Is it possible to do a last minute gorilla safari in Uganda? Silverback Gorilla Tour gives you guide for booking last minute gorilla safaris in Uganda. Are you Uganda for a meting o conference and would want to book a last minute gorilla safari to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National park? Find our guide for last minute gorilla safaris and tours in Uganda. However, you will be limited with choices of where to trek the mountain gorillas, where to stay/accommodation facilities, and safari vehicles.
It is important to note that the possibility of undertaking your last-minute Gorilla Safari in Uganda is determined by two main factors- the availability of gorilla trekking permits and accommodation, which vary with season (high or low season).
For instance, with the peak season- June through September and December to January, gorilla permits tend to be highly demanded, compared to the low season (February to May, October to November) when gorilla permits are not so highly demanded.
Therefore, you might have limited choice on where to trek the mountain gorillas (Mgahinga or which sector in Bwindi) and sometimes be forced to adjust your program to suit the availability of gorilla permits.
Booking a last-minute Gorilla permit is very possible but is very uncertain because you might not know in what sector the permit will be booked (especially when planning to book permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park).
There is also a possibility of securing a last-minute gorilla permit from Tour Operators that are reselling theirs, and this is only applicable when the Company is a registered member of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators).
Gorilla Trekking Certificate
How much does a last-minute Gorilla Permit in Uganda cost?
Whether you book Gorilla permits in advance or at the last minute, the cost of Uganda gorilla permits is the same at $800 per person for Foreign Non-residents, $700 per person for Foreign Residents, and Shs. 300,000 for East African Community Residents. However, someone that books in advance will get to trek gorillas from any sector of his/her choice (case of Bwindi) compared to one booked at the last minute.
When is the perfect time to book your last-minute Gorilla Safari in Uganda?
Even with last-minute Gorilla Safaris, adequate time is required to secure Gorilla permits, book accommodation facilities, and any other logistical support to make the trip a success. For this reason, one month is perfect to make every necessary arrangement for your last-minute Gorilla Safari. Ideally, Gorilla safaris should be booked in advance (6 months to 2 years) and they are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Generally, Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity whereby visitors are provided the chance to walk through the jungles of Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes, or Virunga National Park to search for and watch the endangered Giant Apes go about their daily routines (foraging, resting, playing, grooming, and nursing infants) in their natural habitats.
On the day of trekking, you will be expected to converge at the Park Headquarters/Visitor Center for a briefing, registration, and getting acquainted with the trekking guidelines.
Gorilla trekking Bwindi
Visitors venture deeper and deeper into the jungle searching for mountain gorillas, and the duration of the walk depends on the terrain of the area, the movement of the mountain gorillas, and to a lesser extent the pace of the slowest person in the group.
After several hours (2-5 hours or more) of walking, the mountain gorillas are finally found and visitors have a maximum of one hour to watch and take photos as they interact with one another. This is usually the best time of the experience as you get to see the dominant silverback show authority or the infants play and interact with each other.
What to pack for your last minute Uganda gorilla safari?
Gorilla trekking packing is the same whether you book in advance or last minute. You must carry the right things if you want to have the best gorilla trekking experience. Among the things you should carry include closed hiking boots to easily walk through the muddy slippery Forest grounds especially during rainy season.
Gardening gloves protect your hands from getting dirty and scratched when you hold on thorny tree trunks, rain jacket protect you from unpredictable Forest weather, Sun glasses, for your eyes, Hat for your head and hair, Long trousers tucked into stockings and Long sleeved shirts to protect your soft arms. You are also advised to carry energy giving snacks and bottled drinking water to keep you energetic throughout the trekking adventure
Is there age limit for last minute gorilla safari bookings?
YES. travelers aged 15 years and above are the ones eligible for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Whether early or last minute gorilla booking, traveler must be of age to be allowed to trek the endangered gorillas. During pre gorilla trekking briefing, travelers are verified to confirm they are of the right age.
Which park is best for last minute gorilla safari in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park is the best park to do last minute gorilla safari in Uganda shared between Kabale and Rubanda districts, Bwindi Forest park is home to over 500 mountain gorillas split in the four gorilla regions that make up Bwindi Forest park. Bwindi shelters the high number of gorillas which guarantee availability of gorilla permits compared to Mgahinga Gorilla National park
