Gorilla guides and trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla guides and trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla tracking is a well-known safari activity all over the world and for anyone who has heard about it and would wish to go for gorilla trekking, this is the right place for you. When planning a gorilla safari to both Uganda and Rwanda, you need to learn about where to go for gorilla trekking, how much it costs, what is needed to have the best trekking experience and what to expect.

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A gorilla trek is when you go on a guided trek through the forests to see the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The trek group is allowed to spend an hour in the company of the Mountain gorillas before you turn around and hike back to the park headquarters where a gorilla tracking certificate is awarded to all those that have participated in the trekking experience. Since Mountain gorillas do not live anywhere else outside the rainforests the only way to find and see them is by tracking them in their natural habitat.

Mountain gorillas are not aggressive animals unless you provoke them and this means that although humans can get close to the gorillas, they have to keep a distance from them and follow the rules and regulations. Gorillas that are open for gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda are habituated to get used to human presence and the habituation takes about 2 to 3 years. And although the gorillas are habituated, there are still rules and guidelines that need to be followed when trekking gorillas in their natural habitat.

Gorilla trekking planning in Uganda and Rwanda involves a lot of steps and these are: you need to first purchase a gorilla permit through a trusted tour operator, then check for the available accommodation and make sure that the accommodation chosen is close to the trekking area or in the case of Bwindi, within the sector chosen, transport should be the next on your list because this is important and ask all the questions you might have about gorilla trekking. All these have to be booked and done in advance with the help of a tour operator who is on the ground and knows what to expect. Contact our team for more information.

Where can I go for gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda

Mountain gorillas are known to live in the montane rain forests of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. DRC at the moment is not conducive for gorilla tracking because of the unending wars and that is why Uganda and Rwanda are the dominant gorilla trekking safari destinations. There are only three parks in Uganda and Rwanda where gorilla tracking can be done and these are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South Western Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda.

Uganda has 21 gorilla families which can be tracked throughout the year and these are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with one in Mgahinga National Park. Rwanda is home to 12 gorilla families open for tracking by all visitors who are 15 years and above.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda versus trekking in Rwanda

When it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, there are pros and cons and we are going to discuss the pros and cons of gorilla trekking in both countries. This will help you choose your gorilla trekking destination.

Uganda: The factors that favor tracking Mountain gorillas in Uganda include the following:

• The permit in Uganda is almost half the cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda.
• It is much easier to get a gorilla tracking permit in Uganda than it is in Rwanda
• Uganda as a country has only two good gorilla trekking destinations which are Bwindi and Mgahinga and Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park.
• Uganda offers more safari activities other than gorilla trekking due to its big nature as compared to Rwanda.
• Uganda offers more time with the Mountain gorillas with the habituation process.

Rwanda: The factors that favor gorilla trekking in Rwanda include the following:

• Rwanda is a much more stable and safe country
• Rwanda has high-end accommodation options as compared to Uganda
• Rwanda offers permit discounts and yet Uganda does not offer any discounts.
• The gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda is easier to get to as compared to Uganda whose destinations are found in remote areas.

How much is a gorilla tracking permit?

The current cost of the gorilla permit which grants tourists an hour with the Mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is $800 for foreign non-residents, UGX300,000 for East African citizens and $700 for foreign residents. The cost of the habituation permit which grants 4 hours with the Mountain gorillas in Uganda is $1500 for foreign non-residents, UGX750,000 for East African citizens and $1000 for foreign residents and the rest of African citizens (citizens from African countries and other than East Africa). Note that gorilla habituation is only carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The current cost for the gorilla permit in Rwanda granting tourists an hour with the Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes for foreign non-residents is $1500, $200 for East African citizens and $500 for foreign residents and the rest of Africa.

How safe is gorilla tracking/trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda is safe. Both countries are safe and the governments have made sure that they provide enough security to the trekkers and the Mountain gorillas. Uganda and Rwanda are stable countries and there are park rangers, the tourism police and the army that are available every day to make sure that both the visitors and the Mountain gorillas are safe throughout the year.

The rules and regulations: The rules and regulations are also set for the added security and these include the following:

• The age limit was set to 12 years in Uganda and 15 years in Rwanda, this is to ensure that trekkers who are of legal tracking age are allowed to participate in the exercise. Children also rarely follow the rules and this is why they are not allowed to trek Mountain gorillas.
• Every trek group spends an hour with the Mountain gorillas after trekking and finding them.
• Visitor groups have to leave a distance of 7 to 10 meters between them and the Mountain gorillas. This limits human to gorilla disease transmission and it helps the Mountain gorillas act in their natural behavior without being stressed out.
• Visitors in groups of 8 are allowed to trek each habituated gorilla family per day to make sure that the gorillas are not agitated and overwhelmed by the presence of large crowds.
• Getting close and touching the Mountain gorillas is prohibited and feeding them is also prohibited.
• Feeding the Mountain gorillas is not allowed and if found, you will face penalties.
• Smoking, eating and drinking when with the Mountain gorillas is prohibited because smoke greatly affects the health of the Mountain gorillas and so is eating because the food that drops on the ground might be contaminated which affects the gorillas.
• Tourists who feel sick or are sick should not participate in gorilla tracking. When you feel sick, inform your guide and volunteer from the trek to protect the gorillas because when one gorilla falls sick, the whole group might fall sick.
• The camera flash has to be turned off at all times when taking photos of the Mountain gorillas.
• Never/avoid surrounding the Mountain gorillas when you find them. The best way to see the Mountain gorillas is by making a curve around them and leaving a distance between you and the gorillas.
• Sneezing and coughing should be done with your mouth and nose covered, and ensure that you are turned away from the gorillas.
• Communication should be done in low tones so as not to disturb the peace of the Mountain gorillas. You can also ask questions but this has to be done in low tones.
• Littering the national parks where the tracking is done is illegal and tourists have to take all the rubbish out of the park.
• All waste has to be buried 30cm deep so that the gorillas do not dig it up.
• Spitting on the vegetation should be avoided at all costs because the gorillas feed on the vegetation.

The appropriate clothing and equipment: Bringing the right gear and clothing for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is one of the best ways to keep safe during a gorilla trek. Make sure that the gear is the right one and the clothes appropriate so that your only worry is the mud and dust. The clothing that you should bring on your safari should be light-weight and in neutral colors including brown, green and avoid bright colors, blue which is associated with tsetse flies and camouflage which is associated with the army in Uganda and Rwanda. Light-weight pants, long-sleeved shirts and undershirts are some of the clothes to carry for a gorilla trek.

Other items and equipment to bring for the gorilla trek include knee-length hike boots, socks, garden gloves, adjustable gaiters, insect repellent, a camera with extra batteries, lenses and memory cards, binoculars, day backpack, waterproof rain jacket, sweater, ponchos, scarves to keep warm, first-aid kit, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sunhat, wet wipes, biodegradable toilet paper and other toiletries among others.

Searching for the right tour operator

Searching and finding the right operator is the first and most important step when it comes to planning a gorilla trek in Uganda and Rwanda. You naturally want to get the best tour operator to help you plan the gorilla trekking safari to have a fun experienced safari. Some of how you can search for the right tour operator include the following:

• Browse through the company’s website and check to see if everything is valid including the physical address, phone number, email and all the information there is about their packages.
• Compare the company’s package prices with competitors so that you get to choose the best price that you make a choice depending on your budget.
• Read the reviews from TripAdvisor about the different tour operators both positive and negative.
• Ask the tour operators all the necessary questions about gorilla tracking to bet professional details and don’t be forced to go with a tour company that you do not trust.

Is gorilla tracking worth it?

Yes, gorilla tracking is worth the money, time and effort. Nobody has ever regretted going gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda because you get time to spend time with the Mountain gorillas and other primates that are in the national parks including red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and several bird species. Note that Mountain gorillas are an endangered species because of humans who keep hunting them down and destroying their natural habitat. This is why all gorilla trekking is carried out in their natural habitat and the rules and regulations help with protecting the primates. When you go for gorilla tracking, you are not only having the time of your life tracking through the forests but you also get to help with the conservation of the gorillas.

What is the best time for gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda?

You can go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda at any time of the year because mountain gorillas rarely migrate and are available all year round. Gorilla tracking in the rainy season is a wet, muddy and slippery experience but the best time to go for gorilla tracking is when you are on a budget and wish to trek with fewer crowds. You should however note that Uganda and Rwanda receive rainfall throughout the year. If you do not mind the mud and rain, the rainy season is a good time to go for gorilla trekking in both countries. The dry season is the best time for gorilla tracking and this is because the tracking routes are easier to use during this period. It is also the season that Uganda and Rwanda receive large crowds of tourists and it is an expensive time to travel.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we offer different gorilla tracking trips in Uganda as well as Rwanda. We have numerous itineraries but these are just suggestions and you can get in touch with us to tailor an itinerary according to your preferences.