Luxury Gorilla Safaris

By Bujuku Eco Tours Uncategorized, Uganda gorilla trekking safaris 0 Comments

Luxury gorilla safaris offer complete immersion in the African jungle, with high hopes of witnessing a family of gorillas lazily relaxed in their natural habitat. Nothing awakens the travel spirit in a traveler like engaging in a gorilla trekking adventure. After long hours of winding through the jungles comes a moment that evokes emotions. Witnessing a group of mountain gorillas or lowland gorillas while immersed in the dense vegetation, and you are just a few meters away. Opportunities such as these are rare and only achievable when you book curated luxury gorilla safaris with Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel, a leader when it comes to upmarket/luxury gorilla trekking adventures in East Africa.

Allow us to walk you through a complete guide to planning successful luxury gorilla safaris and tours. In our guide to luxury gorilla safaris, expect to explore different customized luxury gorilla trekking tours, top destinations to experience an epic luxury gorilla safari, a packing list, gorilla permits, and other tips to guide you when preparing for your next adventure to see gorillas.

Best Luxury Gorilla Safaris and Tour Destinations to Visit

At Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel, we craft exceptional luxury safaris to iconic destinations that guarantee you captivating encounters with your favorite apes. To begin with, expect to explore destinations such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga in Southwestern Uganda. Exclusive high-end gorilla trekking tours are also offered in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Luxury Gorilla Safaris to Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers mesmerizing luxury gorilla trekking experiences, a great opportunity for you to immerse into the jungle to explore mountain gorillas. It is in Bwindi where the largest portion of the world’s remaining 1063 mountain gorilla population reside. The Park prides itself of 24 habituated groups for you to realize your dreams while on a luxury gorilla safari tour in Bwindi.

Available gorilla families to visit on a luxury gorilla trek in Bwindi include the Katwe group, Nshongi gorilla group, Bweza gorilla group, the Kyaguriro, the Binyindo, the Busingye, Rwigyi group, Mucunguzi gorilla group, Bushaho, Nkuringo gorilla group, Posho, Oruzogo mountain gorilla group, and Muyambi gorilla group.

Bwindi is Uganda’s leading destination when it comes to luxury gorilla trekking safaris. The Park is located in Southwestern Uganda and is a designated UNESCO Heritage Site since 1994. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park was primarily created in 1991 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas, and currently, about 50% of them reside in this Park alone.

Bwindi is also an ideal location to experience the best of a luxury gorilla habituation adventure. This is a unique safari activity and is offered in only Bwindi National Park, Rushaga sector. If you have a desire for gorilla habituation, be ready to embark on a journey to search for the semi-habituated group of gorillas in Rushaga, but with the lead of experienced trackers.

Luxury accommodation options to consider booking in and around Bwindi include Mahogany Springs, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, and Luxury Bwindi Lodge.

Luxury gorilla safaris in Mgahinga

Mgahinga luxury gorilla safaris typically focus on up close with the Nyakagezi gorilla group. The Nyakagezi family is currently the only group that has undergone habituation and is officially open for gorilla tourism. Gorilla treks in Mgahinga begin from Ntebeko, and this is where trekkers on a luxury gorilla tour can be briefed. The briefing is done, providing you highlight on the set of gorilla trekking regulations to be followed.

Beyond gorillas, Mgahinga is a magical place to find other unique attractions. The Park also holds the rare golden monkeys, buffalo, forest elephants, bushbucks, plus various birds species. The checklist of birds residing in Mgahinga comprises the Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turacos, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Archer’s robin-chat, and many more.

The luxury accommodation option to stay before/after interacting with Mgahinga gorillas includes Mount Gahinga Lodge. But visitors can also book the luxury gorilla safari lodges in the Rushaga or Nkuringo region, considering their proximity to Mgahinga National Park. Top luxury lodges near Mgahinga include Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, and many other options.

Luxury gorilla safaris in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a safe and ideal destination to explore on luxury gorilla safaris in Rwanda. Located in the Northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes is a high-end destination and home to a total of about 13 gorilla groups. The 160 sq. km Volcanoes National Park was officially declared as a Park in 1925 and stands out as one of the oldest Parks on the African continent.

Creation of Volcanoes in the Virunga region was purposely to provide refuge to the present endangered mountain gorillas. Today, the luxury gorilla safari goers can track gorilla groups such as Sabyinyo, Hirwa, Ugenda, Agashya, Umubano, Susa A, Amahoro group, Karisimbi gorilla group, Kwitonda group, and more.

Other than mountain gorillas, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park also provides refuge to wildlife such as black-fronted duikers, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, golden monkeys, bush pigs, forest elephants, plus a total of about 200 species of birds. The birds in Volcanoes mainly consist of avifaunal species such as papyrus gonoleks, blue-headed sunbirds, dusky crimsonwing, collared apalis, handsome francolin, and more.

The choice of luxury lodges in Volcanoes National Park is more compared to destinations like Mgahinga. As a high-end destination, here is a checklist of luxury accommodations to book for an overnight stay in and around Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri: One & Only Gorillas Nest, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, and more.

Luxury gorilla safaris in Congo (Virunga & Kahuzi-Biega)

Luxury gorilla trekking in Congo presents you with two options: first, to encounter mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park. The second option is to track the eastern lowland gorillas, and this is done in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Planning and booking luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo

Luxury gorilla safaris are easier planned and booked through a reliable tour operator such as Bujuku Eco Tours & Travel, a licensed company in Uganda. Book your luxury gorilla tour in advance to avoid last-minute stress –our team is set to assist you in all the steps necessary to achieve a successful luxury gorilla trekking adventure. Choose the right destination to enjoy your luxury gorilla trek putting into consideration safety.

Pack the essential gear, including long-sleeved shirts, trousers, a camera, a first aid kit or medical kit, a waterproof daypack, and a valid gorilla permit. Extra items to carry: bottled water, snacks to boost energy to enable you to enjoy a complete hike, long pants, extra batteries to enable you to take pictures the entire trek, a safari hat, sunscreen, and many more.

Know the right season to go track gorillas –the dry season is the most favorite time for you to experience the best of luxury gorilla trekking adventure. When planning a luxury gorilla safari, dry months to mark on the travel calendar extend from June- September or from December –February.

Booking the Luxury Gorilla Trekking Permits

It is a must to secure a valid permit even if you plan to travel for a luxury gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo. The price of permits costs the same, whereby in Uganda, you can still book it at USD 800 per person, in Rwanda, USD 1500 per visitor, and in case you want to cross to the DRC, permits are open for booking at USD 400. Please, have a permit booked in advance to secure a slot for yourself before the actual planned date to track gorillas.