Gorillas
Luxury Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
A luxury Uganda gorilla tour is for those who want VIP treatment, including high-end and up-market services, while trekking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National. On a Uganda Luxury Gorilla trekking tour, you will have the opportunity to do an exclusively private tour that includes gorilla trekking, as well as a stay in high-end accommodations and receive top-notch service throughout the tour. A luxury gorilla trekking and safari tour is both magical and privileged in terms of African wildlife experiences. If you’re planning a big trip to Africa, seeing these gentle grazing giants in their natural jungle habitat would be a must-see.
Uganda offers gorilla trekking in two national parks: Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both national parks are located in Uganda’s southwestern region, close to Rwanda. These are accessible from Entebbe/Kampala as well as Kigali, Rwanda. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that provides habitat for Mountain Gorillas, one of Africa’s’ great Apes that are listed as endangered. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, on the other hand is home to Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys, two of the world’s rare and endangered apes.
The main activity at both National Parks is gorilla trekking, which allows you to spend an hour with the endangered apes. Furthermore, in Bwindi, you can also spend more time with the Mountain Gorillas by participating in the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which allows you to spend 4 hours with the Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Planning a luxury Uganda Gorilla Safari
Luxury Gorilla Permit booking
When planning a luxury gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to see the mountain gorillas, you should consider booking an exclusive gorilla trekking, which includes trekking a given gorilla family alone, whether you are traveling as a couple, solo, or family. To trek a specific gorilla family privately, you must purchase all eight permits for that group in order to trek that family privately.
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD700 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, USD600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African Citizens. In order to book this exclusive gorilla trek, you will need to obtain permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which also issues Uganda gorilla permits. You can also contact us here and we will assist you in obtaining permission and gorilla trekking permits to allow you to trek a specific group privately.
Consider the Gorilla Habituation Experience
When planning a luxury gorilla trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to visit the mountain gorillas, you should also consider going for the Gorilla Habituation Experience rather than the standard gorilla trek. This is the Gorilla Habituation gives you much more privacy with the mountain gorillas because the trek is done in a group of only four people as opposed to the standard trek which is done in a group of eight.
Gorilla Habituation allows you to spend four hours with Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat, as opposed to the standard trek’s one-hour encounter. Like gorilla trekking, you can book an exclusive Gorilla Habituation Experience where the trek is done privately. You will need to pay for all four gorilla habituation permits in order for Uganda Wildlife Authorities to allow you to trek a given group alone. A gorilla habituation experience costs $1500 per person.
Luxury accommodation
Another factor to consider when booking a Luxury and VIP Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda is luxury accommodation; and there are various luxury lodges and camps established in Uganda’s gorilla national parks. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Trackers Lodge, and Mahogany Springs Lodge are just a few of the luxurious options. Luxury options in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include Gahinga Lodge and Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge.
Their prices for luxury accommodation in Bwindi and Mgahinga range from USD500 to USD1000 per person per night and ensure that you have the best stay possible while gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
They have great hospitality, clean rooms, VIP rooms and all have put in place the set SOPs for prevention of the spread of the corona virus and all are ensuring safety and health of their clients.
Exclusive transportation
By Air: When planning a luxury Uganda gorilla safari, you must consider your mode of transportation that is using either chartered or scheduled flights or travel by road. Flights to Bwindi and Mgahinga are organized by a few charter aviation operators including Bar Aviation and AeroLink. There two major airstrips located near Bwindi and Mgahinga: Kihihi airfield, which is ideal for travelers on Uganda gorilla safaris to the northern sector of Bwindi. Kisoro Airstrip near Kisoro on the other hand is ideal for trekkers heading to the southern regions and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A domestic flight to Kihihi or Kisoro is about 1 hour, 45 minutes, and from the Airstrips, you will transferred to your lodge in a 4×4 luxury safari vehicle which charges between $200 – $250 per day, including driver and fuel.
By Road: Getting to Bwindi or Mgahinga via road is dependent on where one is coming from. From Kampala/Entebbe, it will take you between 8 to 10 hours to reach either Bwindi or Mgahinga respectively. If you coming from Kigali Rwanda, the drive will take about 5 hours. Morover, during your Luxury Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi, 4×4 luxury land cruisers/jeeps are recommended to use for transportation given the fact these are well customized to suite this class of travel offering you comfortable travel. These cost between $200 – $300 per day including fuel and driver’s fee.
Get enough porters for gorilla trekking
We recommend that you do your gorilla trek with enough porters during your Luxury and VIP Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda. Porters help by giving you a push and a pull during the trek, and they also carry your back pack the entire time. We recommend that elders book the sedan chair services, which will transport them throughout the hike in Bwindi Forest in search of mountain gorillas. This can be booked on the day of your trek or ahead of time. Hiring a porter in Bwindi or Mgahinga costs around $15.
Get security provided by Uganda Tourism Police
Given the high caliber of the VIP travelers, some of whom are multi-millionaires, they will need to be closely guarded by Uganda government security, specifically the Uganda Tourism Police, throughout their tour in Uganda to ensure their safety. Pinnacle Africa Safaris and Logistics will assist in organizing this through Uganda’s Ministry of Security and Internal Affairs.
Use an Ambulance and health officials to provide assistance.
During the trip, you will also require support for urgent needs such as first aid and medical attention. This will contribute to the success of the Luxury and VIP Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda.
Best time to go for Luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda
To any Luxury tourist planning a trip, Uganda is known as a year-round travel destination. This is because of its climate and proximity to the equator. Another factor that makes Uganda a year-round travel destination is Lake Victoria and its unique weather patterns. Uganda has two rainy seasons: the short season, which runs from October to November, and the long season, which runs from mid-March to the end of May.
As a result, the best months to go gorilla trekking in Uganda are June, July, August, and September. If that isn’t possible, January and February should be fine. Many tourists choose to visit Uganda during the months of May, September, and February because the amount of rain has decreased and it is sunny in most of the destinations. December is one of the busiest months of the year in most national parks, so book your accommodations early to avoid disappointment. Most Uganda safaris tourists plan vacations to national parks during the Christmas season, so December is always a peak season.
Top Luxury Accommodation in Bwindi
Luxury lodges on Bwindi’s outskirts will immerse you in the African bush and prepare you to explore one of Africa’s most ancient habitats. The majority of these lodging options overlook the misty primeval jungle and are nestled on ridges, among mountains, terraced hills, and rolling volcanic slopes. These lodges have amenities that you wouldn’t expect from such remote locations including hot showers, walk-in bathrooms, bathtubs, and delectable culinary delights. Here are some of the best luxury lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, ranging from deluxe “glamping” cottages to private rooms on the ridge overlooking the forest canopies to private cottages tucked into a tangle of the rainforest;
Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge – Bwindi
The charming multi-award-winning lodge, perched high on Ntebeko Ridge, has spectacular views of the entire Bwindi Forest in one direction and the majestic Virunga Mountains chain in the other. This rural paradise retreat has been named Uganda’s leading Safari Lodge seven times in a row by the World Travel Awards. All of the facilities, including the cottages, gardens, walkways, and main reception area, have recently been renovated and upgraded to world-class standards, leaving guests speechless.
The newly added cozy dining and reception area has quirky features such as large wooden columns, beams, and flooring, raffia ceilings, volcanic stone fireplaces, and walls. With African-styled furniture, art, decor, fabrics, and carvings adorning the walls, the place exudes rustic charm. The lodge is completely eco-friendly, with solar power used for lighting, natural gas used for heating and cooking, and rainwater collected. It has a fresh vegetable garden on-site to supply the kitchen with fresh veggie delights. Nkuringo is your unrivaled base for gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; stay here!
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is located in the Nkuringo Sector, south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, at the visitor center. It is literally the closest base to the Nkuringo gorillas.
This Bwindi community luxury lodge features a chalet-style main lodge and seven guesthouses made of local volcanic stone and outfitted with handwoven rugs and works by the country’s most renowned artists.
The loft-style interiors of the ten stone cottages feature African-themed art, high-beamed ceilings, a spacious bedroom, a lounge area, and an en suite bathroom with a shower. A fireplace connects the bedroom and lounge, keeping the spaces cozy on warm or cool evenings. On chilly mountain evenings, a private butler and housekeeper provide hot water bottles and keep the fireplace lit.
Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge, located in the northern section of Bwindi, is an excellent base from which to hike the jungle gorilla trekking and explore the area. Each of the ten chalets enhances the natural beauty of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. With breathtaking views from each private veranda, guests will undoubtedly develop a new appreciation for Africa’s breathtaking natural beauty.
Each cottage has comfortable beds, an en suite bathroom, a flushing toilet, and a hot shower, with a few also including a bathtub. The rooms have large windows and private sheltered verandas with views of the montane forest. On the chillier mountain evenings, hot water bottles and luxury blankets keep you warm.
