A guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda; Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is an exciting activity that involves visitors moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park while in Rwanda gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes national park.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters thus A guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates, different bird species, plant and tree species among others and once the mountain gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda

A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that is issued by Uganda wildlife authority or Rwanda development board to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park or Volcanoes national park. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 700 per person for foreign non residents, USD 600 per person for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 per person for East African citizens while a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs USD 1,500 per person for all nationalities.

How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda can either be booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda or Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government body in charge of tourism in Rwanda by contacting the head offices via email or telephone calls. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda and Rwanda can also be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris by contacting us with the dates and destination you wish to visit. After contacting us, we will check for permit availability and if there are permits that match with your dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permits. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation thus A guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda should be booked 3 to 6 hours in advance before the trekking date because the permits are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February.

Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are wet, muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.

What to pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

There are a number of items to pack during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda including,

·         Hiking boots to protect your ankles and keep your feet dry

·         Garden gloves to protect you from germs

·         Long sleeved shirt and trouser to protect you from biting insects and also keep you warm during gorilla trekking in the morning

·         Waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall during gorilla trekking as it can rain anytime of the day regardless of the season.

·         Warm sweater to keep you warm during morning hours and at night while at the lodge.

·         Energy snacks like packed lunch from the lodge and drinking water to keep you hydrated during trekking.

·         Insect repellent to protect your skin from biting insects.

·         Waterproof backpack to carry your gorilla trekking items such as packed lunch, camera, insect repellent, binoculars, drinking water, rain jacket among others.

·         Camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos during the one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas.

·         A pair of binoculars to view other wildlife species as Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park or Volcanoes national park harbor other wildlife species such as birds, animals among others.

Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda

There are a number of accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Volcanoes Bwindi lodge. Four gorillas lodge, Ichumbi gorilla lodge, Bakiga lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Ruhija gorilla safari lodge, Buhoma lodge, Trekkers tavern cottages, Chameleon hill lodge, Gift of nature lodge, Cuckooland tented lodge, Lake Mulehe lodge, Lake Mutanda lodge, Mucha lodge, Ruzizi tented lodge, One and Only gorilla nest, Bisate lodge, Sabyinyo silverback lodge, Le Bambou gorilla lodge among others.