How to plan a private and personalized gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda

How to plan a private and personalized gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after activities by tourists on the African continent. For the best gorilla trekking experience, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the best destinations, and this is because Mountain gorillas can only be found in the three countries and only trekked in their natural habitat. The Democratic Republic of Congo at the moment is not safe due to the political unrest that has been ongoing for a while now, and this leaves Uganda and Rwanda as the best gorilla trekking destinations in the world.

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Private/personalized gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is looking at experiencing the high-end trek safari with limited interruptions from other tourists. A private safari involves getting private transportation, accommodation, a personalized gorilla trek with your private tour guide, and experiencing high-end services. Tourists who intend and plan on going for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda on a private and personalized safari have to follow the different and necessary procedures that need to be followed to have a good safari. Planning a private gorilla safari involves a few steps, which include the following:

Choosing the gorilla destination

The first step to planning a private gorilla trek safari is identifying your chosen trek destination. Several factors determine the destination choice, including personal interests (other activities you would like to participate in after gorilla trekking), your budget, and what is needed to get to the destination. A private gorilla trekking safari can be perfectly organized by a registered local tour operator who takes over all the prospects of purchasing a gorilla permit organizing transport throughout your stay and accommodation facilities. 

Gorilla trekking in Uganda: Uganda is home to the most significant number of gorillas in the world (half the remaining population) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi and Mgahinga are the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, and both are located in the southwestern part of the country. Bwindi has 19 habituated families located in the four sectors within Bwindi, including the Rushaga sector, the Nkuringo sector, the Ruhija sector, and the Buhoma sector. Tourists are assigned gorilla families within the different sectors, and everyone is advised to at least book accommodation within the trekking sector to save time. Gorilla habituation experience is carried out in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi, and you get to spend 4 hours with the gorillas. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one gorilla family open for trekking to tourists and is a better option for tourists who prefer small crowds.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in the Volcanoes National Park, just a few hours away from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga region and has over 400 recorded Mountain gorillas that have been recorded from the time that Dian Fossey camped in the Park to create awareness of the gorillas that were almost going extinct due to the increased poaching from the locals. There are other activities connected to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The main one is the Kwita Izina, where baby gorillas are named with the president of Rwanda in attendance.  

The travel budget also determines the decision on the trek destination. Uganda is cheaper because of the gorilla permit cost, whereas Rwanda is a luxurious trekking destination. After choosing your destination, the next step is purchasing the permit.

Purchase of a gorilla permit

A gorilla permit is a document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board in Uganda and Rwanda, respectively. Gorilla permits have different costs depending on the destination chosen, and below is a breakdown of the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. 

Uganda: Gorilla permits in Uganda can be purchased through a local tour operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Unlike in the past, there are currently no discounts on the gorilla permits, and the cost is the same throughout the two seasons. You will need, however, to pay at least 6 months before the travel date because permits are in high demand and sell out fast.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority came up with new rules to follow during the purchase of a gorilla permit, and these are: You need to be at least 15 years and above to be able to purchase a gorilla permit; if you book a permit on a date that is at least 6 months from the trek date, you need to make at least a 50% deposit and the balance is to be paid 90 days before trek day, and if the balance is not paid within 90 days the permit will be automatically canceled. Reservation permit payments are to be made online within 72 hours. There will only be one reschedule for the permit, and this needs to be done within a year from the first trek date booked. A surcharge of 25% has been added if the reschedule is not made 14 days from the initial trek date. 

Complimentary permit rescheduling is not allowed; you cannot change from a normal trekking permit to a habituation permit, and funds paid for other activities cannot be rescheduled or canceled. The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is as follows:

Foreign non-residents               $800

Foreign residents $700

East African Citizens 300, 000 UGX

Habituation gorilla permit $1500

Rwanda: The Rwanda gorilla permit is issued by the Rwanda Development Board. These need to be purchased months in advance due to the high demand for gorilla permits, especially during the peak season from June to September and December to February. The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is as follows:

Foreign non-residents                                                 

$1500

East African citizens                                                     

$300

Foreign residents from other African countries     

$500

Note that the gorilla costs in both countries include an hour with the gorilla family you have been assigned to and 4 hours during the habituation experience, park entrance fees, and ranger fees (security). The cost, however, does not include transport, food, accommodation, and other personal purchases, and these have to be paid separately.

Gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking

 If you are planning a private/personalized trek, we suggest you try the gorilla habituation process instead of gorilla trekking. During the habituation process, tourists get to spend 4 hours with the gorillas, and only a group of 4 people is allowed to trek a gorilla family, which is not the case with gorilla trekking, where a maximum of 8 people is allowed to trek a gorilla group for an hour. If you wish to have privatized gorilla trekking, you must purchase the gorilla permits for all 8 gorilla permits for a specific gorilla family. Booking an exclusive gorilla trek is quite easy. Make sure you book the permits simultaneously to get allocated to the same gorilla family. We are here to help you book exclusive and private gorilla trek safaris in Uganda and Rwanda. 

Exclusive transport

There are two ways of getting to the Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Volcanoes, either by driving or flying to different destinations. Volcanoes National Park is just 2 hours from Kigali International Airport, and 4x4 safari vehicles that are comfortable are hired out to cater to all your transport needs throughout your stay in Volcanoes National Park. We advise you to book your transportation since they know all the routes and can easily reach your destination.

Getting to Bwindi and Mgahinga for a drive is about 9 to 10 hours, and for a private drive, 4x4 safari vehicles are comfortable and fit for the Ugandan roads. It is a long way to get there, but more scenic. If you are not into driving, there is an option of flying from either Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, where a vehicle will take you the rest of the way to the National Parks.

Accommodation

Accommodation plays a big role in having a private and personalized gorilla trek in Uganda and Rwanda. There are several accommodation facilities around the national parks, but the luxurious facilities offer privacy. Good and luxurious accommodation facilities are always in high demand and fully booked during the peak season and need to be booked in advance. 

Gorilla trekking accommodations around Bwindi for a private safari stay include the Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Four Gorillas lodge, Trackers lodge, Gorilla Heights lodge and Bwindi Gorilla Lodge among others. VIP safari lodges around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge and the Gahinga Lodge.

Accommodation that you can check out around the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for your private trek safari includes Kinigi Guesthouse, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One & Only Gorilla’s Nest, Virunga Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, and Sabinyo Silverback lodge.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

The gorilla trekking rules and regulations are put in place to protect the Mountain gorillas from extinction and to make sure that tourists do not disturb the natural environment and daily lifestyle of the gorillas. The rules are all the same in both countries except for the minimum trek age, including the following.

• The minimum trek date in Uganda is 15 years, and 15 years in Rwanda. There is no maximum age as long as you are still fit to trek.
• No one is allowed to trek the gorillas if they feel sick, especially with cough and flu.
• Avoid litter of any kind within the National Park. This is to protect the primates and their natural habitat.
• The flashlight on your camera should be turned off at all times because it scares the gorillas when it is turned on as you take photos.
• You need to keep a distance of 7 meters when with the gorillas.
• Eating and drinking are not allowed close to the gorillas. This should be done at least 300 m from the primates.
• Tours are advised to dig a hole 30 cm deep if you feel like going to the toilet and cover it afterward.
• 8 people are allowed to trek with a gorilla family per session and spend an hour with the gorillas.
• Do not make noise with the gorillas; if you are to communicate, do it in low tones.
• Follow all the guidelines from the tour guide when a gorilla approaches you. You can go down on your knees in a submissive position and lower your head, but do not attempt to run away.
• Avoid putting on sunglasses and brightly colored clothes.

Getting Porters

Gorilla trekking is an exciting but tiring activity, and you wouldn’t want to spend the trek dragging around luggage. Porters are available for a fee that will help carry your luggage around during the trek. Note that there is a limit to the luggage that the porters carry, which is 15 kgs, and if possible, get a porter because this is how they earn a living.

Pack the right luggage.

A packing list is an important aspect when it comes to trekking gorillas privately and some of the most important things that you might need while on a gorilla trek safari include proper clothing, insect repellent, extra batteries for both the flashlight and camera, extra lenses, sunhat, camera, face masks if you have flu and cough, sunscreen, Reusable water bottles (at least 2 liters), rain jacket, sweaters, scarf, and many more others. A detailed list for gorilla trekking includes:

Trousers should be of neutral color to be able to blend in with the 

A charging adaptor, a standard adaptor with a voltage of 240V, is recommended in Uganda with three plugs and a frequency of 50Hz.

Gardening gloves and these are to protect your hands from scratches during the trek.

Strong hike boots that have ankle support. They do not need to be new, but make sure that they do not cause blisters on your feet when hiking and should hold when the trek routes are slippery.

Long-sleeved shirts and inside t-shirts should also be of neutral color; avoid camouflage clothes because they are associated with the army, black absorbs heat, and blue is believed to attract tsetse flies.

Gaiters: Make sure your gaiters are adjustable and mainly used during the wet season.

Thick socks and these should be big enough to tuck the trousers into to avoid insects crawling up your pants.

A day backpack to help you carry your daily items needed for trekking, like water bottles, snacks, rain jackets, insect repellents, sunscreen, cameras, and toiletries.

Personalized gorilla trekking is a great way to see the endangered mountain gorillas because you get to enjoy the privacy needed and, at the same time, get to spend time with the primates. Gorilla trekking is a year-round safari activity, but the best time is during the dry season, June to September, and December to February. Contact us to help you plan your private gorilla safari for you.

Contact us for more information on how to plan your private gorilla trekking safari.