Reasons why Uganda Gorilla permits are cheaper than Rwanda
Reasons why Uganda gorilla permits are cheaper than Rwanda
Uganda gorilla trekking permits are cheaper than in Rwanda, depending on different factors. For example, a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person per Trek for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents, and $200 for East Africans. Uganda gorilla permits cost $700 per person per Trek for foreign residents, $600 for foreign residents, and 250000shs for East Africans.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, while Rwanda gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park.
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Some of the Reasons why Uganda Gorilla Permits Are Cheaper
Uganda Has Many Gorilla Families
Uganda has about 19 gorilla families living in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga National Park. You need to know where your gorilla permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is booked before reserving accommodation because Bwindi Gorilla permits are reserved according to the area. Bwindi Impenetrable national park has four locations: the Buhoma area, the Rihija area, the Rushaga area, and the Nkuringo area.
Some of the Uganda gorilla families include the Rushegura family, Mubare family, Bitukura family, Oruzogo family, Nkuringo family, Busingye family, Kahungye family, Bweza family, Christmas family, and others.
There are high chances of obtaining gorilla permits for Uganda. Unfortunately, availability is only sometimes present because of the availability of more gorillas families. However, people do book gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda very quickly.
Cover Up For the Long Distance Travelled from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park
The distance from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 530 kilometers for about 8 to 9 hours, and Entebbe to Mgahinga National Park is about 540 kilometers.
This distance is compensated by giving relatively cheaper gorilla permits in Uganda than in Rwanda, where the timing from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park is about
Uganda has Many Safari Options To Combine with Gorilla Trekking Compared To Rwanda.
To give clients a chance to also participate in other Uganda safari activities like chimpanzee trekking, game drives, white water rafting, visiting the source of the River Nile, and others, the price of the gorilla permit is lowered Compared to Rwanda. Rwanda has limited safari options to combine with gorilla trekking, including chimpanzee trekking, mountaineering, Kigali city tour, and game drives.
Remember to ask our safari consultant about the possible Uganda safari activities you can combine with a gorilla tracking tour if you have extra days on holiday. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we pride ourselves on providing the best up-to-date information about Uganda safari or Rwanda Safaris because of our experience over the years.
The Uganda Safari Activities’ Advertising Options
Uganda has taken on limited advertising campaigns, both local and International, for its safari destinations, and its international gorilla trekking safari recognition still needs to be higher compared to Rwanda, whose visit to Rwanda advertising campaigns are running internationally.
Rwanda is running the Visit Rwanda campaign with the Arsenal football club, a costly advert. To cover this cost, Rwanda had to increase the cost of its gorilla permit to $1500 per person.
Government Involvement In Gorilla Trekking Safaris
Rwanda’s government is deeply involved in monitoring the mountain gorillas, setting standards, and selling permits. However, even Rwanda’s tourism budget is enormous, while Uganda’s government allocates limited funds for running the tourism business. This leads to poor service delivery and a poor road network to the Uganda gorilla trekking destinations. All this makes it hard to increase the price of gorilla permits in Uganda.
How Much Can I Buy A Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit?
A Ugandan gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per person per Trek. The gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are booked according to the area. Bwindi has four regions that are Buhoma area, the Ruhija area, the Rushaga area, and the Nkuringo area.
When reserving accommodation for a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi’s impenetrable National Park, you must consider the area where your permit is booked. This prevents waking early to drive and catching up with briefing in another place. In addition, the roads connecting these areas need to be in better condition, which may cause your vehicle to get stuck on the road.
Are there chances of Paying For A Uganda Gorilla permit in Instalment?
Uganda can pay for a gorilla permit in installments, but this must be 90 days before the trekking date. For example, you may pay 30% of the total gorilla permit price, then top up with the 70% 90 days to the day of trekking.
What Is the Best Time For Booking A Gorilla Trekking Permit?
Booking your gorilla permit at least six months in advance or one year before the gorilla trekking date would be safe. This is because the licenses get sold out fast because of the high demand for them worldwide. The maximum number of gorilla permits released for the public to book daily is eight per gorilla family.
Uganda has 19 gorilla families open for trekking, yet two are reserved for gorilla habituation.
The drier season, which is June to September and December to January, is most opted for gorilla trekking. This is because the forests receive less humid conditions, and sunray penetration through the dense forest to the ground is more substantial. The trails are less soggy, and rivers flow within their course.
Even the mountain gorillas are more active in the forest, plus other forest dweller like monkeys, birds, butterflies, and others.
During the wet seasons, the trails are very damp and boggy; most primates prefer to hide in the trees or spend the day on the slopes. This makes gorilla trekking more challenging, especially if you are not physically fit.
Chances of getting discounted prices on accommodation, vehicle hire, and driver guide fees are more open in the wet season because fewer tourists are booking.
Which Bwindi Area Is Best For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas: Buhoma area, Rushaga area, Ruhijah area, and Nkuringo area, but selecting the best depends on personal feelings. Alternatively, you can take a gorilla trek more than once but in different areas.
Buhoma area has the oldest habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to say the Habinyanja family, Rushegura family, and Mubare family.
Ruhija area so far has the Oruzogo family and Butukura family
Nkuringo area has Nkuringo family, Chrismans family, and Bushaho family
Rushaga area has the Busingye family, Nshongi family, Kahungye family, Bweza family, Muchunguzi family, Muhozi family, Rwigi family, Mishaya family
The feeling you get after meeting the mountain gorillas is unmatched, as it is a cryptic moment. Each person gets a different feeling after completing the mountain gorillas, but the majority get a deeper connection with these celebrated mountain gorillas.
Most tourists say gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime safari worth every penny you spend because you get to stand face-to-face with some of the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. However, this moment makes you forget the hustle you may have gone through preparing to do gorilla trekking.
All areas have different exciting attractions. Like Ruhijah area is the prime birding destination of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, especially when you take the trail to the Mubwindi swamp. For keen
ornithologist, this is a double blessing as you can do gorilla trekking and birding with an extra payment.
How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
The time of locating the mountain gorillas is still being determined but may take 2 hours to three-quarters of the day. Finding the mountain gorillas depends on factors like the proximity of their food and the weather prevailing in the forest. The mountain gorillas feed far from the ground during the severe wet season. In case of a fight with another gorilla family, the physical fitness level of the trekkers and others.
The ranger guide takes the pace of the slowest trekker so that no one is forgotten in the wilderness.
How Can I Cancel A date and Reschedule A Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit
If you wish to cancel and reschedule your gorilla permit date, you must write to Uganda Wildlife Authority about your wish to reschedule your gorilla Permit. State great reasons you would like to change the date for the gorilla trek.
Provide evidence beyond doubt to act as backup for your request. In case you succeed, we have to check availability per your date of preference. Note that your gorilla permit must be fully paid, so top up to 100% in case you had paid in installments for rescheduling to happen.
Which Country Of Uganda And Rwanda Is Best For Gorilla Trekking
To get the best answer of which country is best for gorilla trekking, Uganda and Rwanda, you may need to visit both. However, some say the magnetic connection you get when you finally meet the mountain gorillas makes you forget all you may have gone through to locate them. Some of the differences come with the following:
The gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1500, while the Uganda gorilla permits costs $700 per person per Trek.
The drive from Kigali airport to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours, going through winding roads. The drive from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours on bumpy, dusty, or slippery roads.
Uganda has 19 gorilla families open for tourism purposes, while Rwanda has about 12 gorilla families open for tourism.
For extra safari activities, Uganda has various options you can combine with gorilla trekking, while Rwanda has limited options.
Is gorilla trekking In Uganda safe?
- Uganda is safe for gorilla trekking because the rangers work with other security organs to protect tourists and other community dwellers.
- You must also pay attention to personal security by only entering the forest with an escorting ranger guide.
- Avoid carrying around your precious items that may attract thieves to follow you.
- Keep your children closer to you in case you travel with them for gorilla trekking. The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years and above. The Uganda adult age starts from 18 years and above.
- Do not provoke the mountain gorillas when you meet them because you may cause a stampede.
What Is The Packing List for Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
- Safari boots
- They must be covered to protect your feet from the rough surfaces of the jungle.
- Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects in the jungle.
- Safari attire is long trousers and a shirt to cover your body from harsh conditions in the wilderness. They must be in colors that are nature friendly, like tan and Khaki.
- Safari hat to wear and cover your hair from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
- Warm coat to protect your body from getting cold especially early morning and late afternoon.
- Hard cash to change into local currency if you wish to do any transactions.
- Garden gloves to protect your hands from rough jungle surfaces
- Backpack to carry with your gorilla trekking gear.
- Bug spray
- Extra fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one runs low
- A torch in case lights go out because solar electricity is the leading power supplier of accommodations
Rules Of Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
- If you catch a communicable infection like cough, flu, or cholera, volunteer to stay behind.
- No spitting on vegetation, as this is food for the mountain gorillas.
- The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years or above.
- In case you wish to sneeze or cough, do it away from the mountain gorillas so that you pass no infections to the mountain gorillas.
- Keep your voice low when trekking to locate the mountain
- Try not to provoke the mountain gorillas, as they may get agitated and run into hiding
- Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them
