Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda-Rwanda – Gorilla watching tours
Book one of our customized and pocket friendly Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda and Rwanda with Great Adventure Safaris one of the leading safari companies in Uganda and Rwanda. Book an exceptional Gorilla holiday to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda and Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda for a close encounter with the world’s renowned Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats.
We also immerse you with a memorable Africa Gorilla holiday experience as we help you explore the natural beauty, sunny weather and stunning environment in Africa at affordable rates with unparalleled value. Venture further for Chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, and mountain climbing to make your African safari a complete package.
We further offer you travel information to help you plan your holiday well, and what to pack for your Gorilla watching holiday in Uganda and Rwanda, the best time to travel to Africa and the best time to trek the Mountain Gorillas, age limit, when to book for your holiday and Gorilla permits. Great Adventure Safaris guarantees you a memorable Gorilla watching holiday experience, wildlife and boat safaris across Africa perfectly tailored to fit your interests, time and budget to ensure you have a successful and enjoyable Gorilla and wildlife holiday in Africa.
Gorilla Tracking
Gorilla tracking experience is all about getting up close with the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats. Gorilla watching entails all day search and interaction for Mountain Gorillas. The encounter is reviewed as magical and the most wonderful wildlife adventure experience in the world.
Gorilla Tracking Rules and Regulations
Each Gorilla trekking day starts with a briefing; travellers are introduced to Gorilla trekking rules and regulations to ensure safety of the endangered Mountain Gorillas and travellers in the forest. The do’s and don’ts of Gorilla trekking include
Keep a distance of seven meters away from gorillas
Do not trek gorillas when sick
Do not throw rubbish in the jungle
Keep within your groups
Speak at low tone
Do not touch the gorillas
Avoid direct eye contact with gorillas’
Avoid flash light cameras
Where Gorilla trekking is done?
Gorilla trekking is done in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the massive Virunga conservation area shared by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. You can choose to trek Mountain Gorillas in any of the two destinations of Uganda and Rwanda or do a combined Gorilla safari to all Gorilla National Parks for accurate comparisons and exceptional experience.
Gorilla permits cost in Rwanda
Gorilla permits in Rwanda costs USD1500 per person per trek paid by all travellers regardless of one’s nationality. Rwanda Gorilla permits are bought and issued from Rwanda Development Board and you can also book them through Great Adventure Safaris.
Gorilla permits cost in Uganda
Uganda Gorilla permits vary depending on one’s nationality. Gorilla permits to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks costs USD700 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, USD700 per person per trek for foreign residents and UGX250,000 per person per trek for East African residents. All Gorilla permits are bought and issued from Uganda Wildlife Authority and you can as well book them with through Great Adventure safaris through our all-inclusive safari packages.
Gorilla tracking safety
Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda is safe and done all year round. Respective governments have deployed tourism police in all Gorilla National Parks to ensure safety of the endangered Mountain Gorillas and the travellers tracking Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla and Volcanoes National Parks. All Mountain Gorilla families have been habituated hence pose no harm to travellers.
What if i fail to see the Mountain Gorillas?
The chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas is 99% if not 100%. Every morning, there is a group of park rangers and trackers hike into the jungle before clients to trace the whereabouts of every Mountain Gorilla family. They then give directions to the ranger guide who is leading the travellers on where that Gorilla family is located. In case you fail to see the Gorillas after a full day of trekking, you are given a second chance of trekking the Gorillas in the next day.
What to wear for Gorilla tracking
The recommended attire/gear for Mountain Gorilla trekking includes:
Light hiking boots for easy hiking
Gardening gloves
Rain jackets for the unpredicted forest weather
Hat
Long sleeved shirts/ blouses
Long pants among others
Dressing right for the jungle is one the key essentials for a successful Gorilla watching holiday in Uganda and Rwanda.
Packed lunch
All travellers are given a packed lunch while going for Gorilla trekking. This entails energy giving snacks, fruits and drinking water to keep you strong during the hike.
Gorilla watching experience between Uganda and Rwanda
How best is Mountain Gorilla watching experience in Uganda or Rwanda? It depends on the client. Each Gorilla destination is unique in its own kind offering exceptional Gorilla encounters. Travellers are therefore advised to trek Gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda to have better comparisons. Mountain Gorilla watching experience is more less the same and the main difference is the duration of the hike since they keep moving around the forest in search for food.
How many Gorillas are living?
According to the 2018 Gorilla census, there are 1004 Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi forest and Virunga conservation area. These Mountain Gorillas have been habituated into 36 Gorilla families altogether. But as of today there are 18 Gorilla families live in Bwindi forest, 10 Gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and 8 Gorilla families in Virunga National Park and 1 Gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
About Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda and Rwanda is widely known as the best wildlife experience in the world which attracts the highest number of travellers from all parts of the world. Great Adventure Safaris organises and makes Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda and Rwanda dreams come true.
Your Gorilla watching holidays with Great Adventure Safaris will be characterized by magical moments, you will laugh, you will cry and you will perhaps fall in love with the beautiful wilderness. Get off the beaten track and into the scenery with our 4WD- off-road vehicles with luxury coach seats and air-conditioning.
There are no hidden extras. There has been a common report from all travellers who have trekked the Mountain Gorillas, describing the experience as the best in all wildlife encounters. You will feel inspired, emotional and satisfied after looking into those liquid brown eyes of these human-related apes.
There is still much to see in Uganda and Rwanda away from Mountain Gorilla watching, visit the mountain-ringed Lake Kivu in the West of Rwanda and feel an inland sea atmosphere. Or you can head south to Nyungwe Forest National Park and see her rich varies of the Chimpanzees, monkeys and amazing bird species that include Rift Valley Endemics.
Take a chance to visit other Ugandan National Parks for more wildlife viewing, boat safaris, walking safaris and nature walks as well as cultural interaction with the local people. All the meals, entry fees, accommodation, cruises are included in the total price as per the itinerary. Our safaris range from 3 to 16 days and give you the option to arrange a relaxing break, so it’s easy to see everything Uganda or Rwanda has to offer.