It is actually possible to do a Uganda gorilla trekking from France. Annually a lot of French people come into the country to track and see mountain gorillas. This epic experience is done in only 2 destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. These 2 combined contribute a half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the wild. Bwindi in particularly houses 459 of those. Also, there are 23 gorilla families that have been habituated thus used to human presence. Most of them can be trekked by visitors, even from France. Meanwhile this is an intense activity only offered to visitors from the age of 15 onwards. It avoids any form of nuisance-like behavior caused by children to disrupt the peace of gorillas and other forest wildlife.
Cost of a gorilla Trek from France?
Foreign nonresidents on Uganda gorilla trekking from France pay $800 per person. However, in the low season (April, May and November) you can trek gorillas at a discounted fee of $600. You get a gorilla permit once you pay the amount. Nevertheless, park entrance, contribution to community development and guiding fee are included in this fee. Make sure that your gorilla permit, like each of them, is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Also, only tour operators like Standard Safaris are authorized to book or purchase the permit for you. Because of their high demand kindly reserve or buy your permit at least 3 months before the trek.
Through our phone, WhatsApp number, email or social media platforms communicate to us regarding this matter. First is to give us your preferred date to come to Uganda for the gorilla trek. We must first confirm the availability of your gorilla permit for that date with Uganda Wildlife Authority. When you receive our feedback send all or part of the fee required. We can then reserve or fully pay to buy your permit. Then, a soft copy of your gorilla permit can be sent to you for acknowledgement. Without a permit it is not possible to do Uganda gorilla trekking from France. It is the most important document to present at the park headquarters before you can even proceed.
How to do a gorilla Trek?
Gorilla trekking is the same lively experience for everyone involved. It simply involves your French-speaking guide taking you to the trailhead before 8:00 a.m. From there, the park rangers meet you and ensure that you get sufficiently briefed. The benefit of this moment is for you to understand the dos and don’ts of the gorilla trek. Cautions spoken about help the gorilla trek turn out successful, with no harm to the gorillas and yourself. This session wraps up quite fast and then you enter the forest, guided by a tracker and rangers. Now, you can track a habituated group of mountain gorillas, until you find them. They often leave clues behind, such as dung, nests, broken twigs and footprints etc. So follow these.
For a full hour, watch the gorillas after you finally find them. They display a wide range of behaviors that you can witness in the wild. Foraging, mating, grooming, playing, climbing trees and others. Meanwhile, a chance to see other residents in the forest is presented. Species of bush elephants, bush buffaloes, giant forest hogs, vervet monkeys, baboons and lots of birds occupy the same forest. You will now make a grand return to the trailhead, where the park warden or ranger shall debrief you. He or she also has a certificate to offer to you. This marks the end of your gorilla trek. So you are free to drive to your lodge or another destination.
When to do a gorilla trek?
Uganda gorilla trekking from France is without exception offered all year round. Depending on your atmospheric preferences, book the experience scheduled for either the dry or wet season. Dry season gorilla trekking is preferred by visitors who love less challenging adventures. This is when the weather conditions presented are generally warmer with less rainfall received. The result of this is less muddy or less slippery gorilla trails to walk on. With vegetation cover quite less dense, views of gorillas became clearer. Additionally, your gorilla trek is not interrupted by rains, since they are lighter and less frequent in the dry season. In the wet season, you get the opposite of these factors.
How to Travel?
If you do not travel by road transport, air transport is the alternative mode to use. But, a scenic drive from Kampala to Mgahinga is quite long, and covers 499 kilometers. Similarly, the drive to Bwindi from Kampala is long, at 502 kilometers. This implies that you spend between 9 to 11 hours on the road. Our 4-wheel safari land cruiser is well suited for this trip since roads are so rugged yet you need comfort. To reduce on travel time, while enhancing comfort, domestic flights are offered by AeroLink Uganda. Scheduled flights to Bwindi and Mgahinga land at Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip. When you start from Entebbe International Airport, the time spent in the air is only 1 hour and 15 minutes. From their respective airstrips, you can now drive for less than 2 hours to either national park.
