November low season gorilla trekking discounts in Uganda and Rwanda

Discounted gorilla trekking permits for November in Rwanda may be available depending on the program of Rwanda Development Board. In the past years, the Rwanda Development Board has been offering discounted gorilla permits in the low tourism season as long as one purchases an extra two nights in Nyungwe National Park or Akagera National Park. Terms and conditions apply.

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The normal Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cost is $1500 per person but may be discounted to $1050 during the low season, part of which is November. Terms and conditions apply to be eligible for this discounted Rwanda gorilla permit.

Uganda offers discounted gorilla permits for foreign residents and East Africans throughout the year. Before getting these discounted gorilla trekking permits, you must possess all the necessary requirements at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, even on the day of the gorilla trek for verification. A few years back, Uganda Wildlife Authority offered promotional gorilla trekking permits like during the 50 years centenary Uganda Independence Day celebrations of 2015.

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park, with 15 gorilla families ready for public visits. Each day, a maximum of 8 gorilla permits per gorilla family are opened to the public for conservation reasons. The Rwanda Developments Board has the mandate to sell and regulate these gorilla permits.

Uganda gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Currently, Uganda has 19 gorilla trekking families, but when booking gorilla families for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you must not be in the area under which the permit is booked. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is subdivided into four areas that are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga.

How do you book gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda?

Procedure

Select a date and identify eligible people in on your gorilla safari plan. This information helps check gorilla permit availability and avoid moving back and forth.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you with checking gorilla permit availability and take the burden of putting together the gorilla safari logistics off your shoulders. Upon receiving your Enquiry, our safari consultant checks availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board list according to your destination choice and gets back to you as soon as possible. 

When positive gorilla permit availability is got, our safari consultant gets back to you, but we advise that you purchase the gorilla permit as soon as possible to avoid losing them. The status of the gorilla permits changes at any time without warning.

First come first served basis is used when purchasing the gorilla permits. During the peak season, demand for gorilla permits gets overwhelmingly high, so advance booking is needed. In Uganda, reusable gorilla permit cards are issued.

 What Is The Cost Of The Gorilla Trekking Permits For Uganda Or Rwanda?

The current cost of the gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, and 750,000 for East Africans.

Uganda gorilla permits are currently $ 800 per person for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East Africans.

The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda covers park entrance fees, security, mountain gorilla conservation, government tax, an hour of gorilla trekking, community support, certificate, and ranger guide fees.

Exclusions in the cost of gorilla permits are transport, porters, and accommodation, to mention but a few.

What is the cost of Uganda's or Rwanda's gorilla trekking safari?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, the cost of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda or Rwanda is determined by factors like the number of people on a gorilla safari, additional activities to combine with gorilla trekking, the number of days of the gorilla safari, safari package you choose and others.

We package our gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda according to luxury, mid-range, or budget. 

We offer pre-packaged gorilla safaris but can tailor a safari itinerary to suit your needs. Please select what you wish to include in your itinerary, and our professional and experienced team of consultants will be ready to work with you to make the best of your gorilla safari.

When is the best time to book Uganda or Rwanda gorilla Trekking Safari For November? 

Although booking gorilla trekking permits for November may have the last gorilla permits, advance booking is needed. November is a low season period, but due to high demand for the limited number of gorilla permits, they may sell out, so you need to secure yours in advance.

If you wish to travel with a limited gorilla safari budget, November may be a great option, as discounts on other safari logistics may be available. Some of the service providers, like accommodation and transport, may offer discounts to break even.

What Is the Difference between Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

There is a slight difference in gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, like the cost of a gorilla permit, the number of gorilla families, and others. When you meet the mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, you may forget to recognize their uniqueness because they are the same. Meeting the mountain gorillas is heart-melting, and it is hard to pick out what stands out even if you visit both Uganda and Rwanda.

A few of the differences between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda may come with:

Cost of gorilla permits

• The current cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit is $1500, while the Uganda gorilla permit cost is $800
• Uganda has 19 gorilla trekking families and two gorilla habituation experience families, whereas Rwanda currently hosts only 15 gorilla trekking families.
• Two gorilla trekking parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, are open in Uganda, whereas Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park as its only mountain gorilla habitat.
• From Kigali Airport, the time you drive to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours. The drive from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours. Alternatively, you can drive through Kigali to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is about a 5 to hour drive.
• Uganda offers a variety of optional activities to combine with gorilla trekking, while Rwanda is limited to additional safari activities.

How long Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda

The length of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda depends on factors prevailing in the forest. Some tourists have made it to the mountain gorillas in two hours, while others have spent more time. Finding the mountain gorillas may depend on factors like proximity of their food, death of a family member, pace of trackers, and weather conditions prevailing on the day of the trek.

What is the age Limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

Uganda's gorilla trekking age limit was currently moved to 15 years and above to give children more chances to have a moment with the mountain gorillas, while Rwanda's age limit is 15 years and over.

Age limit was set to this because of the nature of the topography of the mountain gorilla destinations. The Virunga area was highlyhighly affected by volcanic actions, which led to highlands like plateaus and ridges forming. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas spend their day at the slopes while other times deep in the valley, which children below these ages may not be able to complete.

Rules of gorilla trekking must be held responsibly, but for children below the age limit, it may be hard to hold up to these rules, which may result in agitating the mountain gorillas.

Are Mountain Gorilla Aggressive?

In nature, the mountain gorillas are not aggressive because of their shy nature. The outlook of the mountain gorillas mistakably depicts them as fierce, plus most animations and films. This sends a negative message about the mountain gorillas that you can only change upon meeting them.

Mountain gorillas are calm primates in nature, and when agitated, they run into hiding. This doesn't mean you provoke the mountain gorillas or mimic them.

When angry mountain gorillas thump hard their chests, pull grass around them, hoot, and so much more. Upon observing this, do not panic. Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause, and abide by the instructions given by the ranger guides.

Panicking while standing before the mountain gorillas sends negative thoughts about your presence in the forest. You need to keep low during this time and listen to the way forward from the ranger guides.

Can I Reschedule the Gorilla permit for Uganda and Rwanda?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board allows gorilla permit reschedule as long as you follow the gorilla permit reservation policy. Failure to travel may occur due to unforeseen circumstances, but to move the gorilla permit, you can take procedures like

Write to the reservation office of the Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority requesting to reschedule the gorilla permits to a date of your choice. Attach evidence if you have any to back up your request.

Upon approval, your gorilla permit is moved according to prevailing gorilla trekking permit conditions per your dates.

It would help if you moved your gorilla trekking permit according to the dates within the year the permit was booked.

The gorilla permits must be paid for in full, and those paid for in installments must be topped up before rescheduling.

Which is the best country for gorilla trekking, Uganda or Rwanda?

No matter where you go gorilla trekking, that moment you meet the mountain gorillas is heart melting, and at the end of the adventure, you may develop a connection to these primates.

If you want to determine the best country for gorilla trekking, do a double gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

Is Uganda or Rwanda Gorilla trekking in November Strenuous?

November gorilla trekking experience is quite challenging since this is normally at the peak of rains. The forest is normally flooded as rivers overflow, creating soggy and slippery trails. The topography in this area is mountainous, with ridges and plateaus on whose slopes these primates spend their day. 

You must wear the proper gear like a raincoat, safari boots, and safari hat that can withstand the conditions in the forest. Be prepared before heading for the gorilla safari adventure.

What are the guidelines for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

• No one with a communicable infection like cough, flu, or coronavirus is allowed to visit the mountain gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infections and may massively die, which retards their conservation.
• Never surround the mountain gorillas when you locate them. remain in a tight group so that they do not feel ambushed by your presence.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is another preventive measure for you to avoid spreading any infection to these primates.
• Using flash photography is forbidden as it may scare the mountain gorillas. 
• Never smoke or eat 300 meters from the mountain gorillas because they may grab it, and yet they are wild animals that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Burry all human fecal materials after in a hole of about 30 centimeters. Burry beyond recognition because the forest dwellers may exhume it.
• Spitting on vegetation contaminates it, so keep the food safe for the mountain gorillas by not spitting on it.
• Only people aged 15 years in Uganda and Rwanda 15 years and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking because of the huddles surrounding it at times like the time of locating the mountain gorillas has yet to be discovered.
• Try not to make a loud noise with the mountain gorillas, so they do not feel unsafe in your presence.
• Littering in the forest is not a great idea because it alters the nature where the mountain gorillas live. The mountain gorillas feed entirely on foliage like soft stems, bamboo, and fruits.
• Only an hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. They have been habituated for this. Ensure you exhaust everything, like watching the gorillas, taking photographs, and others.
• Wearing a mask is compulsory, so ensure you have a clean mask before meeting the mountain gorillas.

Contact us to book your permits in advance for your gorilla safari experience in November.