How to plan for a summer holiday gorilla trek to Uganda.

How should one prepare for a gorilla trip in Uganda during a summer vacation? One of the exciting activities we have experience planning for Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is gorilla trekking.

One might readily plan a summer holiday’s gorilla trekking. Additionally able to visit other national parks around the nation and enjoy game viewing on these holidays is you Most northern hemisphere nations go through summer from June to September. This is the ideal time to start organizing for a gorilla safari in Uganda since most of the schools are on break during this period.

Coincidentally, falling in the same months, June to September, summer and the dry season are regarded as the greatest times for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Are you planning to spend summer in Africa but live in any other countries? The best thing to do is get in touch with us to assist you in planning a gorilla safari summer break to Uganda.

If you have the requisite knowledge about gorilla trekking, planning a summer holiday gorilla trip in Uganda is simple; with the correct tour operator, it becomes a seamless road. Regarding gorilla safaris, you should be quite informed about several aspects.

For those who want both short and long gorilla trip safaris, we will assist you in planning a reasonably priced gorilla trip across the nation. Spending extra hours with the gorillas, you can embark for a gorilla hike or habituation adventure.

Just Bwindi Impenetrable National Park carries the gorilla habituation procedure. Research on the gorillas is conducted here in order to examine their habits and equip them to be more welcoming of human presence. Visitors participate in the research and spend four hours with the gorillas under gorilla habituation. Slightly more costly, at $1500 per person, a gorilla habituation permit needs to be reserved in advance.

a gorilla permit
A gorilla permit is a card or paperwork provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority allowing you entry to the national gorilla trekking locations. You will be requested to enter your name, the trek dates, and your passport details to authenticate your age at the point of booking the permit.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority prints 160 gorilla permits (152 for Bwindi and 8 for Mgahinga) daily out of roughly 20 gorilla-habituated families, Bwindi with 19 families, and one family in Mgahinga. Printings of Gorilla Trekking permits in Bwindi match the sectors of the park. Ruhija gets 24 permits; Nkuringo gets 24; Rushaga gets 43; Buhoma gets 40. Thus, make sure you know the sector you are booking since most likely your lodging will come from there.

Purchasing a gorilla permit can be done either locally through a travel operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Direct UWA contact could be a drawn-out process; the best choice is to buy via a certified travel operator. Starting with the intended names and journey dates, you will be obliged to enter all your details; the next stage will be to find out whether the permits are available.

We will go over and, after the permissions are confirmed, you will be obliged to pay; this should only be done using company bank credentials and not personal bank accounts.

Remember that no booking will be made till you have finished the payment information. You will have a copy of the permit emailed following payment confirmation. For further information on the gorilla permits, get in touch with us; we will be happy to assist you.

One thing you should be aware of is that gorilla permits are sold at face value; so, the cost of the permit is the same wherever you purchase them. The gorilla permit comes with a cost of follows.

Non-residents from abroad $800

Foreign citizens $700

EAC people300,000UGX.

Can I revoke a Uganda gorilla trek permit?

If you have paid for a gorilla permit entirely, you can cancel it and get a refund; although, there are cancellation rules enforced to get you a return.

0 through 8 days before the trip date. No return-of-events

25% refund 9 to 45 days before the trip date.

50% refund within 46 to 90 days before the trip date.

At least 91 days and above

A 75% refund.

Rules and guidelines for gorilla treking
Rules and guidelines developed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority must be followed both during the journey and while among the gorillas. This serves to not only safeguard the Mountain gorillas but also ensure the safety of the hikers in following ways:

Every walkers must be fifteen years of age or above. Since it is sometimes difficult to monitor minors and make them obey all the rules and regulations, nobody under the age of 15 will be let to trek. Their mental state is not suited for still observation of the primates.

A maximum of eight members of a gorilla family can be traveled daily. This is to guarantee that big numbers of visitors do not bother the gorillas.

When you feel like going to the toilet for number two, dig a hole (30 cm deep) away from your group, then cover it well to prevent getting the gorillas sick. Tour guides always have machetes with them to clear the overgrown shrubs during the journey.

There are some guidelines you have to go by being around the gorillas, and they are:

Always keep your voice down; if you wish to talk with others, use quiet tones.
To prevent sudden noise, if at all feasible turn off your phone or set it in flight mode.
Never smoke around the gorillas. This influences their quality of life.

Try as much as you can to stay away from touching the gorillas—even when they approach you.
Moreover forbidden are eating and drinking. It can only be done roughly three hundred meters from the gorillas or approved sites selected by the guide.
When a gorilla approaches you, slow down instead of running and lower yourself as a display of subserviency.

You should also refrain from waving your hands and from moving quickly.
Tourists are also advised not to view the gorillas in their eyes since this is considered as a challenge.
Make sure the camera’s flash is off when you snap pictures.

Anything brought into the national park that doesn’t belong there has to be taken out to prevent endangering mountain gorillas’ health by means of garbage.
Every trekking group has to maintain seven meters away from the gorillas.
Packing for a Uganda gorilla trek safari
For a fun-filled gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda, the packing list should call for the following.

Clothes in neutral colors would blend well with the forest. Blue, which is thought to draw tsetse flies, black for fast heat absorption, and camouflage—which is connected with the army—are the colors you avoid bringing on your gorilla safary. Two sets of clothing ought to be plenty; remember to pack some undershirts.

The finest for a summer gorilla safari in Uganda are long-sleeved shirts and trousers; these keep you warm and conceal your body from mosquito bites and scratches.
For whenever it rains—that is, anytime—even during the dry season—a warm sweater and waterproof rain jacket.

As you trail over the forest, garden gloves shield your hands from blisters, cuts, and tree splinters.
For the gorilla safari, comfortable, robust hiking footwear with ankle length are advised. You will be walking in unknown land, hence it is only fair if you pack something that will not cause blisters. Particularly in the wet season, running shoes would not be able to handle the terrain within the park.

Although Uganda boasts packaged drinking water, you must pack at least one liter of refillable water to consume during the walk. The water is dangerous; so, kindly do not fill it with tap water.
Among the things you pack for a summer gorilla safari should be a first aid bag, completely loaded. Make sure you also have prescription medication, particularly tablets for pain relief.

Including all the camera equipment, a camera itself. You will thus need your camera, additional lenses and batteries, lens cleaning, and a tripod since you cannot go on a gorilla safari and neglect to capture some images of the mountain gorhers.

To see concealed or far-off gorillas, binoculars also come in handy; however, it is advisable to pack a personal set since sharing might cause you to miss the best views. Binoculars let you to see other park animals including black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and bird species.
Not only during the wet but also the dry seasons, adjustable gaiters help to shield your legs from water, dirt, dust, and insects.

Toiletries, snacks, a sunhat, sunscreen, bug repellant, a waterproof rucksack to carry everything, and a walking stick.

What comprises the summer holiday gorilla trek safari?

With transportation from Entebbe International Airport to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, gorilla permits, meals, and lodging make all of our summer holiday gorilla safaris all-inclusive safaris. We would want to buy the permit for you and arrange all the elements of a gorilla trek safari. The gorilla permit cost is paid separately and beforehand; it does not include the cost of additional services.

A gorilla trek safari’s expenses
A gorilla safari in Uganda is expensive, particularly for a summer break as this is a busy season and the service providers raise the cost of everything because of the great volume of visitors during this time. A summer holiday gorilla safari to Uganda’s cost depends on transportation, group size, lodging, and the trip season among other elements.

Large group of visitors pay less since various services like transportation and lodging are shared among them. There are three types of accommodation: budget, mid-range, and luxury; the safari’s cost will be much influenced by the one you decide upon. Mostly used for gorilla safaris, 4×4 safari vehicles can be shared to help to save expenses.

lodging while Uganda’s gorilla trekking
If you are gorilla treking in Bwindi or Kisoro town in Mgahinga National Park, accommodation is crucial and must be close or inside the sectors you have been allotted. The lodging runs from low-cost, mid-range, and luxury options; below is a selection of facilities from which to decide.

Bwindi lodges: Bwindi View Bandas, Buhoma community Bandas, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Cuckooland Camp, Trekkers Traven Cottages, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Silverback Lodge, crested Crane Hotel, Lake Mutanda Resort, Engagi Lodge among others.

Mgahinga: Virunga Hotel; Travelers Rest lodge; Mgahinga community camp; Mgahinga Rest camp; Kisoro Tourist Hotel; Landmark Tours and Travel; Bugondo Guest House and Nkuringo safari lodge.