Why is the price of gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda so high?
Why is the price of gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda so high?
The price of the gorilla permit for Rwanda and Uganda is high but worth every penny. The mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda are some of the leftovers of this specie in the entire WORLD.
By 1980s, census carried out by Primatologist Dian Fossey and her team proved that about 250 mountain gorillas were existing in the world. This brought the mountain gorillas in the list of the highly endangered primates in the world.
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To combat chances of the mountain gorillas disappearing from the world scene just like the dinosaurs, fund were required to keep conserving them. Getting the mountain gorillas closer to the human beings was one way to reduce in the animosity between the two. Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation are some of the ways to collect funds and support the mountain gorilla conservation campaign.
You need to purchase a gorilla trekking permit or gorilla habituation permit to have some time with the mountain gorillas.
What Is A Gorilla Permit?
A gorilla permit is a document or card that allows you access to a fully habituated or semi habituated gorilla family. For gorilla trekking, only one hours is allowed with the mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience, tourists are allowed four viewership hours with the mountain gorillas.
What Is Gorilla Trekking?
Gorilla trekking is an adventure where you follow a fully habituated gorilla family and have only one hour in there company. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed with the mountain gorillas to reduce on changes of disturbance.
What Is Gorilla Habituation?
Gorilla habituation is the process of getting wild mountain gorillas used to human presence without altering there nature. Gorilla habituation safari is an adventure where you follow a semi habituated gorilla family escorting trackers and habituators.
How much is gorilla trekking permit in Uganda or Rwanda?
The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per person for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and 150,000 shs fore East African residents. The Uganda wildlife Authority is the selling and regulating body for all Uganda gorilla permits and activities.
The cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 per person per trek. Rwanda development board is the Rwanda gorilla permit selling and regulating Body.
What is included or excluded from the gorilla trekking permit cost for Uganda and Rwanda
The gorilla trekking permit for Uganda and Rwanda includes park fees for that day, one hour of gorilla viewing, security, ranger guide fee, gorilla conservation support, local community Funding.
Exclusions of the gorilla permit cost are no transport to the destination, tips, drinks, accommodation and any other items of personal nature.
How Much Is Gorilla Habituation Permit?
The gorilla habituation permit in Uganda costs $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $1000 per person per trek for foreign residents and 750,000 shs for East African residents. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the selling and regulating body for gorilla habituation permits.
What Is Included And Excluded In The Cost Of Gorilla Habituation Permit
The gorilla habituation permit includes park fees, ranger and researcher fee, security, local community support, gorilla conservation support, four hours of gorilla viewing
Gorilla habituation permit cost excludes transport, energy bites, drinks, accommodation any other items of personal nature.
Where to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?
Bwindi impenetrable National Park
At the moment, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 18 gorilla families open for tourist viewing. These gorilla families live in four areas that is Buhoma area in the north, Ruhija area in the East, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla Permits fir Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are sold according to area.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a vast and thick prehistoric forest that is believed to have over 25000 years. Its biodiversity is believed to have accumulated, as it was a refugee point for different wild species during the ice age period
The forest has over 350 bird species, more than 200 tree species, 88 moths, 51 reptiles and so much more. The wildlife list of Bwindi forest dwellers is still expanding as more discoveries are being notes from every census.
Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park covers 33.7 square kilometers of land and lies in the South Western part of Uganda. At the moment the park has one gorilla family open for tourists viewing. The Nyakagezi gorilla family was known for meandering into Rwanda so times. At the moment, this gorilla family is steadily living in Mgahinga National Park.
This forest is home to golden monkeys, which are some of the endangered primate species in the world. Other monkeys species in Mgahinga forest include blue monkeys, red tailed mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, black and white mangabey and others.
Over 115 bird species are residents of Mgahinga forest including Albertine rift endemics. Ornithologists believe the Mgahinga forest bird list is still expanding from the new discoveries.
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda’s volcanoes national park lies in the North Western Park. At the moment, Volcanoes National Park has 12 gorilla families open for tourism.
The topography of Volcanoes National Park is gerally mountainous with five of the six Virunga Volcanoes making its backdrop. They include Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Sabyinyo and Mountain Muhavura present.
The park has golden monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and other primates. The ever-expanding bird list of volcanoes forest makes it the Rwanda birding haven. So far, over 200 bird species have been recorded as residents of Volcanoes National Park.
When Can I Book The Gorilla Permit?
Booking the gorilla permit is best done in advance atleast 6 months to a year. They are limited in number that is 8 gorilla permits per day per family. At the moment uganda has 152 gorilla trekking permits open for public booking and 8 gorilla habituation permits.
Rwanda currently has 96 gorilla permits open for public booking.
This limited number is competed for throughout the world yet first come first served basis is used to secure them.
The peak season gorilla trekking permits that is June, July, August September, December to January are fast selling. Getting last minute gorilla permits for this season is hectic.
During the low season, that is to say March, April, May and November, chances of last minute gorilla permits may be possible but this depends on demand for the day.
Sometimes Uganda and Rwanda offer discounted gorilla permit especially in the low season but this is not a guarantee every year. The Uganda wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board have the last world about the when to offer discounted gorilla permits.
Can I Purchase The Gorilla Permit for Uganda or Rwanda in Instalment?
Issuing full payment for the gorilla permit is the best idea but at times, you wish to make partial payment. The Rwanda development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority accept instalment payment for the gorilla permits in portions of 30% or 70% of the total cost.
This only applies on gorilla permits purchase before 90 days to the tracking date and remember to top up before 90 days or stand to lose the prepaid portion.
Is Gorilla Permit Reschedule Possible In Uganda or Rwanda?
Rescheduling the gorilla permit for Uganda or Rwanda is possible as long as you address the matter to Uganda wildlife Authority or Rwanda development Board.
Write to either bodies stating reason why you cannot do gorilla trekking or habituation on the booked date. Attach evidence to back up your request in case you have it.
When approved, your gorilla permit is moved to the date of your preference but this is only possible when availability on that date is still open.
Rwanda gorilla permit reschedule is paid for. Uganda has two chances open for rescheduling the same permit but the third is can only be approved by the executive director. You have to pay 25% of the total cost of Uganda gorilla permit.
How For Booking Uganda Or Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits?
Procedure
Select a date when you wish to go gorilla trekking either confirmed date or tentative date. Know the number of gorilla permits you would like to book putting in mind that each day only one gorilla permit can be booked for every person.
When you enquire from Encounter Africa safaris about your wish to go gorilla trekking and fill in other details, our safari consultant check availability. Our company is among the fully recognized safari companies in Uganda and Rwanda allowed to check Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board gorilla permit listing. You may check availability directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda development Board.
In case availability is positive, we advise our clients to purchase their gorilla permits as soon as possible to avoid having to change dates later when permits are sold out.
Later, we require you to provide some personal details to include on your gorilla permit like full names as indicated on the passport, date of birth, nationality, passport expiry date and others.
How long is gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
The time of locating the mountain gorillas is unknown because of the different factors prevailing in the wilderness. Some tourists have got a chance to locate the mountain gorillas after 2 hours yet others spend over three quarters of the day. The mountain gorilla are free primates that move according to instincts. Sometimes when the gorillas fight amongst themselves, the losers may relocate. Death of a gorilla family member creates a somber mood amongst them and they may go into hiding.
No matter what time you locate the mountain gorillas, the feeling you get when you discover them is exceptional. They normally keep munching on foliage or lounging on seeing them but do not go against the rules of gorilla trekking or habituation. Most tourists depart the mountain gorillas families feeling a little connection with them.
Are Mountain Gorilla Dangerous?
Mountain gorillas are some of the most serene primates despite there scaring outlook. They are shy so try not to stare into there eyes because they may retreat into hiding.
In the history of gorilla trekking or habituation, no person has ever been attacked by the mountain gorillas.
When angry, they thump there chests, pull grass around them, hoot, walk on one foot and retreat into the deeper ends of the forest.
Listen to your ranger guide’s advice when you notice this so as not to cause a stampede in the forest.
Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Or Rwanda Difficult
Walking in the wilderness to do gorilla trekking or habituation has challenges because of the nature of the area’s topography. The Virunga area faces volcanic action at times and so different landforms have developed over time like ridges, mountains, plateaus and others.
At times the mountain gorillas spend there day on the slopes on these land forms so you need to hike to locate them. Some level of fitness is required to get where the mountain gorillas are. Before travelling for gorilla trekking or habituation, get your body ready to with stand any challenging forest conditions.
Wear the right safari boots that can walk through soggy surfaces and hike tough ridges.
Can an Aged Person Do Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Or Rwanda?
Yes, gorilla trekking is open for any person aged 15 years and over. Some trekkers are restrained to do gorilla trekking because of age but sedan chairs are available to book. Whether trekking gorilla in uganda or Rwanda, sedan chair services are available but you need to book in advance.
These sedan chair cost to used during gorilla trekking or habituation varies according to the make. The cost of locally made sedan chair is cheaper than imported sedan chair. It is lifted by porters to where the mountain gorillas are.
What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking or Habituation In Uganda Or Rwanda
- Safari boots
- Camera
- Energy bites
- Safari attire in wilderness friendly colors
- Foldable water bottle.
- Waterproof backpack
- Toiletries.
- Foldable safari hat
- Duffel bag
- Some hard cash
- First aid kit
- Extra fully charged batteries
- Extra clothes
- Warmers
- Garden gloves
- A torch
- A pair of binoculars
- Adopter or charger.
