Combining gorilla trekking in Mgahinga with Kahuzi Biega National Park

To do gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Kahuzi Biega National Park in D.R.Congo is moments to find the difference between mountain gorillas and Eastern Lowland gorillas. Booking the gorilla permit is key for either gorilla trekking in Uganda or D.R.Congo.

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Mgahinga National Park is a prehistoric forest and the home to mountain gorilla trekking experience in Uganda with currently one gorilla family fully habituated and open to the public. Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga National Park is at the moment the only gorilla family to trek in this park. Mgahinga National Park has three of the six Virunga Volcanoes but from the top of Mountain Sabyinyo one stands at the apex border of Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R.Congo.

Kahuzi Biega National Park an abundant wildlife destination lies in the eastern side of D.R.Congo and is home to so far 5 Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking families. This park was gazette in 1970 with the influence of a German photographer who saw it worth protecting the endangered Lowland gorillas. This park is a world heritage site under UNESCO as the population of eastern lowland gorillas is threatened by political unrest in this area.

To plan gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park some factors have to be considered inclusive of booking gorilla permits and other related logistics.

Applying and purchasing all necessary visas for those who must possess them before entering Rwanda, D.R.Congo and Uganda is very important to reduce the time might be spent clearing at immigration.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we are with you to make the right plans and itinerary for your gorilla trekking tour in Uganda. and D.R.Congo

How To Plan Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park

Day 1 Drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park

This gorilla trekking safari is starting and ending in Kigali Airport in Rwanda. Wake up for breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel to drive to Kahuzi Biega National Park. Enjoy the stunning beauty of the rolling hills of Rwanda the land of a thousand hills.

During the drive, you by pass Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda to Rusizi where Cyangugu border point is with D.R.Congo. Continue driving to Bukavu town then Kahuzi Biega National Park. the roads in this area are still in a sorrowful condition so you need to book transport of a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition.

 Check into your lodge

Accommodation: Orchid Safari Club, Coco Lodge Bukavu, Hotel Begonais Bukavu, Panorama Hotel, Exodus Hotel, Hotel Elizabeth

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega National Park

Wake up early for breakfast and carry your gorilla safari gears to the briefing point in Kahuzi Biega National Park. At this point, you have to register for the gorilla trek with your details to confirm ownership of the gorilla permit.

After briefing, you may a hire a porter before starting the gorilla trek. Porters are registered locals who help carry your belongings in the wild while you search for the eastern lowland gorillas at a friendly fee. The search for the gorillas may take an unknown time but you can keep your eyes fixed on other forest occupants like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Bongos, grey-cheeked mangabey and others.

The rich bird list of over 349 bird species including about 42 Albertine rift endemics is surely exciting. Botanists also have a long list of plants worth more than 1100 plant species so far recorded. The trek to find eastern lowland gorillas may take from 45 minutes to more depending on the location of the gorilla family.

Finally, when you locate the eastern lowland gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. Get away from the gorillas without causing any suspension.

Day 3 Drive to Mgahinga National Park

Rise up early and start the drive through Bunagana border to Kisoro to Mgahinga National Park. The drive may be long but very scenic.

Mgahinga National Park is the smallest Uganda National Park situated in the southwestern part of the country. This park is one of the still virgin parks but currently hosts one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. While in Mgahinga National Park, you enjoy the stunning view of three volcanoes that influence the topography of this area.

Arrive in the evening to check into your lodge

Accommodation: Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge,

Day 4 Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Wake up early and take breakfast then head to the ranger station for briefing at Ntebeko. At this point all tourists heading for gorilla trekking gather and are informed about the guidelines of the gorilla tracking safari.

Follow the ranger guide keeping in mind the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking safari. The ranger guide takes the trails leading where the gorilla family was last spotted the previous day and follows the possible clues given by the early risers.

Look out for other forest occupants and interest features in Mgahinga National Park rather than focus on only locating the mountain gorillas. These mountain gorillas are free primates moving without restrictions which is why it is hard to determine the quickest gorilla family to trek. Locating the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park may take 120 minutes to more.

Finally, when you locate the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them which you must utilize to your best ability. Keeping memories of gorilla trekking in Uganda and D.R.Congo is a once in a lifetime adventure.

Day 5 Departure day

From the gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Mgahinga National Park, drive to Rwanda via Cyanika or Gatuna border to Kigali Airport to catch up with your flight back home.

Why do gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Gorilla trekking is a dream come true experience for many adventure seekers however getting to know the difference between mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas is the cherry on top of an iced cake.

When you engage in gorilla trekking, you get first-hand and in-depth moments into the factual life of the gorillas other than the life in cages and confines. Gorilla trekking is an opportunity to be just 8 meters from the few leftover gorillas in the world as they are slowly fading away as a result of habitant loss.

By purchasing the gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park or Mgahinga National Park, you contribute to the conservation fund of these primates. The gorillas depend on the forest to survive but their habitats are being destroyed by humans so this is a threat to the sustainable existence of the gorillas. A portion of the money collected from the sale of gorilla permits is injected into conserving the gorillas.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking In Kahuzi Biega And Mgahinga National Park?

The cost of gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park or Mgahinga National Park starts with the permit cost. At the moment the gorilla permit costs for Kahuzi Biega National Park is $450 per international nonresident, $250 for international residents and $25 for local Congolese

Mgahinga gorilla permits cost is at the moment $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and 300000shsh for East Africans.

Other costs included in the gorilla trekking safari package may include accommodation, transport, driver guide hire and other expenses. All these costs are also influenced by number of people traveling with, days on gorilla tour, additional safari activities, timing of the gorilla safari and much more.

What is the difference between gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park?

Eastern Lowland gorillas are living in Kahuzi Biega National Park while Mgahinga National Park has the mountain gorillas.

The cost of gorilla permit for Kahuzi Biega National Park is currently $450 per person per trek while Mgahinga gorilla permits cost $800 per person

Mgahinga National Park so far has one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi while Kahuzi Biega National Park boasts about 5 gorilla trekking families that is Bonnani, Mugahuka, Nganwa, Chimanuka, and others.

Security of Mgahinga National Park is more reliable compared to Kahuzi Biega National Park.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In Mgahinga National Park And Kahuzi Biega National Park

The time taken on a gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga National Park or Kahuzi Biega National Park varies with factors prevailing in the forest. Gorillas live freely in the forest with nothing stopping them from reaching different parts of the forest. From the starting point of the trek, finding the gorillas may last 3o minutes to more.

To locate the gorillas, some of the factors likely to influence this include weather conditions of the day, level of fitness, mood of the gorillas and others.

Upon finding the gorillas only one hour is allowed with them as these primates have to go about their day-to-day lives. They play, nap, groom infants, procreate, feed and much more but human presence may disrupt all this.

Are Mountain Gorillas Or Eastern Lowland Gorillas Aggressive?

In general, gorillas are calm primates despite their intimidating outlook. Physically, the bodies of the gorillas are covered with fur and have dark brown sunken eyes which can be mistaken for being aggressive. These primates love their peace and in case you try testing their patience. The gorillas may easily retreat into the deeper forest.

Despite their serene characteristic, do not provoke the gorillas because they can charge. When agitated, the gorillas may pull grass around them, thump chests, hoot, throw what they are holding and much more drama.

It is actually not all the time that you witness this that you have to run for your life as sometimes the gorillas are trying to tease visitors, are provoked by other gorilla families and much more. As tourists, you must not rush to get away from the gorillas but wait for the ranger guide to find the cause of the matter.

 Follow the actions of the ranger guides at this point so as not to escalate the situation further.

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Mgahinga National Park?

15 years and beyond is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park while 12 years and beyond is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park. The nature of the gorilla trekking adventure includes walking in the jungle with thick vegetation which children below these ages may not withstand.

While with the gorillas children blow these ages may forget to abide by the rules of gorilla trekking which may push the gorillas into the deeper ends of the forest so prolonging the gorilla trek.

What are the guidelines for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Kahuzi Biega National Park?

• Eating or smoking before the lowland  and mountain gorillas is forbidden. Do this at least 200 meters away from them so that they are not enticed to pull what you are eating from you. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
• Only children 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking because of the nature of the gorilla trekking environment. The time of locating the lowland and mountain gorillas is unknown because of their movement.
• Spitting on the soil or vegetation may spread germs to the mountain and lowland gorillas so it is forbidden. Lowland gorillas can easily catch human infectious diseases like COVID-19, cough, flu, cholera.
• In case you have a communicable infection volunteer to stay behind and protect the lowland gorillas from such infectious diseases. The extent to which this disease may spread and kill the gorillas is unknown.
• Wearing a clean mask before the Lowland gorillas is one of the preventive measures adopted to prevent spreading covid-19 virus to the mountain and lowland gorillas and other germs.
• Keep a gap of at least 8 meters from the gorillas when you locate them to prevent the spreading any infection.
• Loud noise is forbidden in the forest because this may scare the mountain and Lowland gorillas. They are very sensitive to unfamiliar noise in their presence.
• Even using flash photography is prohibited because the mountain and lowland gorillas may go into hiding because of unfamiliar light.

Gorilla trekking is a dream come true experience for many adventure seekers. Contact us to plan your safari in advance.