Payment

No, we do not charge any extra fees or fuel surcharges. The listed price is the price you pay. Including tax.

We understand that you may not have a printer handy when you’re traveling so it is not necessary to have a printed copy. However, we require that you show ID matching your reservation and also the Order # that is immediately emailed to you after you make your reservation.

Please contact us to get the latest information on your desired trip.

We accept payments major credit cards like VISA, American Express, Master Card as well as Mobile Money Payments from Airtel, MTN, Vodafone, Tigo. Other payments include Pesa Paal e-wallet and Layway and x-pay.

You can make your payments by clicking here

Preparation

Wear whatever is comfortable. It is recommended to have a sturdy pair of broken-in trail shoes, boots, or sneakers. It is preferable to dress in layers and wear clothing that will wick away perspiration and keep you dry and comfortable

Not much, remember our trips are all inclusive. We do suggest you bring appropriate clothing to fit the season and a day pack to carry extra snacks and water.

Gorilla tracking is one in a lifetime experience and we are here to make sure your trip is hustle-free. Uganda is home to well over half of the world’s mountain gorillas in the Bwindi and Mgahinga/Virunga National Parks. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park over two hundred eighteen (218) individuals. Virunga National Park which is shared between Uganda and Rwanda has the remaining two hundred eighty (280) individuals. The gorillas are divided into groups which are called families which are headed by a male silverback with upto twenty (20) individuals. Gorilla families are given local names to identity them as well as the new borns in each family. Gorilla Naming ceremonies are held. Some of these families are trained to get used to being around humans in a process known as habituation.

Mgahinga National Park

Before you go tracking for gorillas you will need to get a permit for Uganda Wildlife Authority and this has to be booked in advance. If you book with us the cost of this permit is already catered for in the fees paid.

The following are the requirements for those preparing to visit the mountain gorillas;

  • Closed shoes preferably covering the ankles
  • Rain Jacket
  • At least 2 litres of water
  • Packed Lunch
  • Identification preferably one used when booking the gorilla permit.

A strict set of rules is adhered to by those tracking gorillas. These include;

  • Don’t drop rubbish in the jungle as this may be eaten by primates and result into poisoning and death
  • Don’t make loud noises; the tourists may speak in hushed tones; loud noises may scare the gorillas into hiding resulting into long treks looking for them.
  • The tracking group should always keep a minimum of 7 meters when viewing and photographing the gorillas. If the gorillas moves closer the group should also move to maintain this distance. No flash photography is allowed
  • The tourists stay with the gorillas for one hour only. During this time they should be in a tight group and avoid sudden movement as the gorillas may be intimidated and charge at the person.
  • No eating, smoking, or drinking when viewing gorillas. The minimum distance for such activities is at least 200 meters from the gorillas.
  • When sneezing, please cover your nose and mouth and turn away from the direction of the gorillas.

gorilla tracking in uganda

 

In case you are unable to track the gorillas on the allocated day you are advised to contact Uganda Wildlife Authority immediately to either reschedule or get a refund. The refund policy is as follows;

Sickness/illness – 50%

Failure to find the gorillas – 50% (No single refund has ever happened in this category)

Incase you pull out half way – 0%

 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority staff are trained paramilitary individuals. Every tracking group has at least one staff member with a gun which they use to shoot in air and scare of animals especially elephants which may charge at the group. Incases of emergencies Uganda Wildlife Authority is in contact with all embassies in Uganda and have medical evacuation measures in place.

Reservation

You must call 72 hours ahead of your scheduled tour for a full refund. Within 72 hours you will assess a $35 termination fee. There are no refunds for cancellations within 24 hours of your tour, or if you decide not to show up.

Yes. Reservations are required for guaranteed spots on all tours. Reservations help us determine the number of guides we need to ensure that our groups remain manageable and enjoyable, and they allow us to notify you of changes to the tour due to weather or anything that could disturb the tours.

Weather

We do hike in the rain, snow, wind and any other weather conditions that nature decides to throw at us. After all, we’re going on adventures! If the weather is unsafe for any reason, the trip will be changed or postponed. You will be notified the week of your trip if there are changes due to weather.