Last minute gorilla trekking: visit gorillas in uganda, Rwanda & DRC
Seeking a last-minute gorilla trekking experience, similar to the usual gorilla safaris in uganda Rwanda and congo, it has its own set of difficulties. It is feasible to travel to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo for last minute gorilla trekking, which is particularly advantageous for travelers with limited time, such as those on MICE visits in Uganda or Rwanda, who wish to observe mountain gorillas before returning home.
Engaging in gorilla trekking at the last minute has many benefits, particularly the chance for visitors to take advantage of various deals and savings. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the substantial demand for gorilla permits, which is a drawback when it comes to making last-minute bookings for gorilla trekking safaris.
While it is possible to go on a gorilla trekking tour at the last minute, we strongly recommend that all guests book their gorilla permits well in advance, around 2 to 4 months prior to their planned travel to Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo. Securing your gorilla permit in advance alleviates anxiety and the letdown of not being able to obtain a permit.
Ensure that your gorilla permit is booked in advance by contacting our reservation team. Local and ground travel businesses in Uganda hold approximately 80% of the gorilla permits, and booking one is a straightforward process. The remaining 20% can be reserved through the reservation staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
A local tour operator can promptly organize a gorilla trekking tour for you, even if you inquire just 12 hours or 24 minutes in advance. This applies to all types of gorilla safaris, whether you have a limited budget, like a moderate experience, or seek a luxurious adventure. One advantage of arranging a last-minute gorilla trekking trip through a reputable tour operator like us is that we have established relationships with many safari lodges in the gorilla parks. This enables us to easily arrange your trip.
In Uganda or Rwanda, it is possible to arrange a gorilla trekking expedition lasting 3-5 days on short notice. Whether you intend to embark on an economical or extravagant gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, or Volcanoes National Park
Book last minute gorilla trekking in Uganda
Expeditions for gorilla trekking in Uganda at the eleventh hour are exclusively available in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla NP. The gorilla trekking parks are located in the southwestern region of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in Kabale and spans an area of 331 square kilometers. It is characterized by a dense and foggy forest that is difficult to penetrate.
Bwindi National Park, established in 1991, is a site designated by UNESCO. During a spontaneous gorilla trekking expedition, there are a total of 20 gorilla families that have become accustomed to human presence at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This means that approximately 160 permits are available each day to visit these gorilla families.
The cost of last-minute gorilla climbing licenses for Bwindi is USD800 for non-resident visitors, USD600 for international residents, and UG. Shs. 250,000 for nationals in East Africa. Visitors have the option to embark on gorilla trekking in Bwindi for durations of 3, 4, or 5 days, or engage in the gorilla habituation experience for the same duration.
Bwindi National Park offers four distinct locations for gorilla trekking: Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga sector. Within these locations, there are established families of mountain gorillas available for tracking. These include the Mubare, Katwe, Rushegura, and Habinyanja groups in the Buhoma sector, as well as the Mukiza, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Bitukura gorilla families in the Ruhija sector. The Nkuringo gorilla families consist of Bushaho, Nkuringo, and Christmas. In the Rushaga sector, you may discover habituated families like Kutu, Rwigi, Bikini, Kahungye, Busingye, Mucunguzi, Bweza, Mishaya, and Nshongi families.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to a variety of primates and mammals, such as blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, bush babies, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, forest duikers, leopards, elephants, giant forest pigs, and bats. Bwindi is a notable location for birdwatching, boasting a diverse array of avian species, with a total of 360 recorded. Some of the noteworthy species include giant kingfishers, Grauer’s rush warblers, yellow streaked greenbul, Rwenzori nightjar, handsome francolin, dwarf honeyguide, bar-tailed trogon, African wood owl, short-tailed warblers, African green broadbill, white-bellied robin chat, black bee-eaters and mountain yellow warblers. Additional species in the area consist of the blue-headed sunbird, dusky crimson wing, lagden’s bush shrike, montane oriole, dusky twin spot, red-fronted antpecker, royal sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, Shelley’s crimson wing, and more.
During a gorilla tour of Bwindi, enthusiasts of the natural world have the opportunity to experience more than just encounters with mountain gorillas. The park is ideal for nature walks, mountain gorilla habituation, cultural contacts with the Batwa pygmies’ society and Bakiga culture, birding, and cycling.
Some of the lodges/accommodations available for last-minute gorilla trekking in Bwindi include Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort & Campsite, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, and others.
The name of the national park is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the optimal destination in Uganda for anyone seeking a gorilla trekking experience without encountering large crowds. Arrangements can be made for impromptu gorilla treks in Mgahinga National Park, where there is a sole group of mountain gorillas available for visitation – the Nyakagezi gorilla group. The gorilla group limits its daily visitation to just 8 individuals. The search for these majestic primates begins in Ntebeko and typically lasts between 2 to 6 hours, which includes a one-hour opportunity to observe the mountain gorillas up close and personal.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of Uganda’s 10 parks, covers an area of 33.7 square kilometers and has an elevation range of 2,227 to 4,127 meters. The park is small in size, although it safeguards a diverse range of wildlife species such as golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, bush bucks, and others. The habitat of mountain gorillas is also inhabited by more than 180 bird species, such as olive pigeons, brown woodland warblers, cinnamon bracken warblers, Kivu ground thrush, greater double-collared sunbirds, white-starred robin, waxbills, striped breasted tit, Rwenzori batis, scarlet tufted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, and various other types.
Visitors to Mgahinga NP have the opportunity to participate in other activities in addition to gorilla trekking. These activities include tracking golden monkeys, birdwatching, taking nature walks, exploring caves, hiking to Dian Fossey’s mausoleum, hiking or climbing volcanoes, experiencing the Batwa route, and more.
The premier lodging options at Mgahinga consist of Mount Gahinga Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, Mucha Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, and others.
Last minute gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a remarkable gorilla attraction, situated approximately 2-3 hours away by car from Kigali. The last-minute gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park entails the exploration of the 13 habituated gorilla families, such as Pablo, Susa A, Agashya, Kwitonda, Karisimbi/Susa B, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Hirwa, Umubano, Titus, Bwenge, and others.
Volcanoes National Park spans an area of 160 square kilometers and was officially established in 1925 primarily for the purpose of conserving the park’s principal feature, the mountain gorillas. Additional wildlife species found in the area consist of buffaloes, forest elephants, huge forest pigs, spotted hyenas, golden monkeys, and about 200 bird species including red-faced woodland warblers, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Grauer’s rush warblers, archer’s ground robin, turacos, and numerous others.
Rwanda offers the opportunity to book gorilla permits up until the last minute, with a cost of USD 1,500 per person. One can make a reservation for a gorilla permit through either a tour operator or the Rwanda Development Board.
The accommodations available at Volcanoes National Park include Villa Gorilla, La Palme Hotel, Garr Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Garden Palace Hotel, Five Volcanoes Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge, Kwitonda Lodge, and various others.
What is the best time to visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking?
It is feasible to engage in gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo throughout the year. The optimal period for gorilla trekking is during the dry season, which consists of two distinct phases. The first phase spans from June to September, while the second phase runs from December to February. During the drier seasons, there is minimal or no rainfall, resulting in dry pathways that are easier to walk when seeking mountain gorillas.
Heavy precipitation is most frequently experienced during the wet or rainy season, which typically occurs in March, April, May, October, and November. Typically, it is difficult to forecast weather conditions. To ensure adequate preparation, it is advisable to include waterproof hiking boots, a daypack, a rain jacket or coat, long trousers, insect repellents, and other necessary items. Additional items to contemplate included in your packing list include a cardigan, travel permits, garments with long sleeves, shades, sunblock, a hiking pole, hydration, protective gloves for gardening, light refreshments, and a head covering.
Rules and regulations for last minute gorilla trekking
The rules and regulations for gorilla trekking are as follows: maintain a distance of 8-10 meters from mountain gorillas, only individuals aged 15 years and above are allowed, always wear face masks that cover both the nose and mouth, regularly sanitize and adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures, limit the observation time to one hour, do not trek if you are sick, ensure you have a valid gorilla permit, speak softly while trekking, refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking near the gorillas, limit the number of visitors to 8 per day for a single gorilla family, do not use flash photography, cover your nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs to the gorillas.
Last-minute gorilla trekking adventure.
Our last-minute gorilla trekking safari packages encompass a captivating encounter with mountain gorillas, park guide fees, transportation, accommodation, park admission fees, safari activities excluding optional experiences, bottled water, meals, and additional amenities. The packages do not include airfares, beverages, optional activities, visas, passports, travel insurance, gratuities, shopping, air tickets, any additional charges, lodging fees after the gorilla excursion, and any other items not specifically included.
