Offroad Bikes Uganda offers self drive car rental services and offroad bike rental. Our experience in this industry has given us an opportunity to learn a few things that work and what do not work. We have also learned of the common mistakes that you must avoid for the best safari experience in Uganda.
Today we wish to bring to your attention a few things you have to consider if you are to attempt a self-drive gorilla safari in Uganda.
Book Permits Through A Registered Operator
According to the new Uganda wildlife Authority gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits booking guidelines, all gorilla trekking permits for foreign non-residents have to be booked through licensed local tour operators. However foreign residents are allowed to buy their own gorilla trekking permits.
Any attempt to book gorilla trekking permits directly might not yield any success. In order to avoid adjusting your safari plans on the last hour, always consider booking the gorilla trekking permits through a registered tour operator.
Visit the Uganda tourism board website to find the list of all the licensed tour operators in Uganda.
Do not Book Accommodation Before Securing Gorilla Trekking Permits
It is quite common for people to assume that Bwindi impenetrable forest national park only has one gate and that once you book your gorilla trekking permit, you can go anywhere in Bwindi impenetrable forest. This is not true, Bwindi impenetrable forest is divided into four gorilla trekking sectors; Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Rushaga.
Your accommodation booking should always be dependent on the permit sector. You cannot book accommodation in Buhoma and trek gorillas in the Nkuringo sector, it will require you to drive for a couple of hours in the morning yet the gorilla trekking briefing starts as early as 7:45 am
Therefore, always let your accommodation choice be guided by the permits. Never book accommodation before booking gorilla trekking permits.
Plan Detours In Advance
The pearl of Africa has a lot to offer beyond gorilla trekking. You might be tempted to take detours on your way to the gorilla national parks. You should only consider detours after gorilla trekking not before. When you can detour before gorilla trekking, you might get stranded in some places and fail to make it for your gorilla trek.
But when you place all your detours after gorilla trekking, you do not have to worry much when you get stuck in a certain place more so because of the road conditions or a mechanical issue.
Gorilla trekking trips are always scheduled for a particular date and time. Failure to make it to the destination will simply make you lose your gorilla trekking permits money. In order not to leave any room for such losses, always place your detours after your gorilla trekking safari
Travel In The Low Season
According to the gorilla trekking guidelines in Uganda, a maximum of 8 people are allowed to encounter the mountain gorillas for one hour. But this is still in the company of at least four game rangers. In simple terms, you will be more than 10 people in the presence of the mountain gorillas during the peak season.
However, when you trek gorillas in the low season, you can have the whole gorilla family to yourself. The most recommended low-season months include November, April, and May. During these months, there are high chances you will trek gorillas with not more than two people. On a lucky day, you can trek gorillas alone.
