Why is gorilla trekking the most expensive experience in Uganda and Rwanda

Why is gorilla trekking the most expensive experience in Uganda and Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is truly one of the best safari experiences in Uganda and Rwanda but the cost of the gorilla permit is quite high and worth every pe. In the entire world, the mountain gorillas are only living in Uganda and Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

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The number of gorilla trekking permits open to the public in both Uganda and Rwanda is limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family. The number of gorilla permits open to the public in Uganda and Rwanda was restricted to minimize the effects of mass tourism in the wilderness where these primates thrive.

The current cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents and Other Africans and $200 for East Africans.

At the moment, the cost of Uganda Gorilla trekking permits is $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and 300,000 for East Africans.

Other than the gorilla trekking permits, other logistics also contribute to the final cost of the gorilla safari. Some of these safari logistics include accommodation, transport and others.

Where To Do Gorilla Trekking Experience In Uganda And Rwanda

In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

The Volcanoes National Park is situated in the Northwestern part of Rwanda. It is a pristine forest where a number of primates thrive including mountain gorillas, blue monkeys, l’hoest, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey to mention but a few.  The number of gorilla trekking families in Volcanoes National Park is about 12 families including Hirwa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Susa, Amahoro and others.

The topography of Volcanoes National Park is ragged with a number of mountains including Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Bisoke, Karisimbi and Sabyinyo. The mountain gorillas sometimes spend time on the slopes of these mountains so tourists may be required to hike. In general the gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.

On the day of the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, tourists gather at the ORTPN for a briefing. The tourists are later allocated gorilla families however the criteria used is sometimes hard to determine. Some of the possible methods used to allocate gorilla families in Rwanda include physical capabilities, age brackets, health conditions and others.

Other than the primates, Volcanoes National Park is home to over 200 bird species including Handsome Francolin, Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco and others.

In Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a gorilla trekking haven in Uganda, with almost the largest number of families open to the public. The word Bwindi in Lukiga language naturally means Impenetrable, which is the true character of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The vast size of Bwindi forest which covers an area of about 327 square kilometers was divided into four areas including Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Buhoma.

Bwindi has about two gorilla safaris that is gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. At the moment, Bwindi has about 19 gorilla trekking families open to the public. For Gorilla trekking adventure, maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family and have an hour with them. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where a maximum 4 tourists are allowed to visit a semi-habituated gorilla family for four hours.

The number of gorilla trekking families open to the public may increase at any time as the process of gorilla habituation is still going on. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to humans' presence without altering their attributes.

Bwindi too is a birder‘s haven with more than 350 bird species recorded. There are several birds that inhabit Bwindi forest including Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, Grey headed sunbirds, Handsome Francolin, Archer’s Robin Chart, White-Headed Woodhoope, African Hill Babler, Yellow Eyed Flycatcher, Sooth Boubou, Western Green Timber Bird and others.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is the other home for the Uganda mountain gorillas with so far one gorilla family open to public viewing. The only gorilla trekking family of Mgahinga National Park is called Nyakagezi. Even though Mgahinga National Park is the smallest National Park in Uganda with an area of 33.7 kilometers, it is home to a number of wild species.

The Mgahinga National Park is home to several primate species including golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons to mention but a few

The topography of Mgahinga National Park is influenced by three highlands that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo. This makes the gorilla trek of Mgahinga National Park quite steep and tedious since the mountain gorillas sometimes spend time at the slopes where tourists have to find them.

The main headquarters of this Mgahinga National Park is in Ntebeko where the administrative work happens.

What Is the Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda or Uganda

The cost of either Rwanda or Uganda gorilla safari varies with the category of package that is luxury, mid-range or basic.  The cost of the gorilla permits for Uganda and Rwanda is top on the list of expenses to consider. To support the gorilla safari activities in Uganda or Rwanda, there are some logistics that must be included in the tour quotation like accommodation, transport to mention but a few

The number of people you are traveling with for gorilla trekking in either Uganda or Rwanda also influences the cost of safari.  

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we have a team of safari consultants who work with our clients to tailor the perfect itineraries to soothe their safari needs and within their budget. Customer satisfaction is our main goal for any tour we handle.

Note that during the peak tourism season in Rwanda or Uganda, the gorilla safari costs may be higher due to the overwhelming demand for logistics that support safaris in these countries.

In order to minimize the number of people who search for mountain gorillas and the effects of mass tourism in the forests, the cost of the gorilla permit was increased in Uganda and Rwanda.

Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda safe

Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda and Uganda is safe because on ground there is a team of well trained ranger guides from Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority respectively. There are gorilla safari rules at the destinations of each country which are expected to be followed by clients on safari

Every tourist on gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda must attend a compulsory briefing no matter the number of times you have the gorilla trekking tour. The ranger guide escorting the tourists on gorilla trekking tour has the mandate to keep reminding tourists in his company about these rules as violating them may agitate the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.

There are other security agencies from Uganda or Rwanda at the gorilla trekking destinations to keep law and order in and around these destinations. These agencies do joint security operations at the destinations.

Safety starts with you so try not to move with your valuables during the gorilla trek because you may lose them and yet recovering may be hard. Wear the appropriate gorilla trekking gear to protect your body from the rough surface in the wilderness.

Try not to engage in unlawful activities while on safari because you may end in prisons or receive a hefty penalty.

How long is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda or Uganda

Gorilla trekking may take about 2 hours or more depending on factors prevailing in the wilderness. From the starting point of the gorilla, the ranger guide with the tourists follows the trail heading where the mountain gorilla family was last seen the previous day.

Even though the time of finding the mountain gorillas is hard to determine, there are other forest dwellers to keep you glued to the goal and maintain the vibe when you finally face these primates. A wide range of other primates are common residents of this park including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey and others.

The Virunga area where the gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda happens is a birding haven with Albertine rift endemics, and some on the red list of the IUCN. Some of the possible birds to see in the Virunga area include Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin , Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Dusky’s Crimsonwing to mention but a few.

Finally, when you locate the mountain gorillas, one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. ensure you maximize your time with these primates to full capacity.

Which is the best Gorilla Trekking Safari Destination Of Uganda or Rwanda

For more options for gorilla trekking permits, Uganda offers about 20 gorilla families and there is also an option of gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. Rwanda currently has about 12 gorilla trekking family options open to the public

The shortest time for a gorilla trekking safari is in Rwanda which is 2 days gorilla trekking whereas the least number of days for a gorilla safari in Uganda is 3 days gorilla trekking tour.

The gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda is in a steeper environment because of the so many highlands in Volcanoes National Park compared to that of Bwindi and Mgahinga forests.

Chances of adding extra optional safari activities to the gorilla safari are more in Uganda that is Game parks, water activities, chimpanzee safaris, hiking, cultural experiences and others.

From Kigali airport, the drive time to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours while the drive time from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours drive.

When is the best Time To Do A Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda or Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is open all year around but the dry season is most preferred. The dry season is normally June to September or December to January when the forest is quicker to explore. The mountain gorillas are quicker to spot since more sunlight penetrates through the dense canopy to the ground.

The ground in Virunga areas is quicker to walk over in the dry season since the rivers flow within the normal course and there is less precipitation in general.

Note that more people book gorilla safaris in this period so expect to in the company of others      . Competition for gorilla trekking permits in both Uganda and Rwanda is high.

The wet season which is normally March to May and November receives high amounts of rain but this doesn’t stop you from going on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda. The mountain gorillas are available for booking all year round. The ground may be soggy and slippery but wearing the right gorilla trekking gear saves you from the rough surfaces in the jungle.

What To Rules to Follow For Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda Or Rwanda

• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden because it contaminates the food for the mountain gorillas.
• Littering in the forest is forbidden to leave the natural habitat to thrive and provide food for the mountain gorillas, when you dump items like plastic, they do not decompose which alters the nature of the forest which is the habitat to these primates feed.
• Stay in a tight group during gorilla safari experience because they feel ambushed when you surround them,feel insecure and agitated. This may lead them to retreat into the deeper ends of the park.
• Using flash photography is not allowed because mountain gorillas are scared of new occurrences in their environment.
• In case you catch any communicable infection like cholera, flu, cough, Corona Virus, volunteer to stay behind so that you don’t pass it to the gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infections. The extent to which they may be affected may cause the so far conservation work done to go back to highly endangered.
• Eating or smoking 200 meters closer to the mountain gorillas is forbidden to prevent the chances of the gorillas grabbing it from you. They are wild animals that must search for own food and not depend on human provision.
•  Burry all fecal materials beyond recognition so that the animals in the forest cannot exhume it. Ask the ranger to ding a hole for you about 30 cm and cover well.
• In case you wish to sneeze or cough, do it away from the mountain gorillas and use your handkerchief or elbow.
• Try not to talk loudly or make noise when going on a gorilla safari experience because you may also scare the other forest dwellers that may be interesting to see.
•  Wearing a clean mask before meeting the mountain gorillas  is one of the added ruled for all primate safaris after the Corona Virus Lockdown.
• The age limit for gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda is 12 years and beyond 15 years respectively and because children below this age may not withstand the conditions in the forest.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas only one hour is allowed with them. This is to allow the gorillas go about their day-to-day activities. They have been habituated to be in the presence of humans for just that hour.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is to reduce on the chances of passing an infection to the mountain gorillas.
• Provoking the mountain gorillas during the safari experience is not acceptable because you do not know how this will treat them. They are very sensitive with anything that happens to them.

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