Mum and Dad Uganda Tours/ Gorilla Safari Trails would love to show you some of Africa’s best destinations; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We offer tailormade gorilla trekking tours in East and Central Africa. On your next gorilla safari with us you can see lots of animals that include mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, elephants, an abundance of birds and much more. Go trekking in the jungle with Gorilla Safari Trails, search for big game on the savanna, spot hippos by the shores, climb mountains, see the fast moving chimpanzees and go gorilla trekking in the jungle forests of Bwindi. We will customize your trip to include in other adventures! Experience the amazing culture of the people or relax in breathtaking nature.

We offer reliable information about gorilla tours and wildlife safaris in Uganda, Rwanda Gorilla trekking or Congo gorilla tours. We help you to learn more about gorilla safari costs, habituated gorilla families to visit, things to pack for your gorilla trek, best time to visit the mountain gorillas in either country, what the gorillas feed on (diet), and how to book gorilla permits in both countries.

Our gorilla tours are customized and we organize them depending on client’s Budget, Mid-range, or luxury basing on the accommodation type you prefer during your Gorilla safari experience.

Our aim is to give you an unforgettable experience to look back at for the rest of your life. plan a safari to your wishes and have knowledgeable guides who will do their very best to show you Uganda.

We believe that our specialist knowledge and unusual and distinctive itineraries set us apart from other tour operators. I would not hesitate to recommend Mum Dad Uganda Tours to anyone planning a trip to East Africa. Browse our Available tours: Uganda Gorilla tours, Rwanda Gorilla tours or a safari in Uganda we are always at your disposal to give you what you want

They have the experience and expertise to design a perfect itinerary to suit your interests and to follow through with the arrangements to make it happen. Their local knowledge of the continent and guiding skills is unsurpassed. ”Thanks Kasujja Augustine for the fine job that you have done for us, and thank you for arranging the best of our many trips to Uganda. I am looking forward to the next one”

Top Destinations

BEST GORILLA SAFARI TRIPS FROM KIGALI

Are you planning to fly to Kigali of Rwanda? We have a selection of many trips that depart from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital and its largest city. Here are the top sellers from Kigali going through Rwanda, Uganda or DR Congo.

• 1 Day Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
• 2 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari
• 4 Days Bwindi Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi

BEST GORILLA SAFARI TRIPS FROM KAMPALA

Are you interested in starting your trip from Kampala Uganda’s capital and its largest city or from Entebbe? We have a variety of gorilla tours that start from Kampala or Entebbe to the gorilla kingdom of Uganda, as well as Rwanda and DR. Congo these included.

• 3 Day Bwindi Gorilla Trek
• 4 Day double gorilla trek in Bwindi
• 3 days fly to bwindi gorilla tour
• 4 days Uganda gorilla fly-in – safari
• 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Wildlife & Chimpanzees
• 8Days Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife safari

What are the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas during the gorilla trek?

Gorilla trekking is one of the most done safari activity in all the three African countries that host these endangered apes including Uganda, Rwanda and DRC.

Mountain gorillas are regarded endangered because there are only 1000 mountain gorillas remained world-wide. People world-wide are yearning to come and spend some good time with these endangered apes for at least 1 hour with them in their natural habitat. The money paid for a gorilla permit differ country to country and this gives one a chance to choose where to trek the gorillas from based on budget and country of interest.

Uganda gorilla permit costs $700 and this is paid per person per trekking, Rwanda gorilla permits costs $1500 and in DR. Congo a gorilla permit costs $400. Owning a gorilla permit gives one 99% chances of trekking the gorillas and sighting. In Many cases tourists ask about the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas during their gorilla trekking tour.

However, chance s of seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat is over 98% during your gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda. The most reason behind this is that because the habituated gorilla families are closely monitored, and the ranger guides are always in the know of the whereabouts of each gorilla family.

Therefore even before you go out for the gorilla trek in the morning, the ranger guides always track the gorillas beforehand and you track them based on their last known location and or movement.  However, it should be noted that mountain gorillas are wild animals, they move freely in their natural habitat.

So, however much the chances of sighting is very high it’s not a guarantee. Please contact us at Gorilla Safari Trails if you are interested in finding out more information about the chances of seeing the gorillas.

What is gorilla habituation experience and when is this done?

Gorilla habituation differ from gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation is known as another safari experience carried out only in bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda.

Before gorilla families are made available for gorilla trekking, they first go under a process of habituation and this is manly done by researchers and scientists at the gorilla parks.

The gorilla habituation in simple terms means that gorillas are slowly by slowly introduced to human presence, such that they become used to some little human presence and that they can be met in their natural habitat without any harm caused to human. Habituation makes them less shy, and less aggressive thus allowing that group to be visited.

In case you are looking for a gorilla habituation experience, you will visit the gorilla family being habituated in the company of an armed park rangers and researchers.

Not, like gorilla trekking which allows only 1 hour with the gorillas for gorilla habituation, you are allowed 4 hours with the mountain gorillas, the experience starts very early in the morning when the gorillas have just woken up.

A permit for gorilla habituation costs $1500 in Uganda and currently there are two available groups or habituation these are in the Rushaga / Nkuringo sectors of the Bwindi impenetrable national park.

I want to visit the Uganda gorillas via Kigali, is it possible?

Yes very possible, Uganda gorillas or Rwanda gorillas can be met at either sides, from Uganda side, you can depart from Entebbe international airport or Rwanda side Kigali international airport. It’s very possible to visit bwindi national park via the Rwanda side.

When comparing the driving time from Entebbe international airport to Bwindi national park is about 9-10 hours, while the drive from Kigali to Bwindi is only 4.5 hours, this means therefore, many people are opting to visit the gorillas through Kigali.

If you opt to fly to Kigali international Airport in Rwanda, you can 99% trek the gorillas at the Uganda side, so feel free to book your gorilla trekking tour with us at info@gorillasafaritrails.com or you can call us direct on +256776641554.

You can as well start your tour from Entebbe and vice versa if you have quite a number of activity to do more than just the gorillas. It should also be noted that the East African tourist visa can allow you access these countries with ease.

The East African tourist visa costs $100, if you are visiting two or the three East African countries including Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo, you are advised to get the East African visa.

Does Rwanda have discounted gorilla trekking permits?

Yes Rwanda offers discounted gorilla permits to have a chance of viewing the endangered mountain gorillas in their national habitat in volcanoes national park.

However, these discounted gorilla trekking permits can be obtained at a fee of only $1050 and this applies during the low season months including May and November, but this can apply only if you spend 3 days in anyone of the other national parks in Rwanda including Nyungwe forest national park or the Akagera National park.

Uganda no longer discounted gorilla permits this offers ended in 2017 so, in order to meet the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, you must pay a fix fee of $700 to have a chance of spending with the gorillas for one hour both in bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla forest national park.

Does DR. Congo have discounted gorilla trekking permits?

Congo is one of the three countries that houses the few remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Over 250 of these apes live in Democratic Republic of Congo and these apes are hosted in Virunga national park.

The Virunga Congo gorilla trekking permits costs $400 dollars, however occasionally the park offers discounted gorilla trekking permits for $200. In case you need a gorilla tour in DR. Congo Contact us for more information about Gorilla trekking in Congo, availability of gorilla trekking permits among other.

When should I book the discounted Rwanda gorilla permits?

Rwanda discounted gorilla permit can only be booked during the low season months which is May and November when the permits are sold at $1050.

Many gorilla trekkers have started coming in huge numbers during these discounted months, so if you are planning to trek the gorilla during these same months, you are advised to book your gorilla permit in advance at least 2-3 months to avoid disappointments.  Please contact us at info@gorillasafaritrails.com to book your Rwanda low season gorilla trekking tour.

How many people per gorilla family?  

Since gorillas are wild animals, they sometimes feel threatened so, the specific number of people allowed to visit the gorillas per gorilla family is 8 people per day.

Each gorilla family is guided by an armed ranger guide. Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park has 18 gorilla families and 1 gorilla family in Mgahinga gorilla forest national park which means Uganda only over 152 people trek the gorilla per day in Uganda.

While Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park has 12 habituated gorilla families available to be trekked meaning that 96 people trek Rwanda’s gorilla per day. For gorilla habituation, only 4 people are allowed to visit the gorilla per gorilla family. This is because groups being habituated are not used to seeing a lot of people and may become aggressive if the feel threatened.

About gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla trekking experience is another version of meeting the gorillas in their natural habitat and it’s a 4 hours experience with the endangered mountain gorillas rather than the one hour with the gorillas for normal gorilla trekking.

This memorable gorilla habituation experience was introduced to the public in 2014 which gives one a chance to involve in the process of making the gorillas become familiar to human presence such that they can be available for gorilla trekking.

The gorilla habituation permit in Uganda costs $1500 USD per person, and this activity is only done in bwindi impenetrable national park. Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda about 8-9 hours’ drive from the capital city Kampala.

Like gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience begins very early in the morning after briefing from the park wardens, you will be assigned to the ranger guide who will lead you through the whole process. The experience lasts between 4-6 hours and it’s a full day activity.

When to book gorilla permits

With no doubt, Gorilla trekking is regarded as one of the most selling safari activity one should not love to miss on his/her tour to the East African region. Although regarded as one of the most expensive activity, it’s the most done experience.

Because it’s the most selling activity, you are advised to book your gorilla permit in time at least 2-3 months or even earlier prior to gorilla trekking to ensure that your permits for the preferred travel dates are secured before they run out.

Gorilla Permits are sold on first come first serve basis, so the earlier you secure your permit the better to avoid last minute booking which is always disappointing.

It is also important to note that for the high season months of June, July, August, September, December January and February, the permits usually get sold out and thus if you are planning your Uganda gorilla trekking tour or Rwanda gorilla safari during those months, you have to book the trip early enough to avoid last minute booking which is so disappointing

Do you have any other questions about Gorillas?

Gorilla safari trails team is always at your disposal in case you still have any other questions kindly write to us we will revert to you shortly to whichever questions you have about gorilla trekking experience in the three East African countries that host these rare mountain gorillas including Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

We reply to our emails within the shortest time possible, and also we have a WhatsApp hotline +256776641554 in case you want faster answers / chats or send us an inquiry on info@gorillasafaritrails.com.

Rules and regulation for mountain gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is known as a once in the life time safari activity which is incomparable and gorilla trekking experience is known as a number one safari activity done in the three East African countries where these apes live including Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gorilla trekking is a one hour activity which gives one a chance to stay with the gorillas while observing their behaviors, watching the mothers feeding their younger ones, watching them playing in fruitful tree among others.

Mountain gorillas can only be seen in their natural habitat deep into the forest, not in zoos or under captivity like other gorillas. However, to have a successful and memorable mountain gorilla tour, there are some rules and regulations which must be put into consideration before and during the gorilla trek in order to have a delightful experience.

Some of the information given below is well written in the printed-leaflet offered by the Uganda wildlife authority ‘the Gorilla Rules’) to get a clear information before and during an encounter with these giants.

The gorilla trekking rules and regulation applies to both countries that inhabit these giant apes, Let us examine one by one of these rules and regulations for gorilla trekking.

On the way to the mountain gorillas:

On your way to the forest, you are advised to keep your voice low, this is good as you will stand a chance to meet many other forest inhabitants including bird species and many species of animals like different species of antelopes, elephants, antelopes, worth hogs among many others.

If you want to defecate during or after the trek, you are requested to inform your ranger guide to dig you a hole of about 30cm deep and when you are done you are advised to bury the hole well

If you are suffering from cold, or any other infectious disease like flue or cough you are not advised to go gorilla trekking. Inform your guide, they will give you a special arrangement.

While during the trek, the guide will notify you when you are close to the mountain gorillas and take the pre-cautions when with the gorillas

While on the trek during or after, do not leave any rubbish in the forest, whichever item you go with in the forest please carry them back and throw them at the park headquarters or at the lodge in the dustbin.

Once you are with the gorillas:

In the presence of the gorillas, you are prompted to keep a distance of about 7-10m (21ft) from the gorillas, this will keep them peaceful and feel not endangered.  Keep a distance from the gorillas remember they are wild animals they can charge at any time.

Once the gorillas are met, you are reminded to stay together in a tight group do not move alone and always follow the guide’s instructions. You are not allowed to use flash cameras when taking photos, doing this, you may scare away the gorillas or they may feel endangered.

You are not allowed to eat, drink and Smoke in front of the gorillas, remember they are wild animal they may charge on you and eating or drinking may put both your life and gorillas in danger.

You are strictly allowed only one hour with the gorilla ounce they are seen. However, the rest of the hours they are left to live a fee life as they enjoy in their natural habitat.

Use the one hour collectively while observing their behaviors, learn how they socialize as you take as many photos as possible. But, if the gorillas turn to be anxious, your guide will end the visit earlier. Only ranger guides are eligible to monitors them 24/7.

When feeling sneezing or coughing in the presence of the gorillas, you must cover your face and turn around away from the gorillas, they can easily catch cough and colds from human causing death among gorillas.

Don’t touch the gorillas, remember they are wild animals they may charge on you.

In case the gorillas miss behave, always follow the guide’s instructions like squat down slowly, and don’t look directly into the eyes of the gorillas, they may think you are an enemy wait for the animal to pass. Don’t attempt to run away as this will increase the threat.

Maintain your voice as low as possible once you are in the presence of the gorillas, ignoring this, you may scare them away. However, in case you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask your ranger guide is there to make you have a wonderful gorilla trekking experience.

In case the gorillas miss behave, always follow the guide’s instructions like squat down slowly, and don’t look directly into the eyes of the gorillas, they may think you are an enemy wait for the animal to pass. Don’t attempt to run away as this will increase the threat.