Africa safari with Gorilla trekking – Africa primate safaris – Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda – Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda.
Africa safari with Gorilla trekking – focus on Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks) or Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), as these are the primary destinations for Mountain Gorilla trekking, requiring permits and offering a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
Mountain Gorilla trekking in Africa is a unique encounter and usually regarded as one of the best wildlife experiences in the world. It is a breath-taking adventure that leads visitors to the rare Mountain Gorillas by trekking through the montane rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. A Gorilla tour in any of these destinations gets you interacting with one of the habituated Gorilla families during the magical hour in the wild.
Destinations:
- Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the most famous Gorilla trekking destination in Uganda.
- Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park is the only Gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda.
- Gorilla Permits:
- Gorilla trekking requires a permit, which should be secured in advance.
- Uganda: A standard gorilla permit costs 800USD per person per trek.
- Rwanda: A gorilla permit costs 1500USD per person per trek.
Trekking Experience:
- Trekking starts early with a general briefing, followed by a hike into the forest with park rangers
- You will spend a maximum of one hour with the habituated Gorilla family.
- The trek can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a full day, depending on the Gorillas’ location.
Other Activities:
- Rwanda: You can also visit Golden monkeys, hike Mount Karisimbi or Mount Bisoke, explore Musanze Caves, and visit local communities.
- Uganda: You can combine Gorilla trekking with other wildlife safaris in Uganda, including trips to Murchison Falls National Park or Lake Victoria.
Cost:
Gorilla trekking safaris can be expensive, with prices varying depending on the duration, accommodation, and other activities.
Best Time to Visit:
The dry season (June to September and December to February) is generally considered the best time for Mountain Gorilla trekking.
A Gorilla safari in either Uganda or Rwanda is a great opportunity to interface with the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Genetically Gorillas share 98% of their Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) with humans. The magical hour spent in the presence of these great apes has been described by past travellers as one of the best wildlife experiences. Mountain Gorillas do not survive in captivity. Therefore, they cannot be found in any zoo anywhere in the world. Due to this reason, Mountain Gorilla trekking is now the most popular tourist experience in Uganda, and Rwanda attracting thousands of visitors to this part of the world.