Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda from South Africa
You can go on gorilla trekking in rwanda from south africa. In fact, this is the best way to mix wildlife safaris in South Africa with gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, Rwanda, or DRC. Of course, Uganda is still the best place in Africa to go gorilla climbing because gorilla permits are only $800 USD, and there are a lot of gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda still has cheaper gorilla trekking than its neighbor Rwanda, where each person needs to pay 1,500 USD for a gorilla pass. The Democratic Republic of the Congo charges $400 USD per person for a gorilla permit. However, because of the unstable security situation in the area, gorilla trekking tours to Congo are very dangerous and not recommended.
The park is in southern Uganda, in the Kisoro area. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another place in Uganda where you can go gorilla climbing. The Nyakagezi and Hirwa families live there and are used to people. It was in October 2019 that the Hirwa family moved from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to . At the Ntebeko or Mgahinga park gates, gorilla trekking starts with a lesson. After the lecture, guests are split into groups of eight and given a park guide who will talk to them during the gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla trekking tours in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park last between two and four hours. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend an hour with them learning more about their way of life, behaviors, habits, and how they eat. During this time, you can take pictures and record videos that will give you amazing memories that you will cherish forever on your gorilla trekking safari from South Africa.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda from South Africa
Volcanoes National Park is in the northwest of Rwanda. It is thought to be one of the best places in Africa to go gorilla climbing because it is close to the airport and tourists know how to get there. Every day, you can go on a walk through Volcanoes National Park to see 14 groups of gorillas that have become used to people. Before you go gorilla trekking in the park, you will learn about the rules, standards, and laws of the activity. Then, you will be split into eight groups to trek with a gorilla family, and each group will be given a guide who will take them to the family. In the park, trekking through the forest can take anywhere from two to seven hours. Once you find the gorilla family, you’ll spend an hour with them taking pictures and videos and learning about their habits, behaviors, and way of life, among other things.
From South Africa, you can fly to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda to go on a mountain gorilla hiking tour. After that, you’ll have to drive for about three hours to get to Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll go gorilla climbing. It’s a good spot to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. You can also get to Goma and drive to Virunga National Park from here.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda from South Africa
The national park is in southern Uganda, in the Kanungu area. Around 19 habituated gorilla groups live in four areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo in the south. The park is home to half of the world’s rare mountain gorillas. Gorilla walking in the park starts early in the morning with a talk about what to expect and the rules that everyone must follow during the trip.
Once you’re ready, a park ranger will lead you into the bush and teach you about the mountain gorillas. Depending on where the gorilla family is located, gorilla trekking trips can last anywhere from two to six hours. Once you find them, you’ll spend an hour with them learning about their habits and activities, taking pictures with a camera that doesn’t use flash, and capturing the moments. There are also gorilla habituation events in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where mountain gorillas are taught to get used to people being there. You can spend four hours with the gorillas during the gorilla habituation procedure instead of just one hour during gorilla trekking. You will go with a group of experts and guides to do the habituation process.
Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park From South Africa
The park is right on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is one of the biggest in Rwanda. The rare mountain gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park are bigger than mountain gorillas and have formed five groups to get used to each other. Before going gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park, there is a meeting at the park offices. Afterwards, you will start your two to five-hour walk through the swamps and jungle in the jungle. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend an hour with them in their natural environment, where you can take pictures and record the action while watching them eat, play, and nurse their babies.
How to book for gorilla trekking from South Africa
If you want to book a gorilla trekking permit, you can either do it directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is in charge of tourism in Uganda, or you can do it through the Rwanda Development Board and Virunga tourism offices in Grande Barriere, Democratic Republic of the Congo. An honest tour company, like Gorilla Trekking in Africa, can also book a gorilla trekking pass in any place where gorillas live. When you book through a tour operator, you will call us with the dates, month, and place where you want to go gorilla trekking. Based on the dates you give us, we will check to see if permits are still available. We will ask you to put down a deposit on a gorilla trekking pass as soon as one becomes available in that area.
We will ask you to put down a deposit on a gorilla trekking pass as soon as one becomes available in that area. After we receive your payment, you will need to email us scanned copies of your passports so that we can process the permit. We will then buy your gorilla trekking permit and send you confirmation scans. You will then be given the permit when you arrive at the start of your safari. In Virunga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, on the other hand, you should get your gorilla trekking permit 3 to 6 months before your planned trek. This is because gorilla trekking permits are in high demand and usually sell out quickly, especially during peak season.
What is the cost of Gorilla Trekking
Anyone over the age of 15 with a valid gorilla trekking pass can go on a hike with a gorilla family anywhere. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the only places in Africa where you can go gorilla hiking. Mountain gorilla trekking costs $800 for non-residents, $500 for residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African residents in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Each country has its own fees for gorilla trekking.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park costs $1,500, but the Rwanda Development Board has great deals to get people to go hiking with gorillas in the country. Gorilla passes in Rwanda cost $200 for East African citizens and Rwandans from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. They cost $500 for Africans, foreign residents living in Rwanda, and East African citizens and Rwandans. Visitors must book their gorilla permits at least one month before the date they want to watch the animals, though, in order to get the cheaper permits. Which country is better for gorilla trekking? Uganda or Rwanda?
During the low season in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, passes to go gorilla trekking cost $400 for foreigners who do not live in the country and $200 for foreigners who do live there. Because of this, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only place that has both a cheap and a reduced gorilla trekking permit, which is good for tourists on a budget. Find out why gorilla hiking costs so much if you’re also interested.
What is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Africa from South Africa?
What to pack for gorilla trekking from South Africa?
The dry season, which lasts from June to September and December to February, is the best time to go gorilla hiking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, and Kahuzi Biega National Park.
In the dry season, it rains less in the gorilla destinations, so the grass is shorter in the jungle and it’s easier to see the gorillas. The access roads to the national parks are also passable, and the gorilla trekking trails in the tropical rainforest are passable. This is in contrast to the wet season, when the trails are wet, muddy, and slippery, making gorilla trekking difficult.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, long stockings, a warm sweater, insect repellent, a camera, and a bag on your gorilla walking safari tours from South Africa. Don’t forget your hiking shoes and garden gloves. Is it safe to go chimp trekking?
On your safari, gorilla trekking will be one of the most interesting and memorable things you do. You can combine it with other activities in gorilla destinations, like bird watching, nature walks, hiking, golden monkey trekking, and visiting the Batwa or pygmies. All of these will give you unforgettable memories of your gorilla trekking tours from South Africa.