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Muir's Tours |
Gorilla Observation
Join us on one of our gorlla safaris into Uganda and / or Rwanda to observe the mountain gorillas and also chimpanzees. We have a range of scheduled tours as well as private customised tours to your design so that gorilla watching safaris are easy to arrange.
Gorillas are specialist food gatherers and today there are very few areas left that provide the habitat that the gorilla needs. By visiting these animals in their own domain we are helping to protect them, as the revenue the gorlla safaris bring in to the poor countries of central Africa is a major factor. Obviously we need to be sensitive whilst we are gorilla tracking and to behave carefully in their midst. Only small groups can enter the protected areas in strictly controlled groups for observation from a distance.
A number of well known biologists, in particular Dian Fossey brought the plight of the gorilla to our attention. Prior to tracking the gorilla in the field, very little was known about these creatures.
The pioneering wildlife researchers soon discovered that gorilla tracking and observation was not easy and that has not changed. In order to enjoy this expedition you need to be quite fit as the mountain presents a real challenge. There are a few well trodden paths, however in we will need to scramble up steep hillsides covered with wet vegetation and in places slippery mud.
Physical Requirements
The strenuous (sometimes very strenuous) trek to the gorillas usually takes
between two and three hours, but could be as
long as eight hours. You need to ensure you are in good condition to
track the gorillas.
Customised or Scheduled safaris available
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Permits - Important Information (read this entire section before looking at the options)
There has been some recent major changes in the price of
gorilla permits and some of the accommodation. The price of a gorilla permit in
Uganda has been increased to USD375 in July 2006. In Rwanda the price of a permit has been
increased to USD500 in June 2007 partly due to the addition of VAT and to enable further
improvements to be made by the Rwandan government in tourism services,
park infrastructure and to undertake more community projects.
Over the last year there have been a number of changes in the gorilla families that are available for viewing in the Virunga mountains as some groups have disappeared as they have crossed into other countries or disintegrated or new groups have been formed! It is not easy keeping up with the regroupings but our current understanding is given below.
Uganda
In Uganda gorillas are
seen in Bwindi and Mgahinga. Bwindi has four habituated families with 32
permits now available. The gorillas there live in thicker tropical
forest and tracking is more challenging as the hillsides are steeper and it can
take 3-10 hours. Three of the families (Mubare, Habinyanja, and
Rushegura) are accessed from Buhoma in the north, staying at Bwindi
Lodge. You can also go for nature walks to see birds, monkeys and
orchids. The fourth family, in Nkuringo in Southern Bwindi, is
accessed from Kisoro, staying at Mount Gahinga Lodge at Mgahinga. Access to the
Nkuringo group is on a very steep trail. Mgahinga, in Uganda, is the best place
to appreciate the unique Virunga volcanoes. The habituated family which
used to reside at Mgahinga is no longer living there and is moving
between Uganda, Rwanda and DRC and cannot currently be viewed. You can however
climb a volcano or go for a nature walk, visit the endangered golden monkey or
go birding in the unique Virunga volcanoes.
Rwanda
Parc National
des Volcans in Rwanda currently has 7 groups and 56 permits available per
day. PNV had five habituated gorilla families until now (Group 13,
Sabinyo, Amahoro , Umubano, Susa;) A further 2 families are now available for
viewing– Kwitonda which has crossed from Djomba in the DRC and Hirwa which has
recently emerged from different habituated families. Most groups are half-day
walks but Susa can take 5-7 hours. Tracking in PNV is usually easier than Bwindi
as the afro-montane forest is lighter. You can also climb a volcano, visit the
remains of Dian Fossey’ s grave and the graves of the gorillas which she studied
and see the endangered golden monkey.
Applying for the Gorilla Tracking permit
The gorilla permit(s) must be applied for initially and it is the availability of these that is key to the whole trip. If the permits are not available your deposit is returned, if the permit(s) is / are available then we proceed with booking the rest of the services. The price we quote may include the cost of one permit, but you must decide if you want to apply for additional permits for other days. A permit covers one person only. You then need to pay a deposit of the estimated cost of the permit or permits, plus 30% extra to allow for possible changes in the price of the permit. The tour cost (excluding all permits) is fixed with the US Dollar as the base currency, but the permit cost can change with little or no notice, so you need to ensure we have more than the minimum in hand to purchase your permits.
Our agents in Uganda and Rwanda will purchase the
permits for us and we need to provide them with the funds in advance, even
though we can never be certain that permits are available. Even if we have
established that permits are available before sending the deposit, the situation
is totally fluid and we could easily find that there are no permits available
within the space of 3 or 4 days whilst your deposit is on its way to Uganda /
Rwanda. So please book well ahead to reduce the risk
of missing out on permits.
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Ethical Issues
Watching
gorillas in their natural environment is one of the most exciting
wildlife encounters possible, however you may be thinking about
the ethics. You are probably thinking "will the gorillas benefit
from tourism ?" YES they will. There are some 750 mountain gorillas and
they are kept alive because tourists are paying for gorilla permits
and tours. The mountain gorilla is dependent on money, the money you pay is
used to provide protection for the gorillas from poachers. It is not always possible to fully
protect the gorillas, but tourism as a means of keeping them alive is
significantly better than nothing at all.
Our gorilla
safaris are carefully managed
so they
do not cause any anxiety to the groups. Our tour groups are limited to a maximum
of 11. Time spent with the gorillas is strictly limited to 1 hour and a distance
of 8 metres is maintained between the observing group and the gorillas. You will not be allowed
any near the gorillas if you are thought to be carrying any infectious
disease.
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These are our most popular scheduled gorilla safaris
Western
leaders. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Kibale Forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park. Jacana Lodge. Bwindi. Gorilla Forest camp.
Start and finish in Entebbe.
Scheduled Departures
- June through September
Uganda
& Rwanda
12 Days on
safari in
total - 4 days of
gorilla
tracking and observation.
Local leaders. Queen Elizabeth National Park - elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo,
and leopard etc.. Track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. 3 gorilla parks -
Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda and Rwanda to Parc National des Volcans on the
other side of the misty Virungas. Climb a volcano or explore the volcanic
lakes. Start in Entebbe and finish in Kigali.
Scheduled Departures - All year round
Uganda
7 Days on safari in total - 1 day of
gorilla
tracking and observation.
Local leaders. Queen Elizabeth National Park - elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo, and leopard etc.. Track chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. Track gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda. Start and finish in Entebbe.
Scheduled Departures - All year round
Rwanda
Gorilla Tracking in Parc National des Volcans - 4 days
This gorilla safari takes you to Parc National des Volcans (PNV) in the Virunga volcanoes. This itinerary offers an opportunity to track gorillas twice during the 4 day safari. PNV has four habituated gorilla families living in the montane forests on the southern slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
Scheduled Departures - All year round