
Gorilla Trekking Tours In Uganda Starting From Arusha In Tanzania
Gorilla Trekking Tours In Uganda Starting From Arusha – Tanzania is located in east Africa boarding Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Tanzania is one of Africa’s gems hosting various wildlife national parks though you cannot meet mountain gorillas in any of national parks in Tanzania. Gorilla trekking is one of the most done activities done by tourists in Africa, this can be done at Virunga national park in eastern DR Congo, volcanoes national park in northwestern Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable forest, and Mgahinga national parks in southwestern Uganda.
Tourists trekking mountain gorillas from Arusha of Tanzania can fly to Entebbe international airport from Kilimanjaro airport located in the northern part of Tanzania. After arriving at Entebbe international airport, then you can fly to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip from Kajjanzi airfield or Entebbe international airport.
For budget travelers, they can drive from Entebbe international airport to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park which usually takes 9-10 hours, and trek mountain gorillas the next day. Tourists can also opt to fly from Entebbe international airport to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and drive to Kigali through Cyanika and Katuna border taking them 4-5 hours to reach Kigali international airport where they can fly out from. Tourists can also fly from Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania to Kigali international airport in Rwanda and then drive for 4-5 hours to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or Mgahinga gorilla park through Katuna or Cyanika border.
Booking your gorilla permit
Gorilla permits must always be obtained 3-4 months before arriving in the country most especially when you are planning to trek in the dry season in order to avoid missing out on permits.
A Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs 700 per person per trek, that is to say with this kind of permit a tourist is given one hour to spend with the mountain gorillas. A gorilla habituation permit in Uganda costs $1500 per person per trek, with a gorilla habituation permit a tourist is allowed four hours to spend with mountain gorillas as they learn about their habits and behaviors.
A single gorilla permit can only be used once a day and by a single person to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda in two national parks is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla park. Gorilla trekking permits are purchased from Uganda wildlife authority head offices in Kampala and they cost $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents, and shs. 250000 for citizens of east Africa. Africa adventure vacations organize all-inclusive tours to meet eye to eye with mountain gorillas.
When intending to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda most especially Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, you must consider the type of gorilla permit you hold or planning to have. The permit determines the sector in which you will be trekking gorillas and the accommodation lodge (place to stay). Unlike other mountain gorilla national parks, Bwindi impenetrable forest national has four sectors open for gorilla trekking meaning that each sector has its own gorilla families and accommodation properties.
Gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.
To confirm any accommodation property has to be determined by the gorilla trekking permit you will have booked.
Each tacking sector has its own gorilla families and those interested in trekking given sectors should let Africa Adventure Vacations know so that we act accordingly while booking your gorilla permit.
It’s more important that the gorilla family allocation happens on the day of trekking where trekkers are grouped according to their age, physical ability, and interest so that they allocate you a gorilla family that will help you achieve it. Therefore, for any kind of information contact Africa Adventure Vacations Limited.
What is the best time to trek mountain gorillas?
If you are planning gorilla trekking tours in from Arusha in Tanzania, Uganda can be visited at any time of year but the best time to trek mountain gorillas is from June to September and December to February when there is no or little rainfall and the vegetation is not thick marking it easy to pass through the jungle. The roads to the park are also accessible during the rainy season. The rain season can make the trekking trails very slippery and steep though during this season lodges give discounts on their rates.
High season;
This normally happens in the months of June, July, August September, December, January, and February. During these months less rainfall is experienced as it’s overtaken by the sunshine.
January-February and June-September is the best period to do gorilla trekking both in Uganda and Rwanda. Although this period is termed as year-round up activities, these two countries during this period are always experiencing dry seasons hence enabling visitors to choose trekking in the dry season also known as the high seasons.
December is also another busy month. It’s the busiest month of the year based on the fact that the whole world is always off for Christmas holidays and year-end. Therefore, we strongly advise you to book your gorilla trekking permits as early as possible to avoid disappointments and for proper planning.
If you need the best gorilla trekking conditions with no worries about prices, the high season is the best for you. these countries Uganda and Rwanda have raised topography meaning the climate is fairly cool throughout the year, despite some serious walking/hiking that may result in feeling hot.
Low season;
Tourists who usually come in low season experience real adventure to the fullest. This is because, during the low season, there are always few people in the jungle. There are also price reductions in accommodation facilities since fewer tourists come into the country and lodges are in less demand in this season and there is always availability of gorilla and chimpanzee permits because of fewer tourists coming in.
While in rainy seasons you may incur some challenges in traveling both in Uganda and Rwanda, a day is never lost due to rains, surprisingly days have both rain and sunshine, this means that despite wetness and coldness its usually favorable for you to continue with your activities as stated in your itinerary whether it rains or not gorilla trekking is conducted daily as it has never been canceled due to the bad weather.
What to carry for gorilla trekking?
Tourists intending to book gorilla trekking tours in Uganda from Arusha in Tanzania should should pack the following items; long-sleeved warm clothes, waterproof hiking shoes, waterproof backpack, snacks, enough drinking water, garden gloves, wool socks, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellents, binoculars, face mask, sanitizer, camera, and extra batteries.