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Last minute gorilla trekking in Uganda is a new and exciting phenomenon. If you have not booked your gorilla permits and trekking dates are closing in, don’t worry about the availability of permits; In Uganda, Mgahinga gorilla national park is not as busy as other parks – Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda. Though you can’t get gorilla permits on arrival, but permits for Mgahinga national park can be obtained as late as only one week to the trip, however this is not a guarantee, but a comparison to other gorilla destinations.
Last Minute Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National park has only one habituated mountain gorilla family, and therefore it is always advisable to book in advance since demand is so high, but since it is not as popular as other parks, Nyakagezi family has not faced much traffic like the one in Bwindi or Volcanoes national parks. Yes, Nyakagezi is the only gorilla group in Mgahinga Park available for trekking every day. Mgahinga covers Uganda’s share of the Virunga Conservation Area and is one of the four parks that shelter these endangered primates.
About Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Nyakagezi is the only gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Nyakagezi family is comprised of 9 members headed by Mark as s dominant silverback gorilla. Other members of Nyakagezi gorilla family are Rukundo, Mathew, Bugingo, Nshuti, Mutagamba and Nveyekuye. The family was named after an area (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga National park where the family was first spotted. In the past years, Nyakagezi gorilla family was hard to trek due to its mobile movements crossing to the neighboring Virunga park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fortunately, Nyakagezi has presently settled in Mgahinga Gorilla National park ready to receive visitors every day.
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Like in the sister Bwindi Forest Park, a permit to trek Nyakagezi gorilla family costs $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens and residents. Permits can be booked directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority or through any trusted travel operator offering gorilla safaris to Mgahinga Park. However, there’s always low supply of tracking permits in Mgahinga national Park in high season, and anticipating travelers are advised to book as early as 2 months before the trekking date. Available gorilla permits to trek Nyakagezi Family each day, 8 gorilla permits are available for those who want to visit and trek Nyakagezi gorilla family. Only 8 people are allowed to visit Nyakagezi family just like in other gorilla families in the neighboring gorilla parks. Permits are issued on the first come first serve basis.
For those who have visited the gorilla family before, trekking Nyakagezi gorilla family is quite easier compared to trekking in the sister Bwindi impenetrable Forest National park. Gorillas do not loiter too far due to the small range of the park. Mgahinga is the smallest National Park in Uganda. Trekking time range between 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of gorillas that day and the sped of the slowest person in the group. Well, the day of visiting Nyakagezi gorilla family starts very early in the morning. Travellers wakeup very early, refresh, take breakfast and transfer to Ntebeko visitor information Centre where registration and pre gorilla trekking briefing take place. Hiking to meet the gorilla family starts at 8:00am. On meeting the endangered gorillas, travelers spend an hour in their presence to learn their behavior, take pictures and enjoy this magical encounter.
Nyakagezi gorilla family can be visited all year round. However, dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February is regarded the best time to visit these endangered species. Hiking through thick bushes of Mgahinga Park is quite easy in the dry season when there are less or no rains. On the other hand, the wet season in the months of March, April, may, October, and November is best for budget travelers. Service providers normally give discounts during this period to encourage more visits. Ensure to book your gorilla permit as early as possible. Also, do physical exercises to ensure physical fitness that eases your gorilla trek. Flying into Kigali and crossing to trek gorillas in Mgahinga is the best option for short time travelers especially those who want to do a 1 day Mgahinga gorilla trek starting and ending in Kigali Rwanda. Your packing list should include hiking boots, garden gloves, hat, sunglasses, rain jacket, insect repellants, drinking water and energy giving snacks for a peaceful and less challenging gorilla encounter.
Besides trekking Nyakagezi gorilla family, travelers to Mgahinga Gorilla National park have an endless list of things to see and do for a memorable experience. Some of these include Golden monkey trekking, Batwa cultural trail, Bird watching, Forest/Nature walks, Virunga Volcano climbing and Caldera walk among others. Generally, an encounter with Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National park is a lifetime experience. Book your Uganda gorilla tour to Mgahinga and get chance to interact with the one and only Nyakagezi family in the park.
Chimpanzee Trekking. Done in Kibale Forest National park, chimpanzee trekking is yet another interesting activity you should not miss on your Uganda safari. Chimpanzees share over 90% of human genes which make our close relatives. Like in gorillas, chimpanzee trekking requires one to have a valid permit which costs $200 for foreign nonresidents, $150 for foreign residents and UGX 150,000 for East African citizens. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest begin from Kanyanchu information Centre where registration and briefing takes place. More so, you can a chimpanzee habituation experience at $250 to have ample time with these endangered primates. Other places to see chimpanzees in Uganda include Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park and Kalinzu Forest.
Game Viewing. Do not miss game viewing experiences in Uganda’s savannah parks. Morning and evening game drives are done to give travelers chances to see numerus wild animals grazing, browsing and hunting in open plains. The top places for game viewing in Uganda are Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Lake Mburo National park and Kidepo Valley national park. Among the wild animals you will see on your Uganda game safaris include Elephants, zebras, Giraffes, Buffalos, Hyenas, Impalas, Uganda kobs, hippos, Cheetahs, Waterbucks, Warthogs, Oribis, Dikdik, Topis, bushbucks, serval cats, bush pigs, lions and wild dogs among others. More so, night game drives are also arranged to give travelers chance to see nocturnal animals. Game viewing in Uganda only require a traveler to pay entrance fee to the respective park.
Boat Cruise Safaris. Best cruising is the best way to enjoy the fresh cool breezes on water bodies. Enjoy a cruise to the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls and at Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes Edward and George. Other places to do boat cruising in Uganda are Lake Victoria and Lake Bunyonyi. Besides enjoying fresh airs, a boat cruise offers you great views of numerous birds and water animals usually seen on river banks and Lake Shores. Boat cruising in national parks is normally done as a complement to game viewing to make a complete package.
Mountain Climbing. Are you an adventure traveler? Enjoy mountaineering experiences on your Uganda safari. A hike to the top of snowcapped Mount Rwenzori, the highest volcano in Uganda is a great experience you will love to remember. Other mountains in Uganda include Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhabura and Mt Sabinyo in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Mt Elgon among others. Travelers of Uganda hiking safaris are advised to do exercises to ensure physical fitness before the real day.
Golden Monkey Trekking. Go golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National park. An encounter with these playful creatures is a lifetime experience you should not miss on your Uganda safari. Mgahinga is the only place to see golden monkeys in the whole of Uganda. A permit to see golden monkeys cost $100 which make it quite affordable for low budget travelers.
Cultural Tours. Uganda is a center of cultural tours in East and Central Africa. The Batwa cultural trail in Mgahinga gorilla national park give you in-depth understanding of these indigenous forest people and their traditional forest life. In this experience, travelers are guided into the forest to practice traditional Batwa activities. These include hunting, fruit gathering, making firewood, collecting honey, picking herbs and visiting Garama cover where Batwa used to hide in case of any insecurity. Other cultural centers in Uganda are the Karamojong pastoralists in Kidepo Valley National park. Traditional dances, songs, poems and storytelling are all performed to entertain travelers.
Bird Watching. With over 1000 registered bird species, Uganda is a haven for birders. A birding tour to Mabamba wetland is a chance to see the rare and localized shoebill stork. Other top birding areas in Uganda include Semliki Valley National ark, Mabira forest, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga Forest and Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National park. Some of the notable birds in Uganda include shoebill, African Jacana, Orange Weaver, Black headed lapwing, Masked Apalis, African fish eagle, Egrets, Ibis, Flamingoes, yellow billed stork, Hammerkop, black-bee eater, Yellow bill, White napped pigeon and blue throated roller.
Late May to September is the best time for bird watching in Uganda. Murchison falls, Mgahinga, Bwindi and Semliki Valley national parks are the best sports for bird watching in Uganda. May and June is the nesting season for birds in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National parks. With a combination of this variety of activities, attractions and experience to satisfy and exceed your travel experiences, a trip to Africa is well worth it. Book a gorilla safari on last minute today and explore the thick jungles of Africa to the fullest.