One of the most observed festivals worldwide, Christmas falls during winter break, and what better way to honor the holiday and vacation than with the threatened Mountain gorillas in Uganda? Uganda boasts half the global gorilla population, hence we can assist you to plan the ideal trip.

Long as you have the correct and required information, planning a winter break gorilla safari to Uganda requires few procedures. Research on the nation of destination, learn about mountain gorillas, and know what to expect while you are among them. You should be aware of some things; the guidelines for a great safari consist in:

Usually the first step is choosing the correct tour operator as you may not enjoy the safari and would be duped with the incorrect local operator. Research the operator you have selected by reading TripAdvisor reviews; alternatively, you might find out whether they are completely registered by AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators). Payments will be paid to the company account once you zero down on who you are to use. Tour companies assist to schedule and plan gorilla safaris and other safaris across the nation.

Choose whether to take your safari in Uganda, which boasts two gorilla trek sites, Bwindi and Mgahinga. With one gorilla family, Nyakagezi, and Bwindi totaling roughly 19 habituated gorilla families, they are situated in Mgahinga, southwest Uganda. Bwindi is the ideal place if you want a varied encounter with different gorillas and are fine with crowds. Mgahinga, on the other hand, draws few people.

Anticipate when you should visit. Expect to see big numbers of hikers as the winter break season is the dry season in Uganda and also marks the Christmas celebrations. The permits get sold quickly, hence you are encouraged to reserve the safari and permits in order to obtain your preferred dates. Once you have chosen the dates, get in touch with a tour operator such as Monumental Expeditions and Safaris and let us arrange your safari.

On my winter vacation in Uganda, where can I go gorilla treking?

Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the two gorilla trekking sites in Uganda. Both national parks provide distinctive gorilla trekking safaris and lie in southwest Uganda. Though Bwindi and Mgahinga have the identical permit costs, your decision will rely on your travel schedule.

With half the world’s gorilla population, Bwindi Impenetrable national park in southwest Uganda is the principal site for gorilla treking in Uganda. Four sections—Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga—allow one to hike habitatuated gorilla groups in Bwindi. Every part has distinctive features and separate gorilla families.

Mgahinga National Park, between the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a well-liked safari site for gorilla trekking because of the presence of the Nyakagezi gorilla family available for access. Golden monkey trekking is also carried out just at this location in Uganda.

More easily reachable than those in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the gorilla hikes in Mgahinga. For those who want less people, they are the ideal gorilla trekking location since they are more remote. Of the remaining gorilla population worldwide, Mgahinga National Park boasts roughly 10%.

What should one expect on the journey?

What one should expect on a gorilla safari in Uganda is a regularly asked question. The response is that while who is trekking determines the experience, all you need to know is that everyone should have an amazing and interesting trip.

Early morning after breakfast, once you arrive to the park headquarters, a lead guide will walk over the guidelines for treking. Following the briefing, you will be divided into groups of eight and given gorilla families—in Bwindi based on the sector designated during the booking procedure). If you are not physically fit and withdraw out of the trip in case you are unwell, this is the best moment to ask for a shorter or simpler walk.

Depending on where the family is located, the trip begins and lasts two to six hours following group assignments with a guide and porters for those who require them. Though this has never happened in Uganda, there are worries about not being able to see the gorillas; so, there is no need for anxiety.

Once you find the designated gorilla family, you spend one hour with them learning about their interactions with people and shooting pictures and movies. You return to the headquarters after one hour, where you will get a certificate of participation. But the one hour can be cut short should the gorillas become agitated.

Getting a gorilla permit in Uganda

One can get gorilla permits in Uganda either through a travel operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Uganda no longer provides low season permit reductions; the best approach to get one is to reserve one at least six months before your winter vacation for appropriate preparation. Compared to Rwanda, the gorilla permit price is quite lower; UWA bases the cost on the kind of visitors.

East African nationals have a gorilla permit of 300,000 ugx; foreign residents pay $700; foreign non-residents pay $800. On the other hand, the gorilla habituation costs $1500 per person and offers four hours with the gorilla groups allocated for the Rushaga sector. Where you purchased the permits determines nothing but their cost.

Purchasing a permit entails getting in touch with the tour operator; after that, you will be asked for your information as it shows on your passport, names, and dates of birth and to select the preferred dates for treking over your winter vacation. The travel agency then verifies whether the dates you would want are accessible.

You will be emailed concerning the dates and payment method after confirmation is confirmed. You should be aware that failing to pay a complete payment will result in no purchase being made and thereby avoid being scammed.

Pay the company bank account instead of a personal one. The purchase of the permits will be done once payment has been verified; a copy will be forwarded to you for evidence. Should the tour operator schedule the whole safari, payments have to be made at least three weeks before the trip.

Unless, in rare events when you go trekking and do not find any gorillas, gorilla licenses are non-refundable.

Guidelines for gorilla trekking in Uganda

You will be given a list of guidelines and rules before embarking on your safari that have to be observed all during the trekking. To help to preserve the gorillas in Uganda, it is rather vital to get to know and pay close attention to the guidelines proposed and respect them.

Once they find the gorillas and establish communication, every party of hikers spends one hour with them. If you would prefer to spend more time with the gorillas, you could choose gorilla habituation. Still, you should be aware that the standard gorilla trekking after purchase cannot be traded with the gorilla habituation permit.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority set a minimum age limit for gorilla trekking—15 years—to help to preserve the primates.
Groups of eight make up Trekkers, and this is the most persons permitted to walk a gorilla family in a day. Gorillas are easily overrun, thus there is only eight person count.

Once you get in touch with the gorillas, stay away from noisy movements. Like their silence and loudness, gorillas could come out as attacked.
Flash photography is not approved under any circumstances while with the gorillas.
If you are sick, particularly with viral diseases like flu and cough, you will not be permitted to join other trekkers.

Turn away from the gorillas and cover your mouth and nose before sneezing and coughing if you are in touch with them and feel as though you should cough or sneeze.
Every trekker is expected to always keep a seven-meter space between themselves and the gorillas.

What should one wear for the Uganda gorilla climb winter break safari?

Especially if you are not dressed as required, walking across a thick forest is not a good fit. Winter corresponds with Uganda’s short dry season, hence you have to be ready with your attire to have a wonderful gorilla trek safari. You will be hiking for endless time before finding the gorillas, hence you should wear comfy clothes. This is a list of suitable trekwear.

Excellent quality; sturdy hiking boots. For muddy trek paths, these should be durable, waterproof, and ankle-length.
The extra layer long-sleeved shirts provide keeps you warm and shields your skin from insect bites and scratches.

Additionally required are gaiters to guard your upper legs from wetness, dirt, and dust.
Light-weight trekking pants. Steer clear of shorts since you will be walking in the jungle among numerous bug types and vegetation. Steer clear of Jeans too, for trekking.
Trekking calls for long socks pulled over the pants.

Undershirts and any other extras.
Gardening gloves help shield your hands from thorns, tree scrapes and blisters avoidance while traversing challenging terrain.
windbreaker or waterproof rain jacket
a cosy jacket.

For a winter break, what should one pack? gorilla trek safari
One of the things you should not overlook packing for any safari to Uganda since you neither want to be overpacked or underpacked. For the safari, you must have exactly the correct gear; some items you should take for the gorilla trip in Uganda include:

Bug repellent sunscreen
cameras with extra batteries, lenses, a tripod, lens cleaning, waterproof camera case.
Binocular lenses
Salads for rehydration
Refillable bottle for water
If you need a walking staff, it is supplied at the beginning of the journey.
treats

A torch along with extra batteries
Waterproof backcountry bag
First Aid Kit.
Choices for lodging during a Ugandan gorilla trip

When organizing a gorilla trek safari in Uganda, you should take into account the several lodging choices available there that fit the several guests visiting the nation. Three types of housing are distinguished: basic/budget, mid-range, and luxury; some are situated inside the national park while others are found in the surrounding cities. Among the lodging options you have are Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge, Haven Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Engagi Lodge, Nkuringo Lodge, and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.

Arriving at the sites of the gorilla walks in Uganda

Either road or air will let you reach Bwindi or Mgahinga. The most often utilized kind of travel is driving to the national parks since it is affordable and provides visitors with amazing surroundings. About 9 to 10 hours separate the trip to the national parks from stopovers at the Equator monument and lunch in Mbarara.

Traveling takes up the first day; you reach at the parks late evening for an overnight hotel stay and dinner. Although it costs more, flying is the fastest method to get there—one hour and forty-five minutes. Charter flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi can be readily scheduled but in advance using domestic planes to either Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip.