Reasons to trek African Mountain Gorillas in Uganda – Why you should trek Uganda Gorillas in Bwindi Forest – we help you book gorilla permits for your trek.
Reasons to trek African mountain gorillas in Uganda. Seeing the African Mountain Gorillas in the jungle of Uganda is an incredible experience and a focus for most people traveling to Africa. With the high cost of a Gorilla tour to Uganda, is now a priority for thousands of travellers from all over the world to experience this face-to-face adventure with the critically endangered African Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats.
Uganda Gorilla tours take you deep into the tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south-western Uganda. The Pearl of Africa Uganda is blessed to be one of the three countries which shelter the World’s Mountain Gorillas together with Rwanda in the Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga National Park.
In the reservation process of any African Gorilla safari to either Bwindi forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks of Uganda, travellers often ask the advantages of trekking African Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and the challenges they are likely to face. These are very good questions, which provide travellers with extensive knowledge regarding the African Gorilla safaris to Uganda. The reasons to trek African Mountain Gorillas in Uganda include:
Highest population of African Mountain Gorillas
Uganda hosts the highest population of the World’s remaining African Mountain Gorillas. Over 550 Mountain Gorillas reside in the tropical rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks which make Uganda a best place to see these gentle giants. These African Mountain Gorillas have been habituated into 19 Gorilla families 18 of which live in Bwindi forest and 1 Gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
These Gorilla families are scattered in the four sectors of the park, which are Buhoma in the North, Ruhija in the East, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the South. Travellers are free to choose which section to visit depending on the Gorilla family they are interested in and the lodge they booked for accommodation.
Availability of Gorilla Permits
With a high number of Gorilla families, travellers are assured of Gorilla permits availability. Each Gorilla family is visited by a group of eight people hence a total of 152 Gorilla permits issued out every day. The availability of Gorilla permits at all times is an added advantage for short time travellers especially those who make last minute bookings giving them a chance to take part in this life changing experience.
Gorilla permits booking can be done through any trusted tour operator like Great Adventure Safaris offering Gorilla tour packages to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks who will save you a hassle of booking directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body responsible for tourism activities and wildlife conservation in Uganda.
Easily accessible from Rwanda
It only takes 3-4 hours driving from Kigali International Airport of Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Travellers can therefore easily connect from Kigali-Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda and enjoy the African Gorilla trekking, hence saving you a long distance of driving from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala to the National Park.
Those who have limited time can do a 2-days Gorilla trek in Uganda starting from Kigali-Rwanda to Bwindi National Park. The nearness sector of Bwindi forest to Kigali International Airport is Ruhija sector which has saved travellers of whole day driving save travellers from a whole day driving from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
Two Gorilla National Parks
Unlike Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda has two Gorilla National Parks, which makes it an exceptional Gorilla destination. Travellers have a choice to trek the African Gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park rewarding them with amazing life time experiences.
Low cost Gorilla Permits
A Gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD700 for foreign non-residents, USD700 for foreign residents and 250,000shs for East Africa residents. The cost of trekking the African Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is therefore relatively cheaper compared to the USD1500 in Rwanda paid by all travellers irrespective of one’s nationality. Travellers to Uganda therefore have chances of saving some money which they can use for other extra activities they can add on their African Gorilla trekking rewarding them with a memorable experience.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
Besides Gorilla trekking, Uganda offers you the memorable Gorilla habituation experience. Here, you participate in training of wild Mountain Gorillas to get used to human presence before they are claimed ready for trekking. Currently, Gorilla habituations experience is only done in Rushaga sector. Habituation experience is a half-day interaction with Gorillas, which provide travellers with extensive knowledge about the African Mountain Gorillas and their human like characters.
Only four travellers are allowed to take part in the habituation experience per group therefore Great Adventure Safaris advise that whoever is interested should make a booking in advance since the Gorilla habituation permits are very few. Travellers are accompanied by the National park rangers, conservationists and researchers who together a group big and more lively. All travellers must have valid Gorilla habituation permits each acquired at a cost USD1500 but the experience is worth it.
More affordable accommodation options
Travellers to Bwindi forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National parks are assured of comfortable, well-varnished and safe accommodation facilities with good hygiene at affordable prices. A variety of luxury, midrange and budget lodges and camp sites have been established in these parks to serve travellers with quality food and sleeping services.
Travellers choose which accommodation they want based on their budget and sector they are trekking in. all these lodges/camps provide comfortable, safe and high quality services delivered by professional, kind and knowledgeable staff all the time.
Ease of communication
The fact that most travellers speak English, Uganda is the best place for African Gorilla trekkers. Uganda’s service providers such as park rangers, hotel, managers and driver guides speak fluent English unlike Rwandese. Easy communication between clients and service provider make a safari more enjoyable making it more amazing.
Pre trekking experience
Besides the African Mountain Gorillas, Uganda is blessed with a variety of attractions such as beautiful sceneries, wild animals, bird species, Lakes and Rivers and diverse culture. Travellers have a chance to do any other activity such as Chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, white water rafting and cultural visits which complement Gorilla tours in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
