Combined Gorilla Trekking and Mundali Tribe Tours
Combining gorilla trekking with the Mundali tribe tours is one of the interesting safaris that combines the large powerful primates and the Mundali tribe. The gorilla trekking is done in both Uganda and Rwanda and the experience seems different. In Uganda, the gorilla is done in the south western Uganda and the national parks include;
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The park is located in southwestern Uganda at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the largest protected areas of the mountain gorillas. The park has several sectors that travelers on their safari can encounter to see mountain gorillas. The sectors where travelers can see mountain gorillas include Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. In this park, there are over 19 gorilla families. All these families are situated around the park. The tracked gorillas are first habituated for 2 years for them to get used to the presence of humans. In this park, travelers can engage in the gorilla habituation that is done in the Rushaga sector.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This park is within the Virunga region and at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park is home to several mountain gorillas that travelers on their safaris usually encounter. There is one habituated gorilla family that travelers on their Uganda safaris can encounter in this park. In this park also travelers encounter several Virunga ranges like Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhavura.
How much is a permit to see mountain gorillas in Uganda?
While planning to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, travelers are supposed to acquire a gorilla permit. This legal document is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Travelers to acquire the gorilla trekking permit are supposed to use licensed tour operators to book the gorilla trekking permits. These tour operators are the only ones who are supposed to purchase the gorilla trekking permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The gorilla permits in Uganda are limited in number due to some conservation restrictions where a group of 8 people are allowed to see the mountain gorilla family.
In Uganda, there are over 156 gorilla permits available each day for travelers to see the mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs about 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for the rest of Africa, and 300,000 UGX for East African residents. Travelers can also engage in the gorilla habituation to see mountain gorillas in Uganda. In this activity, travelers have more time with the mountain gorillas and it is done in the Bwindi impenetrable national park in the Rushaga sector.
The gorilla habituation permits in the park are about 12 in number and the cost of the gorilla trekking permit costs about 1500 USD for foreign nonresidents, 1000 USD for the rest of Africa and foreign residents, and 750000 UGX for East African residents.
Where to stay for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
While in Uganda for gorilla trekking, there are several accommodation facilities that travelers can stay in during the safari and some of these include; Rushaga Havens Lodge, Nkuringo Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Chameleon Lodge, Volcanoes Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Lodge, and many others.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
While in Rwanda for gorilla trekking, travelers track gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park which is in the northwest of Rwanda at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park is part of the Virunga region where there are several Virunga ranges in this park. There are about 12 habituated gorilla families in this park that travelers can track each day. A group of 8 people are supposed to track one gorilla family.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
In Rwanda for gorilla trekking, travelers are supposed to have a gorilla trekking permit. Travelers to acquire the gorilla trekking permit are supposed to use licensed tour operators who buy it directly from the Rwanda Development Board. The price of the gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is 1500 USD for the foreign nonresidents, 500 USD for the foreign residents and the rest of the African residents, and 200 USD for the East African residents.
Where to stay for gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda?
In Rwanda for gorilla trekking, there is a variety of accommodation facilities some of these include; Bisate Lodge, Volcano Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One & Only Lodge, and many others.
Mundali community
It is one of the indigenous communities that is found in the South Sudan. This community belongs to the Nilotic group which is an ethnic group that lives near the river Nile. Mundali are predominantly known for rearing cattle living in the Terekeka county near the river Nile. In this, they experience the semi-arid climate. They don’t practice any cultivation and they majorly feed on the cattle products. They also feed on fish since they are near the river Nile. These people scout and shower their urine and this helps them to treat the infections and clean around them.
Sample itinerary that combines gorilla trekking and Mundali tribe tour in South Sudan
5 days of Uganda gorilla trekking and Mundali of South Sudan.
We are pleased to introduce you to the 5 days Uganda gorilla trekking and Mundali of South Sudan tour where in this safari, there will be a combination of the gorilla trekking and the cultural community of the Mundali in Terekeka in South Sudan.
Encounter with the gorillas will be engaged in the Bwindi impenetrable national park in southwestern Uganda where you will track a habituated gorilla family.
Summary of the safari
- Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking and community visit
- Day 3: Transfer to Kampala for a flight to Juba.
- Day 4: Visit the Mundali in the Terekeka county.
- Day 5: Transfer to Juba.
Details of the safari
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to the Bwindi impenetrable national park
On day 1 of the 5 days of Uganda gorilla trekking and Mundali of South Sudan, you will be transferred from the Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. You will take about 7 to 8 hours of the day to reach the park. On arrival in the park, you will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Lunch, dinner.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and community visit.
You will engage in the gorilla trekking during day 2 of the 5 days of Uganda gorilla trekking and Mundali of South Sudan where you will start with the briefing at the park headquarters. In the briefing, you will be highlighted the dos and don’ts about the gorilla trekking. Later on, you will go ahead with the activity which will take about 2 to 7 hours of the day. After tracking the gorillas, you will visit the Batwa community that is within the park where you will learn more about them.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3: Transfer to Kampala for a flight to Juba
During day 3, you will start over with the morning breakfast and then go ahead with the transfer to Kampala. In the transfer, you will make a stopover at the equator for lunch and then continue with the transfer. As arrive in Kampala, you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flights to South Sudan. On arrival in South Sudan, you will be transferred to Juba for your accommodation plus dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4: Visit the Mundali in the Terekeka county
While in Juba, you will start over with the transfer to Terekeka County which is about 53 miles away from Juba. This county is considered to be the capital city of the Mundali. On arrival in the county, you will immerse yourself into the community of the Mundali where you will engage in activities like cultural dances, storytelling, milking, and many others. While in this community, you will camp there for your overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to Juba
On the last day of the safari, you will rise early morning and engage with the herdsmen where you will see how cow blowing is done, milking, and treating the insects of the cattle. Later on, you will proceed with the transfer to Juba. On arrival in Juba, you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flights. This will be the end of our combined gorilla trekking and Mundali tribe tour.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
