Gorilla trekking safaris from Mozambique – Budget gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda – Discounted gorilla trekking permits for the rest of Africa
Gorilla trekking safaris from Mozambique – Are you based in Mozambique and you are interested in visiting mountain gorillas, in this blog post Gorilla trekking safaris from Mozambique, Great Adventure Safaris explains the best place you can visit for gorilla trekking to see gorillas in the wild in Africa? Gorilla Trekking in Africa is one of the once in a lifetime experience that attracts many travelers to do during their visit to Africa. Despite the high costs, time and discomfort from booking to doing the hike through the forest to search for these endangered apes watching gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo is one of the best wildlife experiences every traveler would do on his/her safari.
Gorilla Trekking involves hiking/walking through the forest and at some point difficult terrain, thick vegetation, crossing rivers and swamps in search for gorillas, this activity is challenging and it requires one to be fit at the time of the trek. Gorilla trekking gives you an opportunity to encounter and watch the gorillas in their natural habitat for one hour in Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. For travelers who would like to spend more time with the gorillas in their natural habitat can opt to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for Gorilla Habituation experience which gives you 4 hours encounter with the gorillas.
Best Places to See Wild Gorillas in Africa?
Gorilla Trekking in Africa is done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo which host the four national parks that are home the only remaining mountain gorillas. These include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. In Congo you as well have an opportunity to see the Lowland gorillas which are found in Kahuzi-Beiga National Park. In order to trek at any of the mentioned national parks a gorilla permit is required for you to be allowed to go for gorilla trekking. With this once you have your planned dates of gorilla trekking we recommend you start booking your gorilla trip immediately given the fact that services and permits sell out very quickly especially if you plan to do the trek in the peak season of June to September, it is always better to book at least 5 months in advance prior travelling. Gorilla trekking tours from Mozambique at the mentioned parks can be booked directly or through a trusted Tour Operator.
Cost and Getting Gorilla permits in Uganda
The Gorilla permit in Uganda Costs $800 Per person per trek for the Foreign Non Residents, $700 Per person for Foreign Residents, $500 for Rest of Africa Citizens and $90 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda has 22 habituated gorilla family groups with 21 found in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga this means 176 Gorilla permits are available every day for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also gives you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through Gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the semi habituated mountain gorillas under the guidance of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the normal trekking. Getting gorilla permits in Uganda can be done directly by booking them through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator in Uganda like Great Adventure Safaris.
Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
The Gorilla permit in Rwanda Costs $1500 Per person per trek for the Foreign Non Residents, $500 Per person for Foreign Residents and $200 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda has 12 Gorilla families hence 96 Gorilla permits are available each day for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Getting gorilla permits in Rwanda can be done directly by booking them through Rwanda Development Board or through a trusted tour operator in Rwanda like Great Adventure Safaris.
Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in DR Congo
Gorilla tracking in Congo is done in Virunga National Park for Mountain Gorillas and Kahuzi Beiga National Park for Lowland Gorillas. A gorilla permit in Virunga National Park costs $400 per person per trek for the high season months of Mid-December to mid-march then June to October and then $200 for the low season months of mid-march to mid-May and then mid-October to mid-December every year. A gorilla permit in Kahuzi Beiga National Park costs $400 for Foreign Non Residents, $200 for East Africa Residents and $20 national residents. Getting gorilla permits in Congo can be done directly by booking them through Virunga National Park or through a trusted tour operator like Great Adventure Safaris.
When booking your gorilla permit it is important to note that the gorilla permit price excludes accommodation, air tickets, ground transport, meals and other expenses, you will need to get more details of the package you are booking with your tour operator.
Uganda is one of the Best places to visit gorillas in Africa for the African gorilla trekking tours, compared to Congo Uganda is safe for travelers and compared to Rwanda Uganda is much affordable for gorilla trekking.
What is the age limit for Gorilla Trekking in Africa?
The minimum age limit for Gorilla Trekking is 15 years and the maximum age is 85 years depending on fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for elders is now made possible especially in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through provision of sedan chair carriers, these chairs are used to carry those who feel unfit and are unable to walk into the forest at the time of their trek, you will be carried by potters to and from the forest during your trek, hiring the sedan chair can be done in advance or at the day of the trek and price ranges from 400-500 dollars.
Gorilla Permit cancellation penalties and policy in Africa
To go for gorilla tracking you are required to have a gorilla permit, with this it is preferred that an one who books a gorilla permit should be able to utilize it for the trek on a given date. Gorilla permit cancellations penalties and policy in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are the same when you fail to make it to the date of the trek from 0 to 8 days, to the day of tracking and with this you don’t get the refund for the permits. For the last 6 months gorilla permits cancellation policies have changed a lot due to the outbreak of Corona Virus which has forced both countries to relax the cancellation policies, in Uganda all gorilla treks that were affected by the pandemic have been given an opportunity to change their dates of trekking twice.
What is the best time for gorilla trekking safaris?
Gorilla trekking in Africa is done throughout the year and the best time to do a gorilla trekking in Africa is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.