Luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda; Gorilla trekking is an active and adventurous activity that involves travelers 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 environment. Luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is defined by different factors for example the mode of transportation to the gorilla destinations, the type of accommodation where you will be staying, the activities you wish to engage in during the safari, the length of the gorilla trekking safari among others.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks namely Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern region while in Rwanda gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes national park. Mgahinga gorilla national park is a home of one habituated gorilla family, Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 22 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector and Nkuringo sector while Volcanoes national park is a home of about 11 habituated gorilla families available for trekking on a daily basis.

What to expect on a luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda

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 to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the mountain 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, trees 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 more about their habits, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, groom young ones, take photos and record videos to show people back home after the safari.

Best time to go on a luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can be done anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry 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 passable which makes trekking easy compared to rainy season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.

Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda

A gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park Rwanda costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities and a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking permits 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 park headquarters via email or telephone calls.

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability on your preferred dates and if there are permits available, you will be asked to make a deposit. Once we receive the money, we will purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.

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

Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Volcanoes national park have a wide range of luxury accommodations where you can stay during your luxury gorilla trekking safari including One and Only Gorillas Nest, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga Inn Resort, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Sancturary Gorilla Forest Camp, Volcanoes Safari Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge among others.

How to get to the gorilla destinations.

After acquiring your gorilla trekking permit and booking your luxury accommodation, the next step is how to get the gorilla destination. Volcanoes national park can be accessed by road transport means which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali International airport.

Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be accessed by both road and air transport means and when using air transport means on your luxury gorilla trekking safari, you will book domestic schedule or charter flights from Entebbe airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connect to park headquarters.

When using road transport, you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to either Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive. When using road transport means during your luxury gorilla trekking safari, you can either hire a safari land cruiser or a safari van depending on your preference.

What to pack/carry on your luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda

When going on a luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda, there are a number of items that you should carry including long sleeved shirt and trouser, garden gloves, hiking shoes, warm sweater, energy snacks and drinking water, waterproof rain jacket, camera and extra batteries,  a pair of binoculars, walking stick, waterproof back pack among others.

For breathtaking and unforgettable memories, luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda can be combined with other activities like guided nature walks, bird watching, cultural tours, wildlife viewing, chimpanzee trekking among others For more information about the luxury gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various gorilla trekking packages.