Uganda gorilla tours starting from Burundi/Bujumbura

Uganda is well known for having the best safari activities and tourist attractions on the African continent, and one of the top tourist activities is gorilla trekking. Gorilla tracking excursions through the jungle attract numerous tourists to the country to participate in the exercise throughout the year, even when there is a change in the weather patterns. The gorilla safari to Uganda can be arranged starting from Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi, with the help of a tour operator like Encounter Safaris. Our main priority is to help our clients get the best out of all the money spent on gorilla trekking. We will help with planning, starting with purchasing the gorilla permit and arranging other services like accommodation and transport.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

The best way to organize the gorilla trip in Uganda from Bujumbura is by being vigilant because petty thieves are online. If you are planning the safari by yourself, you need to research your destination and decide whether you will trek in Mgahinga or Bwindi. After contacting the Uganda Wildlife Authority to find out the availability of the trek permits, plan on securing accommodation and transport, and you will be ready for the Bujumbura to Uganda gorilla safari.

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two countries: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Mgahinga National Park (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) is located in southwestern Uganda and is one of the few prime locations where gorilla trekking occurs. Mgahinga is relatively more minor than Bwindi but is also quite rewarding when it comes to gorilla trekking, rewarding visitors with a spectacular encounter with the endangered Mountain gorillas. Mgahinga is strategically located along the border of Uganda with Rwanda and DRC and is part of the Virunga region. It is home to gorillas, the endangered golden monkeys, and other primates, among others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most commonly visited for gorilla trekking, with half the world's gorilla population. It was declared a UNESCO Heritage site because it is home to endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi is also located in southwestern Uganda, and the dense rainforests are home to gorillas, bird species, and other wildlife species.

Both Bwindi and Mgahinga offer some of the best gorilla trekking experiences in the world, each uniquely different each time you trek. It is a safe activity closely monitored by experienced tour guides, trackers, and armed rangers.

The gorilla permit cost in Mgahinga and Bwindi is the same even when purchased from different vendors. The permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and 300, 000 UGX for East African citizens. In case it is habituation, the permit goes for $1500. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has set the cost and in case of any changes,

As you plan a gorilla trip from Bujumbura to Uganda, specific rules and regulations need to be followed when gorilla trekking, and these include the following:

• The trekking minimum age in Uganda is 15 years, and children below 15 are not allowed to trek gorillas in any of the gorilla destinations in Uganda.
• A distance of at least 7-10 meters has to be kept from the gorillas all the time by the tourists after locating them.
• To reduce the number of people trekking the gorillas, a maximum of 8 per day is allowed for a gorilla family. Still, if you are going for the gorilla habituation process, only four people are allowed per session.
• All tourists who are sick or fell sick on the day of the trek will not be allowed to trek the Mountain gorillas.
• Ensure that the national parks are kept clean by picking up all the litter you come with.
• When approaching the gorillas, leave your luggage at least a distance away so as not to disturb the daily routines of the gorillas.

How to plan for a Uganda gorilla safari from Bujumbura, Burundi

Purchase gorilla permits:

Booking gorilla permits in Uganda is the first step in ensuring the safari planning has started. Select a date and other alternative dates you wish to trek gorillas, and then contact a local trusted and registered tour operator like Encounter Safaris with your details. You will then be contacted after checking for the trek permit availability on the chosen dates, and after that, payments are made (full gorilla cost fee) before the permit is purchased on your behalf. We are here to help you with the purchase of the permit, and our dedicated staff will answer questions that you might have about the gorilla permit and purchase.

Alternatively, you can purchase the permit through the Uganda Wildlife Authority website. This long and tedious process might take longer than getting it through a tour operator.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla permits are booked according to the Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija sectors. Each of these sectors is different, making it hard to quickly get from one industry to the next.

Mgahinga has one gorilla family (The Nyakagezi gorilla family), and only eight gorilla permits are printed daily for Mgahinga.

Planning and reserving transportation:

Two modes of transport are usually used when traveling from Bujumbura to Uganda: road and air transport. Road transport is mainly used, and having a 4x4 safari vehicle is the best option, given the area's terrain. Depending on your budget, you can choose to use road or air transport, but they are to be booked in advance to avoid inconveniences later during the planning.

Charter flights are available to take you around to transport you from one destination to the next within the country, but note that you must have a 4x4 transfer vehicle to take you from the airstrips to the different safari destinations.

Additional activities to do after gorilla trekking:

Gorilla trekking can be combined with other activities if you have extra days on your safari, and this allows you to explore the different safari destinations in Uganda if you wish to stay or Burundi if you go back after gorilla trekking. Some of the activities you can combine with gorilla trekking include bird watching, game drives, chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, golden monkey trekking, sport fishing, boat cruises, kayaking, and cultural trips. Most of these activities have no limit, but in cases where you plan on engaging in extra activities, you need to book them in advance, and some of these activities increase the cost of the safari since they have to be paid for independently.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is also extremely important when planning a gorilla trip to Uganda from Bujumbura, and like the gorilla permit, the facilities must be booked in advance. Accommodation secured for the gorilla safari must be near the national park. For example, when booking accommodation in Bwindi, ensure that it is near the sector you have been assigned, as this eases the time spent getting from the accommodation to the starting point of the trek.

What is the packing list for the gorilla trip to Uganda from Burundi?

Some of the things that you can book for the gorilla trip to Uganda from Burundi include the following:

• First aid to be used in case of emergencies
• Long-sleeved shirts for warmth during the cold mornings and evenings and to protect your skin from bug bites and tree scratches.
• Garden gloves to protect your hands.
• Neutral-colored pants and ensure that they are not jeans
• Foldable water bottle, and it should also be refillable.
• Insect repellent to keep the bugs away
• A warm sweater or poncho
• Waterproof rain jacket
• A waterproof day backpack to carry all essentials needed during the trek
• Snacks
• Sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat for protection from the sun
• Safari hike boots to easily maneuver through the wilderness when gorilla trekking
• A camera, adapter, charger, extra batteries and lenses
• Extra clothes for use after gorilla trekking
• A flashlight and extra batteries
• Extra cash (if possible, carry some change) for tips and personal shopping.

Will I be able to see Mountain gorillas in Uganda?

There is a 98% chance of spotting the Mountain gorillas in Uganda when organizing the trip from Bujumbura. The Mountain gorillas in Uganda can be seen throughout the year in both the dry and wet seasons, and the only thing you have to do is book in advance to be part of this exciting activity. Although gorillas are wild animals, a habituation program was introduced to ensure that the gorillas are fit to be introduced to the public for gorilla trekking by tourists.

When is the best time to gorilla trek in Uganda, starting from Bujumbura, Burundi

The gorilla safari trip starting from Burundi can easily be arranged throughout the year, with the best months being June to September and December to February. The dry months are the best because the gorillas are more active during this season, the routes used for trekking are much easier to use, and the bushes are not as thick as they are during the wet season. The wet months of March to May and October to November are also a good time to plan a gorilla trek from Bujumbura, but you need to be aware of the rains and wet, sticky, and muddy trek routes.

The dry season is also a peak season with many tourists and an expensive time to travel. Still, if you want some alone time with the gorillas and are on a more manageable budget, the best time is during the wet months, which are also good for a photography safari.

How to travel for gorilla trekking from Bujumbura

There are two ways you can get to Uganda from Bujumbura, and these are by either road or air.

By Road: The road trip from Burundi starts with driving from Bujumbura through the land border into Rwanda, where you then proceed to cross from Rwanda into Uganda using the most famous border: the Gatuna border, also referred to as the Katuna border. You then drive to Kabale, about 25 kilometers from the Gatuna border, and from there, you go to Bwindi and Mgahinga as your gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda. Driving from Bujumbura to Uganda is a longer journey than when you fly. Still, it is scenic, from the hills in Burundi and Rwanda to the unique scenery in Uganda as you drive to your gorilla destinations.

Some requirements you might need when crossing the borders are visas, a valid passport of at least six months, all the necessary travel documents, permits, and recommended vaccinations. Consider discovering precisely what your tour operator needs because the requirements change occasionally.

By Air: Flying is the fastest way of traveling from Bujumbura to Uganda for gorilla trekking. First, you get to Bujumbura International Airport and fly directly to Entebbe International Airport. Several domestic flights can connect you from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, also located in Entebbe, like Aerolink, to the nearest airstrips of Kisoro and Kihihi for your safari. From Kihihi to Kisoro, depending on the sector you are to trek, a safari vehicle will drive you the rest of the way. The flight from Bujumbura can take 1 to 2 hours and is the fastest option for travel between the two countries, though it is expensive.

Traveling with Encounter Africa safaris offers a significant advantage because we know about securing and organizing gorilla safaris in Uganda and other safaris in East Africa and can provide expert advice on what to expect, the activities, transport, and accommodation. We will help you organize the trip and leave you with unforgettable memories of the trip to Uganda from Bujumbura. Contact us for more information.