A Big Apes Africa Safaris, we organize more than just Uganda Gorilla Tours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks and Mgahinga National Park. Uganda has over 450 mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National park and we are ready to help you plan a gorilla tour in the most convenient and comfortable manner.
We book gorilla permits for you and International tour operators. Gorilla Permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost USD 700 per permit. If you require an all-inclusive tour Uganda gorilla tour, your gorilla permit will be booked for free as we will be in charge of organizing your transport, accommodation, guides as well as your gorilla permit. If you want to book gorilla permits only, a small charge a small to cover administrative costs will apply.
The best time to go Mountain gorilla trekking…
There are tens of thousands of opinions in regard to the best time to go gorilla trekking. People through online travel sites like lonely planet, trip Advisor, Tourist link have shared their minds on what they think is the best time. However one undeniable truth about gorillas remains mountain gorillas can tracked throughout the year and it is the same gorillas. You will be surprised to learn that during rainy seasons, mountain gorillas love to forage from lower altitudes making it easy and enjoyable to reach them. Another truth is the reason why every time you are entering the forest, you are strongly advised to carry a raingear. The reason is simple, Bwindi is a tropical rainforest and whether you visit in the rainy or dry season, it can rain anytime.
That aside, global warming has changed everything making weather patterns unpredictable. It is impossible to guarantee that if you come to Uganda for gorilla trekking in certain months, you will not experience rain.
However there are months which are drier or even wetter than others. Uganda has a modified equatorial type of climate with 2 rainy season and 2 dry seasons because it crossed by the Equator.
Therefore the best time to trek gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda is during their drier months of June, July, August and early September. During these months, these months experience less rainfall compared to months of April, May and November. A majority of travelers love to consider these dry months making it competitive to get a gorilla permit. Gorilla permits always sell out quickly except for the COVID 19 season. Now that tourism is open again, tourists interested in trekking gorillas during the peak season/drier months should book their gorilla permits in advance.
Mountain gorillas remain the most sought after and cherished beautiful creatures.
These highly endangered creatures are located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Virunga ranges which are shared amongst three countries such as Uganda (Mgahinga National Park), Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park) and Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park. We agree that a gorilla trip is no cheap with gorilla permit prices standing at USD1500 in Rwanda and USD700 in Uganda per person per day. Therefore guests who choose to do this should make the most of it.
Big Apes Africa Safaris organizes gorilla trips all year round and we have a recorded 100% success with all our gorilla tours. All our guests have seen mountain gorillas but one thing is for sure that the experiences are never the same. We are excited about how your experience is going to be like.
Please do not hesitate to contact us and we make your African Safari dream come true.
Packing for a gorilla tracking Experience
The success of any given gorilla does not entirely depend on the time and season. Preparation is very key regardless of whether you are visiting in the dry or rainy season. You should have the right gear and be reasonably physically fit to enjoy your gorilla tracking experience. For example, if you have an addiction to smoking, we would recommend that you reduce probably 2 or more months before your trip. Here our major focus is on.
What to pack for a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda.
The packing list for Gorilla trekking is not different for Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Mhaginga National park as well as Volcanoes National Park. What we have advised below is for the gorilla trekking but if your gorilla tour is combined with other safari activities like nature walks, game drives, mountaineering, fishing excursions, there is always more to consider.
The gorilla trekking packing list may be as long as you want it to be but the most important things would include, a rain jacket, Hiking boots garden gloves, long sleeved shirts, hat, a back pack, drinking water, mosquito repellant, sunscreen energy bites like chocolate, candy bars, cereals and more among others. Don’t hesitate to contact Big Apes Africa for more information concerning your packing list for even other activities.
Hiking Boots for gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Volcanoes National park in search for the endangered Mountain gorillas is done in the gorilla highlands. Because of the nature of the forest, altitude and terrain, hiking boots should be among the first items to consider on your gorilla trekking packing list. We highly recommend light hiking boots for this activity as you decide on what to pack for your gorilla tracking adventure in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park.
Garden Gloves on a gorilla trek:
Walks in the forest in search of the mountain gorillas will more often take you through undefined paths. In fact, your guide does a great job clearing and forging through the thick vegetation. Therefore your gloves will come in handy to protect your hands that will be active in lifting branches or pushing aside plants that may stand in your way. Some of these plants may be itchy and you will appreciate covering your hands, it’s a Jungle! At times the steep slopes tend to get slippery and you will have no choice but hold on to something, gloves will ensure the safety and comfort of your hands. Since you carry a packed lunch and may have to eat something from time to time, keeping your hands protected from germs using glove is a good thing. Please note that this should not substitute the role of the hand sanitizer in the protection against germs while you are in the forest.
Water Proof Jacket
It’s a common thing for most travelers to carry most their valuable items with them everywhere they go for example money or passports and other expensive gadget. You do not want these items getting wet just because you missed this small instruction. Whether you are coming in rainy or dry season, you are always required to carry a waterproof jacket in the forest because it can rain anytime. The reason for increased chances of rain is simply because Bwindi impenetrable forest is a tropical rainforest.
Long sleeved Shirt/Blouse and Trousers:
Walking through a jungle should not be confused with walking in a savannah park or even a highway. The nature of the gorilla highlands is that they covered with thick vegetation and trekking here may come with thorny plants scratching your body, legs or arms. Long sleeved shirt and trousers will go a long way ensuring not just your safety but comfort as well. We advise you to go ahead and tack your trousers in your socks to avoid stinging nettles or even safari ants entering your trousers. By now am sure you are convinced enough that skirts will look good on you elsewhere.
Energy Giving Snacks:
Gorilla trekking can take anything from 30 min to eight hours a reason you are required to be reasonably physically fit before considering this trip. Energy bites like chocolate will come in handy to replenish the diminishing energies from time to time. Where the gorilla trekking experience stretches past lunchtime, you may be required to find a place to eat in the absence of the gorillas. The minimum quantity of required drinking water is one and a half litres. You can always find energy bites in the nearby shops or supermarkets with the help of your guide.
Porters for Gorilla Trekking
Whereas porters are not part of your gorilla trekking pack list, they are very essential in ensuring the success of your experience. I would like them to medical insurance, it does not guarantee life but play a great role in one’s life. You can never predict how long your walk is going to take. 4 hours is typical of course inclusive of the one hour spent with gorillas but 8 or even 9 hours is possible. These long hours through a thick vegetation, steep and sometimes slippery areas may require you to get a push or pull once in a while. For those who feel amazingly healthy and feel no need for a porter whatsoever, we at Big Apes Africa highly recommend that you take one to support the community. Some of these are school children looking for school fees or even single parents trying to support their families. It’s important to note that they work in shifts and still not all of them are considered every time. We have had guests who have taken porters just to support the community and upon their return, they confess how their porters were helpful.
