Mgahinga national park gorilla trekking safari for solo travelers

Mgahinga national park gorilla trekking safari for solo travelers: Are you intending to go gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park and you are a solo traveler? This article is for solo travelers to Mgahinga national park who would love to do gorilla trekking. Mgahinga national park is home to mountain gorillas in the southwestern part of the country. The national park was gazetted in 1991 to protect endangered mountain gorillas and only 1 habituated mountain gorilla family is found there.

Mgahinga national park gorilla trekking safari for solo travelers

Solo travelers to Mgahinga national park are always welcome at any time of the year.  Mgahinga national park in southwestern Uganda is wonderful for solo travelers. Not only are there mountain gorillas, but there are some friendly travelers to meet and also the best lodges and camps to stay in. Mgahinga is good for solo travelers because there are chances of meeting other solo travelers, couples, and small groups.

Solo travelers to Mgahinga national park for gorilla trekking must know that a gorilla permit is required for anyone to visit a mountain gorilla family. A gorilla permit for Mgahinga national park is a travel document that allows travelers encounter Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family. A single gorilla permit of Mgahinga national park costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 members of East African states.

Solo travelers to Mgahinga park safari must know that only 8 gorilla permits are found in Mgahinga national park therefore they should be quick enough when buying the gorilla permits. Gorilla permits do sell out quickly more so in the dry season and solo travelers must therefore secure him/herself one 3 to 4 months or more in advance. Solo travelers can get their gorilla permits from trusted local tour operators or the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Gorilla trekking experience in Mgahinga national park as a solo traveler.

First of all, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park does start early in the morning at 7:30 am. The activity is done by a maximum of 8 trekkers and therefore solo travelers need to know that when it’s time for gorilla trekking, they will join a group of other people heading for trekking that day. Unless a traveler does book all the permits to trek alone, he or she must join other people not exceeding 8 people during trekking.

Gorilla trekking n Mgahinga national park starts at Ntebeko Visitors Centre early in the morning where trekkers must be by 7:30 am. At the briefing center, trekkers are taught by the rangers about the rules and regulations of trekking. A group of trekkers not exceeding 8 people is led by ranger guides who have firearms. They do lead trekkers into the jungle where they search for the endangered mountain gorilla family habituated.

Searching for the habituated family of Mgahinga national park can go from 1 hour to 7 hours depending on the location of the mountain gorilla family and the speed of trekkers. During the search, trekkers are able to meet different wild animals, birds, and vegetation covers. The search involves resting at certain points in case you are tired and trekkers who feel like the ranger is walking at a fast speed can always inform the ranger guide to slow down.

Rangers know the best location to find mountain gorillas, and they also tress them using their foot and food they like to eat. The moment a ranger guide sees the mountain gorilla family you have been looking for, he asks trekkers to start following rules and regulations taught at the beginning among these include keeping voices low.

Trekkers are allowed to be around mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour which is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. During the 1 hour given, trekkers are able to spend time around primates that are said to be close relatives to human beings. Trekkers are able to learn about the gorilla habits, take photos and watch members do daily activities which include hunting, nesting, coupling, and breastfeeding among others.

After spending some quality time with the Mgahinga national park gorillas, trekkers do trek out of the jungle using the shortest routes. They do get an opportunity of seeing animals and birds they might have missed. After getting out of the jungle, trekkers get back to Ntebeko Visitors Center where get their trekking certificates. Solo travelers after Gorilla trekking safari would have made friends but they will separate when it’s time for one to head to their next destination.

What is the most appropriate time to visit Mgahinga national park as a single traveler?

Solo travelers intending to visit Mgahinga national park can go there at any time of the year however certain months are better than the rest. The dry months are the best for a solo traveler to visit Mgahinga national park because the park is receiving little or no rainfall, the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of gorillas, and the roads leading to the park are in good condition.

Solo travelers can still visit Mgahinga national park during the rainy season and this will help them get discounted accommodation facilities. The rainy season never attracts so many travelers simply because it’s characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy hence a bad experience. The vegetation during the rainy season is tall with unclear views of wildlife and roads leading to the park are in poor condition.