When To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda

How to book gorilla trekking permits, when to book gorilla trekking tour, which accommodation to book for gorilla permit and what is the price of a gorilla trekking permits is all explained in the article below

Booking a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda for a gorilla tracking safari includes paying earlier for your gorilla tour. Gorilla trekking is one of the renowned safaris in Africa that are sought after. Most gorilla trekking permits are sold on first come first serve basis. Each day gorilla tracking starts only at 8.00am with briefing from the ranger guide to a group of only 8 clients per gorilla tracking family. CONTACT US

The right time to book a gorilla trekking permit is atleast 3 months to the date of trekking the gorillas but this also depends on the period. During the months of July, August, September and October, gorilla permits get sold out because they are on a very high demand yet a few are released for tracking and to be booked by numerous people. 

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are sold at $600 for foreign nonresidents and for foreign residents its $ 500. You must purchase you permit in advance. This is accompanied by booking accommodation which is normally sold out too during this period. You must be ready to deposit some money to save yourself panic at the last moment.  Discounted gorilla trekking permits are normally issued by Uganda wildlife Authority each year in April, May and November. 

Enjoy gorilla tracking in Uganda also involves booking a flight seat on the daily domestic flights. They are departing Entebbe Airport early in the morning and afternoon. You may disembark from your early morning g flight and re-embark on the flight transferring you to Kihihi and then a car picks you to take you to your overnight lodge.

You must state the number of people you wish to travel with so that your gorilla permits are secured because gorilla permits are sold according to area. If you wish to travel with other people you have to state them in advance. This is because gorilla permits are sold according to area so finding permits in the same area during the peak time is quite hard. Also each area has different families so in case you wish to trek together, you can do this during briefing.

Gorilla trekking and Wildlife Experience In Africa

Gorilla tracking although known for being a great African Safari you must be very keen with all the requirements for it to be successful. Gorilla tracking can only be possible if you book a gorilla permit. What is surprising is that although  gorilla tracking is highly demanded, only 8 gorilla permits are released to be booked each day each family. Uganda has only about 10 gorilla families open for tourism while Rwanda has also most the same number and also issues 8 gorilla permits per group per day. CONTACT US

Accommodation to stay at while on a gorilla trekking safari is determined by the area where the gorilla permit is booked. Many travellers who book gorilla safaris on their own have fallen victim of missing out on this great experience as they discover that where they spent the night is fur away from the area where their gorilla tracking permit was booked. You must be very informed about Bwindi area and where the gorilla families are. You need to know that gorilla trekking starts as early as 8.30am on a normal day and you must be briefed at the ranger station with other trackers to avoid missing out on the very important details of the jungle.

After gorilla tracking, in Uganda you may also head for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This drive is between 5 to 6 hours on a scenic road where you may get the chance of meeting animals like the lions, leopards, water bucks, bush bucks, elephants, Uganda kobs, buffaloes and so many others.

During the launch cruise on the Kazinga channel, you have the chance of seeing other animals that move to the shore to quench their thirst and wallow in the mud. Birds like great and lesser flamingos, cattle egrets, Egyptian geese, shoe bill, marabou stalk keep flocking the shore. Schools of hippopotamus, crocodiles also make this trip very interesting. Watch the Rwenzori ranges that stand erected as you sail on the channel. On a clear day, you may have the chance of seeing the snow cap on the Rwenzori. 

In case you also have the opportunity of sloping down the Kyambura gorge to meet the chimpanzees that live freely in the forest. This trek to see the chimpanzees requires you to be quite fit because you have to trek to see them at the bottom of the gorge. During the dry season, they move closer to the river to cool off the day’s heat so you must be ready to find them.

Why Gorilla tracking In Bwindi Forest Is hilarious safari

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest is not only a fitness testing hike but also a fun stimulating move. During other Uganda safari activities, you may rise up at any time and still participate but Gorilla trekking involves rising up very early to take your breakfast, carry packed lunch and special gorilla trekking gears like garden gloves, wear trekking boots, long sleeved shirt and trouser, insect repellants, hire a porter who will give you a push when stuck and so much more.

While you wait at the briefing station for briefing, you get to mingle with trekkers who booked different gorilla tracking safaris like luxury, midrange or budget. You are all briefed at the same point, only 8 of you are allocated gorilla trekking families to trek and start trekking gorillas at the same time.

Gorilla trekking require prior exercising to keep fit because as for Uganda, Bwindi forest where the mountain gorillas live is hillier and so at times the gorillas are found either at the bottom or up the hills which requires some energy.

On the way, you follow your ranger guide who will tell you more about the gorilla trekking activities point out more interesting animals, trees, birds and others that you may not have noticed. Carry on but in case you wish to ease yourself, you ask the ranger guide to dig a hole were you bury your waste.

Olive Baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey tailed mangabey, are some of the interesting primates that you meet. As for birders, this is like a birders’ haven since Bwindi forest is home to almost half of Africa’s endemic birds. It’s a double opportunity. The gorillas are very canning animal, they usually send a spy to watch out for any intruders who want to disturb the group. You are highly requested to be very keen when walking. You get to hear them grumble at each other before seeing them

When you finally spot them, wait for the ranger guide to tell you to take photos after analyzing there behavior. This is because gorillas although known for being serene, they also get agitated by the conditions in the forest like if attacked by unhabituated family, they become very aggressive. Stand at a distance of about 7 meters from them and take there photographs, watch them as they play and mothers taking care of the little ones as the silverback watches on. You are allowed to stay with the mountain gorillas for just an hour and return to your lodge to rest.

How to book Gorilla Tracking Permits In Uganda Rwanda

How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda or Rwanda, Which company to book with to a gorilla trekking safari, which family to book for gorilla trek  tour, when to book accommodation for gorilla tracking tour

Booking a gorilla trekking permit for  in Uganda or Rwanda is best at least 6 months to the trekking date. Gorilla trekking permits easily get sold out especially in the peak times when every one is travelling for holidays in Africa. Gorilla trekking must be part of the must dos for 2016 because of its countless rewards that become a life time experience.

Tourist hoping to go gorilla trekking during the festive season of 2016 have already started booking there gorilla permit so that they can be secured. A gorilla trekking permit is the most important pass to confirm a gorilla tour. Gorillas live freely in the jungle with other animals like the chimpanzees in Uganda, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey tailed mangabey, golden monkeys, forest elephants, rich avian life to mention but a few. During gorilla trekking, you have the chance of meeting some of there great animals and take there memorable pictures.

Booking a gorilla trekking permit directly at UWA

You can walk into the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala and book a gorilla trekking permit but this depends upon availability. Gorilla permits in Uganda are sold at $ 600 and during the low seasons, discounted gorilla permits are sold at $350. Payment for a gorilla trekking permit can also be done by wire transfer but you may not be sure when the money will get to the Uganda Wildlife Authority account so that they can spare a gorilla permit for you.

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking permits are sold at $750 from ORTPN. Just like Uganda, securing a gorilla permit in Rwanda is also hectic because of the high demand yet only 8 gorilla permits are released for sale per day per gorilla family.

Call Uganda Wildlife Authority  or ORTPN and Check for availability of gorilla permits that you wish to buy but because of the long cue of calls from every where in the world, answering your call may take some time which is time consuming. Since gorilla permits are sold at first come first serve, this method may not be absolutely effective because one may walk in immediately and purchase all the gorilla permits you requested availability for before making up your mind so taking you back to the hassle of finding available dates again.

Booking a gorilla permit through a tours and travel agent or company

After inquiring about your gorilla tracking safari, you must include the date when you wish to travel for your tour. Gorilla trekking safaris must take at least 3 days because you have to count the day of arrival, gorilla trek the next day and finally return day. This is because gorilla trekking starts only in the morning and you may spend the entire day searching for the gorillas which is quite tedious.

Provide the details of who you wish to travel with for gorilla trekking and in case you have a special reason for trekking gorillas like birth day surprise, wedding anniversary, honeymoon to mention but a few, inform your booking agent in time.

We immediately call Uganda Wildlife authority for availability of gorilla permits and get back to you with feed back. 

Wire your funds immediately for us to secure your permit because it is a sign of commitment to your upcoming gorilla trekking safari. This is how to book gorilla tracking permits for 2015.

To print the gorilla permit card for you, we need your full names, passport number, date of birth and nationality. This is for follow up purposed and statistical purposes for the country to use.

After collecting your gorilla permit, we confirm to you and keep your permit till the day you trek gorillas on your gorilla tracking safari.

Gorilla Trekking Tour Vital Information

Gorilla trekking information is vital before travel so as to enjoy your safari in Uganda and Rwanda. Mountain gorilla trekking is a memorable Uganda tour that gets you closer to the gentle eyed mountain gorillas. They are residents of great prehistoric Bwindi forest which is a thick natural forest placed in south western Uganda.  To have a successful tour, you need the below information.

A gorilla permit

A gorilla trekking permit is the first pass to confirming a gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda. Gorilla trekking permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority or ORTPN in Rwanda but we can arrange to buy them for you before arrival. Gorilla permits are sold on first come first serve basis and each day only 8 gorilla permits are issued for a particular gorilla trekking group. The price for each gorilla permit is $600 in Uganda and $ 750 in Rwanda

 Accommodation on gorilla safari

Gorilla trekking in Uganda goes hand in hand with accommodation booking because gorilla passes are sold according to the area not families as it was before. Accommodation in Buhoma side of Bwindi, is different from Rushaga area, Ruhija or Nkuringo gorilla trekking areas. Accommodation is normally overbooked during peak seasons therefore upon confirming the gorilla permit, accommodation must be booked. 

What to pack for gorilla trekking safari

Upon confirming your tour, you must think about what you need to pack for gorilla trekking. Being a jungle activity, you must be ready to carry some long clothes (shirt and trouser) in colours that match the jungle. A sound proof camera, rain coat or poncho, garden gloves, tracking boots, insect repellent to keep way stinging nettles. 

An Air ticket

It is very important to book you air ticket in time because seats on your preferred date of travel may be sold out. You must travel to either Uganda or Rwanda at least one day to the start of your gorilla tracking safari. This helps you relax and freshen up. You may also have a chance to do other activities that you might not have known about like the visit to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Ngamba Chimpanzee Island, Boat cruise on Lake Victoria.

Apply for a Visa

Before being allowed into Uganda, you must have a visa which you may obtain before travel or at immigration. It is better to get it before travel in order not to delay at the airport.

Carry Hard Cash

Although credit cards are used in Africa, they are not every where because of the delay in receiving the money. Most payments are done using cash. In Uganda, the Uganda shilling is locally used, in Rwanda, its the Rwandese Francs. Look for a Forex bureau and change some money to local currency. In case you have balance to pay for your gorilla trekking safari, its best to advise your booking agent the means of payment you wish to use. This is because some agents do not have credit card machines or the machine may break down or your card may be rejected.