GORILLA TREKKING

INFORMATION ON COMMON GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA

There’s a lot to learn about gorilla trekking experiences, including costs, areas, regulations pertaining to gorilla permits, and where to obtain permits. This post is just meant to provide some clarification on gorilla trekking and offer advice on two important sites: Mgahinga Forest National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, both of which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Top Tip:

Since each group is only allowed one visit per day, experts advise tourists to think about purchasing at least two permits, which will allow you to track on at least two different days. Even if it costs more, there are a lot of advantages to this. Giving yourself two chances will not only increase your chances of having an amazing experience, but it will also allow you to observe more people and a wider variety of behavior. You only get one hour with the gorillas (which is equivalent to one permit). Because the weather is erratic, you might track one day of intense rain and another of gorgeous brightness in the morning.

Important things to keep in mind

Information on mountain gorilla trekking has numerous facets, some of which are broken down here.

TRACKING TIME: The hours of tracking are from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm. At 7:45 a.m. every morning, there is a briefing at the park headquarters prior to the hike. We strongly recommend all tourists to attend this session in the sake of conservation. Furthermore, it is anticipated that every guest would return to the starting place by 7:00 p.m.

VISITOR CATEGORY: Prices vary according to the visitor’s residency status. NON-RESIDENT $800, EAST AFRICAN RESIDENT $700, and UGANDAN CITIZENS are the three categories. The visitor’s category is confirmed at the point of sale, by your preferred tour operator, and during check-in the night before the hike. Please ring as proof of residency. But the average gorilla habituation is $1,500.

ILLNESS: Guests will not be permitted to see the gorillas if they exhibit symptoms of illness. A park warden in charge has the authority to designate a visitor unfit for tracking if they are ill. The chief warden makes the determination of illness.

AGE LIMIT: A minimum of 15 years old is required to visit gorillas. The provision of evidence of age is required. Chimpanzee tracking requires a minimum age of 12 years.

TUNNEL TIME. An hour of time can be spent with gorillas by visitors.

LIABILITY. The buyer agrees not to hold UWA or its legally designated agent(s) responsible for any mishaps, losses, harm, or injuries suffered while in the park.

PORTABILITY. There is no permit transferability amongst the various tourist categories. Regretfully, gorilla trekking permits are not transferable, especially not to various visitor categories, and cannot be sold for amounts other than those indicated. The UWA, which is the governing body, penalizes offenders.

Finally, since the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda and the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda are only a few hours’ drive apart, it is totally feasible to visit both locations on the same vacation. The combined experience will be unforgettable!

And lastly, while the information about gorilla trekking may not accurately reflect Rwanda as a whole, the competition is fierce. There are restrictions on age, viewing hours, liability, and disease. The Rwanda gorilla permit, on the other hand, costs an impressive $1,500 per permit.