Things to consider when booking a solo gorilla trekking safari in Uganda; Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that involves tourists 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 and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in south western region. Apart from Uganda, gorilla trekking is also done in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and kahuzi biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Solo travellers planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda for the first time usually have mixed felling about the cost of gorilla permits, where to buy the gorilla permits, travel company to use, where to stay, what to pack among others and this article will highlight a number of things to consider when booking a solo gorilla trekking safari.

Gorilla trekking experience for solo travellers

Gorilla trekking in both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts early in the morning at around 8:00am with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. 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 an experienced park guide who is well conversant with gorilla trekking trails. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 2 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 wildlife species and once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.

Cost of a gorilla trekking permit for a solo traveller

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?

Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us on email or telephone 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 payment, we will be able to purchase the permit on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt.

When to book a gorilla trekking permit

gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are advised to book in advance.

Last minute gorilla trekking permits can also be booked during the low season in the months of march to May and October to November when there are few travellers however it’s not guaranteed to acquire a gorilla trekking permit last minute.

Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

There are a wide range of accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable national park where a solo traveller can stay during the gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations are booked according to the sector you wish to visit and they range from budget, midrange and luxury including Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ichumbi Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Bweza Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Trackers Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Wagtail Safari Lodge, Bwindi Jungle View Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Kisoro Travellers Rest Hotel among others.

What to pack for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda

when planning a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, a solo traveller should pack various items including long sleeved shirt and trouser, insect repellent, garden gloves, waterproof rain jacket, hiking shoes, camera and extra batteries, energy snacks and drinking water, a pair of binoculars, warm sweater, walking stick, back pack among others.

How many days to spend on a gorilla trekking safari as a solo traveller

when planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda as a solo traveller, you should consider the number of days as the minimum number of days you can spend on a gorilla trekking safari when in Uganda is three days where on the first day you will drive from Kampala to Bwindi impenetrable national park, on the second day, you engage in gorilla trekking and on the third day you drive back to Kampala and while in Rwanda, the minimum number of days you can spend on a gorilla trekking safari is 2 days for example day 1, transfer from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable national park. day 2 engage in gorilla trekking and drive back to Kigali. As a solo traveller you can also combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee trekking or wildlife viewing depending on the number of days you have.

For more information about the things to consider when booking a solo gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris.