Travel tips for solo travelers to see gorillas in Uganda

The travel tips for a solo traveler on gorilla safari in Uganda start with booking the gorilla permit in advance. The only confirmation for any Uganda gorilla safari is the gorilla permit. It is best to select when which gorilla safari in Uganda you hope to take whether it is gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience.

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For a gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, tourists follow a fully habituated gorilla family and have one hour with them. During the gorilla habituation experience, a maximum of four tourists accompany a team of researchers for four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas.

Uganda has two notable tourism seasons, peak and low seasons but no matter when you choose to travel to Uganda, book the gorilla permit in advance. The competition for the limited gorilla permits in Uganda is high therefore to save yourself from panic at the last minute book it in advance.

Book accommodation and other logistics that support gorilla safaris in Uganda in advance too. This is because the availability of the different categories of accommodation options runs out too in the high season.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, our team of professional safari consultants offers free advice about gorilla safaris and other tours to our clients. We also have the frequently asked questions about the gorilla safari on our website that may provide guidance

Where to do gorilla safaris in uganda

Bwindi impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the largest home of the mountain gorillas, home to more than 19 gorilla trekking families and so far 4 gorilla habituation experience families. This tropical rainforest is a biosphere reserve that is believed to have been in existence for over 25000 years ago. This has enabled the forest to accumulate a long list of inhabitants.

Gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi are booked according to the four areas under which the forest is divided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

It is best to reserve accommodations to use during gorilla safari in Bwindi within or closer to the area where the gorilla permit is booked. This is because the obstacles that separate one area from another make it quite hard to easily cross and find briefing time.

Bwindi hosts other inhabitants including Chimpanzees though they are wild, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, over 88 butterfly species, 350 bird species, over 200 tree species, 51 reptiles and others.

Having some patience is very necessary for all gorilla safaris and some level of fitness because of the nature of the topography of Bwindi forest which was influenced by Volcanic activities that led t the formation of several highlands. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of these highlands so you need to hike to get to them.

Mgahinga National Park

The small size of Mgahinga National Park amongst the Uganda National Parks doesn’t stop it from being one of the few homes of the mountain gorillas in the world. Mgahinga National Park whose area is estimated to be 33.7 square kilometers is home to so far one gorilla family called Nyakagezi.

The mysterious golden monkeys one of the highly endangered primates in the world are also residents of Mgahinga National Park. More than 115 bird species have been recorded as residents of Mgahinga forest including Albertine rift endemics. Mgahinga forest is one of the untouched natural forests in the world so if you are search for authentic nature, this may make part of your choice.

Travel Tips For Solo Traveler On Gorilla Safari In Uganda

Book The Uganda Gorilla Permit In Advance.

The gorilla permit is a top priority before confirming this safari in Uganda where on gorilla trekking or habituation experience. The demand for gorilla permits in Uganda sometimes surpasses their supply especially during the high tourism season and so late bookers may not find availability.

It is safer to book the Uganda gorilla permits at least 6 months to a year in advance. Earlier gorilla permit booking may come with the advantage of purchasing it in installments or even rescheduling it to another date following the terms and conditions of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Note that no gorilla permit is booked without payment and there is no guarantee of finding the same gorilla permit available because it changes without warning.

Book accommodation for gorilla trekking in Advance

Reserve accommodation to use during Uganda gorilla safari in advance because just like gorilla permits, most options sell out fast. Accommodations to use during gorilla safaris in Uganda are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. Note that accommodations for Bwindi are booked according to areas and Bwindi impenetrable National Park is divided into four area that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija.

Accommodations for gorilla trekking experience in Uganda include

Bwindi accommodations Gorilla Forest Camp, Mahogany Springs, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Trekkers Tavern, Clouds Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bwindi View Guest House,  Engage Lodge

Mgahinga accommodations Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu, Community Camp. More accommodation options are available in Kisoro town which is about 30 minutes drive from Ntebeko the main headquarters of Mgahinga National Park

Reserve Necessary Transport To The Gorilla Safari Destinations

Booking transport to use during the gorilla safari is very important as the best vehicles and professional guides are competed for especially during the peak tourism season. Driving up country requires a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition because of the nature of the terrain of the Kigezi sub region. Road transport is the main means used to get to the gorilla safari parks in Uganda.

Air transport is the other means used to get to both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. Scheduled and charter flight services are available at Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip. Make the seat reservation on the scheduled flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip however hiring a transfer vehicle to Bwindi or Mgahinga is necessary. The drive from Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip is about 2 hours.

Charter fight services to the gorilla safari destinations in Uganda are available too but require advance booking so that all necessary requirements can be met. Reserve a transfer vehicle from the airstrip to your lodge.

The Age limit for Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda

The age limit for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda is 12 years and over. Before booking the gorilla permit, you need to be within this age range. This is why before printing the gorilla trekking card you need to present your date of birth.

The nature of the terrain of Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park is ragged with highlands so you need to hike to find where the mountain gorillas may have spent the day. The nature of the terrain of Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga forest requires someone with a level of fitness. At a glance, the sight of the mountain gorillas may create anxiety and excitement.

Choose the Perfect time for the gorilla safari in Uganda

The best time to book the gorilla safaris in Uganda varies with your intentions for travel. The demand for Uganda safaris increases during the dry season which is normally June, July, August, September, December and January. The Bwindi and Mgahinga forested areas are known for being wet throughout the year. They have a very dense canopy that doesn’t permit sunlight to penetrate through to the ground. Even the dense network of rivers in Bwindi and Mgahinga forests sometimes floods the area.

During the dry season which normally serves as the peak tourism season, the trails in the wilderness are quicker to navigate and the mountain gorillas plus other primates linger through the forest. Note that more tourists visit Bwindi forest in the dry season so competition for the limited resources that support tourism is high. This requires advance booking to avoid last minute panic.

Book International flights To Uganda in advance

As a solo traveler hoping to do gorilla safaris in Uganda, it is best to book international flights to Uganda in advance. This is to prevent chances of missing the international flight in case you make the booking at the last minute.  

Missing the international flight may end in missing the gorilla safari experience and adventure that is a dream come true tour. Ensure you apply for a visa to Uganda earlier in case you must have one before crossing into Uganda. Uganda offers visas on arrival however, the queue at immigration is usually long and if this happens it is quite tiring especially if you have jet lag.

In case gorilla trekking is the first activity on your itinerary on Uganda safari, and you may miss it if you arrive Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks earlier. It is best to spend at least a night within or closer to where your gorilla safari is to take place.  This is to enable you to get to the briefing spot in time to catch up with gorilla trekking as missing the briefing may end in getting disqualified.

Pack The Right Gorilla Safari Gears

Carry the right gorilla trekking gears to use on the day of the adventure. Some of the gorilla trekking gears to add on the packing list include trekking boots, rain proof gears, long sleeved shirt, insect repellant and others.

Donot forget to carry some hard cash to use for on ground purchases because credit cards are not a common means of exchange used up country.

Hire A Porter For The Gorilla Safari

It is best to hire a porter to assist with carrying your belongings before the gorilla trekking adventure. A porter is a recognized person from the local community who assists you carry your gorilla trekking gear. The porters earn a living from this work that they use to support their families. By hiring a porter, you contribute to the livelihood of the local people.

A porter may give you a push during the gorilla safari to help you explore the forest and get the chance to locate the mountain gorillas.

Do Exercises Prior To Gorilla Tour

The nature of the topography of Bwindi and Mgahinga forest is rugged with several highlands. At times these mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of the mountains so tourists are expected to follow them. The hike to locate the mountain gorillas is sometimes tiresome but you need to have some level of fitness.

Doing a body checkup before traveling for gorilla trekking is very helpful just in case you have to hike to where the mountain gorillas may have spent the day.

Do not forget To Pack A First Aid Box

Pack a first aid box with the necessary medication to use for any emergency while you trek to find the mountain gorillas. The wilderness has some rough surfaces that may injure you in case of an accident. There are some rough surfaces like the stinging nettles that may create an itchy effect on your skin. Wearing tracking boots saves you from getting injured from the sharp surfaces in the jungle.

Other Uganda safari activities to combine with Gorilla Safaris

Enjoy more of Uganda by combining the gorilla safari with other tour activities in the country including chimpanzee safaris, game tours, bird safaris, water activities including a visit to the source of the Nile, golden monkey safari, mountaineering, cultural experience to mention but a few.

Our safari consultants are ready to work with you to tailor an itinerary that suits your needs and budget. Uganda is a land endowed by nature and when on ground, you have so much to enjoy other than the mountain gorillas. This also requires having some extra safari days because the drive from one Uganda safari destination to another may take some hours.

Book The Return Flight from Entebbe Airport in The late Evening

After the gorilla safari, it is best to book the home bound flight in the late afternoon so that you get ample time to drive back to Entebbe airport to catch up with your flight back home. In case you are connecting to another Uganda safari destination, our safari driver guide is on ground to follow the itinerary.   

Contact us for more information.