Reasons why high gorilla permit price in Rwanda is good for Uganda

Find reasons why high gorilla permit price in Rwanda is good for Uganda. The cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit is currently $1500 per person per trek compared to the Uganda gorilla trekking permit cost, which is $800 per person. The cost of Rwanda gorilla permits is double that of Uganda gorilla permits, so Uganda has an advantage over Rwanda in selling her mountain gorilla safari packages. 

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In Uganda, gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park And Mgahinga National Park. At the moment, 19 gorilla trekking families with 152 gorilla permits are open to the public for gorilla trekking adventure. 2 gorilla families are open for gorilla habituation experience in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has 15 gorilla families open to public booking, with 96 gorilla permits open per public booking per day. 

The high cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, which is currently $1500 per person, allows tourists only one hour is the exact cost for the Uganda gorilla habituation experience permit, which will enable tourists 4 hours of following the mountain gorillas.

Why Gorilla Permit Price In Rwanda Is An Advantage For Uganda

Uganda Can Sell Her Gorilla Safaris At A More Friendly Cost

The cost of a Uganda gorilla permit is almost half the cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit, the cost is advantageous to those with a limited budget. The cost of a gorilla permit does not discriminate whether traveling is luxury or budget; you all pay the same permit price.

Many tourists on gorilla safari in Uganda use the balance to purchase other safari amenities, such as pay for accommodation, vehicle hire, another Uganda safari activity, and so much more.

Opens Chance For Selling Other Uganda Safari Activities

Uganda is indeed the pearl of Africa, with a number of other activities you can engage in after or before gorilla trekking. With each adventurous activity, you need to make the necessary payments. 

You can do a combo of gorilla trekking in Uganda with game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and others. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda has a variety of options to select from.

Justification For The Long Distance You Drive From Entebbe Or Kampala To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Or Mgahinga National Park.

The drive from Entebbe international airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 8 to 9 hours, while the drive from Kigali Airport to volcanoes national park is about 3 hours.

To compensate for the long drive time in Uganda, the gorilla permit costs $800 per person compared to $1500 per person in Rwanda. You can use the blanks on a Uganda safari to make stopovers in en-route parks like Lake Mburo National Park.

Led To The Promotion Of Gorilla Trekking Package In Uganda Through Rwanda

The high cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit led to the promotion of the Uganda gorilla safari packages through Rwanda. The drive time from Kigali airport into Uganda Bwindi impenetrable national park is about 5 hours to 6 hours, yet you have one visa to use, that is to say, the East African visa. This is a shorter time frame from the 8 hours to 9 hour’s drive time from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

How To Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit

Have a date when you wish to do gorilla trekking or habituation experience safari in Uganda. Identify the number of permits you wish to book so as to stay on track with checking availability. 

When you enquire about gorilla trekking from Encounter Africa Safaris, our safari consultants check availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list. Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the accredited tour companies accepted to have access to mountain gorilla permits.

If availability is positive, we advise clients to secure their gorilla permits in advance. The gorilla permits for the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December, and January, are sold out fast. This is because of their high demand worldwide, yet supply is limited to 8 permits per day.

During the high season, accessing last-minute gorilla trekking permits is hard. Even when you get one, you must be where the gorilla permit is identified. This is especially if you risk getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking and waiting for a no-show or permit on resale.

Forward personal details like your full name as indicated on the passport, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date. This information is added to your gorilla permit card and retrieved on the day of gorilla trekking.

When Can I Book The Uganda Gorilla Permit?

Booking a gorilla permit for Uganda, especially for the peak season, is best at least 6 months to a year before gorilla trekking, especially in the peak season when demand is high. The peak season for gorilla trekking adventure is normally June to September and December to January.

When you reserve a gorilla permit in advance, you protect yourself from last-minute panic as you try to secure one.

During the low tourism season, which is March, April, May, and November, gorilla permits may be available till the last day; however, it is not a guaranteed time.

Are There Chances For Rescheduling The Uganda Gorilla Permits?

Uganda wildlife authority accepts rescheduling gorilla permit, but you need to go through the process below.

Write to Uganda Wildlife Authority requesting to reschedule your gorilla permit. Include the date to which you wish to move your permit. State why you want to change to a new date and attach evidence to back up your request in case you have any.

Once approved, your gorilla permit date is moved according to prevailing availability.

Uganda allows two free times gorilla permit reschedule times. The Uganda Wildlife Authority executive director is the only one to approve the third time. You also pay a surcharge of 25% of the total permit cost.

Can I purchase the gorilla permit in installments?

Uganda wildlife authority accepts installment gorilla permits of 30% and 70%, respectively, but only applies to those who purchase the gorilla permits 90 days before gorilla trekking day. 

You must top up your gorilla permit before the 90 days to gorilla trekking day, as failure to comply may attract a penalty.

If you wish to reschedule your gorilla permit, but it is purchased in installments, you must top it up first.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda?

The time for gorilla trekking in Uganda is unpredictable because of the various factors that trigger the mountain gorillas to move or the weather conditions of the day. Some tourists have been lucky to locate the mountain gorillas two hours after starting the gorilla trek, while others have spent about three-quarters of the day.

Mountain gorillas feed from a particular area for some time, but when food is exhausted, the dominant silverback has to locate new feeding grounds. Tracking a gorilla family on the move to a new location is challenging and prolongs the gorilla trekking adventure.

When the mountain gorillas fight, the losing family may be pushed out of their feeding area into the deeper forest. In case the gorilla family loses a member, they mourn, making the gorilla trek challenging.

During the wet season, mountain gorillas tend to spend the day at the slopes, so you must hike the slippery and soggy slopes to get to them. You must have gorilla trekking gear to be safe in the wilderness.

Are mountains aggressive?

Mountain gorillas are not aggressive because they are first habituated to human presence before being opened for public booking. This reduces the possible animosity when wild mountain gorillas meet humans.

In nature, mountain gorillas are very shy primates and serene even with their giant bodies. When agitated, mountain gorillas hoot, dash into the deeper forest, walk on one foot, and pull grass around them, but don’t confront humans.

 After the gorilla trekking hour, you are requested to stealthily part from their presence to avoid looking suspicious. Mountain gorillas are very keen, with intruders in their presence. When you locate the mountain gorillas, you need to stay in a tight group and not surround them because you appear as if you have ambushed them.

What Else Can I Combine Gorilla Trekking With In Uganda?

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

You can do chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison falls national park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and others.

You must purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority or other sanctuaries.

Chimpanzee trekking gets you into the life of the closest human relatives in the animal kingdom. Mountain gorillas have about 98 % DNA of human relatives.

Game Drives In Uganda 

Uganda is the pearl of Africa, with a number of game parks where you can do morning and afternoon game drives. Some of the national parks in Uganda include Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Some animals you may spot on Uganda safari include lions, leopards, cheetahs, waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, giraffes, aardwolf, hyenas, hartebeests, and others.

Birding in Uganda

Within the Virunga area, you can do bird in parks like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga national park, Kibale National Park, Botanical Gardens, Mpanga Forest, and Mabamba Swamp, to mention but a few.

Having a trained and well-experienced birding guide with good knowledge of Uganda’s birding destinations would be best. Uganda has over 1000 bird species, including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe.

Golden Monkey Trekking in Uganda

Uganda is one of the few destinations in Africa where charming golden monkeys live. Golden monkeys have a larger body structure with golden brown hair at the lower back, which are different from other monkeys. In Uganda, golden monkeys only live in Mgahinga national park in the far southwestern part.

These primates live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male. Only 8 tourists are allowed to do golden monkey trekking per troop during golden monkey trekking.

During golden monkey trekking, you may spot other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabey, and blue monkeys.

White Water Rafting On River Nile

No experience is needed to do white water rafting on the river Nile Itanda Falls. On the ground are some instructors to take you through the procedure, so you need to attend and follow the rules of this activity. Do secure your safety gear and peddle through the tides. The white water rafting route has different levels. However, you can stop where you are comfortable.

If you are uncomfortable with white water rafting, you can do tubing or kayaking on River Nile.

Visit the Source Of River Nile

Uganda is the only source of the River Nile, the longest river in the world. The drama at the point where the river Nile departs from Lake Victoria water is mysterious. You have to catch a boat to get to this amazing point where River Nile water vigorously emerges from the ground while at the same point, lake Victoria water calmly flows into the lake.

The surroundings at the banks of the River Nile are amazing as you feel the cool breeze.

Mountaineering in Uganda 

Uganda has a number of highlands where you can test your fitness by hiking or mountaineering. Some may take days or a day, depending on the altitude of the highlands. Some Uganda highlands include Mountain Rwenzori, Mountain Elgon, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and others.

Cultural Experience In Uganda

Uganda is a multicultural nation, so during gorilla trekking, you can engage with some cultural institutions to learn more about the rich Ugandan Culture like the Uganda Kingdoms, cultural sites, languages, cultural attires, and so much more. Ethnologists have plenty to know about Uganda.

Contact us for more information.