Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC : Making a thorough budget for your next trip to East Africa requires having access to the most recent information on the cost of a mountain gorilla permit, which is necessary for monitoring mountain gorillas.
Because gorilla tracking offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the few species that most closely resembles humans, it is an unmatched jungle adventure, not only because of the mountain gorilla’s heartwarming eyes. You must prepare before you can feel the unique excitement of wading through such a lush habitat, slicing through underbrush, and ultimately coming across these amazing animals.
And selecting a country is the first step in organizing your upcoming mountain gorilla tracking expedition. The minimum age to participate in this experience is 15, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a trip with your kids. Check out our list of mountain gorilla facts below to get you psyched for your gorilla tracking excursion in Uganda.
There are now just three nations to choose from when it comes to having this experience: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
GORILLA TRACKING OR GORILLA TREKKING
It’s common to use these two terms interchangeably. The concept of rangers tracking gorilla families is known as “gorilla tracking.” Since gorillas are always traveling to search for new food, every gorilla tracking experience is unique.
Since the gorilla families are nocturnal and we must navigate a dense jungle to reach them, the term “gorilla trekking” can refer to any activity that involves hiking or trekking. However, we think that tourists are also a part of the tracking experience because the gorilla families are in constant motion.
GORILLA TRACKING IN UGANDA
There are only three places in the world where you can go gorilla trekking, and Uganda is one of them. Actually, two stunning parks in Uganda are home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Seventeen of Uganda’s eighteen known mountain gorilla families are located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while one is situated in Mgahinga Forest.
There are four tracking locations in Bwindi: Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Every gorilla family on a site can be distinguished from one another by their distinct family names.
The best season for gorilla tracking in Uganda
Because of its muddy, slippery slopes, Bwindi is a compact rain forest that is often more challenging to manage during the rainy season. Consequently, the dry season, which runs from June to August and from January to February, is the ideal time to come.
Permits and prices for tracking in Uganda
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) estimates that each person should pay $800 for a gorilla tracking permit in Uganda. Tracking, observing, and taking pictures of the fully acclimated mountain gorilla families in either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Forest takes approximately one hour.
Nonetheless, travelers who desire a more secluded experience with the gorillas may choose to purchase Gorilla Habituation licenses, which run $1500 per person. Here, visitors who want to learn more about the animals are divided into groups of four and taken on an exciting tour. The gorilla habitat licenses are only done in Uganda and provide a day of tracking and three hours in the company of a wild mountain gorilla family in either Rushaga or Nkuringo in Bwindi Forest.
GORILLA TRACKING IN RWANDA
Being in the presence of gorillas in the wild is an incredible and unforgettable experience. The majority of visitors who depart from their adventures in the Virunga Massif say they had a life-changing experience. Over the past four or five years, Rwanda has significantly strengthened its tourist promotion, bringing in a well-organized team of experts to help you with your gorilla tracking experience.
At least 1,000 mountain gorillas live in Rwanda, with 604 of them in the Virunga Massif. In the Volcanoes National Park, there are twelve fully habituated gorilla families and a few others that are there for scientific study. At least one silverback and multiple females and younger ones make up each group or family.
COVID-19 prevention guidelines for tourists
When entering the nation, every visitor is required to have a negative COVID-19 certificate obtained 72 hours prior to departure from the SARS-CoV 2 real-time polymerase chain reaction test. Furthermore, everyone traveling outside who is five years old or older needs to wear a mask. Prior to their visit, visitors must electronically submit the completed guest registration and indemnity form to the park.
The best season for gorilla tracking in Rwanda
Because it is peak season and has the longest dry spell, June to September is the ideal time of year to go gorilla tracking in Rwanda. The season also makes it easier to go around the parks, and the hiking trails aren’t muddy or slick. Plan your vacation between December and February if you’d like a less crowded season with comparable weather, and make sure to take advantage of the birding season.
Permits and prices for tracking in Rwanda
Intimate encounters with gorillas are possible in Rwanda since each family is only granted eight permits daily. But since there are only 96 permits granted each day, it might be wise to make reservations in advance online or through a reputable tour operator such as Focus East Africa Tours Or Explore Rwanda tours.
Depending on your plans, a permit to track gorillas in Rwanda may be obtained. A standard permit is $1500 for each individual. In Volcanoes National Park, visitors are grouped into eight groups and assigned to track, observe, and photograph a fully habituated family of mountain gorillas for one hour.
For travelers seeking a more intimate encounter, there’s always the exclusive option. Here, for a fee of $15,000, a visitor and their family are allowed to track a specific gorilla group, provided that there are eight members in the tracking party. Private guiding services are included in the price.
GORILLA TRACKING IN THE DRC
About ten years ago, Virunga National Park reopened to tourists following years of idleness. When visiting the park, visitors can take advantage of gorilla tracking and climb the Nyiragongo volcano. Gorilla tracking is becoming one of the most popular tourist attractions, and Virunga offers a peaceful, uncrowded experience that is unmatched.
Located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the park. With the exception of Goma Town, which is only 32 km away, most routes make access to the national park difficult. As a result, a lot of visitors to the National Park take planes to Kigali International Airport, then drive via Gisenyi Town and use a muddy route to pass to Goma.
Visitors arriving by the Ugandan way can go to the Bunagana Border station in Kisoro, from which it takes an hour’s drive to the beginning of the Bukima mountain gorilla tracking route. For visitors arriving by plane at Goma Airport, the park also organizes private transportation.
It is significant to remember that Rwanda and Uganda are included in the Virunga Massif. Additionally, there are fewer gorillas here than in its neighbors, despite the area’s vastness. Nonetheless, park visitors have returned with positive stories about the Kabirizi gorilla family.
COVID-19 prevention guidelines for tourists
Every tourist is required to have a current immunization record, and everyone older than two must wear a mask that fits properly when they are outside.
The best season for gorilla tracking in the DRC
The DRC, which is equatorial in shape, is renowned for its pleasant tropical weather. Since May to September is the longest dry spell of the year, it’s the finest time of year to go gorilla tracking.
Permits and prices for gorilla tracking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The cost of gorilla tracking permits is lower in the Congo than it is in Rwanda and Uganda. For non-resident tourists, the cost of a permit can be as low as $200 during the off-peak periods (between March 15 and May 15 and October 15 and December 15). The permit will cost approximately $450 in a high season. For about $25 per track, tourists can hire a porter to carry their belongings.
CONCLUSION:
Beyond tracking gorillas, these nations all provide a variety of other interesting experiences. We invite you to contact our team of travel experts at Focus East Africa Tours if you need assistance organizing your upcoming vacation to East Africa.
