Experiences

Combine Gorilla Trekking with Tanzania Wildlife Safari

Affordable upper mid-range and luxury safari in Tanzania and Uganda combined for your to get the best wildlife experiences gorillas and Serengeti, gorillas, and Ngorongoro, gorillas and Ngorongoro, gorillas and Kilimanjaro, and several other options. These Tanzania Uganda safaris can start and end in either country. The following Uganda Tanzania tour itineraries are some of the most liked but we can always do tailor-made options for you to enjoy your trip.

Uganda Gorilla Tours from Arusha Tanzania

A Uganda gorilla tour from Arusha Tanzania- It is very possible from today that Primate Safari Experiences organizes the gorilla tours from Arusha to Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Arusha is found in Tanzania and is a tourism hub when to come to tourism in Tanzania. Most of the visitors who are on a vacation in Tanzania stay or land in Arusha for safari game drive.  Tanzania is famous for the big give safaris which are conducted in Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Park. Still most of the tourists especially those who are adventurous do visit Tanzania to climb Mountain Kilimanjaro and mountain Meru. In case you’re a tourist visiting Tanzania and you’re in Arusha you can now move to Uganda and see the gorillas basing from Arusha.

Uganda is the top destination for gorilla trekking both in East Africa and Africa at large. Uganda is one of the smallest countries located in eastern Africa and has got the highest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world and the gorillas stay in two national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore while in Arusha or Tanzania you can follow the following steps to come to Uganda and see mountain gorillas.

Uganda gorilla tours by air from Arusha

Because it is a long-distance from Tanzania Arusha to Uganda and then connects to Bwindi or Mgahinga National park for Gorilla tours, it is recommended that you book a flight that will fly you to Kigali international airport in Rwanda or Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. There are daily scheduled flights from Kilimanjaro airport in Arusha then to Entebbe which you can use for your flight.

The flight from Kilimanjaro airport will take approximately one hour to reach Entebbe international airport and once you have landed at Entebbe or Kigali International Airport from Kilimanjaro Arusha, you can again opt to fly to Bwindi or Mgahinga to engage in gorilla tracking. We shall handle all the internal flights and airport transfers as well as road transfers to and from Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

At Africa adventure vacations we recommend our visitors for Uganda gorilla trekking tours from Arusha to contact either Uganda airlines, Rwanda Air, Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways, or Precision Air since these are famous airlines that operate within this region and can offer you the best offers when it comes to flying from Tanzania to Kigali or Entebbe International Airports for gorilla safaris.  In case you need more information on how you can best move from Arusha Tanzania to Uganda to see the gorillas just contact Africa Adventure Vacations.

Uganda gorilla tours by road from Arusha

Budget travelers or tourists in Arusha but with intention of seeing gorillas in Uganda have also an opportunity to travel to Uganda on budget using the rod transport. Visitors can travel by road from Arusha then connect to Nairobi and Kampala to Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for your gorilla trekking safari.

There different bus companies that operate daily from Arusha to Nairobi and then from Nairobi to Kampala Uganda. At Africa Adventure Vacations once you contact us, we shall book you a seat in one of the buses with availability on this route.

Buses are comfortably provided they operate on long routes, for those from Nairobi, you will be able to have a glimpse at Masai in Namanga, and the great East African arm of the Rift valley in Kenya. Book with us and enjoy the gorilla safari holiday from Arusha to Uganda.

Gorilla permits for your gorilla tours from Arusha Tanzania

Immediately you think of taking a gorilla safari from Arusha Tanzania to Uganda, you need to think of a gorilla trekking permit because no one can see the gorillas without a gorilla trekking permit. At Africa adventure vacations, we make sure that we book for you the gorilla permit for your Uganda gorilla trekking tours and once contact that you want to see gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga national park from Arusha.

we shall check for the availability of the gorilla trekking permit depending on your dates you intent to travel to see gorillas in Uganda, then once there is availability, we shall book and reserve the gorilla permit as we wait for you to make payment and the moment you make payment, then we shall secure your gorilla trekking permit from Uganda wildlife authority and send you the scanned copies of the gorilla permit bearing your details on the passport.

Visitors traveling by bus from Arusha Tanzania, our well professional tour driver will pick you from Kampala and then you start driving to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The drive from Kampala to Bwindi takes some time approximately 9 hours but you will make several stopovers including the equators for taking photographs and then a drive to Mbarara for lunch as you see the prominent long-horned cattle as you approach Mbarara city.

From Mbarara city, you will then proceed to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. Visitors can as well enjoy domestic flights from Entebbe to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or Mgahinga Gorilla national park by using airstrips of Kisoro and Kihihi where our driver will pick you to offer you the best transfer.

The cost of a single gorilla permit in Uganda is 700 per person. However, gorilla permits do vary in price according to the country. Permits in Rwanda are the most expensive at US$1,500 and DRC has the cheapest permits at US$400. A gorilla habituation experience permit in Uganda costs US$1,500 per person.

Going on a Safari in East Africa

Any tour around the world can be a sweet one but one has to make it enjoyable by himself. One would ask how he/she can make the tour sweet by himself. Yeah! It’s true you can. First you have to identify your interests. For example are you interested in nature, sports or amusements?  If nature, then what activities or attractions can sparkle your mind to say that you really have to go to that destination!

Normally people would love to see what they have never seen before. In this case everyone would love to watch and interact with wildlife because they are never seen in our day today life. There are lots of adventurous trips one can take like gorilla treks and chimpanzee tracking safaris where one will be able to interact with one of human’s closest relatives. These are found in Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and some other tropical rain forest regions. These are very rare primates that cannot be found anywhere in the world. So it is a pleasure and an honour to watch them.

You can also opt to watch other wild flora and fauna from national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and many more. In these game reserves you will be able to see animals like tree climbing lions, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, monkeys, giraffes and lots of bird species. It is not a guarantee that you will view these animals like in the zoo but you will see them in their natural habitats. You will see them running and moving around hunt for their prey and some looking for survival. You will also see lots of bird species around water bodies in the parks, flying in the sky, on trees and some on animals. There are other activities that can be taken from these national parks like launch cruise on River Nile in Murchison national park. While also taking a tour you can be able to interact with local people by taking a village walk as you can be embraced with traditional dance and also shopping from craft shops.

One can also take self drive safari in Uganda as one will go to a destination or tour around the country by himself in a 4×4 vehicle of his/her choice. You can do it with your family. You can be given an assistant to help you in navigation or you can use maps. This can be enjoyable as you can take a ride by yourself through the pearl of Africa as you will be able to view great landscapes embroiled with green vegetation cover

One can also go for other tourism activities like whitewater rafting at Itanda falls, bungee jumping, mountain hiking, boat ride and many more these can make your tour in Uganda and Rwanda so sweet.

These tours can be complemented with first class accommodation facilities that are found in the areas as they offer a range of services like comfortable bedding like single, double, deluxe and executive rooms. They also have nice cuisines with African and continental dishes.

With the entire above activities one can really have a sweet tour with their families and friends!

It can be a vacation you will never forget in your life and better to know the activities that best interest you before taking a step to book your safari.

Experience Rwanda on a Self Drive Tour

You can easily experience Rwanda with a self drive car from one of the reputable agencies in Rwanda. There are lots of options for self drive in Rwanda that can be tailored to your requirements and interests. We arrange your rental car, 4×4 hire, pre-book your accommodation and provide you with directions so you can sit back and enjoy your African holiday without having to worry about any administration. Our experienced team of travel consultants is happy to help you modify a self-drive holiday to accommodate your preferences or requirements and our itineraries can be extended or shortened to suit you arrival and departure dates.

Self drive Rwanda has in depth industry knowledge and a wealth of first hand travel experience. Rwanda is our backyard and each part of your self-drive itinerary has been specifically chosen for its attractive combination of charm and quality at a reasonable price. Our trained team of travel consultants can assist in tailoring your perfect African Safari Holidays where independent mobility presents an ever-changing landscape of scenery and experiences.

With its first world infrastructure and clearly sign-posted roads, Rwanda is a comfortable and safe holiday option for self drive tours. It is also important to note that most of the country is covered by cell phone reception so communication is no problem. Rwanda has something for everyone.

Self drive Rwanda can create various self drive holiday package options where we book your accommodation, arrange your car hire and provide you with directions before you set out on your adventures. The whole idea is to take the hassle out of your holiday and to make your stay one to remember.

hire with Rwanda self drive

Rwanda has some of the most magnificent landscapes which are unique and the country has good roads with many tourism attractions like National parks including Volcanoes National Park which is known for the endangered mountain gorillas. Rwanda Self drive is an excellent option for large families, solo travellers, couples, not only is it more affordable, but it also offers the most excellent services.

self-drive tour holidays

Some people like to wander at will, exploring new places every day. Some enjoy a trip without no worries about making hotel reservations as they travel. And then other people like a trip where they do not need to drive. It is up to you. However, if this is your first visit to Rwanda do consider hiring a car with the driver guide as an introduction to the country before heading out on your own. Explore Rwanda with Rwanda self drive you will never regret.

Travelling in the developing countries like Rwanda, it is necessary to have at least a rough itinerary in mind before you set off. This will allow you to check out likely travel times, potential delays, whether there will be somewhere to stay each night etc. Its all too easy in African countries to find that journey times takes much longer than you anticipated , especially in rainy season meaning you run out of time and don’t get to visit all the places you were aiming for.

When planning for self drive trip in African countries, you change plans following pre-trip research which has revealed that it would be impossible to cover the distance You had planned in the time available. Enough research is necessary before setting off for your journey to a void being stack in the field or in the Villages.

moving with cash and cards

In case you plan to travel in less developed countries, you need to consider how you’ll pay for things on your travels. In many African Countries, you are un able to pay for things like petrol, hotels and meals by credit card. Also don’t assume that ATM Cash dispensers will work. Usually make sure you carry enough local currency to cover necessities for at least a couple of days. Again carry large denomination US dollars or Euros which can be changed in emergencies. This will save you from panicking that the near by ATM machine in the next dusty town won’t be functioning.

Spread out your foreign currency. Don’t put it in one place, put some in your bag, in a non obvious place like your wash bag or in a shoe, and the majority in a hiding place such as money belt with a zipped compartment. Carry some small denomination local currency notes separate to the bulk of your local cash.When paying for some thing, use the small denomination that you put near and a void showing off your full wealthy. make sure you always have enough cash to cover you until the next town where you’re sure there will be a bank and/ or a couple of ATM s.

driving in different countries

In Africa some countries, use right hand side and others use left hand side of driving.Currently around 66% of the worlds population live in countries which drive on the right side of the road, usually (but not always) in vehicles with the drivers seat on the left.

There are 76 countries, territories and dependencies which drive on the left.There are numerous theories as to why some countries drive on the left and some on the right. Though no one knows the exact reasons for sure, it seems likely that travelling on the left of the road became the obvious choice in ancient times.Rwanda uses right hand side of driving and Uganda uses left hand of driving. Therefore, when you hire with self drive Rwanda make sure you have an international driving permit and ready to keep right.

driving in rwanda

In Rwanda, main Roads are in a surprisingly ‘not too bad’ condition.When you leave the main roads, conditions become a bit different, particularly in the rainy season of March-July and September-November. Since some times rain is un predictable, 4×4 wheel drive is necessary for safaris and self drive tours.You should also avoid driving out of the main towns at night as it is un safe to drive at night in a foreign country. Take care after dark within cities, avoiding small roads and areas where other traffic is light. Expect plenty of army/police road blocks which may involve a vehicle search.

before you confirm

You need to decide whether self drive is for you, or whether you’re going to go for a fully guided safari experience with a driver. The benefits of having a guide are really around that person’s experience and knowledge of the bush and the specific area they’re operating in. That’s why when planning for a safari in Rwanda book with self drive Rwanda which is known to provide good services with experienced guides.

Our guides can also provide you with a lot of detail on all tourism destinations in Rwanda, and many will be in contact with other guides so can be updated on where particular wildlife has been spotted. This will make your trip a memorable.

Another thing to do is to research on the particular area you’ll be visiting. You need to do that before you even consider renting a vehicle as requirements can vary greatly between countries and even between National Parks within countries. For instance, Check the availability and the requirements for the destinations, like for the case of Gorilla tracking in Rwanda, you need to be free of any diseases which can be transferred to the apes and you need to be physically feet.

Do a lot of readings before you begin to make reservations. Bear in mind that conditions will vary a lot between wet and dry seasons too. Visit travel forums like lonely planet, trip advisor and get enough information. There are also some good independent sites providing advice on most safari areas in Africa.

Before setting off for your journey, always confirm the car rental booking again. Drop an email to your contact and re-confirm the date and time they’ll be dropping the car off, the total price, the car rental insurance terms and how you’ll be paying them. Also ask if they can provide a contact number for you to call in case of any problem. Make sure you read carefully the rules and regulation of the car hire.

Go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Most tourists planning to visit any African country always worry about not meeting their expectations and most of them perceive Africa as an insecure tourism destination. That is very wrong because Rwanda is today one of the safest country to be in for a tour or wildlife safari. Though Rwanda was affected by the 1994 Rwandese genocide, the country has greatly recovered over the decades and today its one of the most developed countries in east and central Africa. The country has various tourism attractions evenly distributed all over the country. Of the many attraction are mountain gorillas located in volcanoes national park.

Mountain gorilla encounters in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda are some of the mind blowing and astonishing experiences that one can have ever have on a safari in Rwanda. They were most made popular to the western world by Dian Fossey an American zoologist who spent years in the forests studying these untamed animals.

Mountain gorillas are the largest of the Apes family and are close to humans having over 95%DNA similar to humans. They are strong and their enormous size makes them a little dangerous. Mountain gorillas are a little shy and spend most of their time hiding in the wild feeding, females looking after their young mountain gorillas and the males-silverbacks always looking for new feeding grounds and very determined to protect their territories.

Mountain gorilla permits are the first things to think about in Rwanda because mountain gorilla trekking is an activity preferred by many tourists and only 80 gorilla permits are available for tourists a day. Only 8 tourists are allowed to track one of the 10 mountain gorilla families in the national park. The permits are sold at $750.

Volcanoes National Park can be easily accessed from Kigali international airport just after a 2-3 hours drive on a well-developed tarmac road. You do not need to worry about accommodation because volcanoes national park has a number of well developed lodges where one can have a good night sleep while preparing for the greatly anticipated mountain gorilla day. The standard accommodation facilities where one can relax include gorilla Mountain View lodge, Sabyinyo silverback lodge and Virunga lodge among others.

After having a good sleep and waking up early morning to the sounds of the birds and great views of the beautiful the gently sloping hills covered with evergreen forests, tourists head to the Kinigi park headquarters where they are served with locally made hot coffee and tea as the a local group of entertainers bring lots of smiles to your faces jumping and dancing. You are then divided into groups of 8 and allocated to the 10 gorilla families. After being briefed, you then head to the jungles in search for the allocated gorilla group, which takes from 30 minutes to 5 or 6 hours.

Just a step in the forest introduces you the true African wilderness and sounds of nature. The guides in volcanoes national park are always willing to explain to the tourists the jungle and some of its inhabitants. As the journey proceeds, your guide is informed by the trackers who usually go ahead of the tourists tracking where exactly the gorillas are.

In just few minutes after having given proper direction by the trackers, a look through the vegetation introduces you to the mountain gorilla. All covered with black fur, a look in the mountain gorilla dark eyes is first scary but as look more you eventually get moved.

The gorillas just relax eating the leaves in the reach of their hands as they stare at the very curious tourists taking their photographs.

While here, tourists are advised tourists are advised to keep a reasonable distance to avoid being attacked by the gorillas. An allowance of just an hour is given to the tourists and when it elapses, they are directed back to the headquarters, given certificates of participation for having gone for the great adventure. In addition to the remarkable gorilla experience, being in Rwanda feels like being home away from home and this explains why tourists are always forced to visit the country again.

Go Gorilla Trekking For A Good Cause

Mountain gorilla tracking in the areas of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo has gradually improved the lives of the local people. It doesn’t matter whether someone is near the national park where gorilla trekking takes place but what matters is that the whole country as a whole gains from the activity. Since there are only 900 estimated gorillas left in the world, these three countries which happen to harbor them have gained a competitive advantage over the others and this is because tourists especially primate lovers go there to have a glance at the gorillas. Uganda and Rwanda are the best destinations for tracking the primates and this is why some people prefer going for a combined Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking experience.

But the big question here is; – how do the local people gain from gorilla tracking yet they don’t go and view the primates? Well, there are numerous ways through which both the government and the local people can gain from this wonderful activity and below is a list of them;-

• Gorilla trekking creates employment opportunities to the local people. As you may well know that while moving through the thick forests searching for these primates you always move with a guide, these are mainly local people who are trained to be guides and they earn from doing this. Some nationals go for training to become guides in the various national parks where gorillas can be found and from this they can earn a living and also support their families.
  Also the various tour companies which are setup to offer gorilla tracking packages to tourists create jobs for the local people. The lodges where tourists sleep on their tour also have workers who benefit from the activity by earning money. Not forgetting the drivers who drive tourists to the various destinations on their safari. These also earn money from this and it’s because of gorilla trekking that they are able to get people to drive. In the long run, the whole process leads to creating jobs for the unemployed people in the countries where these rear primates are found.
• Through attracting people from different parts of the world, gorilla trekking has also built a link between the local people and the foreigners. Among these foreigners are those interested in helping the needy especially the children. On their safari to where these primates are found they end up meeting the local people including those needy local people. Therefore the needy nationals get that opportunity of getting help from these tourists. Also various charity organizations get funding from the visitors and this money is used to improve the lives of the local people.
• The government taxes the various institutions or companies which deal in tourism and this money is channeled to improving the lives of the nationals. This means that tourists who come for gorilla trekking contribute to these taxes and indirectly improve the well being of the people in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC where mountain gorillas are found.

Through the above ways, the local people have been touched by the hands of tourist indirectly and they have managed to survive as a result of improved standards of living.