When I moved to East Africa, I had the opportunity to experience something that a handful of people manage to do every year: see gorillas. And I wasn’t going to leave the continent until I did!
Gorilla trekking is one of the most unique things you can do when traveling in Africa. Gorillas are found in East Africa, on the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and Rwanda. Hiking is an awesome experience, but it takes a little planning, so here are a few things to consider when planning your trip.
Logistics of choosing the tour
When booking a gorilla hiking excursion, two things should be taken into account: the cost of the permit and the cost of the excursion itself. All governments demand that everyone be allowed to see gorillas. The usual price of the permit in Uganda is. The government of the country in which you plan your hike issues you a permit. In Rwanda, the gorilla hunting permit fee is now. However, if you combine hiking in the three national parks of Rwanda, you will get a 30% discount on your permit.
In search of a visit, I decided to stay away from the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to its complicated visa process. The cost of a visa to Rwanda for visitors from most Western countries is USD, while in Uganda a single visa costs more than, and a multiple visa costs USD. You can get an East African tourist e-visa, which extends to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda for three months.
Most gorilla families are constantly monitored and tracked so that tourists can see them, and tourists almost always do, even on short three-day visits. On average, tours cost from few dollars, depending on the tour operator and the size of the group. When you have a large group, costs are reduced because you can refuel the vehicle.
When I started contacting tour operators, I tried to choose a tour with at least four people to reduce my costs. I was in contact with several companies that offered me the lowest prices and finally I found a date that fit perfectly into my schedule and four people participated in the tour.
I arrived the day before planning my hike, in matter there were last minute problems and I had to look for another tour operator. But there was nothing to worry about. I paid the tour operator and we hit the road. Tip: When paying in cash, be sure to bring larger tickets printed after 2000, otherwise no one in Uganda will accept them.
Which country should I choose?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was immediately crossed off my list because the process of obtaining a visa is extremely complex and expensive. I have just heard from too many people who have had serious problems at the border.
There are about 720 mountain gorillas left in Central Africa and half of all gorillas live in the impassable Bivindi forest in Uganda. This was already the main reason why I chose Uganda for my gorilla trek.
I have found that since Rwanda and Uganda have almost the same process of obtaining permits and booking excursions, it all comes down to price. As the prices of permits in Rwanda will increase in June, the total cost of the visit and the permit in Uganda will be affordable.
If you have not booked your tour in advance, you can go to the capital of Kampala and find many tour operators who will be happy to sell you a ticket. Remember that a special permit is required, so you better buy the tour as soon as possible so that the tour operator can get a permit to walk on the gorilla. They really end, because the number of available permissions is limited.
Hiking with the gorillas: the tour itself
The trip from Kampala to Bwindi National Park takes a whole day, including a stop at the Equator. Depending on the group to which your permit belongs, you will arrive in one of the four cities located outside the National Park: Buhoma, Ruhia, Nkuringo or Rushaga. We arrived in Nkuringo, on the southwestern outskirts of the park.
After spending the night, the whole day will be dedicated to gorillas. We woke up at dawn and started our journey to the park arriving at our outpost around 7:45 am. There was a brief briefing, then we went into the mountains of Uganda, where a brief orientation was held. We have been given a set of rules that state that gorillas can approach you, but you cannot approach gorillas. (Don’t touch the wild animals!) After the instruction, the rangers get ready to look for gorillas and you start your jungle trek.
Finding real gorillas can take from one to five hours. It all depends on the movements of the gorillas, and they are constantly moving. Once the rangers have spotted the gorillas, you’ll spend about an hour or two watching them and maybe chatting with them (if you’re lucky) before heading back to your hotel. (If you choose a longer tour, you will have to return the next day to find other gorillas.)
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