It is now possible to go on Uganda gorilla safari starting from Madagascar, for those who are on holiday in Madagascar and those who are based there and you are interested in going mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, now here is a chance, in this article, we are going to show you in detail how you can go for gorilla safaris from Madagascar, Kisoro Tours Uganda explains the best possible way you can see mountain gorillas in the wild in Uganda or Rwanda?
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is currently the top most exciting adventure and one of the once in a lifetime experience tourism activity that attracts thousands of travelers to visit Uganda and Rwanda during their visit to Africa, despite the high costs of gorilla trekking permits that allows you to hike through the forest to search for these great endangered apes and see them in their natural habitat in Uganda or Rwanda, this is no doubt gorilla trekking is the best African wildlife experience that every traveler planning a trip to Africa would definitely like to experience.
While on gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, this activity involves hiking up and down through the thick impenetrable forest as you search for the mountain gorilla, gorilla trekking can be challenging for some people who are not physically fit so in order to enjoy this trekking exercise, it requires one to have a good fitness level. Trekking mountain gorillas give travelers the opportunity to watch mountain gorillas for one hour in their natural habitat of Uganda for Rwanda. However, those who wish to spend more time with the gorillas can go for the gorilla habituation experience that allows you to spend up to four hours with them in Bwindi instead of standard gorilla trekking that allows only one hour with gorillas.
If you have seen a gorilla in the zoo, you saw a Lowland Gorilla, not a mountain, to see mountain gorillas, you must track up in the high altitude in East Africa. The entire world’s mountain gorilla population can only be seen in three East African countries and in four locations (national parks) which are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DR-Congo, and Uganda’s both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both located in southwestern Uganda. The only way for mountain gorillas to survive is in their natural habitat of their native of high altitude.
Among the three gorilla trekking locations, Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s total population of mountain gorillas which makes it the best place to see mountain gorillas in the wild, especially in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park which has over 22 fully habituated gorilla families the highest number of habituated guerilla groups/families among the parks
In order to see gorillas in any of the mentioned national parks, you will be required to first obtain a gorilla permit that allows you to go gorilla trekking, Kisoro Tours Uganda is at your disposal to help you in planning and organizing your gorilla trekking trip to Africa so once you know the dates you wish to travel, just send us the dates so that we start booking your gorilla safari immediately because gorilla permits are on high demand so one need to book in advance. Gorilla permits can be booked directly from any of the countries you wish to see but it is highly recommended to book your Uganda gorilla safari starting from Madagascar local tour operator like us.
The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is $700 Per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents, and 250,000 Uganda shillings for Ugandans and other East African Citizens. A gorilla permit gives you a chance to spend fully one hour with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, for those who wish to see gorillas in Rwanda from Madagascar, a Rwanda gorilla permit cost $1,500 Per person per trek for foreign nonresidents and $500 for foreign residents. This means trekking gorillas in Uganda instead of Rwanda you will be saving $800 on each permit. Currently, we are not recommending to our clients to track gorillas in DR-Congo because of insecurity in the Virunga mountains on the Congo side, however, the DR-Congo gorilla permit is the cheapest cost only $500 for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents.
As we are still talking about Uganda gorilla safari starting from Madagascar, a party from the standard gorilla trekking permit which allows spending one hour with gorillas, for those who wish to spend more time with gorillas, Uganda offers you another option for gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Rushaga sector of Bwindi forest, this activity gives you the opportunity to spend up to four hours with gorillas under the guidance of trackers and researchers, the cost gorilla habituation permit is $1500 per person to be allowed to spend 4 hours gorilla family that is under habituation process before its open for tourism.
The minimum age limit for both gorilla habituation and trekking is 15 years and above, however, there is no maximum age limit, and the only thing that can limit you is your fitness level. Kisoro Tours Uganda also organizes gorilla trekking in Uganda for elders and disabled people through the provision of sedan chair carriers that will take you in the forest to see gorillas and back, the sedan chairs are used to carry elderly and disabled who feel unfit and are unable to walk for a long time into the forest as you track mountain gorillas, here you need to hire potters who will carry you to and from the forest for trekking. Both elderly and disabled persons pay between $350 to $500 per person to hire sedan chairs with potters who will carry you to the gorillas and back, for more about hiring sedan chairs and potters please get in tach with our tour consultant in advance for easy planning.
Our gorilla safaris from Madagascar can be done any day throughout the year, however, some people prefer to go for Uganda safaris during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, October, December, January, and February simply because it’s easy to drive around national parks during the dry season and also has a good view of wildlife.
The following are some of the things you need to include on your packing list for the Uganda safari from Madagascar in order to have a comfortable trip to Africa.
Kisoro Tours will help you to organize gorilla Trekking and wildlife safaris in Uganda, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and DR Congo. You can reach out to our experts for advice and other information you may need, Kisoro tours have different gorilla trekking and wildlife safari packages ranging from camping, budget, mid-range, and luxury safari options that can suit your budget and timeline
Kisoro Tours Uganda we are highly recommended on both Trip Advisor and Safari bookings, feel free to check out what our previous clients say about our services and read our reviews from our happy satisfied clients. Our team of tour consultants is always at your disposal to answer all your African safari questions.
You can as well reach us at info@kisorotoursuganda.com or call us at +256785790925 and also on WhatsApp for free quotes or any other enquires you may need to make.