What May Stop You From Seeing Gorillas In Africa?

There is no doubt that you will find the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda as this is a 99% sure deal. Even after being sure of finding these mountain gorillas of Rwanda and Uganda, you may fail to see them.

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What may stop you from seeing the mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is determined by both personal factors and external factors. In case you do not show up for the gorilla safari experience in Uganda or Rwanda and no reason is forwarded to the concerned people, you are considered a no-show. The gorilla permit is redeemed invalid after the day on which the gorilla safari activity is to take place and is non refundable.

When you catch a communicable infection before starting the gorilla safari adventure in Uganda or Rwanda, you are requested to volunteer to stay behind. This superhuman move is one of the ways to save the highly susceptible mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers from the possibility of an infection that may have massively killed them.

Intentional absconding from gorilla safari briefing in Uganda or Rwanda may end in not being allowed to join other tourists to do the gorilla safari adventure. Contact us for more information.

Where to Do Gorilla Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda

In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is the only home to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Currently, the park has so far 12 gorilla families open to the public that including Umubano, Amahoro, Hirwa, Susa, Agashya, Muhoza and others. These Rwanda gorilla families roam the premises and sometimes spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys of Volcanoes National Park. This is why gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda are considered steeper.

Five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi generally influence the terrain of Volcanoes National Park. During the sever rainy seasons, the slopes of the ridges and plateaus get slippery and soggy which makes the way quite tough to walk through to where the mountains gorillas may be.

The Volcanoes National Park is rich with other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, to mention but a few. More than 200 bird species have been registered as residents of Volcanoes National Park.

In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the homes of the mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. Two gorilla safari activities can be booked in Uganda that is gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. At the moment, Uganda has about 20 gorilla trekking families open to the public and four gorilla habituation experience families open to the public.

For every gorilla safari in Uganda, one is required to possess a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority a body that controls and regulates gorilla permits in Uganda. Note that gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi are booked according to the areas under which the park is divided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Details of What May stop you from seeing gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

• Having no gorilla permit for either Uganda or Rwanda

The gorilla permit is a document issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board to allow tourists access to the mountain gorillas. The gorilla permits are issues per day with a maximum of 8 gorilla trekking permits per gorilla family in Rwanda and Uganda and maximum for gorilla habituation experience permits per family per day in Uganda.

Failure to find availability of gorilla permit even when on ground in Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park ends in not going to do the gorilla safari adventure. When issuing the gorilla permits in Uganda or Rwanda, some personal details are presented for identification and it is these that are used to cross check on the day of the gorilla safari.

• Absconding from Briefing before the gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda

Briefing before the gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda is compulsory as the guidelines of the gorilla safari adventure are explained in detail to the tourists. Even though you are destined to do the gorilla tour more than times, you must attend briefing.

Failure to attend briefing before the gorilla tour in Uganda and Rwanda with no convincing reason may end in stopping you from joining the rest to do this adventure with no possibility of refund for an unused gorilla permit.

• Being under the Gorilla Safari age limit for Uganda or Rwanda

The age limit for gorilla safaris in Uganda is 12 years and over while Rwanda is 15 years and over. The nature of the gorilla safari search experience includes walking in the forest which is quite rough for a child below this recommended age. The topography of the forests where mountain gorillas live is jugged with ridges and plateaus where the mountain gorillas sometimes spend time on the slopes. Tourists are required to hike to get to these mountain gorillas which may be challenging for children below this age.

At a glance, the look of the mountain gorillas may stimulate some adrenaline, which may cause the children below this age to react in a manner that may agitate the mountain gorillas. When agitated, the mountain gorillas may charge or move into hiding yet only one hour is allowed with them.

• When you Break gorilla safari Guidelines for Uganda or Rwanda

Uganda and Rwanda have gorillas safari guidelines that are expected to be adhered to by every tourist. When you happen to violate any of the rules of gorilla trekking, you may end in being disqualified. The researchers who came up with the rules of gorilla tour safaris first did enough research about the mountain gorillas and so can up with these protective rules that enable humans to spend at least an hour with a gorilla family.

In case you notice some unusual behavior amongst the mountain gorillas, tourists are requested not to panic but wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter. Every tourist is required to follow the example of the ranger guide in order to show the mountain gorillas that you are not harmful even if it means pretending to eat some foliage.

• Catching a communicable infection before the gorilla safari

When you catch communicable infection such as flu, cough, covid-19 and other Volunteer to stay behind as a rule of gorilla tour set by Rwanda and Uganda. The mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human communicable infections and so every tourist is requested to be honest and not spread these germs to the mountain gorillas.

Conserving the mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda has come a long way and so there is so much to lose when they experience massive deaths. It waters down the work, money and energies put in to get to this point.

• Failure to complete the gorilla permit price

In case you get the chance to pay for the gorilla safari permits in Instalments either in Uganda or Rwanda, abide by the rules and regulations. According to Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board, tourists may pay for the gorilla permits in instalments of 30% and 70 % in case the permits is purchase before 90 days to gorilla safari date. Tourists must remember to top up the gorilla permit before 90 days to gorilla safari day or stand to lose it.

When you fail to top up the gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda, it is re-opened to the public and others can purchase it so do not expect to be refunded the down payment for this permit or top up on the safari day. In case you are still interested in taking the gorilla tour in Uganda, you may repurchase another gorilla permit in case there is availability.

• When Injured During The Gorilla Safari

In case you get injured during the gorilla search in Uganda or Rwanda you may be unable to carry on so may not see the mountain gorillas. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker so in case you are able to push through to the end, you may try continue moving with the rest of the trekkers.

Do not forget to pack the relevant gorilla safari gears including the first aid kit with the emergency items before travelling for the gorilla tour.

• Not showing up on the gorilla safari day

When you do not show up for the gorilla safari adventure on the booked days and without no explanation forwarded to the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board, you are considered a no-show. Do not expect a refund for the gorilla permit not used as the Rwanda or Uganda gorilla permit is only valid up to the date for which it was booked.

Before the gorilla safari day, tourists are advised to be sober and in good spirits. You can also request the lodge authorities to wake you up for the before time you are expected to report for briefing.  Do not forget to pack the necessary gorilla safari gears and packed lunch.

When is the best time to book a Gorilla safari permit For Uganda Or Rwanda

The best time to book a gorilla safari permit for Rwanda or Uganda is at least 6 months to a year in advance. During the high tourist season in Uganda and Rwanda, the demand gets tight. This saves you from panicking at the last minute as you try to find availability of the gorilla permit which gets harder as the season unfolds.

The high tourism season for Uganda and Rwanda is normally June to September and December to Mid-January. Even the accompanying logistics that support tourism in Uganda are at high demand that is accommodations, transport and so many others.

More tourists visit Rwanda and Uganda in the peak season and so expect to share your experience with several other people

During the low season, Rwanda Development Board opens chances to discounted gorilla permits but not guaranteed all the time. The low tourism season of Uganda and Rwanda is normally March to May and may provide better chances to finding gorilla permits at the last minute although not guaranteed too because the status of Uganda and Rwanda permits changes without warning.

Uganda Or Rwanda Which Is A Better Gorilla Safari Destination

Gorilla safaris are Africa safari adventures that create everlasting memories no matter where you enjoy this experience in Uganda or Rwanda. Some of the differences in where to do the gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda may come with

The cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit at the moment is $1500 per person per trek while the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permit is currently $800 per person

Uganda has two gorilla safari destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park with over 20 gorilla trekking families opening better chances to finding gorilla permit availability. Rwanda so far has 12 gorilla trekking families living in Volcanoes National Park.

Compared to Uganda, the Rwanda gorilla trekking experience is steeper because of the several highlands that make up the topography of Volcanoes National Park.

From gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, there are several options safari activities you can do within the country like game drives, visit source of River Nile, water activities, chimpanzee safaris, birding in Uganda and others. Rwanda has limited other safari options you may combine with gorilla safaris in the country including chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, game drives, cultural experiences

The drive time from Kigali city to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours while the drive time from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 hours to 9 hours. This is an option of Scheduled flights or charter flights in Uganda.

The least number of days to be on gorilla safari in Uganda is 2 days Rwanda gorilla safari while the least number of days to be on Uganda gorilla safari is 3 days gorilla safari. For better preparations during the Uganda or Rwanda safari, secure the necessary logistics in advance.

Contact our team for more information.