Can I Choose A Gorilla Family Of My Choice In Uganda And Rwanda

Can I choose a gorilla family of my choice in Uganda and Rwanda? Selecting your own gorilla trekking family in Uganda and Rwanda is possible on condition that you advise your operator in time about what you wish to see. All mountain gorillas do not have the same traits just like humans. This is however not a definite deal because all powers of which person goes to which gorilla family in Uganda or Rwanda come from Rwanda Development board or Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides on duty.

In Rwanda, mountain gorillas are residents of Volcanoes National park and currently only 13 gorilla families have been opened for tourists viewing. You must have a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board.

Uganda gorilla trekking experience is enjoyed from Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi National park seats on an area of 327 square Kilometers is the largest home of the mountain gorillas amongst the three countries that host them. The park is currently divided into four gorilla trekking areas that is Buhoma area, Ruhijah area, Nkuringo area and Rushaga area.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Day Gorilla and Chimp
• 8 Day Gorilla Tracking
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Via Kigali
• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Via Kigali
• 5 Day Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali
• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

This was done to enable gorilla families in all areas to be visited because only one area was initially visited that is Buhoma area. Other gorilla families has started going back to there wild behavior which called for re-habituation.

Mgahinga National park is one of the smallest gorilla trekking parks occupying about 33 square km of land. It’s however the still virgin park which is less visited because its only gorilla family is mobile. The Nyakagezi gorilla family sometimes meanders into D.R.Congo or Rwanda because they are not bound by political boundaries. Lately it has been living steadily in Uganda for some years.

Highlights  Of How You Can be Given A Gorilla Trekking Family Of Your choice in Uganda and Rwanda

• Gorilla Family Research Purpose
• Close Off Gorilla Trekking For Exclusive Experience
• Low Season For Gorilla Trekking Safaris
• Physical Disability Of A Gorilla Trekking Client
• Gorilla Habituation experience

Gorilla Family Research Purpose

Clients travelling for gorilla Research purpose usually have case study to base there analysis on. They may specify the kind of gorilla trekking family they wish to use in there study. There research has helped the world to understand more about the huge mountain gorillas that were initially referred to as monsters.

 Right from the days of Dian fossey who set up the Karisoke Research center in Rwanda, the life of mountain gorillas has been saved by Researchers. By 1980s, the world has about 250 mountain gorillas as per the census done then. The mountain gorillas were included on the red list of the highly endangered primates of the world.

Through research organizations like Gorilla fund, Gorilla Doctors and others, the current number of the world mountain gorillas is estimated to be close to 1000 members. All this could not be achieved without research.

When the Covid 19 pandemic hit the world, mountain gorillas were some of the primates under threat to catching the virus after researchers were able to discover the virus amongst those in the zoo. To save the mountain gorillas, every tourists is supposed to wear a mask, and sanitize before meeting the mountain gorilla. Present negative results of covid 19 taken within the past 72 hours or carry a corona virus inoculation certificate.

To support the continued existence of mountain gorillas, a limited number of researchers is allowed to visit a particular gorilla family at a time.

 This arrangement must be done through Uganda Wildlife Authority as the wildlife caretaking body.

Close Off Gorilla Trekking For Exclusive Experience

Sometimes clients wish to close off gorilla trekking activities in a particular area for only there party to attend. They are supposed to pay off the gorilla permits for that area so that nobody else joins them. With this arrangement, the client is free to make a choice of which gorilla family of that area they wish to trek.

Each day, maximum of 8 gorilla permits are opened for the public to book.  

An alternative is to close off gorilla trekking permits for only one gorilla family. This however is more practical in case no one has been booked on that family yet. All these factors are possible alternatives for this cause. Clients book gorilla permits as early as a year in advance so all these must be put into consideration.

Low Season For Gorilla Trekking Safaris

During low season that is March to May and November, sometimes gorilla trekking safaris receive low numbers of client attendance. You can use this chance in case you wish to make a choice of which gorilla family to trek.

Sometimes you have the entire briefing time to yourself giving you chance to say out which gorilla family is your preference. During the high season, clients are randomly divided into group of maximum 8 clients to visit a particular family. Not even those that have travelled as a group are given one family unless prior arrangement is done with approval of Uganda Wildlife Authority. This is done to avoid conflicts amongst the tourists or tour companies that book the gorilla trekking safaris.

Booking gorilla trekking safaris in low season also sometimes comes with reduction in prices of other amenities like accommodations, driver guides and others. During the low season, even a combo of safaris in other areas like game parks, chimpanzee trekking may be a little discounted.

Physical Disability Of A Gorilla Trekking Client

Gorilla trekking may be a wilderness walking adventure but even the physically impaired clients can participate. In case your tour operator gives a heads-up to Uganda Wildlife Authority about your physical capability, chance of giving you a family that is less tedious are high. This however is not a definite choice.

Sedan chairs or stretcher can be arranged at an affordable fee to lift you to the gorilla trekking family. You need to hire porters that will carry you and your gorilla trekking gears throughout the trek.

In case you are physically capable of doing the gorilla trekking safari, some level of fitness is necessary to enjoy the entire experience. You do not need to be in the gym all day no. You need to stretch your muscles a beat that will carry you through the entire trek. Hiking the slopes to locate the mountain gorillas is strenuous at times.

During the rainy season or when the gorillas locate new feeding grounds, they may lounge on the slopes. You need some strength to find them.

Gorilla Habituation experience

Gorilla habituation safaris in Uganda are conducted in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Gorilla habituation safari is the process of getting semi habituated mountain gorillas familiar with the human presence.

Only two gorilla families so far have been opened for this experience in Uganda. You have chance of selecting which one to take because only four clients per family area allowed attending this tour.

Much as gorilla trekking is just allowed only one hour with the mountain gorillas, gorilla habituation is allowed four hours following the mountain gorillas family. You wake up earlier than other trekkers and follow researcher into the wilderness.

 These gorillas however may not be as calm as the fully habituated ones because they still bare there wild behaviors. You must follow the instructions from your ranger guide and searchers with every detail in the forest. Remember mountain gorillas are masters of the forest so keep all the rules of gorilla trekking and habituation at your fingertips to avoid messing your Africa safari.

What Time Do You Locate The Mountain Gorillas

Locating the mountain gorillas is unknown because of there mobile nature. They are free ranging animals that must search for there own food. Sometimes you may take about two hours to three quarters of the day to locate the mountain gorillas depending on the forest prevailing factors.

You need to have some beat of patience and have an open mind when searching for the mountain gorillas.

 Apart from gorilla trekking, you may get to see other primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and others.

Even a number of birds are present in the parks too so you may keep your eyes fixed on such creatures other than locating the mountain gorillas only. You may get bores in case your trek is delayed.

How Dangerous Is Gorilla trekking In Africa

Gorilla trekking is not dangerous as long as you follow the rules of this experience. Before gorilla trekking, you need to attend briefing so that you are taken through all the necessary does and don’ts of gorilla trekking.

Nobody is allowed into the forest without briefing to avoid causing stampede in the forest in case you violent them.

In nature the mountain gorillas may look scary because of there dark fur, huge body and dark brown eyes but they are serene creatures. So far nobody has been reported being attacked by the mountain gorillas. You just need to be a loyal visitor in there territory.

When they rage, they normally thump there chests, pull the grass around them, walk on one foot and move into the deeper ends of the park. Never provoke the mountain gorillas to keep peace with them.

How To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda And Rwanda

A date for gorilla trekking day is necessary before starting to think about the gorilla trekking experience.  When you send us an Enquiry about gorilla trekking safari, you must know when you wish to do it.

The number of people you want to do gorilla trekking with must be known to you to.

 Our safari consultant is ready to get back to you with availability after checking from the gorilla permit status on Uganda wildlife Authority link or Rwanda development Boards link.

In case the gorilla permits are available, we advise you to book in advance to avoid last minute panic to acquire one. Gorilla permits are limited with a maximum of only 8 permits sold per day per family. No gorilla permit is spared for anyone without payments because it is the only indicator of your quest to attend gorilla trekking.

Securing a gorilla permit is the leading point to booking accommodation especially in Uganda when you need to overnight close to your gorilla trekking area.

Overnighting in another area may cause you to miss gorilla trekking because, waking up in another area to drive is challenging at times. The roads in the rural area are impassable at times because of there slippery surface, logs at times obstruct movement and so much more.

When To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda or Rwanda

Its is best to book your gorilla trekking permit in advance latest 90 days to the date of gorilla trekking. This is to avoid last minute panic because gorilla permits get sold out fast. They are on first come first served basis.

No one is allowed to see the mountain gorillas without a permit.

 At the moment, the Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and East African residents 250,000shs.

 The Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permits costs $1500 per person per trek.

 In case you book your gorilla permit at least a year in advance, you have chance for paying in instalments depending on the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board guidelines.

You need to provide some details in order to obtain the gorilla permit card for Uganda. Some of these details include your full names as per your passport, Nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date and others.

Which Is The Best Country For Gorilla Trekking Of Uganda And Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is generally an interesting activity no matter where you go. Each country has something beautiful and eye captivating that spices up the gorilla trekking tour.

 In Uganda gorilla trekking can be combined with a number of game safaris that is to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and others. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking can also be combined with game safari but Akagera National Park has less numbers of wild animals.

Rwanda gorilla trekking destination is close to Kigali airport which takes about 3 hours while Uganda gorilla trekking parks distance from Entebbe Airport is about 8 hours to 9 hours for a distance of about 530 km.

Contact us and let us book your gorilla trekking safari today.