Planning for gorilla trekking from Arusha in Tanzania? Tanzania is located in East Africa and shares borders with Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. The country has many wildlife national parks, but you cannot see mountain gorillas in Tanzania. To see gorillas, you need to go to either Uganda or Rwanda.
Tourists who want to trek mountain gorillas from Arusha in Tanzania can fly to Entebbe International Airport from Kilimanjaro Airport in northern Tanzania. From Entebbe, they can take another flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, or fly from Kajjansi Airfield.
For budget travelers, it is possible to drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which takes about 9 to 10 hours. After the drive, you can trek gorillas the next day. Another option is to fly to Bwindi from Entebbe and then fly out of Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Tourists can also fly from Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania to Kigali and drive 4 to 5 hours to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, or continue on to Bwindi and Mgahinga parks in Uganda.
Booking your gorilla permit
Gorilla permits should be booked 3 to 5 months before your trekking date to avoid missing out. Rwanda has the most expensive gorilla permits at $1500 per person. Uganda’s gorilla permits cost $800 per person, and the Democratic Republic of Congo offers the cheapest permits at $400 per person.
The best time to go gorilla trekking is from June to September and from December to February. These months usually have little or no rain, and the vegetation is not too thick, which makes trekking easier. During the rainy season, the trails become very steep and slippery, although some lodges offer discounted rates at this time.
Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities for tourists visiting Africa. You can do it in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda.
