Travel expert advise on gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Travelling to Mgahinga National Park for a gorilla trekking experience is an unforgettable experience, and you will need expert advice when planning one, with the main focus on securing the gorilla trekking permits in advance, packing appropriately, getting the right tour operators to help with planning the safari and choosing the right time for your safari. Mgahinga is home to one habituated gorilla family, offering a unique small-scale gorilla trekking experience to tourists.

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Located in southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is a gem for gorilla trekking and is home to other wildlife species.

Expert advise that tourists should follow when planning a gorilla trekking safari experience in Mgahinga includes the following:

Planning and securing a gorilla permit

Choosing the right tour operator

Choosing the right tour operator to use for your gorilla trekking safari is the first step in having an unforgettable trek. There are so many safari companies that operate within the country, but you need to extensively research the different operators, read reviews and make sure that they are registered companies to avoid scammers. Encounter Africa Safaris is the best solution for gorilla trekking with years of experience in planning gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda.

Securing gorilla trekking permits

After getting the right operator, get in touch with them so that they can help with the booking and purchasing of the gorilla permits in advance and on time. The gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and can be purchased through a tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. The cost of the gorilla permit is $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for African citizens and UGX300,000 for East African citizens.

The cost of the gorilla permit covers several essential items which include conservation fees, guide and ranger fees, security, park entrance fees and medical care for the gorillas. It does not cover personal purchases, accommodation and transport and other amenities.

You have to get in touch with the tour operator with the dates you wish to trek the gorillas. These dates will be used to check for the availability of the permits and in cases where they are available, you will be notified and will be asked to make the necessary payments for the permits.

The permits need to be paid for in advance because there are only 8 gorilla permits printed per day in Mgahinga. After the receipt of payment, the permits will be purchased on your behalf and a copy emailed.

You will also be asked to provide personal information like the bio data page of your passport, names, nationality, a recent passport photo and passport number. Note that you can only use the permit for the stated period and it cannot be exchanged with another person.

Choosing the right time to travel

There are two seasons for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga, and these are the dry and rainy seasons. The dry season which is from June to September and December to February is the best time for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga because it is easier to spot the mountain gorillas, it is also easy to use the trek routes during this period and the general weather conditions are extremely conducive. It is however a time when many tourists are visiting the country and with the large crowds, the safari expenses are high as compared to the low season making it an expensive time for one to travel.

The rainy season from October to November and March to May is considered the green or low season. This season comes with positives which include few/less crowds of tourists during this period and it is a cheaper season to travel. The flaws of travelling during the rainy season are the muddy and slippery routes which make it hard to trek the mountain gorillas and the rains.

When choosing the right time to travel, you need to put into consideration the dry and rainy season, your budget and the different safari activities to add on your gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga National Park. Contact us for bookings.

Consider physical fitness

Trekking through the forests in Mgahinga National Park takes effort because of the different terrain that is in the park. The trek can take you through the steep slopes, hills, valleys, and rocky terrain. The trek can take between 1 and 6 hours, depending on where the Nyakagezi gorilla family is located on the day of the trek, and you will need to be fit to be able to participate in the exercise. Prepare mentally and physically for the trek because you need to be ready for the long treks and be patient at the same time because you are in the wild and these are wild animals even though they are habituated. They are always on the move and you need to follow the rules and regulations of trekking mountain gorillas to be able to enjoy the safari.

Transport

Transport is one of the most important things that you need to put into consideration when it comes to gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park. There are two modes of transport that can get you to Mgahinga National Park and these are road and air transport.

Road: When it comes to road, you can drive from Entebbe to Mgahinga National Park and this takes about 8 to 9 hours with stopovers along the way as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. Tourists travelling from Kigali Rwanda can drive through the land borders between Uganda and Rwanda and it takes 4 to 5 hours including clearing with customs.  Make sure that you have all the documents required to cross the land borders.

Air: This is an alternative transport means that can be used to get to Mgahinga National Park and although it costs extra to get there, it is a faster mode of transport used to get to the park. Domestic flights can be chartered from Entebbe either at Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip where you will be picked and continue with the journey to the park by road. The flight can take about an hour and a half.

The choice that you make for transport entirely depends on your preference and the choice needs to be made early enough for proper planning.

Accommodation

When planning a gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga, think about the accommodation that you wish to use during your safari. Accommodation is always on high demand especially in the dry season with the large safari crowds. There are three accommodation categories which include budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. The choice you make will determine the cost of the safari and it all depends on your preferences and your budget.

Since Mgahinga is a small, most of the accommodation facilities are located in the nearby Kisoro town and near the national park to ensure that trekkers get to their trek on time.

Some of the accommodation facilities you can use when on a gorilla trek in Mgahinga include Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Travelers’ rest Hotel Kisoro, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Mgahinga Rest Camp and Mutanda Lake Resort among others.

Packing right for the safari

What to bring for your gorilla safari is extremely important as it is one of the ways in which you will be able to enjoy the entire safari. The right packing list helps you prepare adequately for the gorilla track and that is why we came up with a list of what is essential and the items include the following.

• Long-sleeved shirts and trousers. These should come in neutral color to easily blend in with the jungle. Avoid all the bright colors and especially blue as it attracts tsetse flies.
• Rain gear which includes a waterproof rain jacket or coat, waterproof backpack, socks, and a hat.
• A camera and other camera equipment that includes extra memory cards, batteries, a camera bag and lenses.
• A pair of binoculars
• Waterproof, knee-length and comfortable hike boots
• Sun screen, a sun hat and sunglasses
• Snacks and drinks. Don’t forget the water and the refillable water bottle.
• Insect repellent
• Warm clothes to keep warm including a sweater, poncho, scarves and socks.
• Garden gloves and gaiters
• Walking stick. This can be got at the park headquarters.

NB: Porters are always available at a cost to help you carry your luggage so that you can enjoy your trek,

Following the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking

The gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Mgahinga National Park are to protect the mountain gorillas and the tourists. These are to be followed by all tourists and include the following:

• No one is allowed to trek the gorillas if they are sick with communicable diseases like cough, flu and diarrhoea among others. Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to diseases and this can affect the whole family.
• Don’t surround the mountain gorillas after locating them as this might scare the gorillas into a protective mode. However stay in a tight group and follow all the guidelines by the experienced guides.
• Leave a distance of 8 to 10 meters between you and the mountain gorillas after locating them.
• Flash photography when taking photos of the mountain gorillas is strictly prohibited.
• Bury all human waste in a hole dug of at least 30cm deep and make sure that it is covered well afterward so that the gorillas do not dig it up.
• You will not be allowed to eat, smoke and drink when you are 200 meters close to the mountain gorillas.
• Spitting on the vegetation is strictly prohibited. The vegetation within the national park is food to the mountain gorillas and spitting on it will infect the mountain gorillas.
• Persons under the age of 12 years will not be allowed to trek gorillas.
• Do not make noise and avoid sudden movements when in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
• All rubbish/litter has to removed from the national park for proper disposal.

All the rules and regulations were set to protect the mountain gorillas and continue promoting the conservation of the gorillas that were almost extinct due to poaching.

The gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga starts early morning from the park headquarters where trekkers are briefed about the rules and regulations to follow. All trekkers have to participate in the briefing because this is when the permits are collected and the 8 trekkers assigned the Nyakagezi gorilla family to trek for the day. After the briefing, you will be assigned an experienced guide and an armed ranger and the trek will officially begin.

The trek length depends on the location of the Nyakagezi gorilla family on the day of the trek and it can take 1 to 6 hours. During the trek, you have to follow all the rules and regulations to protect both you and the gorillas, and after locating the gorilla family, you will have an hour with the gorillas before heading back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in the trek.

When to go for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park can be carried out throughout the year, however the best time is during the dry season (June to September and December to February). The dry season is characterized with easy to use trek routes that are dry which makes it easy to track and locate the mountain gorillas.

The rainy/wet season is characterized with rains, muddy and slippery routes which sometimes makes it hard to use the trek routes and the rains hinder sight.

NB: The weather in Uganda varies from time to time because of its closeness to the equator, so expect a weather change throughout the year with rains in the dry season and vise versa.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for more information about the trip. Talk to one of our travel help team to help with organizing an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga National Park.