How many gorilla families and permits are available in Mgahinga National Park

How many gorilla families and permits are available in Mgahina National Park? Mgahinga National Park may be small, covering about 33.7 square kilometers, but it is also home to the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. At the moment, the Nyakagezi gorilla family is the only one open for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park. The Nyakagezi gorilla family has a history of wandering into Rwanda in the past, making it hard to pre-book its gorilla permits in the past.

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At the moment, Mgahinga National Park gorilla permits are available for pre-booking at the Uganda Wildlife Authority since the Nyakagezi family is steadily living in Uganda. Because Mgahinga National Park has often received fewer tourists, this is the best destination to book if you want an authentic gorilla safari experience in a virgin environment.

Mgahinga National Park currently has 8 gorilla permits open for gorilla trekking, but this number may change as gorilla habituation continues. Gorilla habituation is a process where a wild gorilla family is helped to get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature. The time taken for the gorilla family in the habituation process is hard to determine as it depends on how quickly or slowly they cope.

Besides gorilla trekking, Mgahinga National Park hosts another primate experience where you get up close to the golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are an exciting special monkey species with a larger body structure covered with golden brown hair on the lower body. Although they are habituated to human presence, the golden monkeys still possess their natural traits as they always keep you on your toes.

Birding in Mgahinga forest is exceptional as chances of seeing Albertine rift endemics are more open. According to Ornithologists, over 115 bird species have been recorded as residents of the Mgahinga forest, but the number is expected to increase over time. Mgahinga forest had, in the past, attracted less attention from ornithologists.

How to Book Mgahinga National Park Gorilla Trekking Permits

Choose a date and the number of gorilla permits you wish to book for your gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can help plan your gorilla safari, advise on additional Uganda safari activities to combine with gorilla safaris, book the gorilla permit, and put together the best gorilla safari itinerary to suit your needs when you contact us.

Upon receiving your inquiry, our safari consultant checks gorilla permit availability from the list of Uganda Wildlife Authority. We are one of the few companies accredited to have access to the Uganda Wildlife Authority's gorilla permit list.

As soon as the tour consultant finds availability as promised, we advise clients to purchase their permits immediately. Demand for gorilla permits during the peak season, which is June to September and December to January, is high, which is why the majority are booked upfront. It is hard to find last-minute gorilla permits for the peak season.

Since a first come, first served basis is used to secure gorilla permits and can only be reserved with payment, the sooner you book your permit, the better.

Provide some personal details to be added to your gorilla permit card, like your full name as presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth, and passport expiry date for identification purposes.

How much is the cost of gorilla permit for Mgahinga National Park

At the moment, the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Mgahinga National Park is $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East Africans. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is mandated to sell and regulate the gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can help you book the gorilla permits and other safari logistics when you contact us. Suggest your preferred gorilla safari destination in advance, which is in Mgahinga National Park, to avoid moving back and forth with checking availability.

What does the gorilla permit costs for Mgahinga National Park cover?

The gorilla trekking permit costs cover the ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, security, one hour with the mountain gorillas, certificate after the gorilla safari, government tax, local community support, and mountain gorilla conservation.

Exclusions in the gorilla permit cost are porter hire, packed lunch, drinking water, and any other items of personal expenditure.

Is the cost of a gorilla permit for Mgahinga National Park worth the money?

The cost of a gorilla permit is worth the money as you get up close with these primates, at least 8 meters from the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Besides enjoying the walk in the wilderness, you contribute to the conservation of the mountain gorillas. Within the gorilla permit, cost is a portion used to support the conservation of gorillas. Annually, part of the proceeds accrued from the sale of gorilla permits is given to the local community to support their projects. This is like compensating them for some damages that the mountain gorillas cause when they stray.

When you hire a porter during the gorilla safari, you get to contribute to the lives of the local people as they use the funds to support running their day-to-day lives.

When Is The Best Time To Book Gorilla Safari For Mgahinga National Park 

Gorilla safaris for Mgahinga National Park are open all year; however, the dry season is most sought after; during this period, the mountain gorillas are full of life, and other forest dwellers are quicker to access. Taking the trails in the forest is easier compared to the severe wet season when the trail conditions get soggy and slippery.

The availability of gorilla permits becomes scarce as the peak season closes in because the majority sell out in advance due to high demand worldwide.

The dry season is normally June, July, August, September, December, and January. More sunlight is let in through the dense canopy to the ground, making the trails drier and easier to walk along. On the way, you have higher chances to see black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, and other primates. Keen birders have wider chances to identify a plethora of birds, especially on the gorge trail that loops half away from Mountain Sabyinyo.

When you consider the low season for gorilla safaris in Mgahinga National Park, chances of finding last-minute gorilla permits may be open only some, although not always. Even when you wish to get a discounted cost price on the gorilla safari, the low season may provide this opportunity. Some service providers may offer discounts on their logistics and open chances for some upgrades at a lower cost.

Can I Purchase The Mgahinga Gorilla Permits In Instalments?

Yes, as long as you qualify for a gorilla permit installment purchase as per the policy of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. To qualify for an installment gorilla permit purchase, you must book the gorilla permits 90 days to gorilla trekking day and top up 90 days to gorilla safari day.

 Adherence to the gorilla top-up time is necessary for you to retain the permit, yet the deposit will not be refunded.

If you wish to reschedule the gorilla permit, you must top it up first and then apply for a reschedule.

Procedure

Write to the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservation office requesting to move your gorilla permits to a new date ( state the new date). State the reason for failing to honor the first date and attach evidence for backup.

 Upon approval, your gorilla permit is moved per your suggested new date but according to the prevailing status of the gorilla permits.

The gorilla permits can only be moved within the dates of the year under which the previous permit was booked.

What Accommodations To Book For Gorilla Safari In Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is limited with accommodations to book, but with the few available, you have to secure them in advance. More accommodation options are available in Kisoro town, about 1 hour and 30 minutes away. There needs to be better visibility in the early morning, especially when it gets foggy.

Mgahinga accommodations: Volcanoes Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu, Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort

How to get to Top Mgahinga National Park

By Road 

From Kampala or Entebbe, you can drive to Mgahinga National Park via Kabale to Kisoro to Ntebeko, the main headquarters of Mgahinga National Park. This park lies in the far southwestern corner of Uganda, The way goes through winding roads because of the serious volcanic action in the Kigezi region of Uganda that led to several highlands.

You need to hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition to navigate the way to the Mgahinga National Park just in case the road gets messy.

The drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Mgahinga National Park covers a distance of about 540 kilometers for about 8 to 9 hours.

Kigali in Rwanda to Kabale to Mgahinga National Park is another route to get to this park. This drive goes through the Gatuna or Cyanika borderers to Kabale, Kisoro, and Ntebeko, the headquarters of Mgahinga National Park. The drive from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park is about 5 to 6 hours. It would help if you had the East African visa in case you must possess one before crossing into Rwanda and Uganda.

By air

From Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe Airport, you can board the daily domestic flight to Kisoro airstrip. You need a transfer vehicle to your lodge or hotel. Sometimes, the flight times for domestic flights to Kisoro airstrip are altered due to the changes in the weather in this area.

Charter flights can also be booked from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kisoro airstrips, but booking is required to clear all necessary.

How long is gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

The time of the gorilla trekking experience at Mgahinga National Park is hard to determine because it's dependent on factors prevailing in the wilderness. When the mountain gorillas feed closer to the starting point, they are easier to find; other factors also include weather conditions of the day, in case the gorillas go on an adventure, a fight from another gorilla family, and much more.

To locate the mountain gorillas of Mgahinga National Park, you need to have some level of patience. Look out for other primates in the jungle, like the blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, olive baboons, and others. Keen birders have so much to identify during the gorilla search, so keep busy with other interesting features in the forest.

Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them to minimize the effects of human presence in the jungle.

What are the rules of gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

• Flash photographing is not allowed during gorilla trekking because it may send the mountain gorillas into hiding. They fear new occurrences in their vicinity.
• No eating or smoking 300 meters from the gorillas because you do not know the effect of the smoke on the mountain gorillas.
• If you catch a communicable disease like flu, cough, or Virus, volunteer to stay behind so that you do not pass such infections to these gentle giants.
• Littering the forest with waste, especially indecomposable waste like plastic wraps, is forbidden. It alters the natural setting of the forest where mountain gorillas feed.
• Stay close to your gorilla trekking party and avoid surrounding the gorillas to make them feel ambushed.
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is how long they have been habituated to being in the presence of humans so that they can go on with their daily activities like feeding, grooming, and other activities.
• Keep about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This reduces the chances of passing any possible infection to the mountain gorillas.
• Do not spit on the vegetation. This is food for the mountain gorillas. They munch on it throughout the day to support their sheer bodies through night and day.

For more information about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, Contact us for more information.