Best Practical Gorilla Trekking Information -Tips – Advice for Uganda

Useful Gorilla Trekking Information -Tips – Advice for Gorilla Trekkers coming to Uganda. For the Best Gorilla. 

Uganda is the Principal Mountain Gorilla Trekking terminus because, in this country(Uganda), Gorilla Trekking is Safe and non-violent, Affordable/inexpensive, has a huge total of Gorillas, supplementary Permits.    

Mountain Gorilla Facts- Background – Information

Mountain Gorilla Background Information-Facts-History-Conduct of Mountain Gorillas, Habitat/Home and Food/Diet and Marauders/Predators – chief predator being a man.

The threatened gentle giants (Mountain Gorillas) of Uganda will not be discovered or noticed in any zoo in the world and this is because they do not endure/subsist in detention, and there are no enduring gentle giants residing sin zoos, you can only trace them in countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These gentle giants (Mountain Gorillas), thanks to the Preservation Efforts that are reinforced by Gorilla Tourism and Permit Revenue have intensely improved/enlarged in numbers.

The Parks where you can track Mountain Gorillas in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

This earliest, Afro montane Rain-forest shelters a maximum of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, CNN Travel’s Choice for the furthermost gorgeous dwelling in the world.

In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, there exists 4 sections where the activity of Gorilla trekking takes place. There is Buhoma Section in the North of the park which was the novel/original gorilla trekking site, still in this section(Buhoma) its recorded with the maximum total of lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Ruhija section is another where Gorilla trekking occurs at raised heights

Nkuringo section situated in the south, characterized with harsher trekking because you decline 600 m & scale /climb a 600 m crest towards the end of the Gorilla Trekking activity and in this section 3 gorilla groups are trekked. This section(Nkuringo) is branded for its jagged/rocky beauty, and it is shelter to the unique Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.

The section of Rushaga which is recognized the finest destination for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest having the maximum totals of gorilla families to trek. This section is not well established but has gotten a series of mid-range lodges & luxury lodges as well, but you can also consider accommodation in either of the other sections like Nkuringo and do engage in Gorilla trekking activity in Rushaga section. Not forgetting that you can easily enter South Bwindi Forest via/ from Kigali, Rwanda.

Mgahinga Gorilla Park

This is a Gorilla park(Mgahinga) that is not congested, it shelters only one gorilla family called the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family that you can be able to trek in this park. When it comes to accommodation, it is equipped with one lodge that falls under either mid-range or luxury rates. This lodge is called Mount Gahinga Lodge.

Trekking in this park is done in the shadows of the Volcanoes, much alike to the trekking done in Rwanda with only one big dis-similar. You keep hundreds in some cases, thousands of dollar trekking on the Ugandan side without a concession in the value of occurrence/encounter.

This park (Mgahinga Gorilla) offers you the extra selections of Golden Monkey Tracking and 1/3 Day Volcano Climbing. As it regards the cultural encounters-the Batwa Cultural trail is a must-do activity while you are tracking Gorillas in this park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a trivial park with several activities.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Park

Both these parks (Bwindi Impenetrable National park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) are situated in the south-western parts of Uganda. Most safari operators still get you fly into Entebbe International Airport, and then they continue you on a 9-10 hr transfer to the Gorilla Park. For the applied reasons, less transfer-time, we propose that you have a flight into the other international airport that is the entrance to southwest Uganda and which is the Kigali International Airport. It will take you approximately 4 hrs transfer from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and then to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is just about 3 hrs.

You can also have a flight to Kigali- Rwanda and fly out of Entebbe as well with the majority of our visitors. This enables you to continue into other parks like Queen Elizabeth Park, Kibale Forest, Lake Mburo Park, and Murchison Falls Park and for those who fly into Rwanda, the finest choice is the East African Visa. Don’t forget that  Yellow Fever Certificate is always obligatory when entering Uganda. Another option is that of flying from Entebbe to southwest of Uganda (either 75 mins flight to Kihihi or 90 mins flight to Kisoro), its time saving but costlier though.

Gorilla Trekking Lodges

We acclaim a mid-range or deluxe lodge for a gorilla trekking tour rather than a budget lodge. Let your emphasis be on the unforgettable Gorilla Encounter venture and not on the issue of the lodge that is not up to your prospects.

You will definitely need a safari company/operator like Monumental Expeditions Safaris to sign you up into the lodge that is nearer to where you will trek gorillas from. There are 4 trace heads in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Both in and near Bwindi Impenetrable forest there are Mid-Range Lodges proliferating around each gorilla trace head.  Deluxe lodges are close set in the Buhoma section where gorilla trekking was firstly acknowledged first in the 1990 s.

Deluxe lodges and private Lodges are available in a more limited manner in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sections in the southern parts of Bwindi Forest. Mgahinga Gorilla Park has gotten a very delightful  luxury lodge that is just at the park entrance. On site security placed on all lodges. All lodges have on-site security. There have been no breaches of security reported at lodges in both Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National park.

Gorilla trekking –What is it like-the Experience

Several trekkers/tourists come to Uganda when they are oblivious/ignorant about the Gorilla Trekking mystery. And believe me or not, this activity (Gorilla trekking) is no like other Tour Encounter/Venture in Africa. For the various and ranking totals, it is an Encounter of once in a life time, unforgettable, that ordinary/plain words cannot define. It is a personal venture with the mountain gorillas (Gentle Giants) of the Forest, close cousins to Human Beings basing on the fact that they are 98% and more alike/comparable to us in heritable make-up.

Apart from countries like Uganda, Rwanda & DR Congo, Gorilla trekking is not and cannot be imitated/simulated anywhere else in the world. The Mountain Gorillas do not endure in detention, only in desolate/the wild. One reason that this wanted after an experience is on the container lists of thousands all over the world.

Gorilla Trekking as an activity does elapse from 3-6 hrs in interval, now for 1 hr you are in the manifestation/presence of a Gorilla Family and to some that is little time for them, so they decide to trek the gorillas twice or even go for the more protracted Gorilla Habituation Experience instead.

Gorilla trekking –is it worth it?

‘Too much money, too much irritations/bother, too many germs/bugs, too much energy’, that’s a feeling that one South African had and wrote about Gorilla tracking and therefore concluded that it is not worth it. How wrong he was and is.

Thousands and thousands of trekkers/tourists who engage in this activity (Gorilla Trekking) every year will articulate otherwise, and one never over hears a bit of remorse/regret, but only wishes that they could plan, prepare for another venture to track the gorillas once again.

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda rates/costs $600 for each permit. On top of the permits, include the accommodation (lodging), transport, tour guides, tips inclusive and yes, it is a wad/roll of money, however nobody has ever protested. Gorilla Trekking – the most expensive Tourism Activity in Africa

Is Uganda the Best Gorilla Trekking Country-You Compare

The above is a frequent question always asked by customers, one also spots such questions on media, TripAdvisor, and blogs.

That wonderful and unforgettable time spent with these gentle giants (Gorillas) is quite a venture and countries like Uganda and Rwanda do provide comparable/experiences.

Just in case you are filled with a lot of uncertainty as regards which best destination/country to tour take a look-  Our proposal – Track the Mountain Gorillas in both Rwanda and Uganda.  Even better track the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda and engage in a 4 hrs with these gentle giants(Gorillas) on a credible Gorilla Habituation Experience.

 

Choose the Kind of Gorilla Trek that you would like

Gorilla Trekking Choices – The period at which to make selections, and Uganda displays a variety of choices for you. Select the park for your Gorilla Trekking. Some decide to do engage in gorilla trekking in both parks.

Select whether you need the unvarying trek where there are 8 contributors/members, and you are better for 1hr with a gorilla family. In Uganda, you decide the unique (4 contestant perimeter) Gorilla Habituation Experience.  This incredible encounter occurs in the Rushaga section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and there is a token total of permits obtainable.

Uganda does provide/presents secluded Gorilla Trekking. This is just you and your part with the gentle giants (Mountain Gorillas) either on a Gorilla Trek or the incredible Gorilla Habituation Experience. Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers and Porters will escort you and be with you all the way.

What are my chances of seeing the mountain Gorillas?

This is a daily question we receive/ At the blow of start (right about 6:30 am), Pre-Trekkers proceed to the forest, to the last GPS position of a Gorilla Family. From there they trail the footprints/traces left by the Gorillas.

These mountain Gorillas do transfer/traffic less than 3 km daily.  When they discover a group, the GPS position and other orientations are linked and transferred to the sections of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo plus UWA Trail head.

The Rangers and trackers that escort you into the thick forest on your Gorilla trekking venture are not the ones to discover your group, that has been already done by the pre-tracking team.  This is something most Gorilla Trekkers do not recognize.

Do trekkers/tourists ever error spotting their allocated Gorilla Families?

It happened once to 1 client of ours eight years ago, but the next day the client did.

What most do not know about Gorilla Trekking

Here are 5-Things You Never Knew About Gorilla Trekking – What you do not identify about Gorilla Trekking-The Authenticity vs Discernments/Observations and those observations can rate you lots and lots of Dollars, Money that you are outlaying because you are not aware and cannot identify. There are Gorilla Trekking Actualities you should identify since what you read on the internet, what you read in Travel Magazine, on TripAdvisor Posts, in media such as Fodors or Lonely Planet’s Thorn tree Forum are views/ideas often reliant, intolerant, and they leave out the actuality on the ground.  The authors of such post are simply emitting Buffaloes (Uglish -Ugandan English Phrase) as we say in Uganda, they do not identify what they are chatting about

Activities that you can do before or after your Gorilla Trek:

Most times trekkers/tourists pay more attention on the Gorilla venture and do concentrate less on the other various activities that they can engage themselves in –Bwindi Impenetrable Forest / Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Both these parks provide several other activities that we would include into the “Do not Miss” Column. We commend that you do not error a cultural encounter with the Batwa People. They are the native people of the area that stayed for thousands of years, long before any Bantu People surfaced/attained. They stayed peacefully with nature and the gentle giants(Gorillas). Today they are preservation Refugees.

You can take hikes or ride a bike in, close /via Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Ascent/Climb a Volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the finest parks in Africa for bird lovers. You can do a Village Walk.

Is Gorilla Tracking Safe in Uganda?

Gorilla Tracking is one of the harmless/safest Tour activity in all of Africa.

The harmless destination to be is on a tour in Uganda. Involved and engaged in a gorilla trek, rangers direct you alongside with an armed military companion.  Pre-trekkers are out in reach of your Gorilla Group, and the way is set out before you hit the trail.

Gorilla Trekking is a noteworthy basis of income for Uganda and both governments have gone both up and down, left & right to make it a non-violet/harmless/safe venture for trekkers/tourists since all it takes is one occurrence to rescind Gorilla Tourism for a country and that is the last thing Uganda requires to happen.

Safety and Security in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Safety and Security in Mgahinga Gorilla Park

Gorilla Trekking Safaris – Not Guerrilla Trekking Safaris

Meet the Rangers from Uganda Wildlife Authority that are your guides on your trek

Our Travel Advisories for Uganda for our Clients-updated almost daily

Why the Australian Government is wrong about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

When is the best Time of Year to Track Gorillas in Uganda?

Gorilla Tracking takes place in Uganda year in and year out, there are 2 rainy seasons where the trails become quite murky. And still one must also bear in mind that it doesn’t necessarily rain all day long during the rainy season. Most frequently it will rain during the night and the early morning hours but still the sun will always come out on most days.

Months of January through March, May-June through September & December are normally considered the best of the year for Gorilla Trekking Tours.

Still in Uganda ‘s rain -forests it can still rain even during the peak/dry season. When it rains in Uganda and Rwanda it is mainly during the night or early mornings, and once the sun comes out, it then it clears.

Deluxe lodges in Bwindi Forest provide recurrent deductions/ discounts.  Lodges set their dates, and they most often fluctuate from another.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is not carried out in hot and clammy/tropical jungle. Uganda has one of the finest climates in Africa.  Though positioned on the Equator, the raise level/height, the weather configurations from Lake Victoria, Lake Edward, Lake Albert, Lake Kivu all displeasure that. Add to that the Rwenzori Mountain scope & the Virunga Volcanoes and you have daytime temperatures for your gorilla trek activity that does not surpass 25℃. Night time temperatures drip down to 10℃.

Rainy Season means trekking without the Crowds.

Getting the most value for your Gorilla Trekking Dollars.

Gorilla Trekking is identified as the costliest tourist activity in Africa & most likely yonder ever engaged in and there is no way how you can get involved on budget/cheap.

There are some money-saving selections that you can make. Possibilities that can save you totals of dollars.  This is where we can be of aid and back you in creating a tour that is within your scope, ways of extending your hard-earned money, getting as the Americans state it ‘More Bang for your Buck’.

When it comes to Gorilla Tours, there are no fire auctions, no more periodic/recurrent deductions, no Black Friday auction Days, but wise selection, and a Safari Company that understands your desires and hopes you can keep your cost within purpose.  Many latent Trekkers come down with a case of  Gorilla Safari Price sticker shock. There is no economical gorilla Trekking Tour in spite of some safari companies using that term. We like to say, remember the Yugo, the cheapest car made in its time.

How do I get Gorilla Permits?

Your Tour Operators are the finest to book with/through Gorilla Permits for Uganda and Rwanda such as ourselves. That is the coolest and stress-free way.

In Uganda Permits are booked through a member of AUTO – The Association of Uganda Tour Operators that work hand in hand with the Uganda Wildlife Authority in the upgrade and auctions of permits.

Still in Rwanda, Gorilla Permits are booked similarly by Tour Operators/companies who fully comprehend the procedures & conducts to attain permits for your Gorilla Trek in Rwanda.

Discounted/reduced Gorilla Permits in Uganda were superseded at the end of November 2017 due to marketing reasons.

Gorilla Permits will increase from $600 to $700 effective July 1, 2020.

The Secret to getting Gorilla Permits

The Trekking Orientation –Gorilla Tracking Rules and Guidelines

The Gorilla Tracking tour has some instructions, procedures, protocol that go laterally with it, and it is fine to recognize them before the gorilla tour in Uganda or Rwanda.

Gorilla Tracking rules are more comparable and the Rangers strictly apply them in both countries.

The array relies on how much time you will spend/stay with these gentle giant (mountain gorillas), rules about your health and well-being so that you do not contaminate a gorilla with flu or a cold, for instance.

The distance you need to keep while with the gorillas, the use of a camera without flash, etc. Just plain things that are good to identify. In both countries taking our Eventual Gorilla Challenge.

Always follow the instructions of the Rangers leading your Trekking Party.

Can I choose the Gorilla Family I want to trek?

Gorilla Trekking Selections: When it comes to choosing the Gorilla Family that you prefer to trek, there are some confines and constraints by which the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers define which group you will trek. The only exclusion is the Nyakagezi Gorilla family found in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.

Your input defines the gorilla group that you will then trek, your ability to be physically fit, your age, and the ranger’s verdict. Our guide backs you up in the process, and most frequently, you trek the gorilla group that you prefer. Permits are allotted for a section and not for a gorilla group. The will power is made on the day of the trek and not earlier.

What to wear When Tracking Gorillas

Now here is where problems are, most trekkers wear inappropriately while embarking on this activity which can cause them personal discomfort, gloom and that can spoil/indulge your day. Therefore, here is a simple recommendation of what to wear for the experience in Uganda/Rwanda. Wearing the right clothing is about safeguard/defence. There is a miniature of mosquitoes found on a trek, but there is a massive of flies and ants.  You need to safeguard yourself from nettles, thorns, branches that can scrape you.

This is the day where you are to cloth/garb the appropriate gears/clothes for the occasion, Gorilla Trekking in the African Wild of Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Just take a look at the dressing code of the Rangers.

Boots for your Gorilla Trekking Safari

Best Insect Repellent

Essentials for a Gorilla Trek-a porter-a walking stick.

The 2 grievances that one catches regarding Gorilla Trekking are-  I wish I had hired a porter to loosen me up for the trek and I wish I had used a Walking Stick to secure/balance myself along the precipitous trails during gorilla trekking.

You straight focus on your Gorilla trek and it’s much tenser when you rent/hire a porter, it also sanctions/permits a Ugandan with an income that surpasses most civic/ public servants in government.

A Walking Stick being part of your Gorilla Trekking Gears, it is one of the nearest things you can have while on your incredible trek. It will stable/balance your hike in and out to your gorilla family and provide you with the backing that you deserve. More so you can purchase a curved walking stick that you can carry home in memorial of your venture(souvenir)

Porters make a difference in the Quality of your Trek.

Am I fit enough for Gorilla Trekking

An old woman of 94 years old in 2013 witnessed and enjoyed an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime, engaged in the Gorilla trekking experience while being carried on a stretcher and then ended up satisfying her long life dream to spot mountain Gorillas. She was transferred by 12 men in impart teams and did it. Most trekkers are a bit younger, though we have customers that were 80 years old and did just well.

One should be in sensible shape and state of fitness to engage in the tracking of mountain gorillas.  The gorilla group demanding the most stamina and energy is the Nkuringo Gorilla group because you have to ascent and descent 600 m both at the start & the end of the trek. In this case Porters are highly needed because they can help you carry your day-pack, and walking sticks can be gotten too from the headquarters/ some lodges have them obtainable for their visitors. Uganda together with Rwanda have rough and hard groups to trek and easier ones still, so we will task with you relaying on your fitness level and stamina.

Taking great pictures while Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla Photography is a bit diverse, at times it can be the illumination because normally you will have you’re 1hr experience in the forest where the circumstances are a bit diverse.

Here is a piece of advice for you to get the finest results while having photos of the Mountain Gorillas on your tracking venture in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Taking of photos of these gentle giants made a bit easier for you…relish your Trekking while taking some fine photos of the gentle giants (mountain gorillas) in both Rwanda and Uganda.

Gorilla Photography Tour

Gorilla Trekking Photography Tips

Tipping on a gorilla Trekking Safari

Uganda is characterized with an element of not tipping. It is not a custom for Ugandans. It has found its way into the vocational industry sector in Uganda with some spotting it as a prerogative and not something that is given because of brilliant/ exemplary amenity. Some Tour companies have a long list that takes in Ranger Guides, Porters, Lodge Staff and drivers. Some of the tip proposals asked for are over the top in our estimation.

Tipping is not obligatory, it’s simply straight from the heart. Our Drivers will help you in all spheres, involving in the suitable tipping applies. Remember this always that you are a diplomat/ an envoy of your country and you are recalled/evoked by what you do and how you tip.

Tips, in our opinion, are a form of empowerment. When you tip you empower a Ugandan to do something and often it is excellent and long-lasting.

Activities that you can do before or after your Gorilla Trek:

Like we said earlier that most trekkers have gotten most of their concentration on Gorilla trekking, and less attention is paid to the other various activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks provide some other activities that we would put into the “Do not Miss/Error” Column. We advise you not to error/miss a cultural experience with the Batwa People. They are the native people of the place that stayed for thousands of years, long before any Bantu People surfaced. They stayed in peace with both nature and the referred to cousins of man(Gorillas). Today they are Preservation Refugees.

You can embark on hikes or ride a bike in, close or via Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Climb a Volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the finest parks in Africa for bird lovers. You can do a Village Walk as well.

Monumental Expeditions Safaris – Your one-stop Gorilla Tour Operator:

Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Trekking Tours are what we do best.  We identify all about the Gentle Giants of the Forest.

Our custom/tradition is to use strained and confirmed/verified quality mid-range and deluxe Lodges, solid enough to the extent that we are a member of the Association of Ugandan Tour Operators we companion with Uganda Wildlife Authority as a sanctioned Sales Agents.  All of our Primate come with permits, and AUTO Members have the first admission to the permits.