Month: August 2024

Guide to the best places for primate trekking in Rwanda with Superfine Safaris Limited.  Rwanda has become so famous over time due to her lifetime primate trekking adventures!  Over 90% of travelers to Rwanda are interested in visiting one or two primates for a face-to-face encounter with the endangered species in their natural habitats.  The small country also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills boosts in many primates, namely the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden, and other Colobus monkey species.  Rwanda tours cannot be complete without the inclusion of any primate tours.

Popular primates of Rwanda

Mountain Gorillas

Scientifically known as Gorilla Beringei Beringei, mountain gorillas are the most visited primates in Rwanda.  Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the Eastern gorillas that survive in Bwindi Forest and the Virunga Conservation Area.  The endangered primates reside in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park located in northwestern Rwanda. The country protects over 400 mountain gorillas which is the highest number in the Virunga Conservation Area.

An encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats is the best wildlife experience that travelers yearn to have over and over again.  Mountain gorillas were declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2018 due to several threats that affect their survival.  Altogether, the world has roughly 1006 mountain gorillas half of which live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park while the other population is shared by the three gorilla parks in the Virunga Massif.

Mountain gorillas are covered by much fur which helps them to survive in the cold mountain regions where they live. Adult silverback gorilla weighs between 120 to 200 kilograms while adult female gorillas weigh between 70 to 100 kilograms. Mountain gorillas are slightly smaller than their sister species, the eastern Lowland Gorillas which live in Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees rank second to mountain gorillas in terms of popularity and visitation. The chimpanzees are scientifically called pan troglodytes chimpanzees are believed to share over 98% of human genes which make them the close relatives of humans. Chimpanzees in Rwanda are found in Nyungwe Forest National Park located in southwestern Rwanda. Bonobos are closely related to bonobos and baboons.  Just like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are also endangered primates highly threatened by poaching, habitat loss, and civil conflicts. Chimpanzees live in communities each headed by an adult male who overlooks the rest of the members in the community.

Golden Monkeys

Found in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkeys are yet another interesting primate species to visit on your Rwanda safari.  Golden monkeys are scientifically called Cercopithecus kandti and are a subspecies of the blue monkeys. These endangered primates are old-world monkeys that survive in the jungles of the Virunga Mountains.

Baboons

Scientifically called Papio, baboons are divided into different subspecies which include Guinea baboon, Olive baboon, Kinda baboon, Chasma baboon, hamadryas baboon, and yellow baboon among others.

Top places for primate trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes National park

Home to the endangered mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is a stop center for mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga mountains. With 10 gorilla families, habituated for trekking, Volcanoes National Park offers luxury gorilla tours. Each gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500 issued by the Rwanda Development Board.  A gorilla safari in Rwanda offers you the chance to meet and interact with one of the 10 gorilla groups in the forest.

The Rwanda gorilla families include Hirwa, SusaA, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Pablo, Titus, Agashya, Umubano, and Kwitonda. Each gorilla family is visited by 8 people for a maximum of an hour. Superfine Safaris specializes in customized Rwanda gorilla tours and we can help you arrange the Rwanda safari to see the endangered primates.

Our Rwanda safaris range from 1 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking to over 10 Rwanda gorilla safari which combines gorillas and other wildlife species to make a complete package. In addition to the endangered gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is also home to the famous golden monkeys.  These playful primates are seen jumping across tree branches.  A combination of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys offers you a more intimate Rwanda primate trekking adventure. Other things to see and do in Nyungwe Forest include bird watching, nature walks, community tours, Karisimbi hike, Mt Bisoke hike, visiting Bulera and Ruhondo twin lakes, and hiking to Dian Fossey grave graveyard.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Located in southwestern Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park shelters the endangered chimpanzees. Nyungwe Forest is the center of chimpanzee and colubus trekking experiences in Rwanda. Chimpanzee trekking is done in the main Nyungwe Forest of the Cyamudongo Forest which was cut off from the main forest by deforestation.  Chimpanzees are a major attraction that brings many people from all parts of the world to Nyungwe Forests. Travelers on Chimpanzees safaris in Nyungwe Forest can also take part in canopy walks, nature walks, colubus monkey trekking, and bird watching among others. Entrance to Nyungwe Forest National Park is $100

Best time for primate trekking in Rwanda

Dry/peak season between June to September and December to February is regarded as the best time for primate trekking in Rwanda. There are fewer or no rains during this time which makes it easy to trek through the dense forest in search of the endangered primates. There is always a high demand for primate trekking permits during this period hence travelers are urged to book as early as possible

What to pack for Primate trekking in Rwanda

You are reminded to pack the best for your primate trekking adventure in Rwanda. Packing the best does not mean suits but rather the best attire ft for the jungle. These include Light waterproof hiking boots, gardening gloves, sunglasses, a hat, a rain jacket, pocho, stockings, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts among others. Also, endeavor to pack insect repellents, drinking water, energy-giving snacks and toiletries among others. A first kid kit is also necessary for your primate trekking safari.

Other places to Visit in Rwanda

The other tourist destinations to explore in Rwanda include among others

Akagera National park

Located in Eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is the only savannah park in Rwanda. The park is the best place for game safaris sheltering the big five “Elephants, Rhinos, Leopards, Buffalos and Lions”. You can also see Giraffes, Waterbucks, Zebras, warthogs, Impalas, Topis, Gazelles, Dik Dik, and cheetahs among others. Wildlife viewing is best done during morning and evening hours when wild animals are actively hunting and grazing. Sport fishing, bird watching community tours, and nature walks are other things to do in Akagera National Park.

Kigali City

Ranked as the cleanest city in Africa, Kigali city is a gateway to all tourism destinations in Rwanda.  The city tour through Kigali is a chance to visit different destinations in the city center. These include the Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali genocide memorial center, Kimironko Market, Presidential Palace, Inema Art Gallery, and various shopping malls. You will enjoy the beautiful and traffic-free roads of Kigali and confirm for yourself that the capital is indeed the best

Call it nature or forest walking, the experience is about walking through the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi Gorilla Park.  Penetrate through the dense thick forests of Bwindi following narrow trails as you discover the hidden gem in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Whereas  Bwindi Forest has been known for gorilla trekking, the forest is a best spot for  walking safaris in Uganda.  Nature/forest walking is one way of discovering and exploring the hidden gem in Bwindi Forest.

A guided walk through the impenetrable jungles of Bwindi is undeniably an exceptional experience you should not miss out on your Uganda gorilla tour to Bwindi. The experience has presently become common where many travelers desire to explore this jungle forest on a walk. Fortunately, different hiking trails have been designated in Bwindi unlike in mountain gorilla trekking where travelers have no direct path to the endangered gorillas.

Forest/nature walking is an add-on experience to gorilla tours and cultural experiences  in Bwindi Forest. Each trail starts and ends at a certain point. Forest walks offer you great chances of seeing numerous trees and plant species, birds and wild animals in the forest.

The hiking trails in Bwindi Forest are categorized into short, medium and long split in four sectors of the national park, some trails like the Buhoma Nkuringo trail start from one sector and ends in the other. The common hiking trails in Bwindi Forest National Park include:

Munyaga River trail
Munyaga river trail is the most hiked trail in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Forest National park. The trail is done along the Bizenga creek connecting to Munyaga river lasting for roughly 2 hours. More so, the trail is in some way circular starting and ending at the same point without backtracking.

The scenic views of River Munyaga are best for photography. More so, Munyaga trail is the best spot for bird watching. The banks of river Munyaga shelter various bird species such as red-headed bluebill and African Emerald Cuckoo among others. It is therefore the best trail for bird watching.

Waterfall trail
Also located in Buhoma sector, the 3 hours’ waterfall trail is yet another interesting trail to hike on your Uganda tour to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The trail slashed in 1970 majorly to build a road connecting to Kisoro. However, the road was not constructed there leaving it for only people walking on foot. The scenic views of the beautiful waterfall make it more enjoyable. You will meet many local people on this trail giving you a chance to interact with them

Rushura Trail
Join the Rushura trail to the summit of Rushura, the highest hill in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Forest National Park. Hiking the Rushura trail starts near Buhoma park headquarters lasting for roughly 3 hours to reach the Rushura hill summit at 1915 meters above the sea level.

Travelers hike through terraces, local farms and the forest which make it more enjoyable. The summit of Rushura hill offers great views of the jungle forest, Virunga volcanoes, Rwenzori mountains and the western rift valley plus local people’s farms and homesteads.

Mujabajiro Loop Trail
This trail entails ascending through the forest canopy across the Mujabajiro creek to Rukuburi hill for scenic views of the Virunga Volcanoes and the entire Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The hiking trail takes for between 3-4 hours but the magical feeling that comes along is worth the effort. In 1992, the trail was caught by fire which destroyed the vegetation leaving the trail so open. However, the vegetation has grown and its surely beautiful

River lvi trail
River lvi trail is one of the longest hiking trails ascending and descending south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The 6 hours walk follows the old road which is mostly used by local people going to gardens and Nteko local market. The trail starts in Buhoma sector ending in Nkuringo. It therefore, crosses from the northern sector to the southern sector of Bwindi Forest National park. The scenic views of River lvi is best for photography

Kashasha River Trail
Kashasha river trail starts in Buhoma and ends in Nkuringo sector. The 5-6 hours’ trail takes you through steep forests taking you up to 600 meters above the sea level. Travelers who use a vehicle along this route take roughly 7 hours’ drive. Walking is therefore easier than driving along this trail. Moreso, the scenic views along the trail, encounters with different wild animals and birds make it more enjoyable and fun

Bamboo Trail
The guided bamboo trail takes you through bamboo forest of Bwindi National park. It’s a steep hike to 0ver 2007 meters above the sea level overlooking the Virunga volcanoes and the entire Bwindi Forest. More so, the trail takes you through different vegetation types which include afro montane forests. Ryamunyonyi hill is the highest point of the bamboo trail and the summit offers great views of the beautiful lake Bunyonyi.

Mubwindi Swamp Trail
This trail descends along a path through the forest to Mubwindi swamp, home to numerous birds and forest animals. The walk gives you great chances of meeting numerous birds and wild animals along the way. Also, the joyful birds which sing endlessly above you in the trees make this trail more colorful

What to park for nature/forest walks in Bwindi Forest
Superfine Safaris Limited brings you a guide on what to pack for forest/nature walk in Bwindi Forest National Park. Travelers are reminded to carry essentials to make their walking experience less difficult. Among the things to carry for forest walking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park include:
• Closed walking shoes/boots
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Bottled drinking water
• Insect repellants
• Rain jacket for the unpredictable forest weather
• Long pants
• Scarf and sweaters
• A walking stick is a must-have for everyone going for a nature walk. The fallen rotten forest leaves and vegetation make the ground slippery and at times difficult to walk through. A walking stick will, therefore, give you support

Best time for Nature walks in Bwindi Forest
The dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February is the best time to do nature /forest walks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. The forest grounds in this time are dry making it easy to walk through. However, if you are interested in seeing many birds, the rainy season in March, April, May, and November is the best.

Other activities to do in Bwindi Forest
Besides nature walks, Bwindi Forest National park offers travelers a variety of many more travel activities to make a complete package. The other things to see and do in Bwindi Forest National Park include:
1. Mountain gorilla trekking, the number one travel activity in Bwindi Forest.

The forest is home to the highest number of the world’s mountain gorillas with 17 habituated gorilla families. A gorilla permits in Bwindi costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for east African residents
2. Mountain gorilla habituation experience is yet another interesting activity done in Rushaga sector, south of Bwindi Forest National Park. Habituation is the process of training wild gorillas to make them familiar with human presence
3. Bird watching
4. Community visits
In general, forest/ nature walks are a not miss on your Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Contact African Apes Tours today, book your walking tour for a memorable experience

There are lots of interesting experiences  to add  on your gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Whereas most travelers on African safaris consider gorilla trekking safari as their first priority, Africa offers much more than gorillas. Superfine Safaris Limited  gives you a detailed list of the gorilla trekking add-ons to ensure much more fun and enjoyable gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Complementing your gorilla tour with other wildlife activities make your safari magical and life-changing. In most cases, travelers who have long safaris ask which other activities they can partake. The recommended gorilla trekking add-ons by Superfine Safaris Limited include:

Gorilla Trekking Addons

Chimpanzee trekking

Ranked second best wildlife experience after gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking is  best add on your gorilla safari. An encounter with chimpanzees in the jungle is a magical feeling that lasts for a lifetime. The top chimpanzee trekking destinations in Africa include Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura gorge in Uganda and Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda. Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to people sharing over 99% of human genes.

Enjoy the human-like characters of chimpanzees where the adult male watches over the family like a father in a human home, adult females nurse babies while juveniles continuously play entertaining other family members. Like in gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking starts with registration and briefing at the respective park headquarters. Travelers are required to follow the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking such as seven meter distance , avoiding direct eye contact, avoid using flashlight cameras, do not litter in the park, do not shout.

If you want to spend extended time with chimpanzees, book a chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale Forest National Park Uganda. The costs of chimpanzee trekking are quite less compared to gorillas hence the best option for budget travelers. Chimpanzee permit booking is recommended as early as 5 months prior directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board or through superfine safaris your number one safari company.

Game Viewing (Game Drives)

Go game viewing in the open savannah parks of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania with Superfine Safaris. Morning, evening and night game drives through savannahs offer you great views of numerous wild animals grazing, hunting, and browsing. Expect to see various wild animals such as elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, Oribis, Topis, Elands, Waterbucks, Buffalos, Hippos, Kobs, Cheetahs, Leopards, Warthogs, Hyenas and wildebeests among others.

The top places for game viewing in Uganda include Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Park. In Rwanda, game viewing is done in Akagera National Park. Do not miss visiting the famous tree-climbing lions in Ishasha sector, south of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Golden Monkey trekking

A trek to see golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National park Uganda and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is a not miss on you gorilla safari in Africa. The golden fur on the backs distinguish golden monkeys  from other species. Travelers are required to book and secure golden monkey permits at a cost of $100 in both Uganda and Rwanda. Golden monkeys are one of the critically endangered species in the jungle as listed by IUCN on the red list of endangered species.

Cultural tours

Spare time and visit the indigenous local communities in Africa for an experimental cultural experience. The most visited cultural groups are the batwa pygmies living adjacent to all gorilla parks in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Also, the IK people in karamoja regions of Uganda near Kidepo Valley National Park are a must visit on your Uganda safari to northeastern Uganda. A batwa cultural trail done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park tells you about the traditional forest life of batwa pygmies before the introduction of gorilla tourism. Enjoy and take part in traditional local activities such as hunting, preparing local food, searching for medicinal plants and collecting honey among others. Visit the Manyattas of the K’ Jongs, learn about their pastoral life and have fun.

Mountaineering/Mountain Climbing

Enjoy a hike to the summit of any one Mountain in Africa. A hike to snow-capped Magherita peak of Mount Rwenzori, Mt Elgon or any one of the Virunga Volcanoes is a memorable experience. Join a hike to the summit of active Nyiragongo Volcano to peep into the boiling lava lake. Among the things to pack for mountaineering safari in Africa include hiking boots, gardening gloves, bottled drinking water, hiking gears and energy giving drinks. A climbing stick and porter are essential in ensuring a successful volcano hiking experience.

Bird watching

Ensure to add a birding trip on your gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Birds in Volcanoes National Park include Red backed shrike, Blue spotted wood dove, Baglafecht weaver, Cinnamon checked bee-eater and Bateleur. Birds in Bwindi Forest National park include Chapins flycatcher, Regal sunbird, Montane Oriole, Handsome francolin, Rwenzori Batis, strange weaver, and Dusky Tinspot.

Birds in Virunga National Park include African Olive Pigeon, Grey throated barbet, Angolan swallow, tropical boubou, alpine swift and Papyrus yellow warbler among others. Our experienced birding guides will help you spot different bird species. Bird watching is best done in the morning and evening hours during a forest/nature walk.

Mountain gorilla trekking add-ons make your whole gorilla trekking experience much more memorable. Contact Superfine Safaris, book gorilla trekking, and the add-ons to have a memorable African experience.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali Rwanda has become a real deal recently. Most travelers on Uganda gorilla tours prefer flying to Kigali and crossing to Uganda via any land border (Cyanika in Kisoro or Katuna in Kabale).   Uganda gorilla trekking safaris starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda are a real deal, especially for travelers who have limited time. Also, Uganda gorilla safaris through Kigali are a preference for travelers who don’t like long hours of driving.  Connecting from Kigali Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda is much easier and convenient compared to a full day of driving from Kampala/Entebbe.

Interestingly, Uganda safaris starting from Kigali do not zero down to only gorillas but also entail other wildlife experiences in different parts of Africa’s Pearl.  The other best experiences to enjoy in Uganda starting from Kigali include game viewing/launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi,  Virunga Volcano climbing, and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale  Forest National Park among others.

Distance & driving time from Kigali to Uganda

The overall travel time from Kigali to Uganda gorilla parks is roughly 5 hours of driving.

Kigali City is located 129.6 kilometers from Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda. This takes roughly 3 hours of driving. If you are on a Uganda gorilla safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Cyanika is the best land border to use when crossing from Kigali Rwanda.

For Bwindi gorilla tours, the distance is roughly 105 kilometers which takes roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes of driving.

Popular Uganda gorilla tour packages starting from Kigali Rwanda

In most cases, it’s the short Uganda gorilla trekking tours that start and end in Kigali Rwanda. The popular ones include the

1 Day Uganda gorilla trekking tour.

On this trip, travelers leave Kigali at 3:30 am to be able to catch up with a gorilla trekking briefing in Uganda.  The 1 day Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali has made it easy for limited-time travelers who want to see gorillas on a budget. Over time, the 1 Day Uganda gorilla trekking tour has become popular with lots of travelers booking it. After gorilla trekking, travelers drive back to Kigali for overnight or departure

2 Day Uganda gorilla trip

A 2-day Uganda gorilla trip starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda entails an overnight stay in either Bwindi impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park depending on which park they will be visiting.  Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Uganda. Spend an overnight at your lodge. The next day trek gorillas and drive back to Kigali for your departure flight

3 Days Uganda gorilla tour

The 3 days Uganda gorilla tour starts in Kigali and normally ends in Kampala/Entebbe Uganda. However, you can still start and end in Kigali Rwanda on your 3-Day Uganda gorilla tour. Day 1 Arrive in Kigali and drive to Uganda, Day 2 trek gorillas and visit Batwa/Bakiga local communities and Day 3 depart through Kigali or Entebbe depending on your flight schedule and choice

4 Days Uganda Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi

The 4-day Uganda Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi safari including flying into Kigali and driving to Uganda. Day 1 arrive and travel to Bwindi Forest/Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, day 2 mountain gorilla trekking, Day 3, transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, Day 4  Departure through Kigali or drive to Entebbe

5 days Uganda gorillas & wildlife safari

This one entails flying into Kigali Rwanda, gorilla trekking, and game viewing in Uganda. Day 1 transfer from Kigali to Bwindi Forest. Day 2 mountain gorilla trekking, Day 3, Lake Bunyonyi & transfer to Ishasha, Day 4 Game viewing & launch cruise at Kazinga Channel, Day 5 Departure

Superfine Safaris helps you customize any Uganda safari of your choice starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda at pocket-friendly prices.

How far are the gorillas from Kigali?

Uganda gorillas are 4 -5 hours away from Kigali Rwanda. The distance is roughly 134 kilometers via Cyanika or Katuna border and the 4-5 hours include driving and immigration time.  Uganda mountain gorillas are so close to Kigali Rwanda than Entebbe Uganda. Travelers with short time prefer trekking gorillas in Uganda starting from Kigali

How much does it cost to see gorillas in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents,

and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues all Uganda gorilla permits on a first come first serve basis. Superfine Safaris helps you secure and reserve permits. The recommended time for booking gorilla permits in Uganda is 6 months. In addition, Uganda gorilla safaris in Bwindi Forest include 4 hours of gorilla habituation experience in which wild gorillas are trained to get used to people. Each permit for habituation costs $1500 and only 8 permits are available each day.

How difficult is gorilla trekking?

Trekking uphill in the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Conservation Area is not a walk away. The experience is strenuous and requires some sort of physical fitness hence not for the faint hatred. Whereas travelers are allowed only an hour with the endangered gorillas, the actual time spent in the jungle is not certain. It takes roughly 2 to over 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and the hiking speed of the clients. Travelers planning gorilla safaris in Africa are advised to do some physical exercises to ensure fitness before the start of the adventure

Is Gorilla trekking worth it?

YES, gorilla trekking is undeniably worth every penny and energy. Looking into the brown eyes of the silverback gorilla tour, seeing the adult female gorillas take care of the infants and the general social life of the gorillas is a magical feeling worth the money.

How long is a trek to see gorillas in Uganda?

The length of a gorilla trek to see gorillas in Uganda is not specific! It lasts for between 2 hours to over 6 hours depending on the location of the allocated gorilla family. How long also depends on the physical fitness of the travelers. However, regardless of how long you take on a trek, you are 99% sure of seeing the gorillas at the end of the trek

In conclusion, gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali Rwanda is the easiest and cheapest way to visit gorillas in Uganda. Contact Superfine Safaris Limited, let us know when you intend to travel and we shall offer you a customized Uganda gorilla safari starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda.

Traveling with small kids can be exciting and fun but challenging is not properly planned. Most families have wondered whether it’s possible to travel internationally with small kids and how the experience would be having the little ones in the jungles and wilderness. It’s very possible to travel and have fun with kids. Those who have traveled with kids before confirm that moving and spending time with kids in the wilderness is the best experience a family can ever have. Superfine Safaris brings you detailed tips for traveling with kids, and what you need to know to ensure a superfine African safari.  These tips include:

Tips For traveling with Kids

Schedule passports for the kids

Just like for adults, your kids must have passports to be allowed to travel to any international destination. You are therefore advised to secure and schedule your kid’s passports as early as possible to avoid bouncing at the airport processing passports can sometimes be crazy hence better done as early as possible to avoid any last-minute disappointments.  Arrange an appointment with a local post office near you and work on the kid’s passports as early as possible. We are only talking about the kid’s passports hoping you already have yours ready!

Choose a mix of destinations and activities in your itinerary

When traveling with kids, endeavor to have a mix of destinations and activities. Make sure your itinerary includes places and activities that excite kids and also activities that suit your travel interests as adults. Among the places that excite kids include city tours where they visiting shopping malls and kids parks. Also, a safari to the wildebeest in the national park where wild animals are seen from a distance has proved to be interesting to the kids.

You will be amazed at how your kids will cheer throughout the safari during game drives and other related activities.  Do not forget to engage in adventurous lifetime experiences for yourselves such as mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  When you go trekking the gorillas, the local guide can take your kids to a nearby community for a cultural experience or a nature walk near the lodge.

Travel during the low season

YES, you heard me right! Traveling with kids is best enjoyable during low season when crowds are less. Peak. High season normally makes tourist destinations congested with lots of crowds which makes the little kids uncomfortable and feel out of place.  The low season comes with freedom and fewer crowds which turn out to be exciting for the kids. They will be few at the kid’s park hence getting attention from their masters.

Limit the number of travel days

Make sure you limit the number of travel days when with kids. Being on a road or flight every two days becomes tiring for the small kids hence killing their whole safari vibes. You should at least have 4 sleepovers in one destination to avoid continuous traveling from one destination to another in the shortest time. Give the little kids to enjoy and feel one destination at a time rather than jumping on a plane every other day which exhausts them!

Rent a private family car

If you can afford this, please rent a private family car for you and the kids. This saves you the stress of waking up very early and rushing the catch the flight, train, or bus that travels at a fixed timetable.  You need to be flexible as much as possible when traveling with kids if you want to have them enjoy the safari. Once you have a private car, you follow your timetable, move at your own pace, and give the children enough time to relax and enjoy their favorite activities without rushing to catch a flight or train.

Stay longer for the first days

You are advised to at least stay four nights in your first destination before traveling to a new destination. After long hours of flight and the jetlag, kids and even the adults are so tired. Having extended time at the first destination helps you refresh and get relief from the fatigue and jetlag as well as adjusting to the different time zones. Immediate packing and heading out to a new destination is tiring to the kids who end up stressed and unhappy with the safari.

Book long-haul flights at night

If possible book long-haul flights at night. This enables you to have enough sleep at night and land at your destination the next morning. This gives your children enough time to explore the new destination in the morning

Why is Uganda best for gorilla trekking? When you talk about gorilla trekking, Uganda never misses on the top list of 3 gorilla safari destinations in Africa. True, Uganda is best for gorilla trekking for many reasons including pocket-friendly gorilla permits.

Gorilla trekking is mainly conducted in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In these three destinations, there exist fewer than 1063 mountain gorillas.

Trekking through the jungles before you find gorillas can take between 2 and 6 hours depending on how fast you can walk or the location of these apes. But what is most remarkable is that you are guaranteed an hour to enjoy face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild.

When choosing a place to visit for gorilla trekking, you have every reason to include Uganda in your bucket list. Here are the top reasons why Uganda is best for gorilla trekking;

Why is Uganda Best for Gorilla Trekking?

Two gorilla safari destinations

Uganda alone has two places where mountain gorilla trekking is conducted which is not the case with Rwanda and Congo. The two gorilla parks avail visitors options to choose the best place for them to visit to spend a gorilla safari holiday. They include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Game Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are found in Southwestern Uganda. These two protected areas all have habituated gorilla groups for tourists to visit to see mountain gorillas in the wild.

Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks account for the five gorilla sectors where gorilla treks begin from. They include 4 regions in Bwindi National Park alone; Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo then Ntebeko sector in Mgahinga National Park. Each of these five regions feature fully habituated gorilla groups.

Gorilla groups to trek

The highest population of already habituated gorilla groups exists in Uganda alone which presents huge opportunity for most trekkers to engage in a gorilla trek compared to any other destination. Currently, the total number of habituated gorilla groups in Uganda stands at about 24 families with 23 of them all existing in Bwindi then one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The notable mountain gorilla families to expect to explore include Mubare –the first habituated gorilla group to open for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Other families include Nshongi, Nkuringo, Oruzogo, Christmas, Bweza, Kahungye, Habinyanja, Bitukura, Rushegura, Mishaya, Bikingi, Bushaho and Mukiza, etc. Each group is visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests.

The highest concentration of mountain gorillas live in Uganda

Out of the estimated 1063 mountain gorillas which survive on earth, about half of them exist in Uganda. These are inhabited in the two parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Affordable gorilla permits

Compared to Rwanda, Uganda is the most affordable gorilla safari destination. This makes it pocket-friendly to majority of trekkers worldwide. A valid gorilla permit in Uganda only costs USD 800 per person compared to USD 1500 in Rwanda. In total, about 192 gorilla permits are always available for visitors to book for gorilla trekking in Uganda alone.

Safety

Uganda is the safest place to visit for gorilla safaris. Visitors can go and engage in a gorilla trek and return safely. Uganda as a country has a record of over 3 decades of prevailing peace and security making it not only a safe place for business, but an ideal destination for gorilla trekking/tourism in general.

Opportunity to combine gorilla trekking & other experiences

A gorilla trip in Uganda allows trekkers to have a combination of experiences besides normal gorilla trekking. You can combine game drives and boat cruise from different destinations such as Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Game Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

Combining gorilla safaris with visits to some of these parks is a great opportunity for you to encounter the Big game mammals in the wild.

Within Bwindi National Park, there is a chance to include/combine mountain gorilla habituation experience. With gorilla habituation, you spend about the entire day in the jungles while you follow the semi-habituated group of mountain gorillas in order to make them to get used to human presence.

It can take about 2 years or more to make gorillas become comfortable with humans then they are opened officially for gorilla trekking. The gorilla habituation experience is only offered in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park.

Even en-route, you have a chance to enjoy multiple stopovers including the Equator crossing at Kayabwe which you can have prior reaching to Bwindi or Mgahinga.

Best weather for gorilla trekking

Unlike other foreign countries or most African destinations, Uganda enjoys the best weather conditions making it the best for gorilla trekking. Uganda experiences tropical kind of climatic conditions and its weather conditions are favorable all year round. The best period though to consider for gorilla trekking is the dry season. This is recorded from June to September and then December to February –this happens across the two parks; Bwindi and Mgahinga.

What to carry for Uganda gorilla trekking

On your packing list for gorilla trekking in Uganda, do not leave out any of the following items; a camera free of flashlight, insect repellent, a valid gorilla permit and waterproof hiking boots. You also require long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, a rain jacket, insect repellents, toiletries, enough snacks and bottled drinking water. On actual gorilla trek, you also need a walking stick and this can be obtained while you are still at the park offices or lodge.

Travel tip

• Book a gorilla permit/gorilla safari in advance before the actual visit to Bwindi or Mgahinga to see mountain gorillas.
• Hire a porter to assist you with heavy luggage. The porters can be found at the park offices during briefing session. You can hire porter services at USD 15-20.

In summary, there is a long list of factors that make Uganda the best for gorilla trekking including affordable gorilla permits, multiple gorilla groups to explore, safe destination to visit, two gorilla safari parks to choose for your gorilla trekking and more.