FAQ about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Frequent Asked Questions about gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda refers to the collection of common inquiries and concerns that people have when planning to go on a gorilla trekking adventure in these two countries, These questions often revolve around the logistics of the trek, such as the best time to go, the difficult level of the hike, and the cost of the gorilla trekking permits. They may also pertain to the safety concerns of the safari activity, like the risk of encountering aggressive gorillas or contracting diseases. Additionally, people may ask about the rules and regulations to follow during the gorilla trekking experience, such as how to behave around the gorillas and what to wear. Overall, these FAQs provide information to help gorilla trekkers make the most of their gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda.

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What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is a massive safari activity that takes tourists to hike through the tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo to search for the critically endangered mountain gorillas. In the entire world, there are three safari destinations where the gorilla trekkers go to do gorilla trekking that is Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. To do gorilla trekking, the tourists are required to obtain the gorilla permit to do gorilla trekking and this needs to be obtained in advance.

Gorilla trekking safari experience in all the safari destinations starts very early in the morning  at the park headquarters, this is where the tourists receive a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking by the park guides or park rangers, after the briefing you will be grouped in various groups of 8 members per group and after you will be assigned to the particular mountain gorilla family to trek, then the park ranger will lead you into the thick forest while searching for the mountain gorillas’ family or going to where the gorilla family spent the night. Gorilla trekking takes a period between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorillas, to do gorilla trekking it needs when you are physically fit such as you are enjoy the activity.

Along the way looking for the looking for the gorillas you will be impressed with sighting various biodiversity that is beautiful and colorful bird species, animal species and the plant species. After once you find the mountain gorillas, you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas, that is the period when you will watch the gorillas feed, watching gorillas playing, watching the gorillas making their nests of the night, watching the female gorillas grooming their young ones, taking pictures and recording the videos of the gorillas though using the less flash or no flash cameras because the flash disrupts the gorillas. Get in touch with us for more information.

What is gorilla habituation?

Gorilla habituation experience is the process where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to the human presence of the trekking. Gorilla habituation experience is only done on a Uganda safari, and the safari experience takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Rushaga sector in the southern part of the park and gorilla habituation takes a period of about 2 to 3 years to be complete. Tourists who wish to experience the gorilla habituation spend a period of 4 hours to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas in the environment compared to one hour during gorilla trekking. Gorilla habituation experience costs 1500 USD per person per trek.

How much is gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda is a mandatory document required by the national park authorities of both countries for anyone wishing to go on a guided hiking to track the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The permit is essentially a license that gives you the opportunity to access the gorilla habitats in the national parks that is specifically Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The permit is usually obtained through a licensed tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris or the gorilla trekking permits can be got directly from the national park authorities, and its cost varies depending on the country.

In Uganda, the permit costs 800 USD per person per trek for non-foreign residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX per person per trek for East African Citizens. In Rwanda, the gorilla trekking permit costs 1500 USD per person per trek. The permit fee goes towards conservation, research and community development projects, as well as supporting the park rangers and the guides who accompany trekkers on their tracking adventure. The permit also ensures that only a limited number of people are allowed to track the gorillas each day which helps to minimize the impact of tourism on the gorillas and their habitats.

The gorilla trekking permit includes the one hour in the presence of the gorillas, services of experienced park guides and the armed park rangers, park entrance fees that is for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Best time to do gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is during the dry season that is during the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. Doing gorilla trekking in the dry season is so enjoyable and rewarding as you simply move through the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and then Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The dry weather makes the trekking trails less slippery and muddy, reducing the risk of injuries and making it easier to move through the forests. Also during the dry season that’s when there is better visibility thus allowing the trekkers to spot the gorillas more easily, and that’s when there is cooler temperatures making the trekking experience more comfortable. Furthermore, the dry season reduces the risk of malaria and other diseases and clear skies offer stunning views of the surrounding landscapes making gorilla trekking more enjoyable and rewarding.

When should I book gorilla trekking permit.

If you want to do gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda, it’s important to book your gorilla trekking tours or gorilla permits 3 to 6 months in advance to the actual date of gorilla trekking date. It is more demanding to book gorilla trekking permits especially in the high season months, so to avoid the last minute disappointments it’s always important to book in advance to avoid last minute disappointments.

Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda and Uganda can be booked through various ways that is in Rwanda, permits can be booked directly with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) by contacting their offices in Kigali or through website. Alternatively, tourists can book permits through a licensed tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris, who will handle the booking process on their behalf. In Uganda, gorilla trekking permits can be booked through a licensed tour operator who is a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) or the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to check availability of the permits and make the booking. Tourist can also book permits directly with UWA, or a but this requires providing personal details, such as names, nationality and passport numbers as well as paying the permit fee, which currently stands, 1500 USD per person per trek in Rwanda and 800 USD per person per trek in Uganda.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari.

Tourists who are going to do gorilla trekking safari are required to pack effectively, that is when going for your gorilla trekking safari that is either Rwanda or Uganda, there are a number of essential items that includes the garden gloves, strong hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trouser, waterproof rain jacket, long socks, warm sweater, drinking water, energy snacks, face masks, cameras and the extra batteries, a pair binoculars, insect repellents, supporting walking stick and among many others, these will offer you the perfect safari experience.

What is the minimum age limit for gorilla trekking?

The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is 15 years and the age limit was set by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government body in Rwanda. The children below the age of 15 years will not accepted to gorilla trekking instead they will engage in other safari activities like cultural tours, guided nature walks and among many others as the elders for gorilla trekking.

This restriction is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of both the trekkers and the gorillas. Children under the age of 15 years may not have the physical stamina or the emotional maturity to withstand the demands of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, which can involve hiking for several hours through the forests. Also the young children may not be able to follow the rules and guidelines set inn place to protect the gorillas, such as maintaining a safe distance and not touching or feeding them. By restricting the age limit to 15 years and above, the park authorities can minimize the risk of accidents, disruptions, and stress to the gorillas, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for the gorilla trekkers.

How long does gorilla trekking take.

Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda takes a period between 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas because they like to move from one place to another in search for food but once the gorillas are located, the gorilla trekkers will be given a period of one hour with the gorillas in their natural habitats.

During gorilla trekking the tourists are always given one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas, such as to minimize the stress and disruption caused to the gorillas by the presence of human beings. Gorillas are wild animals and can become agitated or frightened by the presence of strangers, especially if they are exposed to them for an extended period. By limiting the time spent with the gorillas to one hour, the risk of stressing the gorillas is reduced.

One hour time limit helps to prevent the gorillas from becoming habituated to humans, which can make them more vulnerable to poaching, diseases and other human-related threats. By keeping the interaction time short, the gorillas are less likely to lose their natural fear of humans and become too comfortable in their presence, and finally the one hour time limit also helps to ensure that the gorillas are not exposed to human diseases which can be transmitted through close contact. By limiting the time spent with the gorillas, the risk of disease transmission is reduced helping to protect the health and well-being of the mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Uganda and Rwanda are various precautions that the gorilla trekkers should follow when going for gorilla trekking and while in the presence of the mountain gorillas and these includes.

• Keep your voices low during trekking and while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
• Listen to the guide's instructions, wear face masks during while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
• do not leave rubbish in the forest during gorilla trekking, keep a distance of 7 meters away from the mountain gorillas, Do not smoke drink or eat anything while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
• Do not touch the mountain gorillas as they wild animals
• You are allowed to spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas
• Use flashless cameras when taking photos of the gorillas as flash disrupts the gorillas
• ln case you are having flue or cold, you are not allowed to do gorilla trekking as they are vulnerable to human diseases
• ln case the mountain gorilla charges do not run away instead crunch down slowly and avoid staring directly into the eyes of the gorillas.

For bookings and inquiries about gorilla trekking experiences, please contact our team.