Consider to take an escapade trip in Rwanda 2023-2024

A gorilla trip to Rwanda, Few people have realizes what’s so special on a Rwanda trip. And those who have gotten that chance have loved visiting the country again and again.  Those who have not yet aware about what is so special about Rwanda they are missing a lot. However its high time for them to get to know what’s really so special about this beautiful nation which is to many referred to as a ‘’Land of Thousand Hills’’.

Rwanda attracts a huge number of travelers who jet in and have some good time in this small African country. Before selecting a country to visit, you are advised to put into consideration the major highlights of your safari on your trip. Before living your own country and traveling thousand and thousand miles around the world.

Rwanda is located in Central/Eastern Africa, and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, and Burundi to the south. Whatever you are interested in, Rwanda offers, no one has ever gone on a safari in Rwanda and comeback unsatisfied.  Rwanda is among the smallest countries in Africa. But this small country becomes big when it comes to tourist attractions. Since it’s gifted with very many beautiful attractions many are untouched just waiting for you to discover.

Whether you a nature lover, wildlife viewer, interested in a gorilla trip to Rwanda.  For bird lovers Rwanda is worth to go, over 1000 species of birds can be seen in this small country, hiking and cruising on Lake Kivu is known as a memorable experience. Rwanda safaris involve viewing, photography. As well as experiencing animals in their natural habitat. On a safari where you can observe the animals in their true habitat is considered a very interesting destination.  Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant Crater Lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.

Choosing a Rwanda safari

Choosing a Rwanda safari as your nest destination for an adventure safari is a breathtaking experience. The country is gifted with the rare species known as the mountain gorillas. These species can’t be seen elsewhere in the world either in zoos. Or under captivity like many other wildlife species and gorilla species. That can be seen in zoos or under captivity. Mountain gorillas are only seen in their natural habitat deep in the volcanoes national park forest.

An adventurous safari which involves meeting these gorillas in their natural home is regarded as a moment in life very difficult to forget. Rwanda is ranked as the best gorilla safari destination in the world with almost a half of these remaining apes. Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo is among the blessed few countries to host these few remaining apes. In Uganda mountain gorillas live in Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla forest national park, whereas in DR. Congo these apes live in Virunga national park. It’s amazing that only about 1,063 gorilla individuals found in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo Based on the recent census of mountain gorillas. So, being among the eight members allowed to meet these apes is a long life time experience.

Consider to take an escapade trip in Rwanda 2023-2024

A gorilla trip to Rwanda , When you plan a gorilla safari to meet these rare mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park. You have to begin with identifying your travel dates, when are you will to travel and the dates you want to trek the gorillas. After check availability of international flight from your home country to Kigali international airport Rwanda.  If the flight available fits your intended travel dates/plan go ahead and make a booking. Once your travel dates are confirmed please check availability of the gorilla permit.

Gorilla trekking is done on the date you booked your gorilla permits once you miss. You are likely to buy another gorilla permits which is the only ‘’passport’ ’one has to have. In order to be allowed to trek the endangered mountain gorillas. You can check gorilla permit availability through Tour agent/ Tour operator. Or you can inquiry and book direct through the Rwanda tourism board in Kigali.  If you find the gorilla permit available corresponds well with your flight dates. Go ahead and book your gorilla safari and if they don’t much you can change the dates once a gorilla permit is bought can’t be returned back.

It should be noted that gorilla permits are on a very high demand. They are sold on first come first serve basis. The earlier you book your gorilla permit the best, a gorilla permit can be booked at least 1-2 months prior to your travel dates. Last minutes booing is always disappointing. After all is set, you can go ahead and confirm hotel availability of your rooms. If you book with a local tour company they will do all the ground handling service for you. Including booking the gorilla permits, accommodation and transportation.

Permits

Rwanda gorilla permits are sold at a fee of $1500 per person per trekking for foreign visitors. Special offers are currently available for Rwandan and East African. Book Your Gorilla Tracking Experience. 10% of the revenue from the permits is channeled towards local communities, to build schools and health centers, as well as roads. There is a compensation fund for local farmers. Should any gorillas damage their crops, which helps to ensure peaceful co-existence.

What to Were on gorilla trip to Rwanda 2021-2022

Solid walking shoes with gaiters and sturdy clothing to protect against stinging nettles are essential. Gardening or leather gloves are useful and remember to carry a lightweight waterproof jacket in case of rain.

On the day of gorilla tracking, you will have an early cup of tea or coffee, and then you will be driven to the park entrance where you will get briefed by the park wardens about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas and also gets you assigned to the park ranger who will lead you through the all gorilla trekking process and also the gorilla family that you will trek this morning.

Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed. With expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures. You will get divided into eight members per gorilla family and you will be assigned to one gorilla group. After, you will be accompanied by an armed ranger guide who will follow you into the forest.

Depending on the movement of mountain gorillas, the trek may last from 30-6 hours and this will also depend on the gorilla family tracked. For gorilla family are very easy to meet are others are very difficult and you will be assigned to a gorilla family depending on your interest and physical ability Reaching an altitude of between 2,500m and 4,000m. Porters are available to carry backpacks and cameras, as well as to offer a helping hand along the route. Once the gorillas are met, you are strictly allowed one hour with them. Observing their behaviors as well as taking as many photos and videos with them. After this breathtaking one hour meeting with the gorillas, retire to the lodge for refreshment and lunch.

Once with the gorillas, you are advised to stay 7 meters away from the animals

Only people of 15 years and above are only allowed to track gorillas

Avoid entering the park when suffering from some disease to avoid wildlife contamination.

A gorilla trip to Rwanda All the information needed for a safari to this country will be provided by the safari company organizing your safari to any chosen destination either in Rwanda, Uganda and democratic republic of Congo. Choose us as your travel agency to organize for you a memorable safari to Rwanda and Mum and Dad Uganda Tours is a legitimate Tour and Travel company that will organize for you this memorable tour and have your dreams come true!

Virunga Receives a Baby Gorilla

Virunga Receives a Baby Gorilla,  Receives a Baby Gorilla, On November 17th. The Authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Virunga National Park announced the birth of the two mountain gorillas. This has boosted hopes from the conservation efforts. Which are observing a tremendous increase in the number of gorillas by birth annually.

Though the long conservation challenges including, poaching, rebel activities. Which are running within and areas around the forests. This has not hesitated the increase in the number of mountain gorillas. Conservationists have worked hard to ensure that these World heritage forests remain intact to protect these endemic and endangered species.

However, the newborn baby  received from the Humba family on November 15th, 2021. The baby mountain gorilla was born to the 19-year-old female Kanyalire who gave birth to a female baby. The baby is the first birth in the Humba family this year.

Virunga Receives a Baby Gorilla | gorilla safari trails | news

For the last 3 decades, the population of mountain gorillas has increased tremendously across all the mountain gorilla zones. Before conservation efforts. By the 1980s the mountain gorillas across were at the edge of extinction with a total of about 200 mountain gorillas in the wild. But surprisingly according to the last gorilla census indicates that there were over 1065 gorillas in the wild.

For this reason, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2019. Revised its list to upgrade the mountain gorilla species from critically endangered species to endangered species.

The year 2012, The Congo’s Virunga National Park this year has received a number of baby gorillas. The 10 years old Bazirushaka a member of the Lulengo family gave birth to a male baby gorilla in February 2021.

Virunga Receives a Baby Gorilla, The Baraka family as well has received two baby gorillas this year. The first one received on 22nd August 2021, and the first baby  received in January of this same year.

According to the park records, the population was only 58 by the 1980s. Raised by 2000 to 131, in 2010 increased to 201, by 2016 the population increased to 286 and there is an estimate of 350 gorillas in 2012.

The Virunga park authorities say their conservation success. Has come from their extreme conservation policy including daily close tracking of gorillas by rangers, trackers vets.

In recent years, due to armed groups (rebel groups) activities. Which also extended to the mountain gorilla shelter in the Virunga forests, the tourist activities reduced and at once the park was closed out of boundaries for tourists. However, the rebel groups in DRC came to an agreement to ensure that the mountain gorillas are safe.

Today gorilla trekking activities were revamped. And the park authorities are fully operating to offer gorilla trekkers a memorable experience. Although, things are not the same like trekking gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda. Here your guide drives you to Goma town where the park authority handles the rest of the remaining activities including trekking and accommodation.

Meanwhile, there are about 6 habituated gorilla families which can be trekked, and trekkers at the Virunga can trek and spend an hour with the gorillas.

 

Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda is the highlight of all the rest of Africa’s Safaris, Gorilla Trekking still continuing amidst Covid-19 pandemic.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Call it gorilla tracking or gorilla trekking safaris, the differences in English doesn’t change anything concerning the adventure. During the terror times of the dangerous global pandemic coronavirus, it’s a sounding idea to have a time off the usual environment. Gorilla trekking safaris have availed to ensure that the health and psychological torture caused by Covid-19 is wiped away. And roads connecting to gorillas are widely open for trekkers with term and conditions being applied.

After worries of trekkers possibly contracting Covid-19 to animals as discovered by WHO, then it was very important for UWA to ensure that continuing trekking activities amidst there no gape left that can lead to the species getting infected by trekkers. Then there was a need to strictly observe the MOH set SOPs to ensure that all animals of all protected areas are safe guarded against any possible Covid-19 contraction.

Well, there is still gorilla trekking taking places. As usual tourists still have the same opportunity to encounter the giants. And a simple guide for anyone opting for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda for a smooth planning.

Why go for Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda?

Still Uganda is the only country in the world with two national parks where one can trek gorillas in their natural setting. Say the only country where one can do double gorilla trekking in two different forests, this sounds so amazing. Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda is a tremendous suggestion for all kinds of trekkers (classes i.e. Luxury, Mid-range and Budget trekker) the only opportunity is in Uganda in terms of accommodation and transportation.

Trekking in Uganda is safer, as the neighboring DRC is experiencing political disturbances from rebels. Uganda remains safe for travelers and this has been and this has been witnessed for a long time that trekking in Uganda is safe. Traveling to all parts of the country (Uganda) is safety is guaranteed and don’t need to be worried about the security.

Where in Uganda to do Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda?

Uganda is blessed with two volcanic tropic which are endemic homes for the endangered mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are only primate species which can’t survive under captivity (zoo) and only located in their remaining natural homes. There are two mountainous forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where one can have a change to encounter the species.

Briefly about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable is located in Southwestern Uganda covering parts of Kisoro, Kabale and Kanungu districts covering an area of 331sqkm. This is a unique mountainous tropical forests located at the edge of the great Albertine Rift Valley, the western branch of the East African rift valley, the forest was part of the great Virunga Conservation Areas but due to population pressure this section was poached and separated.

The Bwindi forest host over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas in the wild, as the other, the forest shelters a special sub-specie of Bwindi mountain gorilla which is slightly different from the Virunga mountain gorillas. There are 4 gorilla trekking sectors in the forest of Buhoma in the north, Rushaga in the southeast, Ruhija in the east and Nkuringo in the wester. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is offers the greatest opportunities of trekking gorillas with over 18 habituated gorillas families (over 140 permits) accommodating all trekkers in terms of accommodation.

Briefly about Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

This Uganda’s smallest among all National Parks in the country, however, the tiny volcanic tropic is endowed with great offers. The forest is part of the Virunga conservation area which is shared among Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. There is only one habituated gorillas family at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but the forest is endemic to various species to Uganda including the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys which nicknames the park a place where ”Gold meets silver”. Trekking gorillas from here needs earlier planning at least 4 month to have a permit to trek from here.

How much is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking remains the most amazing wildlife adventures, finding yourself in the jungle trekking for miles searching for the apes. The cost to trek gorillas in Uganda is relatively accommodative in relation to the neighbors and having a permit it costs US$700 per person and gorilla Habituation a permit costs US$1,500. Gorilla tours is very limited in accommodating trekkers and for an opportunity to trek the species one must book at least 3 month before the trekking date.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Mountain gorilla family

What is all about Gorilla Habituation Experience?

Gorilla habituation simply means to make the gorillas used to human presence and the activity involves a full day following the gorillas monitoring their daily activities. Gorilla habituation is done by specialist (researchers) who make a critical study of various wild species gorillas inclusive. Still it’s only in Uganda where trekkers have a chance to join a team of researchers and do gorilla habituation. In Uganda gorilla habituation is done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at Rushaga sector where only a limited number of trekker have a chance to monitor the gorillas daily.

What is about Gorilla Trekking Safaris amidst Covid-19?

Trekking gorillas amidst Covid-19 is no difference with the usual gorilla trekking activities, only MOH SOPs are considered to be followed. The Uganda Wildlife Authority as well made special settings on addition to that of the government before trekking which are aimed at safe guarding the species from contracting the dangerous coronavirus.

The following SOPs have been established by UWA management for all trekkers opting to trek gorillas on addition to having your permit ready.

Before setting to the park make sure to have a negative Covid-19 PCR testing certificate, for all inbound travelers to Uganda have to take a mandatory PCR test at the Airport irrespective of their coronavirus vaccination status. After testing those found positive are quarantine until they test negative, so, reaching your trekking park you will have to present the negative PCR test and as well observe the following.

Why is Gorilla Trekking Safaris expensive?

Mountain gorillas are endangered species which even tested the edge of extinction. A lot of effort has been deployed to ensure that the gorillas also witness their next generation. The efforts of gorilla conservation were started and spare headed by Diana Fossey the American primatologist who fell in love with the mountain gorillas at Karismbi in Rwanda where she carried out all her research about the gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are wild species but are characterized by a weaker immune system making them only surviving in these volcanic designated forests. To protect them from the poachers and encroachers as well treating them is something so expensive. When these forests where gazetted for the gorillas the people who lived in them were forcefully evicted without any pay there was always threats to encroaching and one way to harmonize between the forest and surrounding people was making the these surrounding locals benefiting from the tourism activities for sustainable development.

These measures have for sure helped in reviving the number of mountain gorillas in the wild, by 1991 when the forests were gazetted in the wild there was about only 300 gorillas in the wild and today there is about 1,063 according to the recent 2019 gorilla census.

How to access gorilla parks in Uganda

There two ways to access the gorilla destinations and these are air and by road. Using the road it’s a long fully day drive from Kampala capital but using air is a one hour flight from Entebbe airport.

By Road:

A drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kampala takes about 9-10 hour drive, and to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about to 8-9 hour drive. Take the Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara –Kabale – Kisoro Road drive to reach the parks, when driving to Bwindi forest must reach through the sector you’re to trek gorillas from.

By Air:

For travelers who don’t wish to spend a lot of time driving, there is an alternative of taking a chartered plane from wither Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe airport to Kihihi airstrip in Kisoro which is almost 1 ½ hour drive to the parks.

How to book for permit for Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda?

No permit, no, trekking gorillas. Gorilla trekking requires prior preparations which need to have a gorilla trekking  permit before reaching the trekking point. As noticed before gorilla trekking is very competitive where they level of demand are beyond the level of supply. Permits to trek in Uganda are given by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) where one can book directly, but it’s advisable to use local Tour Operators to secure your trekking permit. Just remember to do this earlier enough when there is still availability.