
Bakiga Lodge
July 11, 2023
How to apply for an extra Gorilla Trekking Permit in Bwindi
July 11, 2023Are you planning to Fly into Bujumbura and Trek Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, this is very possible, and this will as well give you an opportunity to explore Bujumbura to see the Royal drummers in Gitega or Gishora. Bujumbura is the capital city of Burundi, and it’s located near the borders of both Rwanda and Uganda. If you want to trek gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda but starting your trip from Bujumbura Burundi, here’s a general outline of the itinerary when you Fly into Bujumbura and Trek Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda:
- Arrival in Bujumbura, Burundi:
- Fly into Bujumbura International Airport, the main international airport in Burundi.
- Arrange transportation to your accommodation in Bujumbura, where you can rest and explore the city.
- Travel to Rwanda:
- From Bujumbura, you can make your way to Rwanda by land. The distance between Bujumbura and Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles).
- You can hire a private car, take a shared taxi (known as a “taxi-vélo” or “taxi-bus”), or use a bus service to reach Kigali.
- It’s advisable to check visa requirements beforehand, as they may vary depending on your nationality.
- Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda:
- Once you arrive in Kigali, you can organize a gorilla trekking tour in Volcanoes National Park, which is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda.
- Volcanoes National Park is home to several habituated gorilla families, and it offers an incredible opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
- Make sure to obtain the necessary permits for gorilla trekking in advance, as they have limited availability. You can usually arrange this through a tour operator or directly with the park authorities.
- Travel to Uganda:
- From Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, you can make your way to Uganda, which shares a border with Rwanda to the south.
- The most common route is to travel from the town of Musanze in Rwanda to the town of Kisoro in Uganda.
- There are various options for transportation, including private cars, shared taxis, or organized tours. Again, check visa requirements beforehand.
- Gorilla Trekking in Uganda:
- In Uganda, the most renowned destination for gorilla trekking is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the southwestern part of the country.
- Bwindi is home to approximately half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population.
- Just like in Rwanda, permits for gorilla trekking in Bwindi are limited, so it’s crucial to secure them in advance.
- Plan your trekking experience with a reputable tour operator or through the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Proceed to Entebbe to end your trip:
- After completing your gorilla trekking adventures in Rwanda and Uganda, you will proceed to Entebbe, via a stop at the Uganda Equator.
Plan your trip well in advance with Eco Adventure Safaris, especially when it comes to obtaining permits, arranging transportation, and ensuring a smooth border crossing between countries. It’s also essential to adhere to local regulations and guidelines for gorilla trekking to ensure the safety and well-being of the gorillas and yourself.
For you to See Gorilla in Rwanda and Uganda, you need to secure a Gorilla trekking permit at least 3 months in advance which costs $1500 for Rwanda and $700 for Uganda Per person per trek, this permit will give you a guarantee that you are booked to visit and trek the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
How to book a Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda and Uganda
Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at Eco Adventure Safaris so that we check for the availability of gorilla permits online with the Rwanda Development Board for Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Authority for Uganda once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes Gorilla National Park
Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Price Per person
The Gorilla permit price shares a much more cost for any Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda on top of other services like transport, accommodation and guiding. A gorilla permit costs USD1500 for the Foreign nonresident, USD500 for the foreign resident and USD200 for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. On top of the gorilla permit you will also pay other services for a successful gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda which include transport, accommodation and guiding. Our 3 Day Gorilla trekking Safari in Rwanda all inclusive costs USD2700 per person sharing in a group of 2, USD3100 for a solo traveler, USD2600 for 3 people per person sharing and USD2500 for 4 people per person sharing. Contact us here and we will book for you according
What is the Best Time to book a Gorilla Trekking Safari?
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Rwanda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in Volcanoes National park for gorilla trekking, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for creating trails and viewing the mountain gorillas offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetation grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact mountain gorillas don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Where to stay during your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options, Luxury options include Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels and Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge. The price ranges from USD300 to USD1000 per person per night.
The Midrange lodge options at Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge. For budget accommodation in Volcanoes National Park the options are many from basic accommodation to camping which include Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn.
All Lodges in Volcanoes National Park are well set to host tourists with various SOPs put in place in-line with Rwanda Health Ministry and WHO recommendations for the safety and health of tourists visiting Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda.
How to access Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park can be best accessed by road; the drive from Kigali town is just 2-3 hours drive to Volcanoes National Park. Your driver guide will meet you for a short briefing at the designated hotel then set off to the park through the beautiful sceneries of the 1000 hills of Rwanda giving you an opportunity for a stop for photographs and sightseeing.
Fly into Bujumbura and Trek Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda with Eco Adventure Safaris?
Eco Adventure Safaris is a local tour operator which conducts Uganda and Rwanda tours. Our team has expertise in adventure Tour/Safaris Operations in Uganda Tour African Safaris, Tanzania African safaris, Kenya Tours Safaris, Rwanda African Safaris, Congo DRC African Safaris, and Zanzibar Safaris that run in the respective destinations hence detailing about us. Meanwhile, we operate in the other popular East African destinations of Kenya and Tanzania through partnerships that we have established with highly regarded and like-minded local tour operators.
We organize private tours for individuals and also offer ground handling for travel companies and agents from around the world. We are very passionate about Eco-tourism and preserving nature and so our tours are organized in a way that respects the environment and local cultures. We are also members of Safari Booking. Contact us here about Travelling to Rwanda to see Gorillas.