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3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari
Uganda luxury gorilla safaris is an unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure which takes place in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.
Gorillas in Uganda can only be seen during visits to the south western Uganda region where Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park are located. Because of the long drive to these destinations, luxury gorilla safaris involve flying to the airstrips around the national parks which include Kihihi airstrip and Kisoro airstrip.
During luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda, tourists stay in the high end lodges found around Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park and they are treated with the best that money can offer as they prepare for the encounter with the mountain gorillas in the dense forests.
The luxury gorilla safari involves guided treks through the dense forests of Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park in search for the gorillas. To make the experience easier, luxury travelers can hire porters at a small fee to help with their luggage during the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
Before engaging in the luxury tour in search of the gorillas in Uganda, the tourists are taken through a briefing on safety precautions and also rules and regulations to follow during the search for the gorillas.
Prior to the Uganda luxury gorilla safari, tourists are also required to have gorilla permits which can be got through licensed tour operators. To avoid the hustle and process of planning a luxury trip, tourists can book the gorilla tour with a tour operator who manages the details of the trip including gorilla permits, where to stay during the gorilla trek and how to get there.
Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) which also manages national parks and regulates fees paid at the national parks and wildlife reserves around the country.
Best time for luxury gorilla safari in Uganda
The best time to visit Uganda for a luxury gorilla safari is during the dry seasons, which is experienced from December to February and also in June to September. During the dry season, the weather is drier and more favorable for gorilla trekking through the dense forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga national park.
The rainy seasons which occur in the months of March to May and November favor luxury tourists visiting Uganda who prefer few crowds. This is because some tourists avoid travelling during the rainy season because of muddy and slippery trails, making it more challenging to track the gorillas of Uganda.
How to prepare for luxury gorilla safari in Uganda
In preparation for gorilla trekking, luxury tourists can engage in long walks prior to the tour since the gorillas in Uganda live in places of high altitude which requires hiking through steep terrain and dense forests in search for the gorillas.
Making sure that tourists are in good health is also important during Uganda luxury gorilla safaris so as to avoid infecting the mountain gorillas during their interactions in the forests of Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga national park.
Contacting a licensed tour operator is also important when preparing to visit Uganda for a luxury gorilla safari because the gorilla permits can only be booked through these tour operators who also know better destinations in the country and how to get there.
Cost of Uganda luxury gorilla safaris
Some of the costs that can be incurred during luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda include the following;
Accommodation costs:
The choice of accommodation influences the cost of a luxury gorilla safari in Uganda significantly. High-end lodges or luxury lodges offer different amenities and personalized services for their guests which can add to the overall cost of the safari.
The luxury lodges in Uganda can cost about 300 USD to 700 USD or more per night depending on the type of room where tourists spend their nights during the gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.
Gorilla Trekking Permits:
Another cost incurred during Uganda luxury gorilla safaris is the gorilla permit cost. These permits cost 700 USD per person and are used for 1 gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.
Foreign residents pay 600 USD and East Africans are charged 250,000 Uganda shillings for a luxury gorilla safari.
Luxury tourists visiting Uganda can also engage in gorilla habituation experiences in Uganda. The cost of the habituation permits is 1500 USD per person which allows tourists to spend 4 hours with the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Additional activities:
Other additional activities which can be combined with gorilla safaris in Uganda also affect the cost of the luxury tour. These activities include bird watching, guided nature walks and also cultural experiences in the neighboring communities.
Bird watching is charged 30 USD, guided nature walks cost 30 USD per person and cultural tours around gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda cost about 40 USD per person. These additional activities if not carried out on the day of the gorilla trek also involve an extra park entrance fee which is 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 20,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Transportation costs:
Transportation costs also affect the price of the luxury gorilla safari in Uganda and the vehicles used for the tour include 4×4 vehicles which are driven by professional driver guides. The cost of these vehicles can be about 250 USD or more per day depending on the service provider and vehicle capacity.
Guides and Porters fees:
During luxury Uganda gorilla safaris, tourists are accompanied by ranger guides as well as porters who play an important role in ensuring success of the gorilla trekking experience. The services of the porter and guide fees can be around 15 USD and tourists can also give them tips for their services.
Where to stay during Uganda luxury gorilla safari
Some of the lodges to book for Uganda luxury gorilla safaris include Buhoma lodge, Trackers safari lodge, Buhoma forest lodge, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Nkuringo lodge, Sanctuary gorilla forest camp, Mahogany springs lodge, Gahinga lodge among others.
