Gorilla Trekking Tour

Gorilla Trekking Tour

Gorilla Trekking is done in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest and the Virunga conservation area shared by Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo respectively. You can choose to trek gorillas in any of the three destinations or do a combined gorilla trekking tour to all gorilla parks for accurate comparisons and exceptional experience.

The shortest gorilla trekking tour in Uganda and Rwanda is a 3-days safari. These short trips get you to the national parks to go gorilla trekking and don’t include other wildlife or adventure destinations. The slightly longer gorilla trekking trips also visit other parks and attractions in Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda, these include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kibale Forest National Park for Chimpanzee Tracking. In Rwanda, you can go game viewing in Akagera National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, as part of your gorilla trekking tour.

If you have one week or longer to travel then budget-friendly options and combine gorilla tracking with other activities and destinations, ranging from a handful of highlights in Uganda to the world-famous Murchison falls

Gorilla Trekking Experience

Meeting mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most memorable encounters as you trek eye to eye with these primates in the jungle, you are allocated to an hour experience with the primates to take photograph’s, and observe them as they feed, however, there is habituation process which takes four hours, under this experience, you are escorted by a researcher and ranger guide, you will enjoy how the primates are taught how to adhere and relate with human beings.

Who is eligible to track?

Gorilla tracking is done by individuals aged 15 years and above, therefore anyone above the stated age can undertake the adventure as long as you’re fit for the hike in the forest. More so the elderly are provided with support services by use of porters, walking sticks, or sedan chairs which can be arranged separately at a few cost to take you through the entire trail.

How much does it cost to do gorilla tracking?

This is the most common question that any traveler would like to know, gorilla trekking permits vary in operation regions by their regulatory bodies whereby in Uganda the cost for a gorilla permit is apparently $600 but to increase to $700 by 1^ST JULY 2020 and gorilla habituation costing $1500 where you spend more time with the primates (4 hours|) this is only done in Uganda. In Rwanda the cost for gorilla permits was increased from $750 to $1500, Congo is one with the cheapest gorilla permit costing $450 but due to insecurity tendencies in the territory, it’s less visited by travelers.

What to wear on your gorilla tour

While planning for your trip to encounter mountain gorilla’s endeavor to carry some of the listed items to help you have the best experience in a healthy atmosphere;

• Gardening gloves
• Rain jacket
• Long-sleeved pants and shirts
• Light hiking boots
• Hat and sunglasses
• Pair of binoculars
• Energy giving snack’s
• Camera and extra batteries

Visa information

Endeavor to have a valid Visa. You can apply for a visa online or through immigration. Those doing Uganda safaris through Rwanda can apply for an East African Visa which allows you to travel within Uganda and Rwanda with no difficulty.

Tipping on your safari

Tipping on safari is one way of motivating service providers in the sector, this is upon you wish in regards to the quality of services that you will receive upon your safari. This will make them work harder and improve on the services provided to travelers.

Best time to travel

East Africa is blessed with the best weather however tracking gorillas in the jungle is a different experience as the weather conditions in these places are quite different from alternating seasons. The best time to have a wonderful adventure is in the dry season which runs from January, February June, July, August, October, and December where the surface tends to be less slippery and muddy. The wet season is also blessed to be the best time for bird watching in the forest and photography experience through hiking is a bit hectic.

NOTE: Gorilla Tracking tour can be done throughout the year since rain can be experienced in both wet and dry season, more so weather alternates in the thick forest making it a bit hard to predict whether it can or fail to rain at any time.

In conclusion therefore gorilla tracking is one of the best life-changing encounters in the forest which offers you value for your money upon an adventure with a lot to tell after the experience. Feel free to consult us for more information.