Gorilla fly-in safaris involve flying in or using air transport to get to either Maghinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the only National Parks where Mountain Gorillas are found in Uganda. Gorilla fly-in safaris normally or mostly start from Entebbe Airport and end at the nearest airstrip to either Maghinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. From there, pick-up cars are always there waiting for you to transfer you to either your lodge or to the park.
What to consider when doing a gorilla fly-in safari to Uganda?
There are specific things that you should consider when planning to do or doing a gorilla fly-in safari in Uganda. Some of these things include,
Faster accesses
For tourists who are very cautious with time keeping and hate sitting in one place for a long time, or hate long journeys, gorilla fly-in safaris would be the best option for you. Compared to road transport, you will have to spend hours on the road while in transit.
More time for other activities
Gorilla fly-in safaris allow or give tourists more time for doing other tourism activities since they save time, and this creates some free time for some more tourist activities that can be done while they wait for mountain gorilla trekking. Some of the activities that you can opt to do include birding, canoeing, community visits, and cultural villages, to mention a few.
Convenience
When it comes to flights or air transport, every day flights are scheduled, so you will be able to move on any day that you wish to fly.
What to expect on a gorilla fly-in safari in Uganda?
There are so many things that you should be looking up when going on a gorilla fly-in safari in Uganda. And some of them are as follows,
On arrival at the national park, depending on the time of arrival, you will either do a tourist activity, if you arrive early, but if you arrive later in the day, but if you will arrive pretty late, you will head straight to your lodge to refresh and get some sleep in preparation for the gorilla trekking activity which is most times done on the following day.
Mountain gorilla trekking starts early in the morning every day and always begins with a briefing at the park headquarters. During the briefing, tourists or visitors are always given rules and regulations, or guidelines for gorilla trekking. They are divided into different groups of not more than 8 people, given a head guide, game rangers, and trekking trails leading to different gorilla families. Mountain gorilla trekking activity takes approximately 30 minutes to 8 hours of searching or looking for mountain gorillas I their natural habitat. The trekking or searching period is determined mainly by two factors, which are the trekking or walking pace of the trekkers or tourists and where the mountain gorillas are located. When a family of mountain gorillas is found, the tourists or visitors are given no more than an hour to spend in the presence of these gentle giants and watch them at a safe distance. In case you want to spend more than an hour in the presence, you would opt to pay for mountain gorilla habituation, where you get to search for and spend more time with the mountain gorillas.
What to put in consideration if you want to have a gorilla fly on safari
There are certain things you should take into consideration when opting for or planning a gorilla fly-in safari. Some of these things include,
Physical fitness
Mountain gorilla trekking activity involves or requires one to be physically fit, so it is very important to be in good shape and be able to take on any challenges that come your way. But worry not also the disabled and the elderly can also do mountain gorilla trekking.
Payments for permits
When it comes to payments, it will be better if you pay approximately 2-3 months early, so that early preparations are made, and there is no room left for inconveniences. Mountain gorilla trekking costs approximately 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents 300,000UGX for East African citizens. This price is for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Maghinga National Park for mountain gorilla trekking activity. The price or costs for mountain gorilla habituation, where you get to spend more than 1 hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas, for foreign non-residents it is approximately 15,000 USD, for foreign residents, it is about 1,000 USD, and for East African citizens, it costs about 750,000 UGX
Guides and trackers
As a tourist, it will be better if you follow the guidelines of the tour guides and trackers who are well-experienced for your safety and a successful trekking activity.
Respect the gorillas
You should always respect the gorillas by keeping a distance from them without looking them directly in the eyes because this gesture may trigger them into becoming aggressive, thinking you’re attacking them.
What are the airstrips that are near the gorilla destinations ?
In considering a Uganda gorilla fly safari , there are 2 airstrips that you can consider for where to do the gorilla trekking from. These airstrips include ;
Kisoro airstrip
This airstrip is situated within the Kisoro town, which is near the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the southern part of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park . The southern Part of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park includes sectors like Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Kihihi airstrip
Kihihi airstrip is situated in the northern part of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable, you can access sectors like Buhoma and Ruhija for gorilla trekking.
What is the best time for doing a gorilla fly-in safari?
The best time for a gorilla fly-in safari is during the dry season of the year. This is the best time because the weather conditions not only favor the outdoor gorilla trekking activity but also favors the aircraft to fly you around. During the dry season of the year, the trekking trails also tend to be more accessible than during the wet season, when they can be muddy and slippery.
In conclusion, gorilla fly in safaris are very interesting and a perfect way to escape and forget about all your worries while blending with nature in the fastest and most luxurious way ever.