What to Consider When Planning A Trip For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

It is a new year and traveling to Uganda for the Mountain gorilla trekking experience is one of the items on your bucket list. Your dream to meet the famous Mountain Gorillas is now closer than you have ever imagined. Well, here are a few things to put into consideration when planning to travel for the exciting Gorilla tracking experience.

1. Make enough research about your destination.

It is great that the Gorilla tracking experience is not a new activity and therefore most of the information is availed on the internet for you to make the necessary research and take informed decisions on your choices for accommodation, travel dates, service providers, transportation, and packages. The internet has many trusted sources like trip advisor, booking.com, and a variety of websites that can give you all the necessary information you need before you embark on this trip. It is also important to know the Gorilla tracking rules and restrictions so that you do not mess up your trip.

Not forget to make research the culture, political, and health state of your destination before you travel.

2. Book your Gorilla tracking permit 2 to 3 months prior to your travel date.

First and foremost, you should know that Gorilla tracking can be done any time of the year, so you have all 365 days open for you to choose from. This however should not get you relaxed because Gorilla tracking is a highly demanded activity and this, therefore, requires you to make your travel bookings at least 2 months prior to your travel date. A gorilla permit is a document that gives you access to trek the mountain Gorillas. In Uganda currently, it costs 700 USD for foreign nonresidents 600 USD for Foreign residents and 250,000 Ugandan shilling for Ugandan Citizens.

Gorilla permits easily sell out therefore It is highly advisable to book your permit at least 2 months earlier so that you do not miss out on your trip.

3. Book your accommodation earlier

Accommodation is an important part of travel. You should therefore book your accommodation a month or two before your planned travel date.  Making last-minute bookings can affect your trip because you might fail to find availability in any of your preferred hotels/ lodges on the exact dates you plan to travel.  Accommodation is usually available in categories of Luxury Midrange and budget. So it is important to make all the necessary arrangements earlier so you choose a wonderful place within your budget.

4. Save up enough money and also make a budget

Traveling to new places comes with some uncertainties so it is helpful to travel with some extra money to cover any payments in case of emergencies and also to buy yourself some nice African souvenirs. It is quite important to make a budget for this trip. This will help you keep within your means and not spend unnecessarily while on this trip.

5. Pack the right items for the trip

Traveling generally requires one to travel with the necessary and useful items for your journey. It doesn’t make sense to carry a heavy load of items that you will actually not need on a trip. Our article on items you must carry lists and details the items you must carry on your gorilla tracking trip and why you need them. These include identification documents, hiking boots, longs sleeved shirts and long trousers, a rain Jacket or umbrella, a Camera, a hut/cap, a water bottle, a backpack, and a warm jacket. You are advised to make a checklist to tick off as you pack.

6. Consider using a tour operator.

It is okay and possible to successfully plan a gorilla tracking trip on your own and we do not advise against it. However, planning out your trip to the dot could turn out a bit draining and time-consuming. Tour operators and travel agents are there to handle that. They are well-informed about everything needed for your trip and have designed packages that can be even customized to your preference. These handle ground transportation, accommodation, booking gorilla permits, etc. All you need to do is provide the necessary information, make payments on time then sit back and wait for your big day.

Having considered the above, you can now plan out your long-awaited thrilling gorilla tracking trip to Uganda the Pearl of Africa this year.