How Many Hours Can One Spend With the Gorillas?
Gorilla trekking is absolutely every primate adventure seeker’s dream experience but how many hours can one spend with the gorillas? Questions like how long can I stay with the gorillas? or how many hours can one spend with the gorillas in the wild are commonly asked by visitors on gorilla safari to Africa. To start with, when you embark on the trek to see mountain gorillas, how long you can take before coming across these large apes is generally unpredictable. But it is estimated that a visitor can take between 2 and 6 hours to search for mountain gorillas in their habitat and this is highly influenced by many factors.
Once you have encountered a group of mountain gorillas, visitors are only allowed one hour to spend with these unique apes. The 1-hour with gorillas in their natural environment is a standard rule or guideline. This is the standard rule observed by all park authorities where gorilla trekking in East Africa is conducted.
What is the one hour with the gorillas for?
Spending one hour with the gorillas in the wild mainly involves observing how these apes behave and taking their images. It marks the special moment you expect when you book a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo. The one-hour is strictly enforced as a measure to minimize stress on the endangered mountain gorillas and also preserve their natural environment.
Where does 1-hour with gorillas apply?
One hour with gorillas only applies to normal gorilla trekking adventures. This means you embark on a journey to explore a fully habituated gorilla group. This is not the case with the gorilla habituation experience where guests can enjoy a maximum of 4 hours with a semi-habituated gorilla group.
Where to enjoy the special 1 hour with the gorillas?
You can enjoy the special one-hour with the gorillas in any destination where normal gorilla trekking adventures are offered. These include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes you to explore any of its 4 sectors including Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija. In each of these sectors, expect to visit one of the fully habituated families including Nshongi gorilla family, Bweza group, Nkuringo, Christmas, Oruzogo group, Busingye group, Mishaya gorilla family, Kahungye, Katwe, Bikingi, Rwigyi, Bitukura group, Mukiza family, Bushaho group, and others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is lying in Southwestern Uganda. Bwindi accommodates the highest number of gorilla trekkers compared to any destination.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda
Mgahinga also presents a lifetime opportunity for you to have a special moment with a family of mountain gorillas. Unlike the rest of the mountain gorilla destinations, Mgahinga is where only 8 (eight) visitors can embark on the search for a gorilla group. Mgahinga National Park which is perched in the Kisoro district, southwestern Uganda holds Nyakagezi group as the only fully habituated gorilla family.
Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking
A visit to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking involves exploring 13 habituated families that freely roam in this protected area. The habituated gorilla families to explore and enjoy a special one hour include the Susa A group, Ugenda gorilla family, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Karisimbi (Susa B), Umubano, Amahoro, and others.
Gorilla trekking adventures in Volcanoes National Park start from Kinigi region. It is at the Kinigi where you get briefed about gorilla trekking guideline also get assigned to a habituated family to explore.
Gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is lying in the Eastern part of Congo. Virunga is the biggest of all the parks where mountain gorillas reside with the land area coverage of 7800 sq. km. The extensive Virunga National Park currently holds habituated gorilla families such as Humba, Baraka gorilla group, Muyanga group, Mapuwa gorilla group, Kabirizi group, Lulengo gorilla family, Bageni, Nyakamwe gorilla family, and Rugendo.
Eastern lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega
At Kahuzi-Biega National Park, expect to explore the Eastern lowland gorillas. Kahuzi-Biega holds gorilla groups such as Mpungwe family, Chimanuka, Nganwa, Bonnani, and Mugahuka. Trekking any of these groups lets you interact with the Eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.
What do you need to see gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo?
A valid gorilla trekking permit is the most relevant tool you need to embark on a journey to explore mountain gorillas or Eastern lowland gorillas. The cost of gorilla permits varies depending on the destination. Uganda offers a single permit at USD 800 per person for the foreign non-residents, USD 700 for the foreign residents, USD 500 for all the Rest of Africa, and lastly all East African citizens book Uganda gorilla permits at UGX 300,000 per person.
Gorilla habituation permits and their rates as per the visitor categories. The foreign nonresidents pay USD 1500 per person to book a gorilla habituation permit. USD 1000 for foreign residents. UGX 750,000 for the East African citizens –the category that also includes Ugandans.
Gorilla permits for Congo cost USD 450 per person. The cost of Congo permits apply to all destinations where gorillas are trekked including Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Virunga National Park.
Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost USD 1500 per visitor. A visitor interested in trekking gorillas in Bwindi, Volcanoes, Virunga or Mgahinga parks can book a permit through the reliable tour operator such as Native Africa Tours. The permits must be booked in advance. At least 2-6 months before the actual trek with gorillas in any of the destinations.
What is included on the cost of the permits?
The cost of gorilla permits covers an hour with mountain gorillas or Eastern gorillas, photography moment, park ranger guide services, and park entry fees. The charge on gorilla permits excludes all kinds of expenses of personal nature. They include; beverages, shopping, accommodation, transportation, travel insurance, hiring the porter, laundry services, passports, and visas, etc.
How to book a gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo
Gorilla trekking tours can be best planned and booked through Native Africa Tours an experienced and reliable gorilla safari company based in Uganda. Our reservation team is present 24/7 to get things started and ensure that you make your travel dream come true. Talk to our experts now to secure a slot for any of the destinations in Uganda or Rwanda.
What to pack for a gorilla trekking adventure
A journey to explore mountain gorillas or eastern gorillas also requires you to pack the right items. What to carry for your adventure with the gorillas include a valid gorilla permit, passport, visas, long trousers, waterproof hiking boots, a daypack, a safari hat, a camera, and snacks. Other items to consider include long pants, a sweater, a rain jacket, strong gardening gloves, bottled drinking water, and others.
The best time to visit gorillas
Gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are best explored during the peak dry months of the year. This can be during the extended dry season from June to September then December to February. These are the best months to embark on a gorilla trek without stressing of muddy floor or dense vegetation cover.
Observing gorillas in the wild is an extraordinary and tightly controlled experience designed to safeguard this vulnerable species. Although the viewing time is only an hour, the trek itself provides many hours of wonderful memories. Following the guidelines guarantees a safe, respectful, and fulfilling gorilla encounter in Rwanda, Uganda, or the DRC.
