African Apes

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most done travel activities in Uganda. Second to gorilla trekking, visit to see chimpanzees in the rain forest of Uganda has presently become common as recorded by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda tourism statistics, For those who have visited these primates before, a face-to-face encounter with chimpanzees is magical and memorable. Chimps share 99% of human genes, which make them our close relatives. The human-like character of chimpanzees where adult females nurse babies like human mothers, Adult females guard the family makes and how each family member plays a different role makes this whole encounter enjoyable and fun. Altogether, Uganda is believed to shelter over 5000, which makes it one of the best chimpanzee tour destinations in Africa. Numerous destinations have been designated to make chimpanzee tracking success in Uganda. Among the places to trek chimpanzees in Uganda include:

Kibale Forest national park

Uganda chimpanzee Tours

Also called the “Primate Capital”, Kibale Forest National Park is the number one chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. This rain forest is home to 13 primates the reason why it’s called the primate capital of Africa. treks to see chimpanzees in Kibale forest begins with a pre chimpanzee trekking briefing at Kanyanchu information center. Travelers are introduced to the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking and also put together in groups of eight. Trekking can take 3-0 minutes to 6 hours depending on where chimpanzees are located. Kibale forest is believed o be home to over 1000 chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest is done in the morning and afternoon sessions. Also, the Kibale forest is a Centre for Chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX), which allows travelers to spend half day with the endangered chimpanzees. A chimpanzee permit to trek chimps in Kibale forest costs $220 for allowing travelers to spend an hour with the endangered chimpanzees. A 3 Days Kibale chimpanzee tour offers you the best chimpanzee encounter and nature walk in Bigodi wetland.

Kalinzu Forest

Adult chimpanzee with a baby

Located near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest is yet another destination to visit chimpanzees. Actually it’s the second-best place for Uganda chimpanzee tours. The forest is home to over 300 chimpanzees 40 of which have been habituated for trekking. A permit to trek chimps in Kalinzu forest costs $40 hence cheap and affordable even for budget travelers. Like in Kibale forest, interaction with chimpanzees in Karinzu forest lasts for an hour. The age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Karinzu forests is 12 years. Chimps in Kalinzu forest are habituated by Japanese Researchers in joint cooperation with Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Budongo Forest – Murchison Falls National Park

Budongo Forest ranks 3rd best chimpanzee destination in the Peal of Africa. Located within Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo forest offers travelers with a magical chimpanzee encounter. Morning and afternoon chimpanzee trekking sessions are conducted to allow travelers to have ample time with their close relatives. Jane Goodall Institute is in charge of chimpanzee tours in Budongo forest incorporation with Uganda Wildlife Authority. For those who want to spend an overnight, Budongo Eco lodge offers food and sleeping services at affordable rates.

Kyambura Gorge – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyabura Gorge

Do not miss visiting chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge on your Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travelers trekking chimps in Kyambura gorge pay $90 which includes $50 for the chimpanzee permit and $40 park entrance fee. In most cases, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is done as a complement to other safari activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park such as game viewing, lion tracking and boat cruise at Kazinga channel.

Toro- Semuliki Wildlife Reserve

Visit to trek chimps in Toro Semuliki Wildlife reserve to have an off beaten chimpanzee encounter. Toro Semliki Valley is the least visited chimpanzee destination in Uganda but the experience is natural and worth doing. The reserve is located near Rwenzori mountains national park but easily accessed from Queen Elizabeth Park.

Tips for Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

African Apes Holidays brings you tips/guidelines for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. These are put to ensure the safety of chimpanzees and travelers ensuring sustainable chimpanzee tourism in the Pearl of Africa. The rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking in Uganda include:
• Keep a distance of seven meters away
• Do not trek when sick chimpanzee re susceptible t human diseases
• Avoid direct eye contact with chimpanzees
• Do not use flashlight cameras
• Do not litter in the Park
• Keep within your group
• Do not touch/feed the chimpanzees
• Turn back your faces when coughing or sneezing
• Speak at a low tone

What to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Make sure you pack the essentials to make your chimpanzee tour a success and fun. The chimpanzee trekking packing list includes:
1. Hiking boots/shoes
2. Gardening gloves
3. Sunglasses
4. Hat
5. Rain jackets
6. Insect repellants
7. Bottled drinking water
8. Energy giving snacks
9. Long pants
10. Long-sleeved shirts/blouses

Chimpanzee trekking remains one of the best wildlife experiences in the world. Uganda offers you memorable chimpanzee tours at affordable rates. Contact African Apes Tours  today, book a Uganda chimpanzee safari to Kibale Forest, Kyambura gorges and other chimpanzee destinations for a memorable primate encounter.

How tough is gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is always a concern for most travelers booking gorilla safaris to Africa. Upcoming travelers coming to trek gorillas often ask the ease and difficulty of trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. Well, the trek to see mountain gorillas is undeniably a challenging experience, which is not for the faint-hearted. it entails hiking up and downhill through thick forests which can at times be slippery. The conclusion of how difficult is gorilla trekking is quite challenging. Some travelers find it fun trekking for long while others find it a challenge. Magical Africa Safaris brings you information on the difficulty of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure you get the very best gorilla safari in Africa. The difficulty of gorilla trekking depends on various factors some of which are unavoidable. The factors that determine the difficulty and ease of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo include among others:

1. Location of the gorilla group
How easy or difficult is a trek to see gorillas depends on the location of a gorilla family you are given to trek. Different gorilla families live in areas of different altitudes. Some families live near (few meters from the starting pint)_ while others live uphill’s. For this mater gorilla trekking is categorized into short, medium and long treks depending on the location of a gorilla family. During gorilla family allocation, the elderly and physically unfit travelers are given short treks while the young and energetic are given long treks. the ease and difficulty of gorilla trekking, therefore, depends on where the gorilla family you are visited is located.

2. Travelers physical fitness

Trekking to see gorillas

The traveler’s physical fitness and hiking abilities determine whether the gorilla trek will be easy or difficult. Energetic and physically fit travelers never find gorilla trekking difficulty at all. On the other hand, the physically challenged travelers even find the short gorilla trek to be a difficulty. Future travelers planning to trek gorillas are therefore advised to do physical exercises o ensure physical fitness and avoid difficulty in gorilla trekking when the time comes.

3. Weather conditions
Trekking in the rainy season between the months of March, April, May, October, and November is difficulty compared to dry season between the months of June, July, August, September, and December through February. During the rain season, forest grounds become so slippery and muddy making it difficult to hike through. Travelers planning gorilla safaris in the wet season are reminded to be ready for tough hikes but worth the effort.

4. Gorilla national park
Trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park is challenging compared to other gorilla parks (Volcanoes in Rwanda, Mgahinga and Virunga park in Congo). Gorillas in Bwindi forest especially in Nkuringo and Buhoma sector hike to areas of higher altitudes, which make it difficult to trek them. The adventurous experience is, however, the best for the young and physically fit travelers who seek to have a challenging experience.

Gorilla trekking tips
• Hire a porter and walking stick

Walking Stick

In order to minimize the difficulty of gorilla trekking, make sure you hire a porter to help you carry the baggage. This makes you lighter easing your treks. porters are hired for$15 a day but their services and a helping hand is worth the penny. Also, porters help to hold a traveler’s hand through slippery forest grounds hence preventing the traveler from falling. More so, ensure to hire walking stick support up and downhill. Walking sticks are found at the p[ark headquarters and can be hired at a very low cost.

• Wear hiking boots/shoes

Footwear for gorilla trekking

A traveler wearing hiking boots/shoes will find less difficulty in trekking gorillas. Hiking shoes ease movements through slippery muddy forest grounds which at the time making it difficult for those who do not have. Also, hiking boots protect your feet from getting dirty and soaked in mud. Make sure your hiking boots are light and waterproof. However, do not bring brand new and light-colored snickers into the jungle, they will get dirty and worn out.

• Carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks
Endeavor to carry enough bottled drinking water to quench the thirst that comes along with gorilla trekking. More so, carry energy-giving snacks, bread, bananas, eggs and the like to keep you strong throughout. a packed lunch is a must-have for everyone trekking to see mountain gorillas. The trekking time to see gorillas is not certain and can last for between 30 minutes to a full day depending on where gorillas will be located that day.

The right answer to how difficult is a trek to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo depends on the client. However, despite the difficulty of gorilla trekking, an encounter with these endangered species remains an exceptional experience, which no traveler should miss on his/her gorilla safari to Africa. Contact African Apes Tours & Travel today, book your gorilla tour and enjoy this lifetime experience.

Can elderly travelers trek gorillas? Are there gorilla safaris for the disabled? Yes, Senior/Elderly and disabled travelers can also trek gorillas without any difficulties.  With Superfine Safaris Limited, gorilla trekking is very possible for  the elderly/seniors and senior travelers.  If you are senior looking for a perfect gorilla trekking safari, you need not to worry. We offer exceptional gorilla trekking for the elders to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo with ease. Gorilla Trekking remains the best wildlife experience in Africa, a must-do adventure for most if not all travelers on African Safaris.

Whereas trekking to see mountain gorillas has been ranked as a challenging venture, Superfine Safaris offers you the very best gorilla tours despite your elderly age. Superfine Safaris Limited guides you on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest and the Virunga Conservation Area ensuring safety of both travelers and the endangered primates.

Who are the senior travelers?

Seniors trekking gorillas

We consider all travelers aged 60 years and above as elders/seniors. In most cases, travelers in this category are less physically fit and cannot hike for long hours and to areas of high altitudes. Superfine Safaris Limited arranges special gorilla trips for elderly travelers to ensure our senior clients enjoy gorilla trekking with no difficulty.

Firstly, we allocate you a senior travel guide with whom you share many things in common. We have a team of senior driver guides who have been in this industry for more than 30 years, with vast experience and knowledge of handling senior travelers. More so, we give you a very comfortable raised safari vehicle with which you will not feel the potholes and bumpy roads of Africa.

Travel tips for elderly travelers
Senior travelers are advised to be free and truthful to their travel agents to ensure proper planning and avoid any disappointments. Be true about your actual years! Senior travelers are encouraged to open up about their actual age so as to get a special treat as of their age. Also, disclose your hiking abilities to your driver-guide.

Travelers are also encouraged to open up about their physical abilities and hiking skills to their driver guides before the actual trek. driver-guide will go ahead to book for you a suitable gorilla family that suite your hiking abilities. In most cases, elderly travelers are given easy to trek gorilla families saving them long hours of hiking to find some gorilla families.

Hire a porter/ walking stick
Porters are very helpful for senior/elderly gorilla trekkers. Whereas hiring a porter is optional, its a must for senior travelers. Porters help to carry bags  and also give a supporting hand for clients through muddy and slippery forest grounds. Also, hiring a porter is an indirect support for local people who earn a living from pottering to improve their standards of living. More still, do not leave a walking stick behind. This eases your hiking through the jungle forests making the whole experience memorable.

Hire sedan chairs
Senior travelers aged beyond 70 years are advised to hire sedan chairs to avoid difficulties during gorilla trekking. There a traveler is carried by a team of 4 local porters to and from the jungle. Hiring a sedan chair costs $400 inclusive of all services to be carried to, throughout and from gorilla trekking. Sedan chairs saves you altitudinal sickness which is common to elderly travelers.

Do physical exercises

A senior exercising for gorilla trekking

More so, elderly travelers are encouraged to do physical exercises as a preparation to trek gorillas. The recommended physicals include walking, jogging, and hiking among others to keep them in good shape. The trek to see gorillas is not a walk away venture but rather a strenuous adventure that entails walking and hiking. Doing physical exercises, therefore, prepares elderly travelers for the actual trek minimizing the challenges that can come up.

Cost of gorilla trekking Tour
There is no actual cost of gorilla trekking tour but prices rather vary from company to company, gorilla trekking destination and other activities inclusive in the itinerary. However, you are ought to know the prices of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo before deciding where to go for gorilla trekking. Rwanda currently sells the most expensive gorilla permits at $1500 each since May 2017.

In Uganda, a single gorilla permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300, 000 for east African citizens.   The Democratic Republic of Congo sells the cheapest gorilla permit at $450 hence the best gorilla safari destination for budget travelers. Travelers are encouraged to book and reserve gorilla permits at least 6 months in advance to deal with the high demand for gorilla tour permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Superfine Safaris helps you book and reserve permits

Best time to trek gorillas for the seniors
Whereas gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year, peak/ dry season between the months of June, July, August, September and December to February is the recommended time for senior travelers. During this time, rainfall is minimal which makes treks to see gorillas less challenging. Also, gorilla photography is best done in the peak season, which gives good memories. However, if you are traveling on a budget, them wet season is the best time for you. During this time, service providers especially lodge and hotels give discounted services, which help to cut the costs making it affordable for budget travelers.

Gorilla trekking packing list for senior travelers
Senior travelers are reminded to carry essentials if their gorilla encounter is to be successful and enjoyable. Among the things to carry for gorilla trekking include hiking boots/shoes, gardening gloves, rain jackets, sweaters, Ponchos, hats, sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, neck scarfs, insect repellants and bottled drink water among others. Any traveler with the appropriate packing list is assured of a memorable gorilla tour experience in Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga gorilla parks.

Seniors travelers can also trek gorillas with no difficulty at Superfine Safaris Limited. If you are a senior traveler, just contact us and we shall arrange the best gorilla safari for you to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo at affordable rates with no difficulty.

Having knowledge of Rwanda gorilla groups is very essential for everyone intending to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. The small land of a thousand hills (Rwanda) is one of the three destinations where travelers can visit and trek the surviving population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Over time, Rwanda has merged as the leading gorilla tour destination receiving the highest number of travelers coming for gorilla safaris from all over the world. Altogether, Rwanda has 10 gorilla families each of which is visited by a group of eight travelers every day for an hours’ interactions. We advise our potential travelers to have an idea of habituated Rwanda gorilla families before booking a Rwanda gorilla safari to Volcanoes National park. African Apes Tours & Travel brings you a full list of Rwanda gorilla families/groups to ensure a memorable gorilla encounter in the land of a thousand hills. Interestingly, each gorilla family is different and unique in its own kind in terms of size, location, and history of formation. Gorilla groups in Rwanda include:

Susa A Family

Susa A Gorilla group

Also known as the Kurira gorilla family, A is the biggest and oldest gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park. The family was habituated in 1974 and was the first gorilla family, which Dian Fossey conducted her gorilla research on during her campaign to save the endangered gorillas in the Virunga Massif. The rich history of Susa A gorilla family makes it exceptional from the others. Susa family lives on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and is one of the toughest to trek gorilla families in Rwanda but the magical feeling of meeting this old gorilla family is worth the effort. Susa A family is headed by Kurira silverback gorilla who plans and decides for the entire family.

Igisha gorilla group – Susa B

Igisha gorilla family was formerly part of Susa A gorilla group till 2024 when Igisha silverback split from his former family to start up his own family, The family has expanded over time due to the fighting skill of Igisha silverback who fights and grabs members form other gorilla families to expand his family. Currently, Igisha gorilla family comprises of over 20 members and is one of the fastest-growing gorilla group in Volcanoes National park Rwanda. Igisha (Susa B gorilla family) lives near Susa River after which it derives its name “Susa”.

Karisimbi gorilla family

Trekked in the slopes of Karismbi volcano, this gorilla family is an amazing one but quite difficult to trek. In most cases, travelers doing a 2 Days Karisimbi hiking get chances of meeting Karismbi gorilla family which is an added advantage. The family currently has over 15 members comprised of the silverback, black backs, juveniles, babies and adult females. Make sure you are physically fit if you want to trek Karisimbi Gorilla family. For this mater, the gorilla family is normally trekked by the youth and energetic travelers who can hike to higher altitudes.

Sabyinyo Gorilla group

Named after Sabyingo volcano, Sabyinyo gorilla family is yet another interesting gorilla family to trek in Volcanoes National park. The family comprise of 12 members who include 2 silverbacks, adult females, juveniles and babies. Sabyinyo gorilla family lives at the base of Mt Sabyinyo and is one the most accessible and easy to trek gorilla family in Rwanda. It’s, therefore, the favorite for the physically challenged and elderly travelers on Rwanda gorilla safaris.

Amahoro Gorilla group

Known as the most peaceful and friendly mountain gorilla family in Rwanda, Amahoro gorilla group is worth visiting. Amahoro locally means “peaceful” which name was derived from the peaceful status of this gorilla family. The family has over 18 members headed by Ubumwe silverback gorilla. Amahoro gorilla family is one of the strenuous gorilla families to trek in Volcanoes National park. It’s not for the faint-hearted but the magical feeling of meeting this peaceful family is surely worth the effort.

Umubano gorilla family

Umubano Gorilla Family

Locally translated at “live together” Umubano was formerly part of the Amahoro gorilla family. The family is headed by Charles as a dominant silverback who decided to break away from Amahoro family and become independent. Charles silverback fought and defeated Ubumwe (the silverback of Amahoro family) taking with him some adult females and babies to start up his own family (Umubano).

Bwengye gorilla family

Habituated and opened for trekking in 2007, Bwenge is locally translated as “wisdom”. The gorilla family lives at the base of Mount Bisoke and is one of the easiest to trek gorilla family in Rwanda hence the best option for the elderly and physically unfit. Bwenge silverback currently leads the family.

Hirwa gorilla group

Habituated n 2006, the Hirwa gorilla family is locally translated as “Lucky one” whose members broke from Sabyinyo and Agashya gorilla families. Hirwa is so far the smallest gorilla group in Rwanda but trekking it is memorable. In October 2019, Hirwa crossed borders to the Gahinga regions of Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and is now trekked from Uganda. However, 50% of gorilla permits revenue or Hirwa gorilla family is given to Rwanda Development Board, the sole owners of Hirwa family.

Agashya Gorilla Family

Formerly known as “group 13” Agashya gorilla family was named after the 13 members who started this family. Agashya is the current dominant silverback who overpowered and threw away Nyakarima, the initial silverback gorilla. Agashya gorilla group currently has 27 members who comprise of the silverback, adult females, black back and babies.

Ugenda Family

Ugenda is locally translated as “mobile” due to the mobile movements of this gorilla family. Ugenda gorilla family is always on move and hence one of the hardest gorilla families to trek in Rwanda. The family inhabits the slopes of Mount Bisoke and travelers hiking to trek Ugenda family are ought to be physically fit and in good shape. Ugenda family currently has 11 members, which include 2 silverback, black backs, babies and adult females.

Titus gorilla family

Having lived since the time of Dian Fossey, Titus is one of the oldest gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park. The gorilla family is named after “Titus”, the founder silverback and the only survivor of his former group that was lost to poachers before the introduction of gorilla tourism in Volcanoes National Park. Titus gorilla family roams in the slopes of Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi and is a medium hike.
Other gorilla families used for research in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda include:
• Pablo gorilla family
• Muhoza gorilla family
• Isimbi gorilla group
• Gushimira gorilla family
• Mafunzo gorilla group
• Musilikale gorilla family
• Isabukuru gorilla group
In conclusion, therefore, an encounter with anyone of the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda is a lifetime experience every traveler should add on his her bucket list to Rwanda. Contact African Apes Tours today, book your Rwanda gorilla safari and be enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Are you a solo traveler and wondering how possible you can do a gorilla tour to Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo? No worries, solo gorilla safaris are very possible and can be done at affordable prices with African Apes Tours & Travel. Whereas most people going for gorilla trekking have done it in groups you can do a solo gorilla tour if planned it well. Over time, gorilla trekking has become the best wildlife experience any traveler wishes to do in his/her travel lifetime. It’s undeniable that over 60% of African safaris comprise of gorilla tracking hence proof that an encounter with these endangered species is indeed a lifetime experience. Every traveler has a different travel time, budget and interests which at times do not match with others. These differences make it difficult for a group tour hence requiring one to do a solo gorilla trekking tour. However, no worries, Gorilla Safaris in Africa makes it possible for you to trek gorillas as a solo traveler. We tailor-make a gorilla trekking safari suitable for your time, budget and interests to ensure you get the very best of mountain gorilla encounter. The best way to go gorilla trekking as solo traveler entails:

Book in time (Reserve your gorilla permit)

Solo gorilla trekking

Solo gorilla trekkers are advised to book for gorilla permits in time at least 6 months in advance. This gives you high chances of obtaining a gorilla permit despite the high demand and competition for gorilla permits, which rise in late bookings. Upon making a gorilla tour inquiry with us, a team at gorilla Safaris in Africa goes ahead to contact UWA/RDB to book and reserve a gorilla permit for you on the desired date. Also, some companies who take group tours tend to book many permit limiting the chances of solo travelers. However, we are at your service, just contact us, inform us about your travel dates and we shall reserve a gorilla permit for you. Travelers are required to pay a 30% deposit as a booking fee for a permit. The top-up is required before 90 days to the trekking date.

Trek gorillas in Uganda

To minimize the high costs of gorilla tours that come along with solo traveling, we advise you consider doing Uganda gorilla treks where gorilla permits are quire cheap and affordable. Uganda gorilla tour costs $600 for a permit compared to $1500 for a Rwanda gorilla trek. Fortunately, Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking tours saves you time and costs.

Book budget/Midrange accommodation

Given the fact that a solo traveler bares all travel costs (transport, accommodations) alone, the costs are likely to be high. To minimize this, make sure you book budget or midrange accommodation services which are cost-friendly but excellent. Several budget and midrange lodges have been established in all gorilla parks to offer you safe, comfortable and cost-friendly food and sleeping services.

REMINDER: Whereas you can book a solo gorilla trekking tour, you cannot trek a gorilla family alone unless you are the only person trekking that day. during the pre gorilla trekking briefing, you will be joined with other 7 travelers to make a group of eight who are given a gorilla family to visit for that day.

Tips for solo travelers

The travel guide and tips for solo travelers to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo include:
1. Keep in touch with your family and friends. Keep them updated
2. Do not move alone at night
3. Do not be a loner, make connections with other travelers you find at the lodge or in the field.
4. Share a copy of your itinerary with your family to keep them updated
5. Share emergency contact details with your lodge/travel agent
6. Know your budget and stick to it
7. Make sure you are insured
8. Try to adapt to the new environment. Be free with people
9. Do not trust people with your properties
10. Be friendly with your staff especially your driver-guide. He/she will make you feel at home.
11. Do not over drink
Solo gorilla trekking is very possible and affordable. Contact African Apes Tours today, book a solo gorilla tour to Uganda, Rwanda or Congo and be part of this magical encounter.

Do you want to trek gorillas in Uganda? Book a Uganda gorilla tour and get a chance to trek one of the 17 gorilla families in Uganda with Gorilla Safaris in Africa. The pearl of Africa is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas habituated into 17 gorilla groups. Uganda gorillas inhabit the rain forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern Uganda. The 2018 gorilla census indicates that Uganda is home to over 600 mountain gorillas, which make it a premier gorilla safari destination in Africa. With the high cost of Rwanda gorilla tours, Uganda remains your ultimate gorilla tour destination offering affordable gorilla safaris with no difficulty. Uganda gorillas in Bwindi forest are spit into four sectors namely Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Nkuringo and Rushaga gorilla sectors in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. In addition, Uganda is home to 2 more gorilla families undergoing the habituation process in Rushaga sector. In gorilla trekking, each gorilla family is visited by a group of 8 people while in habituation, four people a day visit a gorilla family. Uganda gorilla groups in Bwindi forest and Mgahinga gorilla parks are:
1. Mubare gorilla family

Mubare Gorilla family in Bwindi Forest

Located in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi forest, Mubare gorilla family is the oldest gorilla group that was habituated in1991. Mubare was the first gorilla group to be visited by the first set of gorilla trekkers to Bwindi. In October and November 2019, Mubare has been blessed with 2 baby gorillas which give hope for sustainable gorilla tourism in Bwindi forest and Uganda as a whole. Mubare gorilla family is headed by Kanyonyi, a dominant silverback who took over the group after the death of Ruhondoza silverback. Mubare is locally translated as “Amabare” where this gorilla was first sighted.

2. Habinyanja gorilla family
Also located in Buhoma sector, Habinyanja is a group you ought to visit. The family was habituated in 1997 and is one of the most visited gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park. The family has 17 members comprised of the silverback, adult females, black backs, juveniles, and babies. The gorilla family was named after the watery swamps where it was first sighted.

3. Rushegura gorilla group
Formerly part of the Habinyanja gorilla family, Rushegura is yet another gorilla family in the Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park.
The family split from Habinyanja group in 2002 when Mwirima decided to leave his gorilla family and decided to take some adult females with him. Mwirima fought hard to expand the size of his family and he is undeniably the strongest silverback in Bwindi Forest.

4. Bitukura Gorilla Family

Named after the Bitukura river where the family rivers, Bitukura gorilla family is trekked in Ruhija sector east of Bwindi Forest National Park. formerly Bitukura had over 30 members most of which have been lost in fights and external attacks from wild gorilla families. Currently, Bitukura gorilla family has 14 members who include silverbacks, adult females, black backs and babies.

5. Oruzogo Gorilla group

Also located in Ruhija sector east of Bwindi forest National Park, Oruzogo is a big gorilla family comprised of over 25 members. Bakwate is the reigning dominant silverback gorilla family leading the other 5 adult females, infants, juveniles and blackbucks within the group. The group is located in a hilly area hence quite difficult to trek.

6. Bitukura Gorilla Family
Comprised of 13 members, Bitukura gorilla group is an interesting gorilla family to visit in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. Bitukura is one of the peaceful gorilla families in Bwindi, a not miss for every traveler. The playful juveniles keep the family lively and worth visiting. Ndahura is the dominant silverback who leads the other 4 silverbacks, 5 adult females, juveniles and infants.

7. Kyaguliro family in Ruhija sector
8. Nkuringo gorilla family in Nkuringo sector
9. Nshongi gorilla group in Rushaga sector
10. Mishaya family in Rushaga sector
11. Kahungye gorilla group on Rushaga sector
12. Busingye family in Rushaga
13. Bweza family in Rushaga
14. Katwe gorilla family in Buhoma sector
15. Christmas gorilla family in Nkuringo
16. Nyakagyezi gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National park

The gorilla families undergoing habituation experience are Bikyingi and Bushaho all located in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. A single gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 but the magical experience achieved is worth it.
In general, an encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas remains the best wildlife experience in the world. Book a Uganda gorilla trip today, trek any one of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Forest/Mgahinga gorilla national parks and enjoy this once in a lifetime experience with African Apes Holidays

A gorilla family in Bwindi Forest

Whereas an encounter with gorillas is restricted to an hour, the length of trekking before meeting mountain gorillas is a different case. The hike to see gorillas can be as short as 30 minutes or else a full day depending on several factors some of which are natural and unpredictable. At times, travelers booking gorilla safaris ask how long is a hike to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo? Well, there is no specific answer to this question, it remains unpredictable. It uncertain to specify how long the trek to see gorillas will until you go for a gorilla tour yourself. However, from the experience of our past travelers, African Apes Tours & Travel gives you a guide on the anticipated length of gorilla trekking hike. The factors that determine the length of a trek to see gorillas include among others:

Location of a Gorilla Family

The trekking time will depend on the location of the mountain gorilla family you are allocated. Some gorilla families are located close to the park headquarters while others live uphill. For this reason, gorilla treks have been categorized into short, medium and long treks based on the ease and difficulty of trekking it. In the Bwindi forest, gorilla families are split into four sectors i.e Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Buhoma and Rushaga are believed to have the easiest to trek gorilla families, while the hilly Nkuringo is not for the faint-hearted. Therefore the location of a gorilla family you are trekking determines the time you are likely to spend in the jungle.

Speed of gorilla movements

The speed of gorilla movements will also determine how short or long a gorilla trek may be. At some times, a gorilla family keeps moving whenever travelers come to get closer to them which lengthens the trek. As wild as they are, gorillas will not settle for travelers to see them but rather they keep moving at their own pace. However, a gorilla family with babies normally walks at a slow speed which is an advantage for the trekkers.

Traveler’s physical fitness

Trekking through the jungle

Your physical fitness and hiking ability will determine how long your hike to see gorillas will be. Fast travelers quickly find their allocated gorilla families while the physically challenged find it difficult. For that matter, travelers are always asked to disclose their physical abilities to park rangers so as to get suitable gorilla families during gorilla family allocation at the start of the trekking day. During gorilla family allocation, aged and physically unfit are given short and medulla treks while the young, energetic and physically fit given long gorilla treks.

The weather of the day

On a sunny day, hiking is less difficult making it easier for travelers to trek through and find gorillas easily. On the other hand, a rainy day makes gorilla trekking much more difficult. The slippery muddy grounds associated with rain make it difficult to trek through the jungle forest resulting in longer hiking hours. Due to the unpredictable forest weather, travelers are advised to carry rain jackets for the rain showers. Also, hiking boots, gardening gloves, and a hiking stick will ease your gorilla trekking session.

An hour with the gorillas

An encounter with gorillas

Despite the many hour’s travelers spend in the jungle, the actual time to spend with the gorillas is strictly an hour. This hour is counted from the time travelers set their eyes on the gorilla family. When this hour comes, travelers are advised to keep calm, stay close, take a picture, capture videos and utilize this short precious time. do not panic, take your time, observe and admire the social characters of gorillas and enjoy this magical encounter with African Apes Tours & Travel

In conclusion, the length of a hike to see gorillas is not certain. However, travelers are 99.9% sure of the meeting the endangered gorillas at the end of the trek.

You might have heard about of  rules gorilla trekking! These are the guidelines which you MUST adhere to during your gorilla safaris in Africa. At the start of each gorilla trekking day, travelers gather at the park headquarters for briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. Also, known as the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking, these are put to ensure the safety of the endangered mountain gorillas and the travelers. Travelers are required to abide by the rules if they want to have a peaceful and enjoyable gorilla safari in Africa.

Anyone who acts against the rules of gorilla trekking risks missing out an encounter with these endangered species in the jungle. Also, the rules  of gorilla trekking are given during the pre gorilla trekking briefing where travelers are also allocated gorilla families to trek in their groups of eight. Rules and regulations of gorilla trekking apply before, during and after gorilla trekking. These include among others:

Before meeting the gorillas

Have your day pack ready

• Anyone below 15 years old is not allowed to trek gorillas
• Carry with you’re a valid gorilla permit
• Maximum of eight people allowed to visit each gorilla family
• Do not trek when sick, mountain gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses especially cold and cough
• Keep within the group, do not split from your group
• Follow your guide, listen to his instructions and keep calm
• If you are not physically fit, make sure you hire a sedan chair to avoid any difficulties during trekking
• Pack all you need for gorilla trekking: Make sure your day pack has it all you need during gorilla trekking.

Among the things you must carry for the gorilla trek include:
1. Hiking boots to ease your movements through slippery and muddy forest grounds
2. Long-sleeved shirts and blouses to protect your arms from scratches by thorny bushes
3. Hats to protect your head and keep your hair clean for ladies
4. Scuff or sweater to keep you warm in the cold jungle forests
5. Long pants or trousers to protect your legs. The trouser must be tucked into stockings
6. Gardening gloves for your hands
7. Carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks to keep you strong throughout the hiking
8. Rain jackets to deal with the unpredictable forest weather
9. First aid kit for any emergencies
10. Insect repellant to protect you from insect bites which can be infectious

While with the gorillas

Keep seven meters away

• Keep a distance of seven meters away from gorillas to avoid the spread of human-wildlife diseases. Also, keeping a distance from gorillas keeps them at peace and relaxed
• Do not use the flashlight cameras. These scare gorillas forcing them to charge at you
• Do not touch the gorillas, it can cause the spread of infectious diseases
• Speak at allow tone
• Do not feed the gorillas
• Do not run when a gorilla charges
• Turn back your face when sneezing or coughing
• Do not smoke in the presence of gorillas
• Do not eat when with gorillas
• Spend strictly an hour with gorillas
• Sit or crouch while with gorillas. You intimate gorillas when you keep standing
• Burry all the wastes to avoid the spread of diseases to these endangered species

To ease your gorilla trekking session, please hire a porter at $10 t0 $20. Porters help to carry a traveler’s baggage which makes the whole trek light and quick. Porters can also help to hold a traveler’s hand for support in slippery forest grounds. Porters are local people used to forest slopes, they can easily help you walk through without difficulties

Also, hire a walking stick for support up and downhill. Walking/hiking sticks can be obtained at the respective park headquarters for as low as $5.

Other National park Rules and regulations

• Besides gorilla trekking rules, there are general regulations that apply in all parks in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. These include:
• Do not Drive offtrack in the park
• Do not camp or make fire camps anywhere in the park except at designated places
• Do not use sounding motor horns which can disturb the peace of the gorillas
• Drive at 40 kilometers per hour. this is the speed limit which you must not exceed
• Do not litter in the park. Leave only the foot prints
• Do not bring pets in the park
• Do not pic any vegetation from the park, Take only memories and photos
• Do not bring fire arms in the park
• Do not drive in the park between 7:00pm and 7:00am (Driving at night is not allowed )

People also ask

Should you look gorilla in the eye?

NO, never look gorilla in the eye. Looking straight into the eyes of the gorillas is a threat to them. The endangered socies get irritated by your direct eye look and this  can make them charge at you in fear for themselves. Travelers are therefore avoided to avoid direct eye contact with the gentle giants to ensure peaceful encounter

What should i do when a gorilla chases me?

You are advised to lay low when a gorilla chases you. Never at any point try to run away when a gorilla chases you. Running away encourages the gorilla to chase you the more. Also, laying low confirms to the gorilla that you have accepted defeat and you are no a threat to them. However, running away is threat to gorillas and they may think you are harmful to the hence chase you

What angers a gorilla?

Anything or anyone that disrupts the peace of gorilla members in a family  will make a silverback gorilla angry. The example are the people who try to touch the aby gorillas, wild animals which try to attack a gorilla family and any anything that makes a silverback insecure makes him angry. Also, looking direct into the eyes of the gorilla an beating your chest in front of it makes it angry.

What to do when a gorilla charges at you?

Lay low in submission when a gorilla charges at you. This makes the silverback feel a winner and not se you as a threat. Never try to charge back or run away as this makes the angry gorilla silverback more aggressive to chase and fight you

What is the gorillas worst fear?

Poisonous reptiles and insects such as caterpillars  and chameleons are the enemies of gorillas. Also, gorillas fear water and they are rarely seen crossing river streams. Most gorillas cannot swim hence avoid deep waters.

What kills gorillas the most?

poaching for bush meat is one of the common reasons why gorillas are being killed nowadays. There is high market for ape meat in urban areas by the rich which make poor people invade gorilla parks to hunt and kill the endangered primates  to get meat for commercial purposes

10 Top Facts about Mountain Gorillas

1. Roughly 1,063 mountain gorillas exist in the whole world
2. Mountain live in only two destinations Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park and the Virunga Conservation Area
3. Gorillas share over 98% of human genes
4. Gorillas are one of the biggest and most powerful primates in the world
5. Gorillas can eat all day long
6. Gorillas Cozy up at Night
7. They have different types of call such as beating chest, stiffing legs etc
8. Gorillas live in families/Groups
9. Gorillas can live up to 40 years old in the wild
10. They ae endangered primates highly threatened

In conclusion, you must follow the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking if you want to have a memorable encounter with these endangered species. Wake up early report to the park headquarters, listen to the do and don’ts of gorilla trekking and you will have a memorable time with your closest relatives.

Gorilla trekking is undeniably the most expensive activity on African Safaris to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A 1 Day gorilla tour to Rwanda costs over $1500 which money can cater to a 5 Days Wildlife safari without the gorillas. For that case, gorilla safaris in Africa have been ranked as one of the luxury travel experiences in Africa given the high costs associated with an encounter with these endangered species. The magical feeling of facing directly with the gorillas is a lifetime experience. Currently, traveling to see mountain gorillas has become a must-do adventure form mots travelers to Africa. Over 60% of total travelers to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo choose to trek gorillas in either Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga gorilla, Volcanoes and Virunga National parks to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience. During gorilla trip inquiries, some travelers have continuously wondered why gorilla trekking is expensive? Well, African Apes Tours & Travel gives you a guide on why gorilla trekking is expensive and worth it.

The high cost of gorilla trekking permits

The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is one of the reasons for expensive gorilla safaris. In Rwanda, a single gorilla permit cost $1500 while in Uganda it costs $600 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. In Congo, gorilla permits cost $450 each which Congo the affordable gorilla tour destination for those traveling on a budget. With effect from 1st July 2020, the cost of Uganda gorilla permits will rise to $700 for foreign non-residents and $600 for foreign residents. A gorilla permit is a pass to see gorillas without which no one is allowed to see these endangered species. At the start of each trekking day, visitors gather at the respective park headquarters where everyone is asked to present his/her valid gorilla permit. Anyone without a permit is not allowed to visit the gorillas in the jungle. If you want to book a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, Gorilla Safaris in Africa is at your service. We book and reserve gorilla permits for clients who contact us saving them the hustle and stresses of booking permits for themselves. Alternatively, you can book directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda. Gorilla permit prices are inclusive of park entrance fees, ranger fees, and other government taxes.

Mountain gorillas are endangered species

With only 1004 mountain gorillas surviving in the whole world, it’s definite that the species are endangered. In the 1980s mountain gorillas were on the verge of extinction to poaching, loss of habitat and civil conflicts. Great thanks to Dian Fossey who came to the Virunga massif in 1987 to save the then critically endangered species. Dian Fossey camped in the Virunga massif where she opened up a campaign against poaching. Unfortunately, Dian Fossey was later killed by poachers but her campaign to save gorillas continued up to present. Since her time, the population of mountain gorilla has stably increased which gives hope for sustainable tourism.

Conservation purpose

Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board set high prices for gorilla permits to promote gorilla conservation. High costs of gorilla permits limit the number of travelers visiting gorillas, which save gorillas from crowds that put them at risk. Also, the money collected from the sale of gorilla permits is used to support conservation projects in gorilla national parks such as paying for tourism police, park rangers, and wardens who ensure the wellbeing of mountain gorillas in the jungle.

Additional expenses on the trip

Hire a porter

Gorilla trekking does not only include buying gorilla permits buy also other expenses. The trip involves paying for transport to and from gorilla parks, accommodation services, driver guides, porters and miscellaneous expenses. Whereas some of these expenses especially porters are not mandatory, travelers are advised to hire them to have a peaceful and successful gorilla trek. Therefore the inclusion of these extra expenses on a gorilla trip makes the whole experience expensive. The lodge facilities in gorilla national parks are categorized into luxury, mid-range and budget depending on the traveler’s budget.

Improving local livelihoods

Part of the money collected from gorilla permits is given back to local communities adjacent to gorilla national parks. In Uganda, UWA gives 20% of the total revenue collected from gorilla safaris to local areas helping them to improve their standards of living and earn a living. In Rwanda, local people are given 10% of the total revenue collected from gorilla permits.

When to book a gorilla permits

Future travelers coming to see gorillas are advised to book for permits as early as 6 months before the trekking date. The reason for the early booking is the high demand for permits. Also, early booking ensures time planning and hotel bookings which all make your gorilla safari memorable and with no difficulty.

Generally, gorilla trekking is the most expensive travel activity in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the magical feeling of trekking gorillas is worth the money, effort and time.

Each gorilla trekking day starts with a briefing at the respective national park headquarters in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. A pre gorilla trekking briefing is all about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking, to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable gorilla encounter. Gorilla trekking briefing is done at 7:00 am, and all travelers are expected to be at the scene by this time. Whoever misses a pre gorilla trekking briefing risks to miss gorillas. In most cases, travelers making gorilla trek inquiries often ask what’s the day of gorilla trekking be like? African Apes Tours & Travel gives you a guide about gorilla trekking briefing, what is it all about and why it’s a must-attend for every traveler trekking to see gorillas.

Introduction to the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking

While in the pre gorilla trekking briefing, travelers are introduced to rules, regulations, dos, and don’ts while with mountain gorillas. These include among others:
• Keep a distance of seven meters way from gorillas
• Keep within your group, do not move alone in the jungle
• Do not trek gorillas when sick
• Turn back your faces when coughing or sneezing
• Speak at a low tone
• Do not litter in the park
• Do not feed the gorillas
• Do not use the flashlight cameras
• Do not look directly into the eyes of a gorillas
• Spend strictly an hour with gorillas
• Do not touch the baby gorillas
• Do not run when gorillas charge at you, keep calm

Allocation of gorilla families

Still in the briefing, travelers are allocated specific gorillas to trek. Firstly, travelers are put together in groups of 8 and each allocated a gorilla family to visit. Mountain gorilla family allocation depends on travelers physical fitness, age and hiking abilities. The elderly and pregnant women are usually given the easy to trek gorilla families while the young and energetic given the hard to trek families. Travelers with any challenges especially in hiking are reminded to disclose their inabilities to the park rangers so as to get suitable gorilla families and avoid any difficulties while hiking.

Presentation of gorilla permits

In briefing, each traveler is asked to present his/her gorilla trekking permit to the respective park management. Whoever does not have a permit is not allowed to trek gorillas. Permits are given back to park wardens and they remain the property of the government of Uganda, Rwanda or Congo depending on where you are trekking gorillas. A traveler does not own a gorilla permit even after paying for it.

Where does gorilla trekking briefing take place?
As said already, gorilla trekking briefing takes place at the park headquarters of Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. For the case of Bwindi, the briefing is done a any of the four park headquarters in Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga depending on which sector a traveler is trekking gorillas from. Travelers are advised to stay at lodges close to the briefing point to avoid long hours of driving which can make them exhausted and late for the briefing.

What if am trekking Uganda gorillas from Kigali?

For the case of Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking, travelers set off from Kigali at 3:30am, so as to catch up with the briefing in Bwindi/Mgahinga at 7:00am. A 1 day Uganda gorilla trek, therefore, requires you to wake up very early, to cover up the five hours drive and catch up with the briefing. If you are doing a 1 day Rwanda gorilla tour, you will leave Kigali at 4:30 am to reach Kinigi park headquarters of volcanoes National park at 7:00 am.

Cup of coffee and traditional performances

In Rwanda, travelers are served with a cup of coffee and a traditional performance by local dances. This offers them the best pre gorilla trekking experience making the whole trip exceptional and memorable. The cup of coffee is free of charge courtesy of Rwanda Development Board

Porters and walking stick

Still, at the briefing point, travelers hire porters (local people)to help carry the baggage to and from gorilla trekking. Also, travelers are given walking sticks and those without hiking shoes and given plastic gumboots at a lesser fee.
In general, gorilla trekking briefing is very essential for every successful mountain gorilla encounter in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Can pregnant women trek gorillas? YES, expectant women can also visit to trek gorillas with no difficulty. Over time, potential travelers especially women have frequently asked whether it’s possible for a pregnant woman to trek gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The right answer to this question is YES, pregnant women can trek gorillas in Bwindi forest, Volcanoes, Mgahinga and Virunga Gorilla National Parks with no difficulty. Gorilla trekking is ranked as the best wildlife experience, a dream come true for over 70% of total tourist arrivals in Africa. Pregnant women are not an exception but also yearn to experience this magical encounter with the endangered gorillas in the jungle. African Apes Tours offers you the pregnant women’s guide for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable gorilla tours

Fly to gorilla parks

Fly to Bwindi

If you are landing at Entebbe international airport, book scheduled flight from kajjansi to Kihihi or Kisoro airfields to avoid long hours of driving. The drive time from Entebbe to Bwindi Forest/Mgahinag is roughly 10 hours, which can be exhausting for a pregnant woman. For the ground transport to and from the park, make sure you book a land cruiser with hydraulics. These vehicles are comfortable and raised protecting you from feeling the bumpy roads in Bwindi/Mgahinga that can easily cause a miscarriage. If you are traveling on budget and cannot afford scheduled flights from Entebbe to Bwindi, then opt for Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking, which shortens the driving time.

Choose a short gorilla trek

Gorilla treks in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are categorized into short, medium and long treks depending on the ease and difficulty of finding a gorilla family. Short gorilla treks normally take less time while long treks can go for a full day of trekking to meet endangered gorillas. Pregnant women are advised to opt and ask for short gorilla treks. This is done during the pre gorilla trekking briefing where travelers are pit together in groups of 8 each allocated a gorilla family. Gorilla family allocation depends on one’s age, physical fitness, and hiking abilities. if you are pregnant endeavor to remind your guide or the park rangers to help you get a shirt trek gorilla family.

Do physical exercises

Do physical exercises

You must be physically fit to avoid difficulties in gorilla trekking. Pregnant women are advised to do numerous physical exercises such as walking and hiking to ensure physical fitness in preparing for the strenuous but memorable gorilla trekking. Physical exercises will prepare you gorilla trekking in advance and you will not find difficulty to trek through the jungle forests of Bwindi, Mgahinga, Virunga and Volcanoes National parks when the time comes.

Hire a porter

Whereas hiring a porter for gorilla trekking is optional, pregnant women must hire a porter to help her carry baggage. Also, porters give you support by holding your hands on steep slopes and also supporting you in slippery forest grounds. A porter carries all baggage for a pregnant woman saving her of the heavy luggage that can make gorilla trekking difficulty. Fortunately, porters are hired at a very low between $15 to $20 hence affordable for all travelers. Also, hiring a porter is indirect support of local livelihood. Porters are local people who earn a living fro pottering to support their families and improve their standards of living.

Choose a less difficult gorilla sector

If you are trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest National park, chose to trek in either Rushaga or Buhoma gorilla sectors. These two sectors are located in the south and northern regions of Bwindi respectively and have proved to be simple to trek for pregnant women. Ruhija and Nkuringo gorilla sectors are so steep and difficult to hike hence a challenge to a pregnant woman.

Carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks

Pregnant women trekking gorillas are encouraged to carry enough drinking water to quench the thirst when hiking to meet gorillas. Also, endeavor to carry some energy giving snacks including banana, apple, bread, and eggs ad juice among others to keep you strong throughout the trekking session.

Hire a sedan chair

Hire a Sedan chair

If the pregnancy is 7 months and above, it’s advisable you hire a sedan chair to avoid any difficulty uphill. Here a group of 4 porters carry a pregnant woman on a sedan chair to and from the jungle. The expectant mother is only put down when they reach gorillas to help her take pictures and capture videos. Sedan chairs save pregnant women from difficult and strenuous gorilla trek hikes and altitude sickness. Hiring a sedan chair costs $400 to and from gorilla trekking.

How to book a gorilla tour for pregnant women?

African Apes Tours  is your ultimate gorilla tour company to arrange for you a suitable gorilla trek for pregnant women. Contact us today, inform us about your pregnancy and we shall tailor-make for you a suitable package.

Conclusively, therefore, pregnant women can go gorilla trekking without challenges. Contact us  today, book a tailored gorilla tour and enjoy this lifetime experience.

Can i trek gorillas in Uganda starting from Kigali Rwanda?Is it possible to fly into Kigali and trek gorillas in Uganda? YES, you can easily trek Uganda gorillas from Kigali Rwanda. Fly into Kigali Rwanda and trek gorillas in Uganda with African Apes Tours & Travel. Due to the high costs of Rwanda gorilla tours to Volcanoes National park at $1500 per permit, travelers have now opted to fly into Kigali Rwanda and cross to trek gorillas in Bwindi Forest National park. Since the double increment of Rwanda gorilla permits, most travelers, especially those traveling on a budget, have opted to do Uganda gorilla safaris starting from Kigali. Here travelers land at Kigali International airport and thereafter cross over through Cyanika/Katuna border to Bwindi Forest/Mgahinga gorilla national park to do budget Uganda gorilla tours. Interestingly, even those who want to do a one-day Uganda gorilla tour starting from Kigali can do it without difficulty. 1 Day Uganda gorilla trek starts at 9:30 am driving from Kigali to catch-up with a pre gorilla trekking briefing in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. If you want to do a 2 Days Bwindi gorilla trek from Kigali, you will fly into Kigali, pick up and transfer to Bwindi forest. On the second day, trek gorillas in Bwindi and transfer back to Kigali for your connecting flight. African Apes Tours & travel offers you the very best Rwanda Uganda gorilla tours at affordable rates with no difficulty.

Drive time from Kigali to Bwindi

Cyanika Border

The drive tie from Kigali to Bwindi forest is roughly 5 hours crossing through the Cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna Border in Kabale district. The choice of which entry point to use depends on where you are trekking gorillas from. If you are trekking in Rushaga sector, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Mgahinga gorilla national park, the Cyanika border in kisoro is the easiest entry pint for you. If you are trekking gorillas in the Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Forest, endeavor to cross through Katuna Border in Kabale district. The 5 hours scenic drive offers you spectacular views of rolling hills, local communities, and Virunga Volcanoes hence giving you the best pre gorilla trekking experience.

Gorilla habituation experience from Kigali Rwanda

Similarly to gorilla trekking, travelers can do gorilla habituation experience from Kigali Rwanda. A 1 Days gorilla habituation experience starts at 3:30 am with a transfer from Kigali to Rushaga sector south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Currently, 2 gorilla families namely Bushaho and Bikyingi are undergoing the habituation process and will soon be opened for trekking. Gorilla Habituation experience is al about training wild gorillas to make them used to human presence before they are opened for trekking. Fly into Rwanda, do gorilla habituation experience in Uganda and get a chance to spend half day with endangered gorillas within the shortest time possible.

How to Book a Rwanda Uganda gorilla trek?

Wondering how to book a Uganda gorilla trek starting from Kigali? No worries, Gorilla Safaris in Africa is at your service. Just contact us, inform us about your travel dates, number of people and we shall tailor-make for you a suitable gorilla package that starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. Alternatively, you can book and reserve a Uganda gorilla permit directly with Gorilla Safaris in Africa.

When to Book a Rwanda Uganda gorilla tour?

Due to high demand for Uganda gorilla tours, travelers are advised to book as early as 6 months in advance to reserve permits. Uganda has currently become the first stop center for gorilla trekking safaris given the low cost of gorilla permits. Therefore Uganda permits tend to sell out easily denying last time travelers a chance to trek these endangered species.

Uganda gorilla families easily trekked from Kigali Rwanda

The easy to trek Uganda gorilla families from Kigali Rwanda are those located in Rushaga gorilla sector south of Bwindi Forest National park. These include the Nshongi gorilla family, Kahungye gorilla group, Mishaya gorilla family, Bweza family and Busingye gorilla group. Also, you can easily trek gorilla families in Buhoma sector through the Katuna border. The gorilla groups in the Buhoma sector are Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja and Katwe gorilla groups. Each of these gorilla families is visited by a group of 8 travelers a day for an hour’s interaction.

Which travel documents do I require to trek gorillas in Uganda from Kigali?
Well, you require a Rwanda Visa, Ugandan Visa, a Uganda gorilla permit and valid passports. Also, a single East African Visa helps you visit Rwanda and Uganda without necessarily applying for a Uganda or Rwanda Visa.

In Conclusion, Rwanda to Bwindi Gorilla Trekking is very possible and the best option for budget travelers. Contact African Apes Tours today, book your gorilla tour in Uganda starting from Kigali and enjoy this magical encounter with no difficulty.

Is gorilla trekking worth it? Yes, a close encounter with the endangered gorillas in their natural habitats is worth doing. Given the high costs of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, some travelers have often asked whether gorilla trekking is worth the money. Yes, the magical feeling of gorilla trekking is worth the money, effort and time. Over the years, gorilla trekking has been ranked as the best wildlife experience in the world, the must-do activity on every African Safari. A face to face encounter with the endangered gorillas has presently become a top bucket list for most if not all travelers to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Gorilla trekking is undeniably one of the most expensive travel activities, which some people have continuously asked whether the experience is surely worth the cost. The question of why is gorilla trekking expensive is one of the frequently asked gorilla trekking questions by travelers intending planning gorilla tours. Gorilla Safaris in Africa brings you details on why is gorilla trekking is expensive and how the experience is worth the money, time and energy.

Gorilla permits costs

Travelers going to see mountain gorillas must have valid gorilla permits. The cost of gorilla trekking permits is different in each country but the experience attained is worth it. In Uganda, a single gorilla permit costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $ 600 for foreign residents and UGX for East Africa citizens. In Rwanda, a single gorilla permit costs $1500 paid by all travelers while in Congo, a permit to see gorillas costs $450, which makes it the cheapest gorilla safari destination in Africa. The high costs of gorilla permits exclusive of other expenses on a gorilla tour make gorilla trekking an expensive activity especially for those traveling on a budget. Money collected from the sale of gorilla permits is used to support conservation initiatives in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo, paying park rangers, gorilla doctors and also some percentage given back to local communities to improve local livelihoods. For these reasons, gorilla trekking costs is worth paying.

Endangered state of mountain gorillas

With only 1004 mountain gorillas left in the whole world, mountain gorillas are among the endangered species as listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The endangered species were once at the verge of extinction to poaching and habitat loss till the time of Dian Fossey who started a campaign to conserve gorillas in the Virunga conservation area. Gorilla safaris in Africa are done in only three countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Anyone who wants to trek gorillas must visit any one of the three countries or both for comparisons. Therefore the endangered state of mountain gorillas makes gorilla trekking worth it. The human-like characters of mountain gorillas and their endangered state make gorilla trekking a dream come true for over 60% of travelers to Africa.

Magical feeling

Past travelers have reviewed gorilla trekking as a magical feeling that lasts for a lifetime. The thrilling experience that travelers feel looking directly into the eyes of a silverback gorilla is worth the money and effort and time. Also, the admirable social human-like characters of mountain gorillas in their families is worth it. Just like in a human family, each gorilla in his/her family plays a different role. The silverback is the daddy of the home responsible for planning, protecting and leading the family, adult female gorillas are housewives who take care of the babies and the entire family while juveniles and black backs keep the family lively and active. The way each family plays his/her role is undeniably magical and worth the money. You feel overwhelmed by their actions, which are more like those of people. You will see mothers carry their babies at the back which experience you will never forget.

Ample time with gorillas

If you opt for gorilla habituation experience, you will never forget such an amazing encounter. Imagine spending half a day with these gentle giants in their natural habitats? Is it not magical? Gorilla habituation makes a travelers part of the training team who tame wild gorillas to make them used with human presence. You will run after gorillas, imitate their behaviors, come close to them and have ample time to learn their lifestyles. a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 but it’s worth it.

Support local people

Local community projects

In all gorilla national parks, a certain percentage of the gorilla permit cost is given back to local people living adjacent to gorilla habitats. This is to encourage a positive attitude and support from local people towards gorilla tourism, which promotes sustainable gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. This money is used to support local projects such as building homes for the homeless, water dams, schools and health centers which all improve the standards of living for the people. Most of the local people supported by gorilla tourism projects are Batwa pygmies, the traditional dwellers of gorilla national parks before gorilla tours were initiated. These indigenous people depended wholly on the forest for a livelihood and lived in harmony with wild animals in the forests for 1000s of years.

Gorilla trekking time

The actual time to spend with gorillas is strictly an hour counted from the time travelers set their eyes on the allocated gorilla family. However, travelers can spend a full day trekking in the jungle before meeting the gorillas. The actual; time to spend trekking to see gorillas are unpredictable. it can be as short as 30 minutes away from the briefing point or else several hours depending on the location of a gorilla family and their spend of movements.

Given the increased number of travelers coming to see gorillas, it’s definite that gorilla trekking is worth it. An encounter with the endangered gorillas in their natural habitats is surely worth the money, effort and time. Book a gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo feel the magical experience yourself with African Apes Holidays

Are you wondering when is the best time to see mountain gorillas? Well, the endangered gorillas can be visited all year round. Travelers intending to trek mountain gorillas have continuously asked the best time to trek gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is quite a difficult question to answer since the best time to trek gorillas depends on the traveler’s choice and interests. One traveler may see the dry season as the best time while the other one looks at the low season as his/her best time. However, depending on comparisons of various past travelers’ reviews, African Apes Tours & Travel offers you a guide on how to choose when is the best time to trek gorillas. There are 2 gorilla trekking seasons, which vary in different ways. Each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. Travelers are reminded to study and understand the differences in each season before choosing when to visit mountain gorillas.

High season

Most travelers have ranked the high season between the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February as the best time to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. During this season, rainfalls are less and forest grounds less slippery which eases hikes to meet gorillas. Also, the dry season is normally sunny which makes gorilla photography and filming colorful. However, gorilla permits tend to sell out quickly during the dry season due to high demand. This denies last time travelers a chance to trek gorillas since no one can trek gorillas with no permit. Travelers intending to trek mountain gorillas during the dry season are therefore advised to book permits as early as 6 months in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments.

Low season

Gorilla trekkers crossing a stream

This season is during the months of October, November, March, April, and May. Low season is also known as a wet season is usually rainy with everyday rains. Gorilla trekking during this season is normally challenging given the slippery and muddy forest grounds, especially in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visits are generally few in the low season as hence gorilla permits very much available even for those who want to book last-minute gorilla tours. Despite it being the rainy season, there is no single day that travelers have ever failed to see gorillas because of rain. It’s so magical how sunsets in immediately after rains enabling travelers to continue with their gorilla treks. Also in this season, service providers especially hotels, lodges and tour companies give discounts to encourage more visitor numbers. Therefore low season gives travelers discounted gorilla tours much cheaper compared o high season. The few visits in this season give travelers an up-close encounter with the endangered species with no crowds. This gives them ample space for photos and film unlike in high season where there are crowds of visiting trekking gorillas. The green sceneries of the neighboring areas adjacent to gorilla national parks make photography wonderful.

When to book for a gorilla safari

Sunny day in Bwindi Forest

Having known the differences in seasons, you ought to choose which season you want to visit gorillas. Whichever season you choose to visit gorillas, endeavor to book as early as 6 months before the trekking date. Early gorilla booking gives travel operators ample time to tailor-make for you a suitable gorilla safari package. It also enables travel operators to timely book and reserve hotel rooms in the respective sector if you are trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest National park where permits are distributed between Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija gorilla sectors. Your hotel/lodge/camp should b near the park headquarters /briefing point to avoid long drives in the morning.

How to Book a gorilla safari

For those interested in booking a gorilla tour to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla Safaris in Africa is at your service. We tailor-make for you a suitable gorilla tour itinerary to fit your budget, time and travel interests. Contact us today, tell us your interests and we shall offer you the best at affordable rates.

Conclusively, gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year. Book to trek gorillas in the low season for colorful photography and in the low season for discounted rates with African Apes Tours. Gorilla safaris remain the best wildlife in the world worth doing.

Wondering what to carry for gorilla trekking? African Apes Tours & Travel brings you a full list of gorilla trekking packing to ensure you have a comfortable and peaceful gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s undeniable that the carryon gorilla trekking packing list is one of the key features that ensure a successful gorilla trek. During the gorilla tour inquiry, travelers are always reminded to carry the appropriate essentials that help them during gorilla trekking. Mountain gorillas live in the jungle forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla Forest, Volcanoes National park and Virunga National park in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo respectively. These forests have thick bushes with slippery and muddy grounds which at times make gorilla tracking very difficult and strenuous. Packing the light attire for gorilla trekking, therefore, guarantees comfort and safety, saving you the hustles and bustles associated with trekking to see gorillas. The essential gorilla trekking gear every traveler coming to see mountain gorillas must have include:

Hiking Boots/Shoes

Hiking boots, shoes should be number one on your packing list. These ease your movements through slippery and muddy forest grounds of Bwindi, Volcanoes, Mgahinga and Virunga gorilla parks. Also, hiking boots protect your feet from cuts by sharp stones. Never bring open shoes and flats for gorilla trekking unless you want to have a terrible experience. Also, your gorilla trekking hiking boots should be waterproof to prevent water from reaching your feet. If you do not have hiking boots, tell your driver guide to get or you gumboots/rubber boots, which are hired at the respective park headquarters. Never bring white snickers or a pair of new shoes for gorilla trekking. They will wear out and get torn in the jungle. Therefore bring second hand or already used shoes which you will not take back after gorilla trekking.

Long-sleeved shirts/blouses

Endeavor to wear long-sleeved shirts or blouses to protect your arms from rough bushes some of which are thorny. Your gorilla trekking shirts should be in dark colors preferably Khaki to blend with forest vegetation. Short-sleeved shirts and armless blouses expose you to forest coldness, which can make you sickly after the trek. Therefore long-sleeved shirts keep you warm throughout the gorilla trek. Also, ensure to wear cotton shirts, which cannot easily be plucked by thorny bushes exposing you to hurts.

Gardening gloves

A traveler wearing a rain jacket and hand gloves for gorilla trekking

For your hands, remember o carry gardening gloves. These protect your hands from touching muddy when climbing in steep areas and also protect your hands from thorns when grabbing the bushes for support.

Rain jackets/gears

Regardless of the season, gorilla parks can receive rainfall at any time of the year. Travelers are therefore reminded to carry rain jackets o prepare for the unpredictable forest rains. Your rain jacket should be waterproof and light not too heavy for you.

Ponchos and sweaters

Carry ponchos and sweaters, or scuffs to keep you warm during gorilla trekking. In most cases gorilla national parks are always cold due to the thick forest which does not allow light penetration. A poncho/sweater will keep you warm and strong throughout.

Hats and sunglasses

The hat protects your head and hair for ladies from getting dirty and wet by forest raindrops. Interestingly, most local markets and craft shops have all kinds of hats sold at affordable rates. More so, sunglasses protect your eyes from forest insects and direct sun.

Insect repellants

Remember to carry insect repellents to protect you from bites from harmful forest insects including mosquitoes. RID is the commonly used insect repellant bought from most pharmacies and drug shops all over Africa.

Long trousers and stockings

Avoid trekking gorillas in short pants, which expose your legs and thighs to forest bushes. Also, make sure you tuck your trousers into stockings to avoid bites from ground insects and scratches by thorny bushes.

Other things to carry fro gorilla trekking

Besides clothing for gorilla trekking, travelers are reminded to pack the following essentials, which ease the gorilla trekking session. Among the things you must carry include:

Drinking water and energy-giving snacks

You ought to carry enough bottled drinking water and energy-giving snacks to keep you strong during the gorilla trekking session. Make sure you carry some bread, boiled egg, chapati, fruits and some juice to keep you strong for the unpredictable time you will spend in the jungle trekking to see gorillas. 3 liters of water is the recommended amount you should carry to quench the thirst during gorilla tracking.

Hiking/walking stick

A walking stick gives you support in the up and down hills of gorilla trekking safari. Fortunately, hiking sticks are all available at all national park headquarters hired at very affordable prices.

Hire a porter

Hiring a porter will ease your gorilla trekking session. Porters are local people hired to carry traveler’s baggage to and from gorilla trekking. Also, porters help to support you by holding your hands in slippery and steep forests hence preventing you from falling. Hiring a porter is an indirect way of supporting local livelihood earning them living to sustain their families and improve their standards of living.

In conclusion, knowledge of what to pack for gorilla tracking is very essential for every successful gorilla trekking tour. Contact African Apes Tours, get to know the appropriate packing list for gorilla trekking to avoid any difficulty.

While planning for gorilla trekking safari, It’s wise to know the actual cost of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. in all gorilla destinations, a gorilla permit is a pass to trek mountain gorillas without which no one is allowed to visit these endangered species. What’s the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is one of the frequently asked questions about African Apes Tours. Most upcoming travelers have always asked what’s the cost of a gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo during gorilla tour inquiries to confirm where to go for gorilla trekking. The cost of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is different. Each country sets a different gorilla permit cost depending on the country’s conservation policies and plans. Currently, Rwanda sells the most expensive gorilla permits followed by Uganda and then Congo with the cheapest gorilla permits. The cost of a gorilla permit determines how expensive of how cheap a gorilla safari will be

Cost of gorilla permits in Uganda

Uganda gorilla permit

The price of gorilla permits in Uganda varies depending on a client’s status and nationality. A single Uganda gorilla permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, UGX 300,000 for East African residents and $500 for tourists from the rest of Africa. Travelers can book Gorilla permits  prior to the tracking date to avoid missing on this amazing wild experience in the high mountains. For those who want to do gorilla habituation experience, a single permit costs $1500 allowing you to spend 4 hours with the endangered gorillas undergoing training. Each day Uganda wildlife authority issues out 144 gorilla permits to trek gorillas in Bwindi forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. More so, 16 gorilla habituation experience permits are issued out every day in Rushaga sector south of Bwindi forest where gorilla habituation takes place. To check gorilla permit availability and book gorilla tours in Uganda, contact us at African Apes Holidays for bookings.

Cost of Gorilla Permits in Rwanda

Rwanda gorilla permit

The cost of a Rwanda gorilla tour is $1500 for a gorilla permit in Volcanoes National park. This $1500 is only for the permit meaning that travelers who will pay for other tour inclusions such as accommodation, transport, guide and miscellaneous separate. In May 2017, Rwanda double increased her gorilla permit cost from $750 to $1500, which transformed Rwanda into a luxury gorilla tour destination. Since then, Rwanda gorilla tours became so expensive for budget travelers who opted to do Rwanda Uganda gorilla safaris. Here travelers fly into Kigali and trek gorillas in Uganda via Cyanika or Katuna borders in Kisoro and Kabale respectively. Every day, 80 gorilla permits are available to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National park Rwanda. Gorilla permit bookings in Rwanda can be done directly with Rwanda Development Board or African Apes Tours your ultimate gorilla safari company.

Cost of gorilla permits in Congo

The permit to trek gorillas in Congo costs $450, which makes it the most affordable gorilla destination in Africa. Each day, 64 gorilla permits are available to trek gorillas in Virunga National Park. Congo gorilla tours also involve visiting the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park to meet the largest gorilla species (Eastern Lowland gorillas) in the world. The fewer visits to Virunga National park make Congo the best gorilla safari destination for adventurous travelers. However, visitors are advised to be careful and avoid moving alone and in late hours while in Congo since the area is not secure.

When to book for a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo

Ensure to book and reserve your gorilla permit as early as possible. The recommended time to book for a gorilla permit is at least 6 months in advance to ensure timely planning and avoid any last time disappointment. Also, gorilla permits tend to sell out quickly due to high demand. Those who book last-minute trips often miss out on gorilla permits. Gorilla Safaris in Africa helps you check permit availability and reserve for you a permit to ensure you enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

HOW TO GET A GORILLA PERMIT IN UGANDA

The following steps are a clear guide to acquiring a gorilla permit in Uganda:

• Choose Your Dates and Gorilla Group: Decide on the dates you want to trek and which gorilla group you wish to visit. There are several habituated gorilla groups in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
• Select a Tour Operator: Gorilla permits in Uganda must be obtained through a registered tour operator. Choose a reputable operator who can arrange your permit as part of a gorilla trekking package.
• Contact the Tour Operator: Contact the tour operator directly or through their website. Provide them with the details of your preferred dates and the number of permits you need (one permit per person per trek).
• Confirm Availability: The tour operator will check availability of permits for your chosen dates and gorilla group. Gorilla permits are limited (especially during peak seasons), so it’s advisable to book well in advance.
• Payment: Once availability is confirmed, you will need to make payment for the gorilla permit.
• Receive Confirmation: After payment, the tour operator will send you a confirmation of your gorilla permit booking. This confirmation is essential as it serves as your permit to trek with the gorillas.
• Trekking Day: On the day of your trek, present your gorilla permit along with identification (passport or ID) at the park headquarters. The park rangers will verify your details before assigning you to a gorilla group for the trekking experience.
• Enjoy Your Trek: Follow the instructions of the park rangers and enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime experience trekking with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

It’s important to note that gorilla permits in Uganda are in high demand, especially during the peak seasons (June to September and December to February). Therefore, booking prior to the travel date (up to 6 months or more) is highly recommended to secure your permit and avoid disappointment. Check out our packages here.

Do you want to book a gorilla permit or check gorilla permit availability in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo? Contact African Apes Tours & Travel and you will be sorted within the shortest time possible.

Where is the best place to see mountain gorillas is undeniably one of the frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking in Africa. Most if not all travelers planning to visit gorillas have frequently asked where do mountain gorillas live to have a glimpse of this memorable encounter. For future travelers planning a gorilla safari, African Apes Tours offers you the best guide on the best gorilla trekking destination to offer you a memorable gorilla trekking safari. Mountain gorillas are endangered species, which were once at the verge of extinction. These species only survive in 3 African countries and anyone who wants to trek gorillas must visit any of the three countries. The following is where to trek mountain gorillas

Uganda – Bwindi Forest & Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks

Located in East Africa, Uganda is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Uganda gorilla tours take place in two-gorilla destinations, which are Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National parks all located in southwestern Uganda. Altogether, Uganda has 18 gorilla families 17 of which live in Bwindi forest while 1 gorilla family lives in Mgahinga Forest. Currently, it’s very possible to trek Uganda gorillas starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda. A 1 Day Uganda gorilla tour starts at 3:30 am with a set off from Kigali, driving for 5 hours to reach Bwindi for gorilla trekking and a drop off to Kigali at the end of the day. Budget travelers can, therefore, fly into Kigali and trek gorillas in Uganda with no difficulty. The habituated gorilla families in Uganda include
• Mubare gorilla family
• Habinyanja family
• Rushegura Family
• Nshongi Family
• Bitukura Family
• Busingye family
• Nkuringo Family
• Bwengye Family
• Christmas Family
• Nyakagyezi Family
• Katwe Family
• Bikingi Family
• Kyaguliro Family
• Bweza Family
• Oruzogo Family
• Mishaya Family
• Kahungye Family
• Bweza Gorilla group
Of recent, Uganda received the Hirwa Gorilla family, which migrated from Volcanoes National park to Mgahinga gorilla national park. Currently, the Mgahinga forest hosts 2 gorilla families. Regarding gorilla permits in Uganda, The pearl of Africa offers the most affordable gorilla permits in Africa. A single gorilla permit costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. Magical Encounters Limited helps you book and reserve a gorilla permit saving you time and energy.

Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda ranks as a luxury gorilla destination in Africa, which offers travelers with high-end gorilla tours for a memorable experience. The land f a thousand hills is home to over 350 mountain gorillas and home to the highest number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga conservation area. Rwanda gorillas live in Volcanoes National park and have been habituated into 10 families to ease trekking. In May 2017, Rwanda double increased her gorilla permit cost from $750 to $1500 which transformed the country into a luxury gorilla destination. Also, the high-end lodges which have been constructed all over Rwanda offer travelers with luxury accommodation services making the whole trip luxury and wonderful. The nearness of Volcanoes National park to Kigali international airport, roughly 3 hours drive makes Rwanda a first stop center for short time travelers who want to do a 1 Day Rwanda gorilla trek in the shortest me possible. Rwanda gorilla families are
• Susa A group
• Igisha group (Susa B)
• Sabyinyo Family
• Umubano family
• Ugenda gorilla family
• Bwengye family
• Kwitonda group
• Titus gorilla family
• Karisimbi gorilla family
• Amahoro gorilla family
• Agashya gorilla family
• Mafunzo family
• Pablo gorilla family
• Hirwa family (presently living in Rwanda)
To book a Rwanda gorilla safari, contact African Apes Tours and we shall tailor-make for you a suitable gorilla trekking tour at affordable rates.

The Democratic Republic of Congo – Virunga National park

Congo is yet another gorilla travel safari destination you sought to visit for magical and unbeaten gorilla tours in Virunga National Park. Despite the continuous threats and insecurity threats in Virunga park, Congo remains the best gorilla tour destination for adventurous travelers. The fewer visits to the park have kept it natural and off beaten. Congo has 8 gorilla families habituated for trekking every day. These are:
1. Munyaga gorilla family
2. Bageni Gorilla group
3. Nyakamwe Gorilla family
4. Humba gorilla family
5. Mapuwa gorilla group
6. Kabirizi gorilla family
7. Lulengo gorilla family
8. Rugendo gorilla family
Congo offers the very cheap gorilla tours at $450 for a gorilla permit. Budget travelers are therefore advised to trek gorillas in Congo to enjoy this magical experience at affordable rates.
In all gorilla destinations, each gorilla family is visited by a group of 8 people for an hours’ interaction.

NOTE: All gorilla permit bookings are recommended as early as 6 months before the trekking date due to the high demand for gorilla tour permits. Contact African Apes Tours & Travel today, book your gorilla tour to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo with no difficulty.

A few weeks after the birth of a baby gorilla, Mubare gorilla family has again received the bouncing cute baby. The new baby gorilla was born on 7th November 2019 and was discovered by park rangers during the gorilla monitoring sessions in the morning. The rangers shared the good news with the park management who then spread the good news to the whole country. This called for joyous celebrations and rejoicing in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. The new baby gorillas were born to Karungi, an adult female gorilla in the Mubare family. At the time of writing this documentary, the sex of the baby gorilla was no known but both the mother and baby are in good health. The new baby is undeniably a blessing to Mubare family, Bwindi forest and the whole Uganda tourism fraternity. The new baby has obviously increased the population of mountain gorillas in Uganda, which will, in the long run, promote sustainable tourism and increased tourist numbers to Uganda.

About Mubare gorilla family

Located in the Buhoma northern sector of Bwindi impenetrable Forest National park, Mubare is one of the four gorilla families in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. Mubare is the oldest gorilla family in Bwindi, which was habituated in 1991 and opened for trekking in 1993. Mubare was the first gorilla family to be visited by the first group of travelers to Bwindi Forest. Each day, 8-gorilla permits are issued out by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The rich history of Mubare gorilla family makes it the most visited gorilla family in Bwindi. The gorilla family is named after the hilly stones (Amabare) where the gorilla family was first sited. Currently, Mubare gorilla family entails 8 members including babies, juveniles, adult females and a dominant silverback. For many past years, the Mubare family was led by Ruhondeza silverback gorilla that unfortunately lost his life in a fight with a wild gorilla family.

How to trek, Mubare gorilla family

Do you want to visit and trek, Mubare gorilla family, book a Uganda gorilla tour to the Bwindi sector and select Buhoma sector. Just contact African Apes Tours and we shall book for you a gorilla permit to Buhoma. After reaching the park headquarters, our company representative (your driver guide) will go on to inform park rangers that you want to trek Mubare family. You will then be allocated to visit Mubare family to enjoy this magical encounter. Due to the high demand for gorilla permits to Buhoma, travelers are advised to book as early as six months before the trekking date. Booking can be done directly with Uganda wildlife authority or through Magical Encounters Limited who make your gorilla booking simple and less time-consuming. Kabale town is the best connecting point to Buhoma sector through Kihihi and Kanungu. If you are crossing from Rwanda, katuna border is the best option for you.

Other gorilla families in Buhoma sector

Besides Mubare group, Buhoma sector is home to the other three gorilla families which are Habiyanja, Rushegura and the newly habituated Katwe gorilla family. Each one of these gorilla families is visited by eight people a day. Also, each gorilla family is unique in its own kind in terms of size, domain silverback and the story of formation.

What to pack for gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Make sure you pack the appropriate essentials to ensure a successful gorilla tour encounter. Among the things you must pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda include hiking boots, gardening gloves, rain jackets, sweaters, sunglasses, hats, ponchos, drinking water and energy-giving snacks. Also, a porter and walking stick is highly recommended for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

When to trek gorillas in Uganda?

The best time to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda is during the dry season between the months of June, July, August, September, and December to February. This season is loved due to low rains, which make it easy to hike through the thick jungle forests. However, the low season in the months of April, May, October and November has its own advantages also. During this time, visitor numbers are minimal which limits crowds to trek gorillas giving you chances for a close un disrupted gorilla encounter.

In general, the birth of new babies is a blessing in the tourism industry. Mubare gorilla family is an exceptional gorilla family each traveler should visit on his/her Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi Forest. Contact us, book your gorilla tour and enjoy this magical experience.