Before you book a gorilla safari with any tour operator, you need to establish what is included in a gorilla tour or excluded so that you understand what other extra costs you may have to pay afterwards. There only three countries where you can go for gorilla trekking in the whole world. The three African countries in Africa where one can see mountain gorillas include the Pearl of Africa (Uganda), Country of a thousand Hills (Rwanda) and Democratic Republic of Congo. Encounter Africa safaris operates gorilla tour holidays in only two East African Countries of Uganda and Rwanda. We used to offer Gorilla tours to the Democratic Republic of Congo but we suspended all operations to this beautiful African Country due to insecurity reasons. It’s now clear that you can book with us a gorilla tour to see mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Included in a gorilla tour or Safari

If interested in seeing only mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, the minimum days recommended are three days if you fly through Entebbe International Airport and two days if flying through Kigali International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga. You can also enjoy a one day gorilla tour if you are residing in Kigali/Ruhenjeri (For Rwanda) and Kabale/Kisoro for the case of Uganda. If you book any of the above short gorilla excursions with Encounter Africa Safaris, the below is what is included in a gorilla tour with us.

Pre tour Advice before booking your gorilla tour

Pre tour advice is one of the items in what is included a gorilla tour booked through Encounter Africa Safaris. When contacted, we will assign you one of our professionally trained and experienced safari consultant who will work with you and help to explain all that you need to know before you book anything with us. He/She will endeavor to explain what is included in a gorilla tour, tell you the best time to do you gorilla safari, give you all details about gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, send you a quote depending on your interest, budget and time. He/She will work with you until you confirm and eventually come to Uganda or Rwanda for your gorilla tour. We do this with care and passion and we make sure that you get the best available advice to help you plan your gorilla tour very well.

Accommodation in Bwindi, Mgahinga and Volcanoes NPs

Accommodation is a prime factor in what is included in a gorilla tour. Whether booked on a 2 day or 3 day gorilla tour to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park in Uganda and Rwanda respectively, we make sure that accommodation costs for either one or two nights are included in a gorilla tour cost. It is highly recommend to book one or two nights due to the following reasons. Gorilla trekking activity starts very early in the morning and as such, you are advised to book accommodation close to the starting point of gorilla trekking activities. This therefore means that you need to plan to arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park a day before so that you spend a night closer to the Park head quarters for you to be able to be in time for your gorilla trek in the next day. All encounter Africa safaris gorilla tours include accommodation for one or two nights closer to Bwindi, Mgahinga and or Volcanoes National Park. Pre tour gorilla tour accommodation is very important since you will be able to start your gorilla tour in time. We also advise post gorilla trek accommodation because you will never know the exact time when you will return from your gorilla trek. Please note that a gorilla trek hike can take from 30 minutes to three quarters of day and as such you need to at least book a night at a Lodge near Bwindi or Volcanoes where you will stay and then fly out the next day. When contacted, we will make sure that your accommodation is included in a gorilla tour booked with us.

Transport to Bwindi or Volcanoes in included in a gorilla tour

Included in a gorilla tour booked through Encounter Africa safaris is transport to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park and or Volcanoes National Park. We also include transfers to and from the gorilla trekking trail head anywhere in Uganda or Rwanda. This is to ensure that movement from one place to another is made easy. Depending on your budget, we can transport you in a 4×4 RAV 4 or 4×4 Customized Safari Van. For up market Clients a 4×4 Jip/ Land Cruiser. Included in your gorilla tour transport are Airport transfers on the first and last day. For those interested in flying to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we can arrange charter or scheduled flights to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National. While in Bwindi, we will organize transfers to and from the Airstrip to the Lodge and from the Lodge to the Park head quarter.

Driver Guide fee is included in a gorilla tour

At Encounter Africa, we normally include the cost of our well trained and professional driver guide in every tour. This driver guide will always be with you for the rest of the tour and will always hand you over to Park ranger guides when it comes to gorilla trekking and walks in the forest. Our guides are fully trained and knowledgeable in as far as Uganda flora, fauna and History is concerned, they are trained in defensive driving and Uganda Safari Guides Association

Included in a gorilla tour is a permit

Encounter Africa safaris will include a gorilla permit in the cost of any given gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetable National Park. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD600 while in Rwanda, it costs USD1500 per person per trek. If you intend to spend four hours with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then you will have to pay USD1500 for what is called gorilla habituation experience. When you book a gorilla tour with Encounter Africa Safaris, we will check availability and book your gorilla permit to trek gorillas in either Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park. You gorilla permit includes park entry fees, one hour with habituated mountain gorillas and services of a trained ranger guide.

For more information on what is included in a gorilla tour, feel free to contact Encounter Africa Safaris. We offer best value safaris for Uganda and Rwanda and we are highly recommended on Trip Advisor and Safari Bookings.