Gorilla Tracking Advice

Hello Everyone,

I would greatly appreciate some advice on our particular situation. We would like to go gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park during out visit to Uganda this December. Because of meeting up with friends, we will already be in the Queen Elizabeth National Park on December 13 to December 15. Since Queen Elizabeth is near Bwindi, we were just going to go on to Bwindi from there and try to track gorillas. We know you have to get a permit, and that it costs 500 USD per person. What we want to know is, what's the best way to get/reserve a permit (from the U.S.)? And what's the best way to do the gorilla tracking? We would like to keep our expenses as low as possible since the trip as a whole is already going to be so expensive. This was our original thinking, but we could really use some advice:

• Have a hired driver take us from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi (is there a cheaper way to get there?)
• At Bwindi, stay at either the Bwindi-View Bandanas or the Buhomo Community Bandas (I couldn't find a way to reserve a bed from abroad, do you know of any?)
• Purchase a gorilla permit (for one of the Buhoma gorilla groups) from a tour operator, who then tacks on a $50 or $100 service fee. I'm currently waiting for the UWA to respond if we can get the permit directly from them, but I've heard it's unlikely they'll still have permits for December available. The tour operators we've checked with seem to require us to transfer money directly to their bank. How can I be assured that this is safe and that the tour operator is trustworthy? What reliable proof of my purchase should they provide?
• Move on after we see the gorillas (or stay around and hike a bit in Bwindi)

We did consider just going on a tour that would handle all the logistics for us, but we really don't want to go back to Kampala, and we don't want to pay an extra few hundred dollars per person for the Bwindi portion if all it is is just a permit, accommodations, and meals--we feel we could do that ourselves, but maybe there are things we don't know about? For example, I didn't even realize that tracking different groups left from different points in the park until this morning. What other types of gotchas might be lurking?

On a side note, we're also wondering about the transportation options in Uganda. We think we'd like to hire a car and driver to get around, but we weren't really certain how this works. For example, if we wanted a driver to take us from Point A to Point B (where neither point is Kampala), and then we want to go from Point B to Point C, does it all have to be the same driver? If we were going to stay at Point B for a few days, do we need to keep and pay for the driver, even if we aren't using him for those days? How easy is it to engage a new driver at any of these parks?

I know this is a rather long post, but we would greatly, greatly appreciate any advice!

Thank you,
Christine

Christine,

First contact UWA for your gorilla permits . Contact them by phone call as with mail, it might take lot of time before they get back to you.
Here is there number +256414355000
Just in case they do not have gorilla permits, you can contact Tour companies who are likely to to sell the gorilla permit $550-650$. The extra dollars are office charge fees that might be incurred to look for your gorilla permit. Like phone calls, fuel moving from one place to another to get your permit.

From Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi, You can hire a vehicle to drop you in Mbarara and from this point you can get a bus to Kabale/kisoro depending on where you will be trekking the gorillas.This may be cheaper but takes lot of time and it is inconveniencing.

My suggestion is you hire a car from Mbarara or Kasese and proceed to Bwindi.

Before you book your hotel rooms, First get your gorilla permits, then decide on where to stay depending on the gorilla permits you have.

If you are looking for a tour operator to purchase from the gorilla permits, lot of them have been recommended here. Consult from them, and if they still have the gorilla permits, they should send scanned copies of your gorilla permits to you after you have paid them.

After you have trekked the gorillas, you can hike in Bwindi. The best place to do this is in Kisoro
Alternatively
If you still have enough money to spend, you can visit the source of River Nile in Jinja. Lots of activities like white water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping etc.

If you are to hire a car with a driver, you do not need to keep him every day. You can raise him when ever you want to travel.

Conclusion:
I advise you to hire a car for your trip. It will be much cheaper, easier to move from one point to another and Very comfortable.

Try to get in touch with Uganda wildlife Authority. If you have failed, then contact local tour operators who will help you purchase your Gorilla Permits. this must also not cost you much, it should be between USD 530 to USD 550. as you are aware, the $500 is for the permit and $ 50 or $30 is the service charge

Hiring a vehicle with a driver, is the best option to do. However make sure that the driver is well conversant with the places too be visited, at least he has to be a guide.

You have to transfer the money direct to the tour operators account. there is no way they will get the money if you do not send it to their account. After you have sent the money, they have to confirm after 3 or 4 working days that the money was received on their account and after this, they have to purchase your Gorilla Permit and then send you scanned copy of it and the receipt.

As for the driver, if you hire him with the car from point A to Point B, and you will spend some days at point B, you may get into agreement with him, either to return back to Kampala and then he picks you up on the day you want to transfer to Point c. However, if you want him full time even if you will not be using him or his vehicle, you will have to pay him plus the vehicle.

cheers

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your advice. It's very helpful!

Christine

If after getting the permits you still need a room in Buhoma, the Bradt guide book gives these emails for the places you mentioned:
buhomacommunitycampground@yahoo.com
and
bwindiview@yahoo.com

Good luck!

This is extremely helpful!

1) How much would you estimate a special hire for these scenerios would cost?

2) What would you say is the best way to do this trip in reverse. Mainly, go from Kampala, to Bwindi, to Queen Elizabeth, then back to Kampala?

3) Is there anything you would change about the following trip itinerary suggestion? Is it too short?
Day one - travel from Kampala to as close to Bwindi as you can do in a day
Day two - Get all the way to Bwindi, hike around
Day three - Gorilla trek in Bwindi
Day four - Travel from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth in special hire (how long will this take?)
Day five - See queen Elzabeth
Day six - Queen Elizabeth back to Kampala

Thank you!

QTN 1
Here a 4x4 wheel drive is recommended. With its driver it is likely to cost between 50$ -75$ per day with out fuel.

QTN 2
Kampala - Bwindi -Queen Elizabeth -Kampala is definately the best route if gorilla permits for your travel dates are available.
But if Gorilla permits are not available, then do it there other way round.

Before booking any accommodation, first get the gorilla permits.

Day two or Day three
If time permits, in the evening you can also have cultural entertainment from the local community

Day four
Depending on where you have tracked the gorillas + nature of the road and weather, it will take you about 5-8 hours from Bwindi to Queen elizabeth park

You might also benefit from watching this quick clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8in4xQ5aco

It will give you a good sense of what to expect.