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Booking Gorilla Permits Online

With the recent trends in technology, the respective boards managing the issuance of gorilla permits in the different countries where gorilla tracking takes place have devised means of letting clients book these permits on line though in some countries like Uganda they have received some resistance from some stake holders especially the native tour operating companies.  And below is the substantive eulogy concerning this module;

UGANDA

In Uganda,the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is proposing to put all gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park on line to be accessed by all people within and outside Uganda. According to management of Uganda Wildlife Authority, putting gorilla permits online will increase sales thus more money into the government’s treasury and to the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be used in conservation of wildlife in all protected areas. UWA management also argue that Tour Operators have been complaining about failure to get availability when they call Uganda Wildlife Authority central reservations office in Kampala and that if permits go on line then one can see them instantly.

Putting gorilla permits on line is yet to be seen as it has received a lot of resistance from the Private sector most especially from Ugandan Tour Operators under their umbrella organization called the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) who argue that by putting gorilla permits online will not only put them out of business since International Tour Operators will be able to buy them directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority offices but will also kill the tourism industry as a whole since clients will only be coming to Uganda for gorillas and then go for wildlife viewing in other neighbouring countries of Kenya and Tanzania that have a competitive advantage over Uganda. Uganda Tour Operators argue that the role of selling gorilla permits should be left to them since their businesses create employment to several people and that if they are deprived of this, they will run out of business. They further say that the role of Uganda Wildlife Authority is not to market Tourism products such us gorilla permits but is to conserve Wildlife in and out side Protected Areas. The role of Marketing Uganda as a tourism Destination is supposed to be done by Uganda Tourism Board and therefore conflict of interest has been sighted.

Following the above issues, several meetings were convened to discourage Uganda Wildlife Authority from putting gorilla permits online and this ended up attracting the attention of the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife who has instituted a committee comprising of representatives from AUTO, Local Communities , Uganda tourism board and Uganda Wildlife Authority and is to be chaired by The Ministry of Tourism. Out comes of this committee will be communicated later.

There fore as of now this system to put Ugandan gorilla permits online has temporarily stalled till further notice.

RWANDA

Just as in Uganda,even in Rwanda this mechanism has also totally failed due to various issues that have created divergent views towards the application of this module. The private sector also smelt a rat in being driven out of business. However Rwanda still receives a lot of tourists taking gorilla safaris into Volcanoes National Park.

CONGO

Unlike in Uganda and Rwanda where efforts have been made though still at infant stage,in Congo this mode of online gorilla booking has never been thought of and there are no signs of conceiving such an idea.

Choosing a Safari Company for Gorilla Trekking

Are you considering choosing a tour Company for gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda or Uganda, and don’t know to go about it? While most travellers skip this booking process and instead opt to plan their own Gorilla safari, there are numerous drawbacks of this planning process.

However, if you must use the services of a Tour Company for organizing your gorilla safari adventures, make sure that it is credible and reliable. It is sometimes difficult for travellers to determine the sincerity of these Companies but simply check out the list of credible companies on the “Association of Uganda Tour Operators” (AUTO) Website. The perception some travellers have about booking gorilla trekking tours through Tour Operators is that they are very costly. This can be true and false at the same time, depending on the chosen Company.

Imagine the stress and hustle of booking your own gorilla permit (that costs $700 foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and Shs. 250,000 for East African visitors), having to run around to book and board a public bus from Kampala to Kisoro or Kabale Town (for about $14) then struggle to find a motorcycle taxi (popularly known as Boda Boda) or walk for a reasonable distance to the reserved place of stay. This sounds interesting and an experience worth trying, considering the risks involved but one thing you need to keep in mind is that you are visiting a foreign country and also, you might have no one or take long to find help in case things go south.

As for a gorilla safari with a Tour Operator, you will always be helped by your Safari driver or better still easily find help. Although Uganda and Rwanda are generally safe and secure, there can never be a 100% safe safari destination because some incidences of petty crimes are inevitable.

Reasons why you have to book with a Tour Company?

The entire essence of undertaking a safari is exuberance and you can’t get the most of your trip with stinginess. Put it this way; the more money you are willing to spend, the mote merriment you will expect to have.

Tour companies usually put their best skills, energy and commitment in organizing memorable gorilla safaris for travellers. Right from booking gorilla permits, putting together the most exquisite places of lodging, the most comfortable safari vehicle for transferring to the Gorilla National Parks and back as well as hiring an expert safari driver who is seasoned and very conversant about gorilla tourism in Rwanda and Uganda.

The other reason has got to do with accommodation where the tour operators have knowledge on the best kind of accommodation to book, especially in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where gorilla families and places of lodging are based on the trekking region/sector. And also, you are likely to take a longer time if booking by yourself and surprisingly, places of lodging have different rates-rack, residential, tour operator and confidential.

The Rack rates are the ones offered on brochures, websites and during inquiries, thus higher than the tour Operator rates. Confidential rates are the ones offered as an agreement between the booking agent and accommodation facility depending on the volume of sake thus are the lowest. For this reason, a room might cost $350 per night when you are booking by yourself yet the tour operator will offer the same room plus all the amenities at $200 per night.

Which tour Company should be chosen for Gorilla Trekking?

Many Tour Companies in Uganda and Rwanda offer gorilla trekking tours but the question is, “how can you choose the best company to book with?” First, the credible ones are members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators). Send inquiries to some of these Companies and go with the best prices/quotation.

When choosing the Tour Company to go with, avoid being biased or making preferences for the big dogs because even the under dogs have organized successful and memorable gorilla trekking tours.

Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Vs Mgahinga Forest

With fewer than 900 mountain gorillas that are left in the world today, Uganda is incredibly one of a must to visit destinations for you to catch a glimpse of these unique Apes while in their natural habitat.

The two gorilla parks; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park are the only 2 (two) protected areas in Uganda that reward gorilla trekkers on Uganda safari with lifetime experiences. The two protected are part of the only 4 (four) national parks where these spectacular Apes are tracked in the wild. The Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda are the other conservation areas where visitors realize their dreams with these large primates. When you think about lifetime adventures in Africa, Uganda is incomparably one of the most exceptional destinations that you shouldn’t miss to visit. About 480 mountain gorillas out of 900 that thrive on earth are all confined in Uganda’s thick jungles in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is situated in Southwestern Uganda and it is bordered by Kanungu, Kisoro and Kabale districts. It offers refuge to more than 400 mountain gorillas making it the highland of mountain gorillas in the world. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park features as the only protected area in the world with about half of all these Great Apes that thrive in the world. And Mgahinga National Park is a home to only 80 individuals.

Mgahinga National Park is situated on the extreme Southwestern Uganda and it is one of the 3 (three) protected areas that make up the Great Virunga Mountain ranges that are shared by Uganda, DR Congo and Rwanda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park features several habituated gorilla families, Mgahinga National Park only has one group (Nyakagezi) for visitors to track every day of which visitors are not guaranteed to find this migratory group though it has settled at Mgahinga National Park and this explains why few tourists visit the park for this life changing adventure.

Bwindi National Park alone features about 11 (eleven) habituated gorilla troops which tourists track each day making it one of the most sought after destination for this lifetime experience. Besides, Bwindi National Park features 4 (four) main tracking areas each of which come with gorilla groups; Buhoma sector which lies North of Bwindi comes with Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura group; Ruhija sector East of Bwindi features Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro family; in the south-Nkuringo sector you will track Nkuringo family or Visit Rushaga area and track Nshongi, Kahungye, Busingye and Bweza. This means that there are over 88 permits that are available for visitors to purchase to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and only 8 (eight) permits are available for visitors on a safari to Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is exceptionally the only protected area in the world where Gorilla Habituation Experience is conducted. Habituation experience allows visitors to spend 4 hours on a face to face encounter with the Great Apes while in their natural habitat unlike the usual trek which is conducted across all the gorilla protected areas which allows only one hour for visitors to strike their imaginations with these impressive creatures in the wild. Two families (Bushaho and Kinigi) have been set for this tremendous adventure in Bwindi National Park.

While Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is best known to be the only national park in the world where chimpanzees and over 350 distinct birdlife share with mountain gorillas the same habitat, Mgahinga National Park is also the spot where Golden monkeys thrive with the rare mountain gorillas in the same habitat in Uganda.

In terms of safari lodges and accommodation, Bwindi offers a wide range of accommodation (about 95% safari lodges confined within Bwindi alone) for visitors to choose from while on safari in the park. They range from budget, mid range to Luxury and in Mgahinga National Park, there are few lodges for tourists to make a choice and others are found in Kisoro town.

When it comes to accessibility, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be accessed through other protected areas. When you are in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is reachable with 2 (two) hours’ drive from the North of Bwindi. This means that visitors can combine wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park where he or she will have a chance to catch a glimpse of the rare tree climbing lions at Ishasha sector or go for the most exciting and thrilling boat cruise along the Kazinga channel to sight the largest population of hippos and crocodiles or visit Kibale National Park for the most rewarding chimpanzee adventures and then continue Bwindi National Park for mountain gorilla trekking.

In conclusion, Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are among Uganda’s ten (10) most spectacular conservation areas. They are the only places where mountain gorillas are protected. The two parks are all accessible by road and air. By road, visitors can take Kampala-Ntungamo-Kagaba-Rukungiri, Kihihi and finally to Butogota and Buhoma. By air, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro Airstrip and you will make your dream come true in Uganda.

Why You Should Hire a Porter on a Gorilla Trek

At the the Day of gorilla trekking, you will find porters at the main trailheads looking for tourists who can use their services. These porters come from the local community and are well trained to give you a hand during the gorilla trek.

Did you know that hiring a porter will make your trek easier? For starters, hiring a porter is an essential thing that ypou should not overlook. For a walking stick, you will be given one for free at the information centre. If you a souvenir stick, it  can be bought from the local community gift shops that also exist at the information centres.

There are many reasons why you should hire a porter. Hiring one will relieve of the “luggage” or “extra equipment” that will become a problem during your trek. For as low as US$20 you will hire a porter who will help you with the carryons in your backpack.

A trek to view the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild is an exhilarating adventure since it involves you hiking through the dense vegetation and steep slopes in Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Virunga National Park while in search for a gorilla group.

Gorilla treks usually last for about 2-6 hours and for you to complete your adventure in the jungles even if your pack seems not heavy but this is lengthy. But may depend on your hiking speed, nature of habitat and where these massive creatures are. Since the adventure involves footwork, in most cases porters are very experienced and knowledgeable of the terrain and they can assist relieve you not only from heavy load for instance carrying your luggage, cameras, snacks and other gear you will be using but also in case you need to be pulled.

A porter will remain with you throughout your adventure and also can go extra mile to assist you cross trickier areas along the trails. Your walking stick is offer you support while on a trek and you can find one at park headquarters or lodge.

Hiring porters during your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park allows you concentrate on your adventure rather than being bothered by the heavy load. Also, it is one best way to give back to the local community and making sure that they are part of beneficiaries of mountain gorilla conservation.

Involving services of porters during gorilla trek in Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo is one way to empower them so that they earn a living and also be in position to pay schools and meet other basic needs back home. Most of the park ranger guides and porters are ex-poachers and now they have devoted themselves in conserving these creatures and this is one way they can earn something for a living rather than engaging in illegal hunting.

By hiring porters, you will be helping their families too as well as nearby communities. You can hire a porter in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park and Mgahinga National Park at $10 to $20. For starters, this is a worthwhile amount if you need to make a difference during your adventure.

Gorilla Trekking Tips for the Elderly

When you talk about gorilla trekking, most travelers are left to think that it is only for the young. But the latter is not true because even the elderly can be part of this life changing experience.

How gorilla trip for the old is planned

The best way for you to plan a gorilla trip in Uganda or Rwanda is by getting in touch with our reservation team and we shall have you covered whether your plan is to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park or the Virunga National Park while on gorilla trek. When planning a gorilla trip in Uganda or Rwanda and you are very old then the best is for you to embark on a short gorilla trek.

Exercise before gorilla trek

Do as much as exercise as you can to keep you fit. It is this reason why we always advise our clients to book early enough or travel to a destination before the actual trek so that they can familiarize themselves with altitude so that you do not face challenges on gorilla trek. Note, gorilla treks in Uganda or Rwanda are all about hiking through the dense vegetation and steep slope while in search for mountain gorillas. A trek to see mountain gorillas can take you about 2 to 6 hours depending location of mountain gorillas, nature of habitat and your physical wellness.

Carry adequate drinking water and energy giving snacks

Have adequate drinking water and energy giving snacks to help keep strong and fit to make a complete trek. In your packing list, bottled water and snacks are some of the essential items not to miss out.

Talk to a tour operator you plan to deal with prior actual trek

It is always important that you talk to a tour operator before you embark on actual trek. This will help the tour operator explain to park official at Uganda Wildlife Authority so that you are allocated to the easier gorilla group to trek and also to enable park ranger guide move at a pace favorable to him or her. On actual trek, make sure that you are open to the park ranger guide so that he or she walks at your pace.

Hire sedan chairs/porter

In case of need for push or pull, there are porters at the park headquarters to give a hand of help although you need to hire one at $10-$20. Alternatively, you will be carried in sedan chairs for the disabled persons. You will be carried by a group of 4 porters and this may cost you about $400.

Accessing Uganda’s Gorillas from Rwanda

For the past 5 years, Rwanda had become an ultimate gateway for tourists interested in gorilla trekking within the Volcanoes National Park. After the increment of a gorilla permit to US$1500, the nearby Ugandan national parks have become an alternative to budget gorilla treks.

Still today, the highest number of tourists visiting Uganda fly to Rwanda and travel north to access Uganda’s gorilla parks. The main reason why most travelers fly into Kigali, is easy accessibility by most airlines to Rwanda than Uganda.  Therefore if you choose to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, you can easily book a more affordable gorilla trek starting from Rwanda, leading you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park to see the mountain gorillas!

Big Deals on Gorilla Treks in Uganda

If you choose to trek gorillas in Rwanda your packaged tour must be above US $1500 per trek per person and with this amount, you will be able to get a fully packaged gorilla safari in Uganda. With a saving of up to US$900 per person you can easily extend your tour and do other activities that don’t miss on the bucket-list of adventures that you can take in Uganda such as chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, wildlife game viewing, boat ride on the famous Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and many other attractions in Uganda.

The second reason being, Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport is reasonably closer to this gorilla hub destination and geographically it’s the closest of all the airports in the region. So it takes you about 3 and a half hours drive including crossing the country boundary to either Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Mgahinga gorilla National park or Goma Town in DR Congo from where you will continue on next morning to Virunga National Park to either trek the endangered Mountain Gorillas or get on a two day climb/ hike of the active mountain Nyiragongo volcano to see the largest larva lake in the world.

Another major factor is that, Rwanda recently joined the East African community to have a joint market with all the East African member states (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Sudan) and the East Africa single entry visa was launched for Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya so all tourist travelling within these 3 member states will be required to acquire a single tourist visa paid at the country of first entry. So when you fly into Kigali and trek in Uganda it is cost effective as well as time saving than driving 8-10 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla national park.

The infrastructural development of the three gorilla hub destination countries is on a high, the road network is fantastic, the three governments have prioritized improvement on the accessibility roads, allow private investors to put up both low budget and high end or luxury accommodation / lodging facilities within or near this gorilla hub destination and of course with conservation at the back of their minds thus setting up eco friendly facilities in and around these critical reserves. The infrastructural development has eased border crossings as well as maneuvering through this hilly and mountainous region

Several gorilla safari agencies make it possible for you to fly-in Kigali-Rwanda and track mountain Gorillas in Uganda’s either Mgahinga gorilla National park or the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National park and if your adventure interest is to do double gorilla trek, then its only in Uganda where you can experience double Mountain Gorilla tracking in two different Gorilla national parks hence a rare and a unique adventure that is Bwindi Impenetrable National park which host almost half a population of these gentle giants while the other being Mgahinga Gorilla national park which is part of the Virunga Volcanoes, put together you find out that Uganda Host over half a population of the most rare and endangered species in the world, the Mountain gorillas.

If your budget allows you to track in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo, gorilla hub tours limited can still make it possible for you to fly-in Kigali and track mount Gorillas in DR. Congo at the price of $400 per gorilla permit, per trek, a two days or 3 days is very possible as you get your adventure experience of a life time. This is another cost effective as well as time saving experience with Gorilla hub tours limited operating jungle adventure tours in this yet untouched and remote region of central and East Africa.

How to Ensure Safety on a Gorilla Trek in Africa

Mountain gorilla tracking is an adventurous activity loved by many and a must do activity for adventure tourists. Mountain gorillas are great apes in fact the largest of the apes family that live in the forested mountainous areas of southwestern Uganda, northwestern Rwanda and southeastern DRC which are the only places on the planet where mountain gorillas can be viewed by tourists are they relax in their natural habitants. This incredible encounter can be very enjoyable and much more exciting but lets look at how tourists can ensure their safety while the national parks as well as that of the greatly endangered mountain gorillas.

Not Straying A Way From The Tracking Groups

Mountain gorillas in habit national parks that act as homes to a number of wildlife and therefore while on a mountain gorilla hike, tourists are expected to keep in their tracking groups to avoid getting a stray which may not be safe at all in the national park. Keeping in your tracking also gives one an opportunity to discover more about the diverse ecosystems because the groups are led by guides who usually take about the major wildlife species encountered.

Minimizing Noise

While facing the gorillas, tourists are expected to minimize noise in order not to give a wrong impression to the mountain gorillas. They are very sensitive mammals that can be provoked and distracted by noise. While encountering the gorillas tourists are strictly not allowed to use flash photography because it can be provoking and trigger gorillas to attack the tourists.

Keeping A Reasonable Distance From The Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are some of the closest wild animals to humans but much as they are it might be not be safe to get close to them because they are wild animals and the human instinct in them makes them very sensitive to people getting too close to them yet they are seeing them for the first time. A 7 meters distance is usually recommended however important to note is that this is good for both the gorillas and humans as well because keeping this distance reduces the chances of disease spreading.

Not Tracking When Sick

As earlier mentioned, mountain gorillas have 98%DNA similar to humans which makes them prone to human diseases. Tourists who are sick are therefore not allowed to track and if you feel unwell do not go tracking to ensure the well being of the mountain gorillas. Research has proved that many mountain gorillas have been lost to diseases that are human related.

Avoiding Littering While In The Forest

It’s not good to litter while on a mountain gorilla hike because mountain gorillas are always on the move and easily land on contaminated litter, which can easily make them get sick.

Generally speaking, mountain gorilla tracking is very safe for both the tourists and the gorillas if tourists endeavor to follow the guide’s instructions.

Mountain gorilla safaris can be carried out at any time of the year but can be experienced during the dry season when it’s easy to move/hike through the forested mountains. Due to the long insecurities in DRC, mountain gorilla tracking is safer in Rwanda (volcanoes national park) which has 10 habituated gorilla families and in Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks) that have 11 and 1 habituated mountain gorillas families respectively.

Tourists interested in this great adventure can go gorilla tracking in either Rwanda or Uganda by acquiring tracking permit, which is sold at $1500 in Rwanda and $700 in Uganda. Important to note is that the Ugandan permits are sold at $400 during the low tourist season.

Why You Should Book Gorilla Permits Early

To trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo, you need a gorilla permit that is why we regard it as an essential tool. It is what offers you a chance to track only one habituated gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda or Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo.

Whether you are first-time or repeat traveler, for any plans to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo, our advice is to book your gorilla permit as early as you can since there is high demand for gorilla permits.

In Uganda, about 21 gorilla families have been habituated and 20 of them can be tracked in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and only one is available for trekking in Mgahinga National Park. Each gorilla permit costs $600 per person but from 1st July, Uganda will be issuing its gorilla permits at US$700 per trekker-for foreign non-residents whereas in Rwanda, 80 gorilla permits are available for booking with each costing US$1500 per person per trek and DRC, there are 64 gorilla permits and each is obtainable at US$450 per person.

Deal with a trustworthy recognized reliable ground tour operator and in Uganda, we are among a few or get in touch with a reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) although the process usually tends to be tedious. To book for you a gorilla permit, please send your email with dates you wish to track gorillas and we shall check the availability of gorilla permits for you as you sit back home. The dates you intend to track gorillas are available, we shall reserve a permit for you and you will be required to make a deposit.

In case you have any plans to explore mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or DRC this coming season, please book for your permit at least 3-6 months before embarking on the actual trek. To other visitors, they even reserve permits 2 years earlier. Booking a permit in advance comes with lots of benefits as it gets you out of the stressful moment to book a permit at last minute the fact that demand gorilla permits are on high demand.

The dry season which is also best known as high/peak season is the busiest period for all Uganda’s national parks and you really need to secure your permit earlier enough to avoid any kind of disappointment. The high or dry season in Uganda or Rwanda starts in the months of June, July, August, September, and December, January, February. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t book permit early during the wet or rainy season which starts from the month of March, April, May and from October to November.

Securing a gorilla permit in advance for your gorilla safari makes it easier to plan for other things including means of transportation, accommodation options and many other exciting activities you need to fix in your travel plan.

Mountain Gorillas Could be Extinct If Not Conserved

Of the few Mountain Gorilla’s that remain on Earth estimated less than a Thousand, almost half of the population live in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Parks while the rest can be found in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and some in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Shy and Gentle Mountain Gorilla’s are the Earth’s largest living Primate and the Regions most famous tourism attraction. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is said to host about 300 Mountain Gorilla’s, almost half the entire Mountain Gorilla population living in the wild today.

Several factors often threaten the existence of the Mountain Gorilla’s thus their dwindling population such as disease, poaching, human population encroachment of their habitat the rain forests among others. Gorillas are open to same diseases which effect humans since they are closely related to humans with similar anatomic and physiological features. Gorillas live in small groups any exposure to any kind of illness affects the entire group which may fail to recover from the entire fall that’s why human contacts are restricted. All Gorilla trackers are instructed to keep a distance from the Gorilla’s. Most scary diseases include flue, Scabies which can quickly spread from group to group as families interact.

Poaching is another threat which has claimed many lives of gorillas in the jungle forest till present for example a while ago some European and American scientists and trophy hunters killed over 50 mountain gorillas which effected the population of the living apes today. Hunting is another problem because many Gorillas have been injured by hunters who go to jungle to hunt other wildlife life. The latest events shows that hunting of mountain gorillas in order to capture their young ones by corrupt dealers remains a threat for example an infant gorilla was recovered outside Virunga national park in 2013 who was later the joined to other three rescued gorillas & orphan from poaching in Rumangabo for monitoring.

Population growth of the people living near the park is the worst of all threats since they both compete for the forest land. The people need land for farming, agriculture in order to support their families while Gorillas destroy the farm crops and also limit the local community from access the forest land. The only way to maintain gorilla habitat is to develop alternative economic activities that allow people to meet their daily needs, so that they see gorillas not as competitors, but as a means of improving their own situation.

The regional conflict is another threat, changing climate, weak regional collaboration but me & you can change this if we try. With a population of less than a thousand Mountain gorillas remaining in the world today, a lot of conservation effort is needed in order to conserve the mountain Gorillas for the Future Generation.

Dian Fossey, Carl Akeley, George Schaller are the other great gorilla conservationist who followed Robert & their work focused global attention on the troubles of gorillas. Still it’s that Effort which makes many travelers have wonderful lifetime memories every time they visit Uganda, Rwanda or DRC for Gorilla trekking adventures. We all agree that the above Conservationists did a great job in conserving the mountain gorillas without forgetting the local communities of Uganda especially around Bwindi forest and Mgahinga National park, Locals of Rwanda around and near the Volcanoes national park & the people of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Each countries local community deserves a bonus for ensuring the survival of gorillas and also allowing the guests to access their reach jungle forest to trek the Gorillas. The National park staff like wardens and ranger guides has done a lot to ensure that the conservation rules can be maintained in all the three countries.

Several organizations have come up to conserve gorillas and these work hand in hand with both the local communities and park management. They include the mountain Gorilla conservation fund (MGCF), international Gorilla conservation program (with programs in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo), Fauna & Flora international (only in Rwanda), Wildlife Wild places & forests (WWF) all over Africa, Rwanda development Board (RDB), Uganda wildlife Authority the main organization (UWA). There is a very big change unlike back then before 1902. According to the World Heritage Wildlife animals, the Gorillas where discovered on October 17th 1902 by Robert Von Beringe in Virunga mountains who was the first non-African to encounter the Mountain Gorilla stopping the hunting habitats which had driven the rare primates to the edge of their death.

Gorilla Trekking: Uganda Vs Rwanda

Tracking/trekking mountain gorillas with Uganda or Rwanda will cost you some money but the money charged for gorilla tracking is worth the activity. In Uganda it will cost you a onetime fee of US$600 this applies to high seasons and US$350 in the lower seasons of April, May and November. Rwanda gorilla are tracked at a fee of US$1500 all year.

This money gives you chance to access these endangered mountain gorillas for only one hour. Indeed the whole of these amount sounds much and it’s a heart breaker, but the money comes ounce and goes and gorilla tracking is an opportunity that comes ounce in a life since these apes are not like other primate, gorilla species or mammal species that can be seen in zoos or under captivity meeting them in their natural habitat is the only option which requires moving deep into the forest to meet them, feeding domesticated monkeys, visiting animals in zoos among other activities have their places of course but a magical encounter with the mountain gorillas is true wildlife at its best. You get up close and individual with enormous creatures and there are few more exciting, intimidating and impressive sight than a 200kg silverback male standing on two feet and beating his chest at you, just to let you know who’s the boss, without doubt by this time you will know who is the boss.

Is it possible to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda?

True, you can track mountain gorillas in three countries that’s Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo, however due to some political instability in DRC many tourists prefer tracking in Rwanda and Uganda. To some trekkers, gorilla tracking experience appears not to be the same based on gorilla families and forests where these endangered apes live, the gorilla permit fees among others. So Uganda or Rwanda? Which should you choose?

In Uganda:

TRANSPORT: in Uganda, mountain gorillas are tracked in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla forest national park both located in the south western part of Uganda. It involves a whole day drive from Kampala to one of the parks. Though these parks are far, it is easy to access. From Kampala it’s about 7-9 hours to arrive at Bwindi national park the most visited park for gorilla tracking in Uganda. So you have to leave Kampala very early in the morning to start up your journey to the southern part of the country. However the long distance makes the journey more adventurous, it involves stopovers at any interesting spot to admire nature. Accommodation within and around the park are very many ranging from budget to up market,

BOOKING: all bookings are done through the Uganda wildlife Authority, its headquarters are at Kamwokya Kampala. They are more effective than their Rwandan brothers and are much more open to emails and phone calls etc. About 88 permits are available each day in Bwindi impenetrable national park and 8 people at Mgahinga gorilla forest national park. However you can book your gorilla permit through a tour company as they have easy access to these permits than individuals over 80% priority is given to tour companies and tour operators. Uganda gorilla permits are based on first come first served basis so the earlier to book your gorilla permit the better to avoid disappointment at least 2- 5 month

VISAS: visas is a must to any traveler to Uganda , however some nations are visa prone due to a bi lateral agreement signed between Uganda and other nations include, Canada, US, Australia, ) don’t require any prior work. Just arrive at the border, pay your $100 and you’re in. Only single entry visas are available.

GORILLAS: Amazing of course, with over 11 gorilla groups in Uganda and one gorilla group Nyakagezi in Mgahinga gorilla forest, the groups are impressive. Tracking activities are conducted every day with tracking activities starting at the park headquarters. The rainforest here is reportedly denser when you compare it to the volcanoes forest of Rwanda so the photographic opportunities aren’t necessarily as presentable however, as a silverback runs across your path that’ll be the least of your worries! The trek from the park to the gorillas range from 1 to 8 hours depending on the gorilla movement and family group.

In Rwanda:

TRANSPORT:

Volcanoes national park is located in Musanze the closest town to volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri, possibly about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital city. A day one gorilla trip is very possible check on our safari packages. You can depart early from Kigali and do an activity in the evening, you can do a city tour before your depart to the park. Accommodations are very many at the park from budget to up market accommodation.

BOOKING:

Rwanda gorilla permits are acquired through the ORPTN office in Kigali or at the park headquarters in Kiningi. You can book direct at the headquarters or through a tour company organizing your safari. About 80 gorilla permits are sold every day since volcanoes national park is a home to 10 habituated gorilla groups which are readily available to receive visitors every day. You are advised to book in advance as Rwanda gorilla permits are at a very high demand at times permits get finished so easily. Like in Uganda, it’s easier to get gorilla permits through a tour company organizing your safari than booking individually. Ounce you acquire your gorilla permit it’s a guarantee for tracking.

VISAS: Available on the border and in the airport and generally cost $100 for 30 days. No problems at all.

GORILLAS:

According to the mountain gorilla population conducted in Rwanda, the country is known for housing the second highest population of mountain gorillas after Uganda, over 360 remaining mountain gorillas live in volcanoes national park, with the easier to spot gorilla families, the scenery allows for better photos making it known as best gorilla safari destination in the world. The park is known for housing 10 gorilla habituated groups ready to receive visitors every day and 2 gorilla families are used for research purpose. In each gorilla group only 8 members are allowed to track and only one hour is allowed to stay with these apes, however this one hour is a memorable one when you come face to face with a baby gorillas rolling around at your feet to Silverbacks charging around within a meter or two of you, it will take your breath away. Tracking can go up to 8 hours according to a gorilla family you’ve trekked

Uganda or Rwanda

This question is a bit very tricky, however to vast majority of the people who have trekked in both countries they seem to say that they visit Rwanda for a wonderful gorilla trek although the experience is the same.

Mountain Gorillas on a budget? There are several tour companies and countless tour operator who are ready to organize your gorilla trek and make your experience a memorable one.