FAQs

Yes, it is possible. Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park improvises stretcher beds—which are custom made for adventure. Persons with disabilities can be ferried to and fro habituated gorilla groups while sitting or lying on them. Porters are always on stand-by at the different starting points of the adventure, ready to come to your rescue.

Gorilla tracking is ranked among Africa’s 10 most unique and pleasurable safaris. As such, permits often register a 90% sale out. They are issued to travelers on a first come, first serve basis. As such, you are better off pre-booking yours at least four months ahead of your planned time for visit. This can be done with the help of a fully registered tour company, we are delighted to be among those companies.

1-4 hours. Why? Scientific research has discovered that human presence stresses gorillas. This explains why they prefer to keep off the beaten path for much of the day. To this effect, human encounters with gorillas in Bwindi National Park is limited to one hour. The good news is that this time is just what you need to get all those National Geographic pictures. Why? During your one hour with them, they don’t shy away thanks to the psychological preparation they got during habituation. This will be preceded by a nature walk lasting 1 hour-4 hours depending on how much flora and fauna you want to see.

Only a maximum of 8 tourists are allowed to visit each habituated gorilla family. This offers a quality experience, allowing you to get lots of pictures without interference. That aside, limiting the number of tourists to 8 per enables the two ranger-guides leading your group to offer all questions without feeling overwhelmed.

Gorillas are vulnerable to transmission of diseases from humans. This is very risky considering their critically endangered status, with a minor world population of less than 1,100 individuals. To this effect, tourists are expected to keep a 7 meter radius from gorillas when tracking them. Besides, gorillas are very territorial animals. They become restless if one intrudes into their inner circle, Uganda has half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.

All gorilla permits Contigo Safaris that we issue to clients are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority as opposed to the black market. It is a Government conservation institution entrusted with managing Uganda’s national parks and game reserves. This includes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park and these two offer gorilla trekking safaris.

While permits for foreign tourists costs $600, foreign residents costs $450 and East Africans 250,000UGX. The permit covers for the cost of park entries, photography in the park and a professional gorilla ranger guide who will accompany you during the gorilla trek.

Any one above 15 years is eligible to trek gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. If your child is younger, they need clearance from Uganda Wildlife Authority first. We are happy to help you with securing this clearance.

Year after year, the population of communities neighboring national parks is increasing, but the size of land around them isn’t. Without much options to pick from, locals encroach on forests to which gorillas are residents. This is partly because they don’t have reliable sources of income and thus depend on the park through vices like poaching. Though their primary targets are edible mammals like forest buffaloes and antelopes, it is common for gorillas to end up trapped in their snares traps. This pauses inter human-wildlife conflicts thereby endangering lives of the gorillas but Uganda wildlife authority has done much now to sensitize  the community nearing the parks about dangers of wildlife poaching.