Mgahinga gorilla tours from the United Kingdom

Mgahinga gorilla tours from the United Kingdom: Mountain gorilla tours are only possible in three countries which are Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo. In Uganda, two national parks are lucky to host mountain gorillas and these are Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Mgahinga national park is located in the southwestern part of the country in Kisoro district.

Mgahinga gorilla tours from the United Kingdom

Mgahinga national park is among the most loved national parks in the world with the most done activity being mountain gorillas trekking. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that has tourists coming in to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Tourists from the United Kingdom that had never been to Mgahinga national park this article is for you.

Tourists from the United Kingdom can go gorilla trekking in MGhaunga national park at any time of the year only if they have a gorilla permit obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. A local tour operator is always available to help you with the gorilla permit book or if you are traveling without a tour operator you can always book directly from the reservations office at UWA.

A single gorilla trekking permit does cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 members of East African states. From the United Kingdom, you need to know that gorilla trekking is done by a child above the age of 15 years therefore if you are traveling with a child below that age you need to know that they will not be allowed to trek. There are so many child activities at Mgahinga national park and even at the lodge which your child will be doing while you are in the jungle trekking.

The gorilla trekking activity in Mgahinga national park

Tourists from the United Kingdom should know that mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is done by a maximum of 8 people. On the morning of gorilla trekking, you must wake up very early and be at Ntebeko Visitors Centre where all trekkers for the day gather for a briefing about gorilla trekking from the rangers.

Armed ranger guides do lead the trekkers into the jungle and inside there they go through different trekking trails looking for where the mountain gorillas could be. The rangers visit different areas where these mountain gorillas normally hang and they also use the footprints to tress where the mountain gorillas could have gone.

The search for mountain gorillas can go from 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorilla family as well as the speed of trekkers. When the mountain gorillas are finally spotted, trekkers are given 1 hour to be around the members which helps them to learn about their habits, take photos and see them carry out different tourism activities among which include playing, nesting, coupling, grooming and breastfeeding among others.

After spending time with the mountain gorillas, armed ranger guides will still lead the trekkers out of the jungle with opportunities of seeing different bird species, animals, and different vegetation covers. Trekkers will need to go back to Ntebeko Visitors Center where they will pick up their gorilla trekking certificates.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking tour in Mgahinga national ark from the United Kingdom?

During your gorilla tour to Mgahinga national park, some of the items to pack include long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shorts, a sweater, a rain jacket, a hat, a pair of waterproof hiking boots, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, insect repellents, sunscreen, a camera, a pair of binoculars, light backpack, energy giving snacks and a drinking water bottle among others.

What is the best time for Mgahinga gorilla tours from the United Kingdom?

Mgahinga gorilla tours from the United Kingdom can be done at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry season months from June to September and December to February are the best to have gorilla tours in Mgahinga national park because they are characterized by little or no rainfall.  During the dry season, the trekking trails stay dry and easier to navigate, the vegetation is short which gives clear views of wildlife and the marram roads leading to the park are in very condition.

Tourists from the United Kingdom can still visit Mgahinga national park for gorilla tours in the rainy season happening from March to May and October to November. The rainy season is not the best for gorilla tours however it does benefit budget travelers who find discounted accommodation facilities and tour packages. Tourists who will go gorilla trekking in the rainy season will find the trekking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall with unclear views of wildlife and the marram roads to the park are in poor conditions.

Accessing Mgahinga national park for gorilla tours from the United Kingdom

Tourists from the United Kingdom can get to Mgahinga national park by first flying to Kigali international airport or Entebbe international airport. From Kigali tourists from the United Kingdom can access Mgahinga national park using road transport which takes 4 to 5 hours. From Kigali, tourists will have to cross the border at Cyanika to Kisoro to the park.

Tourists from the United Kingdom to Mgahinga national park for gorilla trekking that will use Entebbe international airport can get to the park by road or air transport.

Accessing Mgahinga national park by road transport, it takes 9 to 10 hours for tourists to move from Entebbe via Kampala, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, and Kisoro to the park. It’s a very long journey but full of surprise attractions along the way.

Accessing Mgahinga national park by air transport to Mgahinga national park used by those that want to travel a luxury style and those that hate traveling long distances. Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda have daily morning flights to Kisoro airstrip taking 1 hour 25 minutes. The flights start from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip where tourists are driven to the park using good safari vehicles.