What Does A Gorilla Safari Include?

What does a gorilla safari include? A gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda offers a lifetime opportunity to get up close with the rare mountain gorillas while in the wild. A gorilla safari includes park entrance fees, visitor safety & security while in the forest, one hour of viewing mountain gorillas in the wild, and the park guide/ranger fees – these are key areas covered by the cost of a gorilla permit.

Other areas a general gorilla safari tour includes include transportation to and from the destination, accommodation, etc. Things excluded on gorilla safari: laundry services, tipping, extra accommodation or additional activities outside your itinerary, shopping expenses, souvenirs, visas, passports, etc.

What Does A Gorilla Safari Include? The Cost of Gorilla Permits

Trekking Uganda/Rwanda mountain gorillas in the wild is an experience that comes once in a lifetime. Once a gorilla family is found, you are guaranteed 1 hour of getting up close with these large primates and taking pictures. But all these come at a cost, in Rwanda, a single valid gorilla permit is sold at USD1500 per person. In Uganda, you can obtain permits each at USD800 for the category of foreign non-residents, USD700 for foreign residents while East African citizens UGX300,000.

What is the gorilla trekking minimum age limit?

Whether you are visiting Uganda or Rwanda, the standard age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years. Below 15, you are considered a child. There are reasons why children are not allowed to go track gorillas – first, they aren’t emotionally or even physically mature, and often they carry infectious diseases which can easily transfer to mountain gorillas.

How many mountain gorillas are left on earth today?

Unlike in the past, currently, there are over 1063 mountain gorillas left in the world thanks to collective conservation efforts. About 459 of which, roam in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda and the rest are found in the Virunga Region, a gorilla trekking region that stretches covering Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Rwanda Volcanoes National Park.

Are there gorilla trekking etiquettes?

Gorilla trekking etiquettes/guidelines/rules & regulations to be observed;

• Before you go to visit or track mountain gorillas, your hands must be washed.
• A gorilla permit should be obtained and every destination has its rates
• The maximum number of tourists visiting a single gorilla family is strictly 8pax
• A distance to keep away from a gorilla group is 8 meters
• Leaving rubbish in the gorilla habitat is prohibited
• A maximum of 1 hour is permitted for visitors to stay face to face with a family of gorillas.
• Sick or ill visitors aren’t allowed to visit gorillas. (Mountain gorillas have a lot in common with humans, sharing up to 98% of DNA with human beings).
• Keep low your voices while in the wild.

Best time of the month or year to go track gorillas?

Mountain gorilla trekking is an all-year-round adventure, but the most preferred time is the dry season. The dry season is experienced from June to September, then December to February marking two dry spells. A trek to see mountain gorillas during these seasons guarantees adventure and less stress from rains, unlike the wet season. The gorilla trekking paths remain relatively drier unlike the wet season when they can be muddy, slippery, etc.

What to carry for a gorilla safari -Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo?

Here is the list of essentials to carry for a gorilla safari -Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo

• Hand gloves
• Rain jacket
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Long-sleeved shirts
• High-energy giving snacks
• A bottled water
• Sunglasses
• Gorilla permits