7 Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking that have been put across by many visitors looking to do gorilla trekking in Africa.

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Gorilla Trekking

• What is the Best Place to do gorilla trekking?

Choosing the best place to do gorilla trekking entirely depends on a number of factors such as; your travel budget, cost of a gorilla trekking permit, type of accommodation that you wish to stay at during your gorilla trekking safari, how safe is a given gorilla trekking destination, how long it will take to track a gorilla group and the difficulty/ ease of trekking a gorilla family or group in a given gorilla destination. A visitor will basically have to consider all the above factors when choosing a best place for gorilla trekking either in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost?

A gorilla trekking permit is a document or card that is issued to any visitor above the age of fifteen allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family in one of the destinations. Gorilla trekking permit prices vary according to the destination you visit for example 

A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1500 per person for all nationalities and it’s the most expensive permit among the gorilla destinations in Africa. 

A gorilla trekking permit in Congo costs $400 per person for foreign non-residents and $200 discounted gorilla trekking permit during the low season from 15th march to 15th may and 15th October to 15th December. The Democratic Republic of Congo offers a discounted gorilla trekking permit during the low season so as to attract visitors therefore budget visitors should not miss out on this discounted gorilla trekking permit in Congo.

A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $700 per person for foreign non-residents, $600 per person for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 per person for East African citizens.

• How to book a gorilla trekking permit?

Every visitor who is interested in trekking of the mountain gorillas in Africa is required to have a valid gorilla trekking permit. Acquiring a gorilla trekking permit is not hard as long as you know the procedures to follow and there are two options of booking a gorilla trekking permit. The first option is booking directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government body in charge of tourism in Rwanda and Virunga Foundation in Democratic Republic of Congo. When booking directly you will contact the offices by telephone or email and then make a reservation for your gorilla trekking permit.

The second option of acquiring a gorilla trekking permit is by booking through a tour operator like Explore Rwanda Tours. When booking through a tour operator, you will contact us with the date, month, year and destination where you want to visit the gorillas. We will check for availability of the permit and if available you will be asked to make a deposit for your permit. When the deposit has been made, you will be asked to send a scanned copy of your passport with details like date of birth, nationality, names among others which will be used to register for your permit. Money transfer takes about 2 to 3 working days and when we receive the money we will purchase the permit for you and in case you are going to trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda we will send a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation but in case you are going to trek in Congo your gorilla trekking permit will be reserved under mutual trust because in Congo they don’t send a scanned copy as confirmation.

Booking through a tour operator is the best option to use in that it will save you all the hustle and we will not only acquire a gorilla trekking permit for you but also organize your entire gorilla trekking safari with inclusion of transportation, accommodation, meals and other activities that you wish to engage in during your safari.

• When to book a gorilla trekking permit?

A gorilla trekking permit should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because the permits in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are competitive and usually get sold out especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February therefore in order to avoid disappointments at the last minute you are advised to book in advance. 

Kahuzi Biega national park in Congo doesn’t receive many visitors compared to other gorilla destinations which give last minute visitors an opportunity to acquire a gorilla trekking permit to visit the eastern lowland gorillas.

• Which Tour Company to use when booking your gorilla trekking safari?

When choosing a tour company to use when booking your gorilla trekking safari, there are various factors that you should consider for example company reviews from the previous clients, registration to know if the company is licensed and a member of tourism organizations, check to know if the company carries out gorilla trekking safaris through trip advisor and reviews so that if the reviews are negative you choose another company, way of communication, form of payment, safari price by comparing prices of a gorilla trekking safari with other companies.

• What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari?

When going on a gorilla trekking safari you are advised to carry various essentials such as hiking shoes to keep your feet dry, long sleeved shirt and trousers to keep you warm, garden gloves, rain jacket to protect you from rainfall, insect repellent, backpack to carry your items, camera to take photos and record the moments, a pair of binoculars to view far wildlife species like birds in the air or animals, walking stick to give you support when trekking in steep areas among others.

• When is the best time to go for gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking can be done all year round though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails in the forests will be passable compared to the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery. Though the dry season is the best time to go on a gorilla trekking safari, rain can be expected anytime of the day and the permits are always competitive therefore visitors are advised to book in advance.