Africa Adventure Safaris offers customized gorilla safaris to Rwanda, Uganda or Congo at discounted rates! We provide a wide choice on gorilla trekking tours across East and Central Africa along other interesting wildlife and adventure experience. Our gorilla tours take you deep into the tropical rain forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national national park in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo respectively. Uganda shelters the highest number of mountain gorillas hence the premier destination for gorilla safaris.
Rwanda Gorilla Safaris
Rwanda gorilla safaris take place in Volcanoes National Park located in north western Rwanda. The park hosts over 350 mountain gorillas which is the second highest population after Bwindi Forest National park in Uganda. The park contains 10 habituated gorilla groups which are Amahoro, Pablo, Susa A, Karisimbi, Agashya, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Hirwa, Titus and Kwitonda gorilla families. Volcanoes park is located 3 hours drive from Kigali International airport hence the most accessible gorilla park in Africa. Rwanda offers luxury gorilla safaris due to its high cost gorilla permit at $1500 each.
Africa Adventure Safaris coordinates with Rwanda Development Board to reserve your Rwanda gorilla permit. Rwanda safaris range from 1 Day Rwanda gorilla trek to over 15 days Rwanda safari which combine with other tourism experiences in the Land of a Thousand Hills. The gorilla trekking addons in Rwanda include golden monkey trekking, bird watching, volcano climbing, cultural tours and forest walks among others.
Uganda gorilla Safaris
Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National park both located in south western Uganda. Bwindi Forest shelters over 450 mountain gorillas which is half of the world's total mountain gorilla population. Uganda Wildlife Authority has habituated 21 gorilla families namely Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Kyaguliro, Mishaya, Nkuringo, Katwe, Christmas, Oruzogo, Mukiza, Nshongi, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Mucunguzi, Kutu and Rwigi gorilla groups to ease trekking.
Bwindi Forest is divided into four regions i.e Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. On the other hand, Mgahinga Gorilla Park shelters one and only Nyakagyezi gorilla family which contains roughly 16 members.
A 4 Days Uganda double gorilla safari offers you chance to trek two different gorilla families in two separate regions. Habituated gorilla families in Uganda include The Impenetrable forest also offers experimental gorilla habituation experience which allow you to spend four hours with the endangered mountain gorillas. Bikyingi and Bushaho gorilla families both in Rushaga sector are undergoing habituation experience. The other gorillas in Uganda live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with one habituated gorilla family (Nyakagyezi).
Each gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 for Foreign non residents, $600 for foreign non residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. Africa Adventure Safaris helps you book and reserve permits and also customizing your suitable gorilla package.
Congo gorilla safaris
Mountain gorillas in Congo live in the rain forests of Virunga National Park located in Eastern Congo. The park entails 8 gorilla families i.e Nyakamwe, Lulengo, Rugendo, Humba, Bageni, Munyaga, Kabirizi and Mapuwa gorilla groups habituated for trekking. DR Congo offers the cheapest gorilla permits at $450 each. Still in Congo, you can visit the Eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Congo safaris also involve hiking up to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo which shelters the world's largest lava lake
Other activities done alongside gorilla trekking include volcano climbing bird watching, cultural tours, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park Rwanda and Kibale forest national park in Uganda, and the big five game in Akagera national park among others for a complete African safari package.Those who are interested in combined gorilla tours have chance of using an East African visa allowing them to visit all the three gorilla countries without re applying. Combined gorilla safaris is an opportunity for clear gorilla trekking comparisons in Uganda, Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of Congo.
3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari
The 3 days gorilla safari takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in south Western Uganda for gorilla tracking in one of the habituated gorilla families. Read More.
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
This is one of the most interesting tours in Rwanda. A gorilla safari is an experience one should never miss while on any Rwanda trip. The tour starts and ends in Kigali.Read More.
4 Days Rwanda Game Safari
The 4 days Rwanda game safari takes you to Akagera National Park home to the big five game and several other wild animals and birds. The safari also entails a boat cruise at Lake Ihema.Read More.
5 Days Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari
The 5 days Uganda gorillas & game safari takes you to Bwindi Impenetrable forest to trek gorillas & Queen Elizabeth for game viewing & boat cruise. Read More.
8 Days Rwanda & Congo Gorilla Safaris
The 8 days Rwanda & Congo gorilla safari for Mountain Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives and Kigali city tour.Read More
12 Days Uganda & Rwanda Safari
The 12 days Uganda Rwanda Adventure takes you to Volcanoes Park Rwanda Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest & Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda. Read More
How long driving time to reach gorilla national parks is among the common questions asked by most first time travelers coming to see gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Well, the driving time to gorilla parks vary depending on which park you are visiting. The driving time also depend on which airport you are connecting from.
Drive time from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Forest
Driving from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest/Mgahinga National parks takes roughly 10 hours. This full day drive however offers you chance to explore many interes
ting features enroute. The Equator is usually the first stop centre for travelers headed to Bwindi Forest. The drive also entails several stops for lunch breaks and to buy roadside foods and fruits
Driving from Kigali to Bwindi
This takes roughy 5 hours drive via Cyanika Border and roughly 7 hours via Katuna border. This time is inclusive of an hour spent at the immigrations (Katuna and Cyanika). If you are trekking gorillas in Rushaga, Cyanika border is the easiest entry point while Katuna is the easiest for those trekking in Buhoma/Ruhija regions.
Driving from Kigali to Volcanoes National park
Volcanoes National park in Rwanda is the most accessible gorilla park in Africa. Driving from Kigali to Volcanoes Park takes roughly 3 hours via rolling hills, local communities and farms. The short drive time to Volcanoes has made it a favorite gorilla park for short time travelers. The 1 Day Rwanda gorilla trek to Volcanoes Park involve an early pick up (4:30am) from Kigali driving for roughly 3 hours to reach Kinigi Park headquarters by 7:00am.
Africa adventure Safaris brings you the detailed guide to gorilla trekking safaris in Africa. Where to see gorillas, best time , what to pack, gorilla permits and the guidelines for seeing the endangered primates in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Where is the best place to see gorillas
The conclusion on which place is best to see gorillas is not certain. It fully depends on the clients since each destination is unique in its own kind. The endangered primates dwell in the forests of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo! Half of the world’s total gorilla population live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park located in south western Uganda. Tis jungle forest is believed to shelter over 450 mountain gorillas which live in 21 gorilla families. The forest is divided into four sectors (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo) patched in different corners of the park.
Gorilla groups in Bwindi Forest include Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, Nkuringo, Kyaguliro, Katwe, Bweza, Kutu, Rwigi, Christmas, Oruzogo, Nshongi and Mishaya among others. Besides Bwindi Forest, the other place to trek gorillas is the Virunga Conservation Area also called the Virunga Massif. The VCA is shared between Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Altogether, Africa shelters roughly 1006 mountain gorillas scattered in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Uganda shelters the highest gorilla population, Rwanda is the easy to reach gorilla destination while Congo is best for budget travelers.
Best Time to Trek Gorillas:
Dry /peak season between June to September and December to February is regarded the best time for trekking mountain gorillas. The season is generally sunny with limited or no rains which make it easy to trek through jungle forests where the endangered gorillas. Gorilla permits normally sell out quickly in the dry season to high demand. Travelers who intend to trek gorillas in the dry season are therefore advised to book as early as 6 months prior. On the other hand, you can trek gorillas in low season in March, April, May, October and November. This season is rainy and normally attracts fewer travelers. Service providers mostly travel companies and hotels/lodges normally offer discounted services which make traveling in the low season generally cheap.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
There is a recommended packing list for travelers visiting gorillas in Africa. The fact that gorilla trekking in all destinations is a not a walk away, travelers are advised to prepare and pack the right things to make ensure a stress free and enjoyable gorilla encounter. You ought to dress right for the jungle if you want to have a peaceful trek! Dressing smart for gorilla trekking does not mean suits or high heels but rather the right jungle attires.
These include waterproof light closed shoes, long pants, long sleeved shirts, gardening gloves, hat, rain jacket, sunglasses and scarf. Other things to carry when visiting gorillas include first aid kit, insect repellants, energy giving foods and bottle drinking water. A walking stick and a porter are also highly recommended for any gorilla trek in Africa.
Rules and regulations of gorilla trekking:
Before the start of every gorilla trek, travelers are reminded to observe the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking experience. The dos and don’ts of gorilla safaris were drafted by government bodies ie Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda, Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda and the L’Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) in Congo. The trekking guideline are out to ensure safety of both clients and the endangered gorillas which can easily contract communicable diseases. Travelers are reminded to observe and follow the rules/regulations that guide gorilla trekking in all gorilla parks.
These include keep a distance of 7 meters away from the gorillas, do not eat or drink in the presence of gorillas, avoid direct eye contact, do not use flash light cameras, do not touch the gorillas, speak at a low tone and do not trek gorillas when sick among others.The park rules have been drafted by government bodies responsible for gorilla conservation and trekking in the three countries
Who is eligible to trek gorillas?
Concerning the age limit, travelers aged 15 years and above are the only ones allowed to trek gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.However, a child who is almost celebrating his/her 15th birthday is given chance to trek gorillas. Parents/guardians are asked to write and sign a consent letter before a child is allowed to take part in gorilla trekking
What Else can i do in addition to gorillas?
There are other interesting activities you can do in addition to your gorilla trekking experience. These gorilla trekking addons make your safari more enjoyable and lifetime. They include chimpanzee trekking, game viewing, boat cruising, cultural tours, bird watching, mountain climbing, nature/forest walking, camping and city tours among others. Chimpanzee trekking gives you an up close encounter with man’s lose relatives in their natural habitats while game drives in Akagera National park offers you scenic views of the “big five” game.
Check for the location of gorilla national parks in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These are Bwindi impenetrable Forest National park, Mgahinga gorilla National park, Volcanoes National park and Virunga national park
