to be driven is quite long.  Also there is scarcity of accommodation to choose from so you need to book in advance of travel.

Uganda Water Rafting Safari

Water Safaris

Uganda is endowed with a number of water bodies where water activities take place like water rafting on Itanda falls, launch cruise in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth National park, Sun downer on Lake Victoria national Park. You may take part in bungee jumping at the cliff in Jinja. Visit the beaches in Uganda or kayaking on Lake Victoria.

Source of the Nile Tour

A tour to the source of River Nile is very rewarding you can clearly identify the spot where the Nile water separates from lake Victoria water.

Budget gorilla trekking 2019 -2020

Budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda or Rwanda can be possible if you follow some of the below ideas. Thinking of how to save while enjoying your stay on a gorilla trekking tour, this is how you may do some saving on a safari in Rwanda and Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking Experience

Group gorilla trekking safaris

Group gorilla trekking safaris give you the chance of sharing costs with other trackers like car hire, fuel, share a twin room, guide and so much more. However most of these safaris are scheduled for a particular period of time and have a specific number of people to book.

In case you have a family with some infants, these safaris are not recommended because of the varying behavior of people involved. Activities on these safaris are particular and not tailored to just your interest.

Book discounted gorilla permits

In Uganda, gorilla permits for some months are discounted that is to say April, May and November. The gorilla permit costs $ 450 for foreign nonresidents so saving 150 which can cater for your nights. This only applies to Uganda only.

Book a gorilla safari in the Low season

During the low seasons, some lodges and hotels offer discounted overnight prices to clients which we share with our clients. These months include March, April, May, Part of June, November and early day of December. In case you are interested in Gorilla trekking, this is another deal to catch.

Book over 2 nights in a Lodge/ Hotel

Some lodges and hotels offer discounted or free nights to clients who have supported them for a number of nights. This will assist you save money during your safari In Uganda and Rwanda.

 In addition, you may decide to do activities in the same National Park that you may have desired to do in another park like while in Bwindi forest National Park, you may do gorilla trekking and birding since this park is rich in unique avian life. 

While in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may enjoy a game drive, chimpanzee tracking, launch cruise and drive through Lake Mburo National Park when returning home. This gives you the chance to watch and enjoy a variety on your safari.

Book a 2 day Gorilla trekking safari

Rwanda is the only country where gorilla trekking can be done in Just 2 Days although it may be confortable to take a gorilla trekking safari in 3 days. The drive from Kigali Airport is about 2 to 3 hours and the following day you do gorilla trekking then you drive back to Kigali Airport for your home bound flight. This is possible if you book a gorilla trekking permit in advance and a night return flight.

Flying gorilla trekking safari

Although flying gorilla trekking safaris are the most sought after in Uganda, they can only be possible after booking a ticket. There are chartered and scheduled flying gorilla trekking safaris however if you take a scheduled gorilla trek, you save some money. 

These flights commence every day morning and afternoon from Entebbe Airport to Kihihi air strip but you must remember to book a transfer vehicle. The chartered flights are quite costly but you have the plane to yourself and those you have travelled with.

2 day Budget Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda for Two days is one of the possible short but lifetime safaris in Africa. Rwanda which is the land of a thousand hills is home to the unique mountain gorillas whose existence dates far back as the prehistoric era so a gorilla trekking tour is a dream come true safari.

Gorilla trekking is taken to be a whole day adventure depending on the proximity of the gorillas that is why you need to spare at least one day. According to the ORTPN which is the body responsible for these treks, gorilla trekking starts as early as 8 am each day which is quite hard to do after disembarking on the plane early in the morning although Volcanoes safaris is about 116km from Kigali airport. CONTACT US

Gorilla trekking is also a tedious adventure therefore to enjoy it fully, you must be fresh and cool minded. For this reason, we advise our clients especially those with last minute desire for a gorilla trek yet with limited time to book a 2 day gorilla trekking tour. Whether staying in Kigali or not this is the shortest safari to take in Rwanda.

2 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Fly in to Kigali Airport for your incredible gorilla trekking tour. You will be meet and driven to Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills so on your way, you will enjoy the enthralling view of undulating hills along the way. Relax at your lodge. There is an option of a Kigali tour but since this is a crush program safari, may not enjoy it fully.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Rise up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing. You will be with other trekkers. Your ranger guide will give you the rules of gorilla trekking like no littering on the way to see the gorillas, silence or taking on a low tone while in the jungle will provide you more chance of viewing other incredible creatures. Mountain gorillas fear intruders in there habitat so you have to follow the instructions of ranger guide. 

When you finally get to see the gorillas, enjoy there company and stay with them for just one hour watching them play in the vines, the parents discipline the infants and so much more. Drive to the airport to catch up with your home bound flight.

Tour Recommendation

Carry your gorilla trekking wear including the trekking boots, long sleeved shirt, insect repellant, long trousers, camera and so much more. READ MORE

Although a 2 day gorilla trekking tour is possible in Rwanda, you must book a return flight that is late in the evening because the time of return after the trek is not known as gorillas keep meandering in the forest as they search for food.

Before catching up with your flight, you need to freshen up after gorilla trekking so you need to calculate this time too.

We need to get your return flight detail to reconfirm your flight to avoid sudden flight changes which may not be communicated in advance.

The traffic on the road cannot be controlled which may delay your check up time so we do not take chances. This is why we recommend a late evening flight.

Actual Gorilla trekking facts

Although gorilla trekking has been one of the most daring safaris in Africa the actual facts about the experience of gorilla trekking are based on several reasons that I have discovered from the several times I have been on a gorilla trekking tour. Gorillas are shy primates that live in families so in order to visit a family you must be ready to abide by the rules of that family. Avoid getting suspicious on your way to see the gorillas because they normally have spies who warn others of intruders. CONTACT US

Special Clothes for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is not like other safaris in Uganda and Rwanda because you must be ready to carry special items for a super tour. These are called the gorilla trekking wear or gadgets which include long sleeved shirt, tracking boots, camera for life time memories, insect repellants, gloves, rain proof gear and so much more. You must be equipped with these so as to enjoy your safari and keep memories of your experience with the gorillas. While tracking to see gorillas in Rwanda, you may have the chance of finding trekking items at the briefing spot.

Can I hire a porter for gorilla trekking

While trekking to see the gorillas, you may hire a porter to carry your items not forgetting your packed lunch because the return time to your lodge is unpredictable depending on the proximity of the group. While on the way, you must keep abreast with other trackers so as not to delay the search and ask your ranger guide about what you may not understand. 

Where to find the gorillas

Mountain gorillas live either on the slopes of the highlands or in the valleys depending on the weather conditions of the day. They feed entirely on foliage and there delicacy is bamboo shoots but also ants, bananas, fruits can be part of there meal once a chance befalls the gorillas. Feeding time is vital to these primates because despite there large bodies they need to consume enough food to sustain them throughout the night.

What time to take to find the gorillas?

 Normally, you follow the route where the gorillas were last seen feeding the previous day however, it is not a guarantee to spot them again here because of there uncontrollable movement and the conditions of the forest. For example, gorillas may move as a result of the invasion of wild groups, after exhausting the food in that locality or the death of one of silverback. Gorillas live freely in the wilderness but you may get the chance of spotting the close to your door because most accommodation is found very close to the pack or within the pack.

How many days to book for a gorilla trekking safari

To track gorillas in Uganda, you have to prepare a minimum of 3 days that is to say driving to Bwindi National park, Gorilla trekking the following day and then drive back to catch up with your flight back home.

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking can be done in 2 days that is driving to Volcanoes National Park and trek gorillas the following day then drive to Kigali Airport for your home bound flight. The distance from the airport to the park is not as fur as that in Uganda.

What about Fly-in gorilla trekking tour

When you decide to do the fly-in- gorilla trekking safari in Uganda also a minimum of 3 days is recommended as the first day is the fly in day, the second day trekking and fly out the next day. You must be ready to book a transfer vehicle as the Air strip is quite fur from the actual trekking ground. Like booking gorilla permit, you must book your ticket in advance because the demand for daily flights is quite high and is case you are not ready for the long drive on the bumpy roads. Donot miss out on this wonderful lifetime experince

Gorilla Trekking Safaris To Book

3 day gorilla trekking

4 Day gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking

5 Day gorilla trekking and Wildlife Safari

6 Day gorilla tracking Tour