Uganda Border Crossing and Collecting Gorilla Permits | Rwanda - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 05:21:26 +0000

Hi,

I know this topic is frequently discussed but haven't found answers to these particular questions.

We are a group of 4 who will be travelling overland from Uganda to Kinigi to see the gorillas

1) Is it feasible to travel from Lake Bunyoni in Uganda to Kinigi or Musanza/Ruhangeri in one day via public transport or locally hired car - including the usual border crossing waiting etc.

We would prefer to arrive early enough to confirm our trek for the next day

2) We have booked and paid for our permits online but as we are not intending to go to Kigali first we won't be able to pick up our permits at the kigali office. Will this be a problem or can we simply pick up the permits the day before at Kinigi

3) Finally, does anyone know if you are able to "book" particular gorilla groups - we have heard that the Susa group is the largest and has the longest trek to get to (this appeals) - can we arrange to see them in advance or do you just go to whichever you are assigned - Does anyone have any suggestions about which group would be the most rewarding experience from a scenery point of view.

thanks in advance

ONLINE

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:29:53 +0000

It is possible to travel from Lake bunyonyi in Kabale Uganda to Kinigi and Ruhangeri Rwanda in a few hours. If you are traveling on your own, you will pay $35 dollars for vehicle entry and about $50 for your Rwanda visa.

ORTP or the Tour company in charge of your gorilla permits should be in poison to send your permits to your hotel in kinigi instead of you traveling to Kigali, ask them to arrange that for you.

If you want to trek the susa gorilla family, you have to tell them in advance so that they reserve for you the gorilla permits for that group.
Otherwise once you are given permits for another group, there is no way you can trek the susa family. Each group has a maximum number of people to be tracked each day.

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ONLINE

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:08:31 +0000

You can get from Lake Bunyonyi to Kinigi in a 3-4 hours by private car. If you want to use public transportation, you probably have to go to Kabale first. Anyway, if you're a group of 4 persons, hiring a private car for the trip is the most convenient way to do it.

I don't know if you can book a permit for certain gorilla group, but the people are divided to the groups at the park headquarter based on personal preferences and the estimated distance of the group. Meaning people who are not that fit would visit the nearest groups and so on. As the gorillas are sometimes on move, the "easiest" tracking can become the most difficult. I'm sure you will be satisfied with the experience no matter which gorilla group you will be tracking.

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ONLINE

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:20:30 +0000

rjinandes79,
we are currently in Uganda and actually visiting Rwanda, and trekking with gorillas, from Lake Bunyonyi next weekend.
we encountered too many set-backs (unanswered emails, faulty telephone numbers) and gave in to paying a rwandan travel agency to book our permits and guest house for us.
we are taking a car to bunyonyi with friends but will then take public transport from bunyonyi into Ruhengeri.
depending on when you are going, i will be able to send you exact info on public transportation taken from bunyonyi to ruhengeri and kinigi. (we depart bunyonyi on the 23rd and head back to Uganda on the 26th or 27th).

there is an ORTPN office in Kinigi so you 'should' be able to pick up your permits in Kinigi instead of Kigali but give yourself extra time in case you need to run over to Kigali (it should take 1.5 hrs from Kiali to Ruhengeri).

I know Katonatours says that you have to reserve the Suza family in advance, but our tour company has told us that we can only request a specific family that morning - at the ORTPN offices when we are picking up our permits. (we read somewhere else that they size you up and assign you to treks depending on your estimated fitness level. we'll find out soon if this is true).

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