Is it possible to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone

Is it possible to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone, yes this is very possible when you block all the 8 gorilla permits this gives you a chance to trek this group exclusively alone, Nkuringo gorilla family is a gorilla family that was habituated in 1997 when habituation process started, the group was opened up for tracking in 2004, the group gets its name from the local area it was first spotted Nkuringo meaning “Hills”. When it was first opened the group comprised of 19 members but over the years the members have reduced to now just 12 members in the group which have since increased due to conservation efforts by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The group was lead by Rafiki which is a Swahili word which means “Friend”, after his death in 2008, the group is also known to be the first group to have given birth to twins in 2004 but one of the twins passed away later.

Are you are planning to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone and you are wondering if it is possible to block permits and trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone, yes this is very possible with Eco Adventure Safaris. Trekking Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone will give you an opportunity to see mountain gorilla members of this family privately that is a given travel group alone or as an individual. For you to block all permits and trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone you can either pay 100%, 70% or 30% in advance of the total of each permit. Each gorilla permit costs USD700 for Foreign non residents, USD600 for Foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda Shillings for East Africa Citizens and this gives an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Mountain Gorillas. If you are planning to travel alone you will need to block and pay for all the gorilla permits trekking that specific day for Nkuringo gorilla family. Each gorilla permit costs USD700 and Nkuringo gorilla group has 8 permits available everyday this means you will pay for the entire gorilla permits that is 8 permits ($4000 for foreign non-residents) to block them and this will give you an opportunity to trek this gorilla family exclusively alone.

Important things to consider when planning to block permits and trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone

Booking and securing all the gorilla permits for Nkuringo gorilla family in advance

Nkuringo gorilla family has 8 gorilla permits available for sell every day. For you to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone you will need to block all these permits in advance so that no other tourists books in to trek in the same gorilla family. For you to block these permits you can either pay 100%, 70% or 30% in advance the total of each permit. Each gorilla permit costs USD700 for Foreign non residents, USD600 for Foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda Shillings for East Africa Citizens and this gives an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the Mountain Gorillas of this family. We recommend you block the gorilla permits atleast 3 to 4 month prior your gorilla safari date. This is because during high season permits sell out in advance on first come first serve basis. Contact us here for more details on how to book all gorilla permits for tracking Nkuringo gorilla family in advance to enable you trek gorillas exclusively alone.

Comfortable travel to Nkuringo

You should consider travelling in 4×4 Land cruisers this will give you comfort on the road to Nkuringo. There is also an option of flying to Kisoro Airstrip which is close to rushaga; this will help cut the long drive from Entebbe/Kampala which is normally 8-9 hours drives to only 2 hour drive that you spend from Kisoro Airstrip to your lodge in rushaga. Rushaga can also be accessed from Kigali via Cyanika border which is approximately 4-5 hours drive.

What to wear during Trekking Nkuringo Gorilla Family

 You might be probably wondering what to wear for your trek of Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone, below is a compiled list on what to wear;

• A long armed sweater since the park gets cold
• 2 pairs of long trousers
• Water proof hiking boots
• A hat and sun glasses depending on the weather though this is optional
• Cameras and long lasting batteries since photography are very important to keep your memories alive. Always remember to keep our flash off.
• A pair of Binoculars. This will help you to see the vast birds Bwindi impenetrable forest has among other primates
• Gardening Gloves; these will help you when you a holding onto trees are branches through the trek.
• A rain coat; Since  Bwindi impenetrable forest is  rainforest, the rain is unpredictable so to be on a safer side, you will be required to carry along  a coat.
• A mosquito Repellent; since it is a forest, it has different dangerous insects so its advisable to carry it along or wear it
• A sun screen; Well this is optional but depending on the season, it might get too hot and you end up getting sun burns on your skin so to avoid that, you will need a sun screen.
• You should not wear very bright colors since this will charge or scare away the gorillas.
• Black and Blue colors are also not recommended since they attract Tsetse flies So I would recommend neutral colors.

How to get Nkuringo to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone

By Air: You can get to Nkuringo by air which is faster and less tiresome. Aero link is a domestic airline offering both schedule and charter flights to Kisoro Airstrip from where you connect to Nkuringo. There is no direct flight to Nkuringo but you can be dropped off to Kisoro Airstrip where you will be picked up by our professional guide and dropped at your lodge. The drive time from Kisoro to a nearby lodge in Nkuringo is approximately 1 hour.

By Road: Nkuringo can be accessed through the main high-way road from Entebbe/Kampala which approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will pass through Kabale town and proceed to Nkuirngo. The Park can also be accessed from Kigali, Rwanda which is approximately 4-5 hours drive through Cyanika border and Kisoro town.

What is the best time to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone.

The best time to trek Nkuringo gorilla family exclusively alone is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of mountain gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

Why book your exclusive trekking of Nkuringo gorilla family with Eco Adventure Safaris.

Eco Adventure Safaris takes pride in customizing tailor-made safaris. It has a very diligent and trustworthy team. Your queries are answered within 20minutes by our team of professional tour consultants. These consultants will make you a travel plan for you, answer to all your questions and make sure all your services are booked in advance for you to avoid inconveniences. We also have very knowledgeable safari guides depending on your language preferences.