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Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is done in these forest national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga NP, and Volcanoes National Park.
Bwindi National Park protects almost half of all the Mountain Gorillas in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site also protects other primates in its forest for watching on your Gorilla safari trek. Some of them include;
There are four sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable NP and these four trek areas include the Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area, and Nkuringo area.
Each sector has different Gorilla families which tourists can track on their last minute trips on their visit to Africa.
Accommodation in Bwindi National Park is dependent on where your valid Gorilla permit has been booked from.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest protected area in Uganda and the Virunga Conservation Area borders Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park of Congo.
It is likewise a great destination for a Gorilla safari in Africa. There is one Gorilla family in Mgahinga NP called the Nyakagezi Family which was formerly a transboundary group but has now fully settled in Mgahinga NP.
Mgahinga is where your last minute walking trekking safari occurs in Uganda since the destination is not crowded making permits available. As you explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, ranger guides will give you security.
There are also other primates in Mgahinga including the endangered Golden Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, and Vervet Monkeys. The protected area is likewise a great destination for birding safaris where you can also find a great number of Albertine Rift endemics.
Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the only destination in Rwanda to trek Gorilla primates. The forest destination borders Virunga National Park of DR Congo and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
There are about 10 Gorilla families, habituated for your Gorilla safari in Africa.
Other than the famous Mountain Gorillas, you will also find other amazing primates in the protected area for example the Golden Monkeys, the Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys, and many others. Expect to also watch various bird species in the protected area.
Rwanda Gorilla permits for trekking in this destination will allow you to meet the Mountain Gorillas for only one hour. Purchase your Rwanda Gorilla permits from the Rwanda Development Board, a body that is responsible for selling them.
Last minute Gorilla trekking can likewise be organized in Volcanoes National Park for your Gorilla safari in Africa. Therefore, you can check for the availability of the Rwanda Gorilla permits online or have your tour operator purchase them for you.
Virunga National Park of DR Congo is also a great place to meet these gentle giants of Africa.
Although it is possible to book Gorilla permits for your Gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda, finding the best accommodation choices immediately may be a challenge. However, with the help of your tour operator, it is possible to land on one.
The season of your visit is one of the determinants of the availability of your permits, both for Uganda and Rwanda. In the peak season, there is high demand for permits and in the low season, permits are low in demand, therefore, a time when you can easily do last Gorilla safaris at the minute.
As it is challenging to acquire a last-moment Gorilla permit for a Gorilla safari, your trusted and reliable tour operator can help secure for you a permit. Alternatively, you can contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority directly to find out if there be any permits left.
It is advisable to book your permits at least 6 months before a safari. Many preferable book it about 1-3 years before their tour.
Although possible, last moment permits for last minute safaris to trek Gorillas are uncommon, more so in the dry season which is known as the peak season.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority sells 160 permits every day while the RDB sells 96 permits of them every day.
A last minute Gorilla trekking safari can be booked, latest 24 hours before your adventure. You are free to consult a day before earlier and when a mutual understanding is reached, we can help schedule for you a Gorilla walking tour and book good lodges in Volcanoes National Park.
To experience your amazing Gorilla safari, you will require a valid Gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and it costs $700 for foreign nonresidents. Foreign residents get a discounted amount of $600 while East African citizens pay UGX 250,000.
In Rwanda, a valid Gorilla permit purchased from the RDB costs $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents, and $200 for East African residents.
Once the Gorilla permits are issued, the refund policy will determine your refund. In Uganda, 50% of the Gorilla trip fees are refunded if you cancel the trip between 46 to 90 days before your Gorilla walking date. The Uganda Wildlife Authority holds 50%.
Additionally, if you cancel the trip from 91 days and above, the Uganda Wildlife Authority will refund 75% of the Gorilla tracking fee to the traveler.
Both Uganda and Rwanda allow paying for your Gorilla permit in a 90-day installment so long as you purchase it 90 days before your Gorilla tracking day.
Both Uganda and Rwanda offer the best memorable African Gorilla tracking trips, and both give last moment trips. Therefore, having remarkable Gorilla treks in Uganda Rwanda Gorilla destinations is without any limitations.
Costs:
The Uganda permits which are $700 each are cheaper than the Rwanda Gorilla permits which are $1500 per person. Thus, allowing you to save $800 by purchasing a Uganda Gorilla permit.
The number of trekking destinations:
Uganda Gorilla tracking occurs in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park while Rwanda Gorilla tracking only occurs in Volcanoes National Park. Thus, Uganda has more tracking options, especially for a last minute Gorilla trekking safari adventure.
The number of Gorilla families:
Uganda has about 20 habituated Gorilla families in both Gorilla parks while Rwanda has 10 habituated Gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. This gives more options for Ugandan trekkers than Rwanda trekkers.
More so, Uganda offers an amazing Gorilla habituation experience for travelers while Rwanda does not.
Accessibility:
The trekking destinations are more accessible in Rwanda. It is a 2 hours drive from Kigali to Parc National des Volcans whereas Entebbe to Bwindi forest is about 8 hours.
It is even easier to go to Bwindi through Rwanda’s Cyanika border, as it will take about 5 hours on the road. This thus makes it possible to have one-day Gorilla tours in Rwanda than a Ugandan tour which needs you to minimally plan for 3 days if you are to have an enjoyable Gorilla trip.
For you to enjoy these different experiences in the respective countries, you will need to go on Gorilla adventures to both countries and trek Gorillas in both these destinations, it is easier if you have an East African Visa.
15 years is the age limit for Gorilla trekking in Uganda Rwanda. Those below 15 cannot track the apes and the responsible ranger guides will emphasize this on your Gorilla tracking briefing.
This is because children are likely to disturb other members during the Gorilla treks. However, if you can with the responsible officials and you both reach a mutual understanding, children can be allowed to after you sign a consent form.
Below, we list the most popular trips for a last minute Gorilla trekking in Uganda Rwanda;
a) 3 days of Uganda Gorilla tracking
b) 3 days Fly in Gorilla Habituation experience
c) 3 days Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
d) 3 days of Rwanda Gorilla tracking
e) 4 days Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys
Volcanoes National Park is available for visitors to go to all year round. However, the best time to visit this destination is in the dry season from December to late May and July to August. Tourists that come in this season will have fun tracking Mountain Gorillas, lacking any inconveniences. However, the permits sold in this season will be in very high demand, even though it is still possible to get a last minute trekking trip to see Gorillas.
This season is also the best time for wildlife experiences are also great during this time.
Gorilla Safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the cheapest places to have a Gorilla safari because the parks sell Gorilla permits cheaply, that is, $700. The Gorilla permit of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is $1500, making you save $800 if you choose a Ugandan Gorilla tour.
Going for last minute Gorilla trekking is also possible in these national parks.
The easiest Gorilla treks are at the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Forest as this area sits at a much lower altitude than other sectors of the protected area.
Tracking Mountain Gorillas is worth your money, time, and experience. You will get to meet Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat and spend one hour with them. Watching these Mountain Gorillas are thus a very beautiful experience.
Additionally, the conservation of these Mountain Gorillas and their habitat depends on the fee for your purchased permit, thus you also contribute to conservation.
Uganda Rwanda are the easiest places to see these giant primates as the countries are both safe. Travelers on schedule can get last minute Gorilla trekking trips. This last moment tour will thus require you to have a Gorilla permit.
A Gorilla safari cost is dependent on various factors. Some of the factors to consider are the price of the Gorilla permit, transportation, group size, accommodation type, Visas, food, air tickets, and packing lists for example gardening gloves, rain jacket, paying for the service of porters, tips for the guides and other service providers, among others.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority and tour companies sell Gorilla permits at $700 and Rwanda Gorilla permits are sold for $1500. The costs are only considered for the activity, but it includes entrance fees.
However, a last minute Gorilla trekking safa in Uganda is a bit costly and you will need to use a reliable tour operator who will help you book a trek in either Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga National Park.
Both countries are great destinations for unforgettable Gorilla adventures, and witnessing this when you go to walk with Gorillas in both destinations will allow you to appreciate both places. Your safari company can help you to acquire the best last minute Gorilla trekking tours.
Additionally, reading recent traveler reviews will enable you to choose the best destination.
You can book a tracking permit through your tour company or directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority which sells the Gorilla permits in the country all year round.
For last minute Gorilla safaris, it is then advisable to let your tour company purchase your last minute Gorilla permits that will allow you to trek in either Bwindi forest or Mgahinga NP.
However, you can avoid these last moment trips when you purchase your Gorilla permit prior.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority sells Ugandan Gorilla permits at $700 for foreign nonresidents per person, $600 for resident foreigners, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.
Each of these permits lets you spend one hour with the gentle giants in either Bwindi or Mgahinga NP.
Every tour operator has their costs for a Gorilla tour, although they are most times in the same range.
If a tracking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority costs $700 per person for a trek, then a 3-day budget Gorilla safari will cost about $1300 per person and a luxury Gorilla safari will go for about $3900 per person.
However, Gorilla tracking tours at the last moment may be slightly higher as everything needs to be done in a small time.
These costs are exclusive of your air tickets.
Rwanda Gorilla tracking is great all year round even though the best time to do it is in the dry season which runs from December to late May and July to August.
In these months, you can enjoy amazing Gorilla treks in the tracking destination because the Mountain Gorillas rarely go inside the deep forest. Additionally, this is also the best time for wildlife experiences.
Nonetheless, always carry your gardening gloves and rain jacket in your back bag because of the few days when it might rain.
The dry months are also the high season of tourism thus making permits to be in high demand. Therefore, getting last minute Gorilla permits is quite challenging in this period.
Tracking the gentle giants in this country will need you to have a permit that costs $1500 per person for foreign nonresidents, $500 for resident foreigners, and $200 for East African citizens.
Gorilla tracking tours at the last moment are great for travelers on tight schedules. They will therefore be able to track Mountain Gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga NP, or Volcanoes National Park.
Your last minute Gorilla safari will also require that you have Gorilla permits that you can buy from either Uganda Wildlife Authority or RDB with the help of your safari company.
For travelers with an East African visa, it is easy to track these gentle giants in both countries so they can enjoy better wildlife experiences.
In case you plan to have Gorilla tracking tours at the last moment, inquire about the best deals.
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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