What are the chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is among the frequently asked questions by travelers planning gorilla safaris in Africa. Well, the chances of seeing gorillas are 98% if not 100%. Given the high cost of gorilla trekking packages and the energy required hiking up and downhill in search for the endangered gorillas, travelers are always concerned about the chances of seeing gorillas in the wild. It would be so disappointing for one to miss out on seeing gorillas after paying huge sums of money and traveling from far.
The good thing is that you are over 98% sure of seeing gorillas at the end of the trek. For the time we have been arranging gorilla safaris and tours in Africa, no cases have been reported about clients who failed to see the gorillas. Tourism and conservation bodies in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo have put strategies to ensure travelers get to see gorillas on the gorilla trekking safari. At superfine Safaris Limited, we work hand in hand with conservation bodies in gorilla trekking parks to ensure our clients see gorillas in their natural habitats,
The strategies to See Gorillas
Find strategies that guarantee high chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo include:
Trackers who go ahead of time!
In all gorilla trekking Parks, a group of trackers have been trained about gorilla conservation and tourism. At the end of each day, trackers follow up on the gorilla families to confirm where each gorilla family is going to spend a night. At the start of each trekking day, trackers hike up into the jungle o confirm the exact location of each gorilla family.
They then notify the rangers and travelers on the exact location of each gorilla family. They use tracking devices to tell exactly where the gorillas are and which route to follow to avoid going off-track in the forest. Having known the actual location of the gorillas is a guarantee for travelers to see the gorillas at the end of the trek
Gorilla Family allocation
At the start of each gorilla trekking day, park rangers allocate different gorilla families to each group of eight travelers. The gorilla family allocation is categorized as hard, medium and easy trek depending on the traveler’s physical fitness and hiking abilities. The physically fit, young and energetic travelers are allocated hard to trek gorilla families which are normally far while the elderly, physically unfit are given easy and medium to trek gorilla families. Travelers are reminded to always disclose about their physical abilities to the tour operators arranging their gorilla safari packages. Disclosing your hiking abilities and physical fitness enable the tour operators to plan for you a head of time and secure for you an easy to trek gorilla family.
In case, the traveler is disabled and totally unable to trek, they are advised to hire porters who carry the on sedan chairs to and from seeing the gorillas. Our topic on gorilla trekking for the elderly gives you more information! This prevents the risk of failing to hike which can lead one to miss out on seeing the gorillas. Therefore the allocation of gorilla families’ based on the travelers fitness and hiking ability increases chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Mountain gorillas are habituated
In all three countries, the mountain gorillas have been habituated into families. Gorilla habituation is the act of training and taming wild gorillas making them familiar to people. Travelers therefore trek habituated gorillas which are used to people’s presence. This increases the chances of seeing gorillas since they will not run a way on seeing people. Gorillas are habituated in a way that they can come so close to people without any fear. A gorilla can come so close to touch a client! Travelers are however reminded to keep their distance and step back in case a gorilla comes so close.
Tourism police
Armed tourism police and security has been enforced in all gorilla trekking park sin Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These patrol gorilla habits day and night to ensure security! Insecurity and rebel threats is one of the common reasons why travelers would miss on seeing the endangered gorillas. The live example in In Virunga National Park where gorilla trekking is closed due to insecurity and rebel threats. When tourism police confirm safety in a park, travelers are very sure of seeing gorillas in all gorilla trekking national parks in Uganda, Rwanda
Some people also ask
What if I fail to see the gorillas?
In rare cases when travelers fail to see gorillas due to the unavoidable circumstances such as heavy rainfall or trekking all day in vain, travelers are given chance to trek another day without paying again. However if a traveler fails to see gorillas due to his/her failure to hike or sickness, they are not given another chance. They will pay again if they want to try again another time.
Are you guaranteed to see gorillas in Uganda?
YES, whereas it is not 100% sure, there are high chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda. No travelers have reported missing out on see gorillas on their Uganda gorilla trekking safari. Endeavor to carry your gorilla permit, arrive at the park headquarters on time, and be physically fit, you will definitely see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest/Mgahinga Gorilla National parks both in south western Uganda
How easy is it to see the gorillas in Rwanda?
For the physically fit, seeing gorillas can even take 30 minutes. Hiking through the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National park is not as strenuous as hiking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. The ease of seeing gorillas in Rwanda depend on the traveler’s readiness and preparedness. First of all, book and reserve your gorilla permit as early as 6 months in advance. Also report at the park headquarters before 7:00am. The actual trek to see gorillas in Rwanda starts at 8:00am. One physical abilities can ease or harden the gorilla trekking experience.
How can I see the gorillas?
The possible way for one to see gorillas is to book a gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Superfine Safaris Limited offers guided tailor-made gorilla trekking packages to Bwindi Forest and the Virunga Conservation Area at affordable rates. You should first decide on which country you want to visit for gorilla trekking since each country has set different prices for gorilla trekking permits. Once the permit is secured and the itinerary designed, work on your physical fitness to ease hiking up and down hill in the gorilla parks.
How much does it cost to see gorillas in Africa?
The real cost of seeing gorillas in Africa is determined by different factors. These include the gorilla permit, the number of days, Extra activities included, type of accommodation booked and many others. However zeroing to gorilla trekking permit, each permit costs $1500 in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda and $450 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On average, a 3 Day Uganda gorilla safari costs $1500 inclusive of the permit, accommodation, transport, and driver guide and everything included in the 3 days Uganda gorilla trek.
Where can I see gorillas in Uganda?
Gorillas in Uganda are seen in Bwindi impenetrable Forest ad Mgahinga Gorilla National parks. Both are located in south western Uganda Bwindi shared between Kabale and Rubanda district while Mgahinga is in Kisoro district. Gorillas in Bwindi Forest can be seen in any one of the four gorilla regions that make up Bwindi Forest National park. These gorilla regions are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Altogether, Uganda shelters 21 gorilla families, 20 of which lie in Bwindi Forest while one lives in Mgahinga Gorilla National park.
How much does it cost to go gorilla safari in Uganda?
The cost of Uganda gorilla safari is between $1000 to $2500. This is determined by several factors. First of all, the Uganda gorilla permit costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for east African citizens. The cost of a gorilla safari in Uganda increases upon addition of transport, accommodation, meals and miscellaneous. However Uganda remains an affordable gorilla safari destination compared to Rwanda.
How old do you have to be to see gorillas in Uganda?
You Must be 15 years old and above to be able to see gorillas in Uganda. The age limit is one of the requirements by Uganda Wildlife Authority for anyone coming to see gorillas in Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National park. However, this age limit also applies in other gorilla parks in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Is Gorilla trekking cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking is cheaper in Uganda than in Rwanda. The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $800 which is far less compared to $1500 in Rwanda. However in terms of accessibility, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is cheaper than in Uganda. Connecting from Kigali to Volcanoes National is roughly 3 hours’ drive compared to the 9 hours’ drive time from Entebbe airport to Bwindi Forest/Mghinga Gorilla parks in Uganda.
Conclusively, there are high chances of seeing gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With Superfine Safaris Limited, you are 99% sure of seeing gorillas in your gorilla safaris in Africa
