How to plan a budget gorilla and chimp safari from Masaka City

A budget combo of gorilla and chimpanzee safari gets you closer to some endangered primates. You need a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority for both gorilla and chimpanzee safaris. Booking is required since both gorilla and chimpanzee permits limit how many can be sold per troop or family. Most people secure their gorilla permits at least six months to a year in advance. To prevent last-minute panic when they sell out, especially in the high season.

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During the planning, you must select whether to do gorilla trekking or habituation experience. Also, identify the gorilla safari destination you wish to visit, as Uganda has two goals: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Just like gorilla safaris, with chimpanzee safaris, you can go chimpanzee trekking or have a chimpanzee habituation experience. Uganda has several chimpanzee habitats; however, you can do either Kibale National Park or Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a budget safari.

Choose accommodations for your nights in the gorilla or chimpanzee safaris. You must spend your nights within or closer to the gorilla and chimpanzee safari destinations to avoid getting last at the briefing point.

Select transport means to get you to the gorilla and chimpanzee safari destinations. Traveling with a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition is very important as the nature of the terrain in this area requires a car of this time.

What To Consider When Planning Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari From Masaka City?

Choose what activities to do during the gorilla and chimpanzee safari.

You can choose to do gorilla trekking, which allows you only one hour with a fully habituated mountain gorilla family. A maximum of 8 tourists are allowed before these mountain gorillas. Currently, Uganda has 19 gorilla families open for gorilla trekking, meaning 152 gorilla permits are available daily.

Doing gorilla habituation experience gives you extra time with the mountain gorillas, where you follow a team of ranger guides and researchers in the wild and spend four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas. Uganda is hosting two gorilla habituation experience families in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Each gorilla habituation experience family can only be visited by a maximum of four tourists as a conservation measure.

During chimpanzee safaris, you can trek, where a maximum of six tourists can visit a fully habituated chimpanzee troop to spend one hour with them per session. Uganda currently has about 15 chimpanzee communities in Kibale National Park, which was opened to chimpanzee trekking.

For chimpanzee habituation experience, a maximum of four people are allowed to accompany a team of researchers to visit semi-habituated chimpanzees and have four hours with them per session.

Book gorilla and chimpanzee permits

You must confirm permits before you can plan a gorilla or chimpanzee safari. You must select the dates and number of gorilla and chimpanzee permits you wish to book. Check for availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

When you contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris about your gorilla and chimpanzee safari, our tour consultant checks availability according to your safari details.

We are one of the few companies with access to the Uganda wildlife Authority permit list, so upon finding both gorilla and chimpanzee permit availability, we get back to you as soon as possible.

For your permit safety, we advise clients to book their gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance, especially 

peak season permits because their status changes in a flash of time.

The demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits escalates in the peak season of June, July, August, September, December, and January, causing scarcity.

Later, you must forward personal details like your full name as presented on your passport, date of birth, nationality, and other information.

What is the price of gorilla and chimpanzee permits?

Currently, a gorilla trekking permit costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East African residents.

Gorilla habituation experience permit cost is currently $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, and 750000shs for East African residents.

The Chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park currently costs $300 for foreign nonresidents, $250 for foreign residents, and 250,000 for East African residents.

For chimpanzee habituation experience, the permit price is currently $300 for foreign nonresidents, $300 for foreign residents, and 300,000 for East African residents.

What is included and excluded in the Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee safari permit?

Inclusions in the price of gorilla and chimpanzee safari permits:

Park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, mountain gorilla or chimpanzee conservation, local community support, government tax, one hour of gorilla or chimpanzee trekking, four hours of gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience, researcher fees for gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience, certificate to mention but a few.

Both gorilla and chimpanzee safari permits exclude tips, porter hire, transport, and accommodation booking, to mention a few.

Reserve Accommodation For The Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari

Where you sleep for the gorilla and chimpanzee safari contributes a significant percentage to your feeling after this holiday. While on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you must note where your permit is booked. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was subdivided into four areas for better administrative purposes: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. 

Before booking accommodation for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you must remember where the permit is secured.

• Bwindi Budget accommodations: Bwindi View Bandas, Nshongi Camp, Broadbill Camp, Bwindi Backpacker Camp
• Mgahinga Budget accommodations: Golden Monkey Guesthouse, Amajembere Iwacu Community Camp, Countryside Guesthouse, Mutanda Eco community Center 
• Kibale National Park Budget accommodations: Jungle Lodge, Rwenzori View Guesthouse, Crater Valley Kibale (C.V.K), Lake Lyantonde Eco Campsite, YES hotel, Kaswa Guest Farm

Identify Transport Means To The Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari Destinations

Road transport is the most typical means to gorilla or chimpanzee safari destinations. However, the vehicle must be in excellent condition and have a 4x4 wheel drive. This is because of the rough nature of the roads in the countryside. The terrain of the greater Kigezi region is generally volcanic, creating remains like ridges and plateaus, so expect to drive on winding roads as you try to negotiate slopes.

Do not expect a smooth ride because most up-country roads are bumpy, dusty, or rocky in the severe rainy seasons.

The distance you drive from Masaka City to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 300 kilometers, while the distance to Mgahinga National Park is about 255 kilometers. The industry may take about 5 hours to 6 hours.

Having a professional and experienced driver guide during gorilla and chimpanzee safari is vital as you learn more about Uganda and other beauties the country hosts. At Encounter Africa Safari, we have a well-trained and professional drive guide crew ready to give you the best feel of Uganda and its outstanding attractions.

Shop and Pack relevant gorilla and chimpanzee safari gears

Both gorilla and chimpanzee safaris require you to have unique attires to help you through the jungle search. You do not have to carry so many bags but have relevant gorilla and chimpanzee safari gear as many things are hard to take care of and reduce leg room.

Some of the items to pack for the gorilla and chimpanzee safari include insect repellant, garden gloves, rainproof gear, a safari foldable hat, a foldable water bottle, a safari long-sleeved shirt and trousers, warmers, safari boots, to mention a few.

Do not forget to exercise before the gorilla and chimpanzee safari

Stretch your muscles more than usual to prepare your body for the gorilla and chimpanzee safaris. These adventures take place in the wilderness, and you are required to walk through the dense jungle. 

The topography of the gorilla safari destinations is volcanic, with highlands remaining like ridges and plateaus on whose slopes or valleys these primates may spend some time. It would help if you hiked to find these primates, which is quite tiring for someone with no fitness.

Chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park may be on reasonably flat ground surface, but the walk to find the chimpanzees may last some time. Chimpanzees are also more active because their bodies are not as bulky as the mountain gorillas, so sometimes, you must keep walking to follow their daily life. It would help if you had some fitness to maneuver and enjoy the entire primate experience.

When Is The Best Time To Book Budget Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari?

Gorilla and chimpanzee safaris are complete full-year activities, but the most preferred is the dry season, which is usually June, July, August, September, December, and January. The environment is expected to be drier despite the Bwindi and Kibale Forests being tropical rainforests. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in both forests are full of life, plus other wild animals.

Bwindi forest is known for its dense network of rivers that may overflow to cause a soggy and boggy ground; however, during the dry season, the precipitation in the forest is more controlled, more sunray penetration is allowed through the dense canopy, and so much more.

In Kibale National Park, the environment is also more welcoming for chimpanzees' safaris in the dry season as they do most of their activities closer to the ground.

• The demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits is over the top during the dry season, the same as the high Uganda tourism season. Booking is recommended to avoid last-minute hassles in finding gorilla and chimpanzee permit availability.
• Finding available gorilla and chimpanzee permits at the last minute during the peak season is hard.

The wet season is also open for gorilla and chimpanzee safaris. If you wish to travel with a limited budget but with upgraded facilities, you may opt for the low season. The low Uganda tourism season usually is March, April, May, and November.

Low gorilla and chimpanzee safari bookings are received during this season, and even chances of last-minute permits may be open. However, this is only guaranteed some of the time, so to be safe, secure your tickets in advance.

How Difficult is Gorilla and chimpanzee safari?

As mentioned above, the topography of the Bwindi area is volcanic with rugged highlands. Walking to these primates requires you to have some level of fitness. Carrying some energy bites to munch on along the way is essential, too.

Bwindi and Kibale National Park have trails constructed by regular visitors, which you have to follow when trying to trace the way about of the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees. The ranger guide carries a machete for trimming protruding vines to create form.

During the wet season, the chimpanzees stay high up in the trees, so you need a pair of binoculars for better visibility.

If you have some physical impairment, you can hire sedan chair services, but booking is required.

Gorilla trekking may be tiring, but when you find the mountain gorillas, you may forget the huddle you may have gone through when tracing these primates. Their adorable look is heart-melting, and their deep brown shy eyes make them look vulnerable. It is hard to leave the mountain gorillas without feeling some attachment to them.

What are the dos and don'ts of gorilla and chimpanzee safari?

• If you catch a communicable infection like cough, flu, or COVID-19, volunteer to stay behind to avoid passing it to these highly susceptible primates.
• Speak in a low voice when in the forest and when you trace these primates to avoid looking suspicious.
• Only one hour of gorilla trekking and four hours of gorilla habituation experience are allowed with these primates.
• Do not dump garbage when you are in the wilderness, as this may alter the nature of the forest where these primates thrive.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees upon finding them to reduce the chances of passing an infection to these primates.

Contact us to plan your budget gorilla and chimp safari from Masaka.