Planning a Nkuringo gorilla safari tour from Kigali Rwanda to Uganda

Planning a Nkuringo gorilla safari tour from Kigali Rwanda to Uganda. Are you destined for a Gorilla trekking adventure in the Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Rwanda? It would be best if you secured a gorilla permit for this area. The Nkuringo gorilla trekking area is in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Currently, it has three gorilla families open to public booking: the Nkuringo gorilla family, the Christmas gorilla family, and the Muhozi gorilla family. As the gorilla habituation process continues in this area, the number of gorilla trekking families may change at any time without notice.

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To specify where you wish your gorilla permit to be booked, purchase it in advance when options are available. Uganda gorilla permits sell out fast, especially during the high Uganda tourism season, which runs June, July, August, September, December, and January. To be safe, booking your gorilla permit at least 6 months to a year upfront is comfortable.

From Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 202.6 kilometers, driving for about 5 hours to 6 hours from Kigali, then crossing into Uganda's border at Gatuna or Cyanika. You navigate into Bwindi's impenetrable national Park via Kabale and Kisoro to the Nkuringo area.

Nkuringo is one of the oldest Uganda gorilla trekking areas. It opened in 3004 with group N and is composed of 19 mountain gorillas. This gorilla family has, over time, split into other gorilla families, resulting from power struggles and other factors.

 While in the Nkuringo area, you can do gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience.

How Can I Plan A Gorilla Safari In Nkuringo Area Via Kigali

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can help you plan the best itinerary to suit your desired gorilla safari according to your budget and number of days. The least number of days you can be on Uganda gorillas safari is 3 days.

Book Nkuringo Gorilla Permit

Securing the gorilla permit specifically for the Nkuringo area is your only guarantee for gorilla trekking or habituation experience. You must have a date when you hope to go gorilla trekking and the number of people traveling with you. 

When you enquire from us about your gorilla safari, our tour consultants check availability from the list of Uganda Wildlife Authority. Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the few accredited companies with access to the Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permit list. 

Upon finding gorilla permit availability, we advise clients to purchase their permits as soon as possible to prevent last-minute panic. During the peak season, the gorilla permits sell out due to high demand worldwide, yet supply is limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family. 

How much is the gorilla permit for the Nkuringo area?

A gorilla permit costs $800 per person for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East African residents.

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit covers park entrance fees, government tax, security, one hour with the mountain gorillas, certificate after gorilla safari, ranger guide fees, and local community support as each year 20% of the annual proceeds accrued from the sale of gorilla safaris are given to the local community to support the running of their projects.

Omissions in the cost of gorilla permits include accommodation costs, transport, tips, snacks, and any other items of a personal nature.

For gorilla habituation experience in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the cost of gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents and 750000shs for East African residents.

Each gorilla habituation permit includes researcher fees, ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, security, government tax, local community support, mountain gorilla conservation, certificate after gorilla safari, and briefing time.

Exclusions of gorilla habituation permit: tips, porter hire, snacks, and any other items of personal nature.

Secure accommodation in the Nkuringo area

As the gorilla permit is booked for the gorilla safari experience in the Nkuringo area, its best to overnight within or closer to where your Bwindi impenetrable national park permit is booked. This is to avoid having to rise early and drive in the dark in order to catch up with early morning gorilla safari briefing.

Accommodations in the Nkuringo area are graded according to Luxury, Mid-range and budget. Since the Nkuringo and Rushaga area are not far a part, you can also overnight in the Rushaga area.

• Nkuringo sector accommodations: Clouds Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Bwindi Backpacker's Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge

Book Transport To Nkuringo Area

You can get to the Nkuringo area by road, but you must have a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle as the roads are winding and impassable sometimes, especially in the countryside. Along the way, enjoy the mesmerizing views of this mountainous drive as you have to negotiate a number of corners at the bottom of several highlands.

From Kigali, you enter Uganda via Gatuna border or Cyanika, then to Kabale, which is 105 kilometers from the Nkuringo area. You may overnight in Kisoro town, which is 80 kilometers from Kabale, and proceed to Nkuringo later, 35 kilometers away, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Having an experienced and professional driver guide gives you a better insight into the attractions of both Uganda and Rwanda. You enjoy a great ride and learn more about the attractions of Uganda and Rwanda.

Book Other Uganda Safari Activities to combine with gorilla safari in the Nkuringo area

Other than gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience in the Nkuringo area, you can take part in other activities within or outside this area. If you have extra time on holiday, you can do additional Uganda safari activities with a well-tailored itinerary.

Birding in the Nkuringo area

Bwindi forest is a birder's haven, so while in the Nkuringo area, you get a double opportunity to spot a wide range of birds, including Albertine endemics. Some of the birds you may have a chance to see the Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Batis flycatcher, Western Green Rinker bird, collared Apalis, Handsome Francolin and others. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the rugged Kigezi highland of southwestern Uganda, protecting a continuum of forest that ranges from montane to lowland areas that favor the survival of different bird species.

Visit Nkuringo community

While in the Nkuringo area, you can interact with the locals by taking a community walk to visit a traditional homestead, a local brewery, a blacksmith and others. The proceeds are used to support community-run projects and include the locals in the campaign to promote the sustainable existence of the mountain gorillas and their habitats.

Nature walk in the Nkuringo area.

You can tale the River Ivi trail that follows an old road through the stunning Bwindi forest and come through the Buhoma area in the Northern part. The Nkuringo to Buhoma walk may take about 4 hours but is beautiful.

Along the way, you may have the opportunity to spot a number of primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, red-cheeked mangabey, and others. The chance of identifying a number of birds is high as this walk is recommended to ornithologists.

How Long Is Gorilla Safari In Nkuringo Area 

The gorilla trekking safari in Nkuringo may take 2 hours to about three-quarters of the day, depending on the factors prevailing in the forest. The Nkuringo area is mountainous, so expect to hike some steep slopes in case the mountain gorillas are spending their time on these highlands or deep in the valley.

Finding the mountain gorillas depends on factors like the location of their feeding area, weather conditions prevailing per the day of the trek, in case the gorilla family is adventurous, pace of trekkers, and much more. Tourists are advised to be patient because the rewards of standing just a few meters from the mountain gorillas are immerse.

By wearing the right gorilla safari gear, you can hike through the jungle and get to where the mountain gorillas may be spending the day. The ranger guides follow the pace of the slowest trekker so that no one is forgotten in the wilderness. Even wearing the right gorilla gear, like long-sleeved shirts, trousers, insect repellants, and garden gloves, protects you from the harsh conditions in the wilderness that may cause skin irritation.

Is Gorilla Safari In Nkuringo Area Challenging?

Yes. Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous because of the nature of the terrain that is volcanic. Sometimes, you may be required to hike to the slopes, which may be difficult for someone unfit. Even the vegetation in the Bwindi forest is thick and tangled, draped over the slopes of the plateaus and ridges in this area.

While searching for the mountain gorillas, you are not bored along the way because the forest is endowed with great fauna and flora. As you reach these highlands' top, the scenic views create a lovely wildlife photographic location.

Before gorilla trekking, you may ask the ranger to give you a supporting stick that you can use for extra support while you trek in the jungle. 

Why book a porter during the gorilla safari in the Nkuringo area?

A porter is vital to carry your gorilla safari gear that may cause you to slow down while you walk to locate the mountain gorillas. Your gorilla safari gear in a light backpack makes it easier for the porter to lift them through the trek without breaking or dropping them. During the gorilla safari, the porter carries your gorilla safari gears and may give you a push when tired.

Hiring a porter is one of the most direct ways to give back to the community. They use the funds collected to run their day-to-day lives, like buying scholastic materials, medication, and others.

What Assurance Can I Have To Find The Mountain Gorillas In Nkuringo Area?

There is a 98% chance of finding mountain gorillas in the Nkuringo area. These primates live in cohesive families under the leadership of a dominant male called the silverback. The mountain gorillas rarely walk away from their families as every silverback wants to maintain the autonomy of his rule.

Wild mountain gorillas are first habituated for at least 2 years or more, depending on how fast they adapt to human presence. During gorilla habituation, the mountain gorillas get used to human presence without altering their nature.

This process gets them used to humans, and so when you visit, they keep busy minding their own business as though not bothered by human presence. If you ever fail to locate the mountain gorillas, the Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permit refund policy is invoked.

Therefore, unlike game safaris, where the chance of seeing wild animals is a probability, gorilla safaris are assured deal.

What Guarantees My Safety During Gorilla Safari In Nkuringo Area?

The gorilla safari adventure is safe because a well-trained team of rangers conducts it. At least two ranger guides escort each group of tourists, one carrying a rifle and another a machete. These protective gears are used in case of an emergency. The ranger guides are always in constant radio call communication with the security team at the station in case an emergency arises.

Even trackers rise early to patrol where the mountain gorillas may have spent the night and their possible hangout spot. If they locate snares, these trackers destroy them to protect tourists and other forest dwellers.

Other Uganda security agencies are in place to ensure that law and order are kept in and around the gorilla safari destinations.

 It would be best if you minded personal safety by not walking into the forest without an escorting ranger guide. A professional ranger guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority must guide gorilla trekking. Even during the trek, the ranger follows the pace of the slowest trekker so that no one is lost in the wilderness.

Tourists must also religiously follow the rules of gorilla safari so that a stampede is not caused in the wilderness that can obstruct life in the jungle.

Contact us for more information, and please check out our trip advisor review.