How to end your safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla trek in Uganda
Cheapest African Safari
How strenuous is the standard gorilla trek vs gorilla habituation trek experience? Both gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experiences involve hiking through mountainous, densely forested terrain in search of gorilla families. However, gorilla habituation tends to be a more strenuous and extended experience due to the extra time spent tracking, observing, and participating in the habituation process. Here’s How strenuous is the standard gorilla trek vs gorilla habituation trek experience in Bwindi:
Gorilla Trekking
- Duration: Typically 1-4 hours (sometimes more, depending on gorilla location).
- Activity Level: Moderate to strenuous, depending on the group’s location, altitude, and terrain.
- Terrain: Hilly, with potential for steep, muddy, or thickly vegetated paths. Porters are available to assist with carrying bags.
- Time with Gorillas: 1 hour of observation.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
- Duration: Generally 4-6 hours, sometimes extending to an entire day.
- Activity Level: More strenuous due to longer time on foot, greater distance covered, and extended time spent in the forest.
- Terrain: Similar to trekking but with more intensive navigation of the environment.
- Time with Gorillas: Up to 4 hours, with opportunities to observe and interact as researchers work on the gorillas’ habituation process.
In both experiences, participants should be prepared for potentially challenging conditions. However, gorilla habituation requires greater endurance due to the extended duration and greater intensity, making it better suited for those seeking a more in-depth, active experience with the gorillas.
We have a 4 Day Gorilla Trekking and Habituation Tour available for any dates you choose based on availability which can start and end in Kigali, Rwanda or Entebbe, Uganda. On this Tour you will spend 1 hour encounter with the habituated gorillas during the standard gorilla trekking and you will spend 4 hours encounter with the semi-habituated gorillas during the gorilla habituation experience
When best to book A gorilla tour
The best time to book your Gorilla tour is 3 months before the start date of your trip. Always endeavor to start scheduling your gorilla trek a year or so in advance so that you do not lose out on items like gorilla permits. If you are reading this blog post now, please send us your dates when you want to trek gorillas on New year’s day and we will check availability of all services including gorilla permits.
As for the case of gorilla permits, once we establish how many permits are there on the New year, we will with no wasting time inform you by email. If we agree, you will be directed to make a payment on to our Bank account to enable us to pay your gorilla permit. Eco Adventure Safaris operates a Dollar account where payment will be received. We accept Bank or wire transfers as well as Debit and Credit Card payments much as the later attracts a surcharge that will be communicated to you.
To confirm you are visiting Africa for Gorilla trekking with Eco Adventure Safaris, we will request you to pay for gorilla permits in full and so that we secure them. Then the balance must be paid 3 weeks to the start of the safari. We hope that such an arrangement is good enough to allow you organize the balance well knowing that your gorilla permit which is a basis of your summer holiday gorilla safari is already paid for and secured.
How to book Confirm Availability of a Gorilla Tour
Eco Adventure Safaris is one of the few registered and trusted Uganda tour operators who have access to the Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permit database. While in our office, we can check the availability of gorilla permits in all regions of Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable National Park as well for Rwanda and Congo anytime during day and night. Very few tour operators have access to UWA gorilla permit portal. We are therefore in a position to view, hold and advise you on availability of gorilla permit at any time any day.
Once payment is made, we will send someone at Uganda Wildlife Authority head office in Kampala which will make the payment, get a booking ID as well as a receipt which we shall scan and send you for your records and perusal. When your gorilla permits are printed, we will go ahead and pick or collect your gorilla permit cards from UWA and keep them safely at our office until the day you start your summer holiday gorilla safari tour with Eco Adventure Safaris. Your gorilla permit card usually carries all details and should be presented at Bwindi on the day of trekking. Your guide with have it and will hand it over on your behalf. Would you like to know what is included and excluded in all our summer holiday gorilla trekking tours? Continue reading our conversation below.
What is included in a gorilla Tour.
This Tour includes gorilla permits, accommodation as well as the transport to and from Entebbe or Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable National Park. We prefer assisting with all components of the tour or your holiday so that while travelling with us in Africa, your holiday is stress-free having trusted the experts to do it for you. Let’s look at all individual components of our summer holiday gorilla trekking safari.
Gorilla permit and what is included or excluded
A gorilla permit is a card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows you to go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park home to endangered mountain gorillas to have a chance of viewing them for one hour. Gorilla permits are only valid for the date booked and once expired cannot be used. Make sure that you are available on the day of trekking. This gorilla permit includes spending one hour with a given habituated mountain gorilla family. During this one hour, you will be allowed to take still photos as wells simple videos. Please read our dos and don’ts while with mountain gorillas. You will also listen to an informative talk from your guide or the day. Included as well is services of a ranger guide and tourism police to ensure that security in the forest is guaranteed. The ranger from Uganda Wildlife Authority will be carrying a gun probably an AK47 to scare away any stray animal that may misbehave along the way. Park entry fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and or Mgahinga national park is also included in the pre-purchased gorilla permits and is valid for 24 hours.
Transport to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Eco Adventure Safaris operates a fleet of both Luxury Land cruisers for our high-end clients and Customized safari vans for those who want to spend less but travel comfortably. All our vehicles are 4×4 and are customized for the rough terrain in Africa. They come with drinking water and are driven by well trained and professional local driver guides. We will make sure that your travel with us is comfortable and foots the bill.
Flying to Kigali, Rwanda or Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
You will have an option of flying into Kigali or Entebbe to visit Uganda, Rwanda or Congo for gorilla trekking. Many people prefer flying into Kigali and trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi. The main reason for this is to avoid long drives involved from Entebbe. Check our Uganda safaris from Kigali and get back to us. Those that fly into Entebbe will enjoy a scenic drive that will see you stop at the equator crossing, a chance to have a look at the ankle long-horned cows as well as the rolling hills of Kigezi. Whichever Airport you will use, we will assist in airport transfers as well as the transport to and from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How to book a Gorilla Tour Through Eco Adventure Safaris?
Eco Adventure Safaris has positioned herself as one of the leading tour operators offering authentic and value-for-money gorilla treks to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park. We endeavor to provide accurate and timely information that you can rely on to organize Gorilla trekking on New year in Africa. Our staff are always on standby to assist you with all the arrangements, and if you need more information about our service, please visit our website for more information and options about How strenuous is the standard gorilla trek vs gorilla habituation trek experience.