Month: February 2024

Scenic at Spotlight Travel Expo 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania was a resounding success! We were thrilled by the turnout and inspired by the palpable excitement for the year ahead. It was incredibly motivating to see such a strong commitment we tied with you during the show and we promised to set the bar high.

Our team’s only focus was to our guests, so we ensure that every preference was securely and privately kept on record with dedicated personal consultant – an individual who will always be available for our guests, 24/7/365.

We also assured our travel partners and agents that their guests will move around the gorilla region with all of the favorite comfort as his companion, without ever having to ask. We’ll also surprise and delight them along the way… beyond exclusive amenities they can anticipate recognition of special occasions and more than a few “just because we love you” moments.

Through sharing our goals making this journey even more meaningful and shaping the tourism in the gorilla region. Here’s to creating more unforgettable moments together in 2024!

Services & Experiences shared – Scenic at Spotlight Travel Expo.

In planning your client’s holiday to Rwanda & Uganda, let your imagination and adventurous side run wild, with our offering to your travelers:

• Helicopter and Fly-in safaris
• Gorilla Expeditions Rwanda & Uganda
• Chimpanzee Encounters & Experiences
• Luxury and Exclusive safaris
• Primate and Savannah safaris
• Group and Family safaris
• Walking and Trekking safaris
• Eco and Community safaris

A successful day at Spotlight Expo at Gran Melia Hotel Arusha along with a very lively networking event. Thank you to everyone who stopped by at our stand to know our offers, service and about us.

Early visitors received a USB Flash Drive which had a lot of information concerning the two destinations Rwanda & Uganda “Gorilla Region” like Most popular gorilla packages in Rwanda & Uganda, Low season rates, updated presentation for both countries, gorilla & chimpanzee video experience and among others.

Spotlight Travel Expo is East Africa’s most vibrant gathering indoor B2B show of East African & African travel brands, the finest buyers. With a shared mission to transform and rebrand African travel for the global luxury market, the Spotlight Travel Expo tribe celebrate the continent’s diversity, unsurpassed beauty and incredible opportunity.

About us in brief.

Scenic Luxury Vacation is a boutique luxury Safari company based in Uganda & Rwanda (both countries we have offices) that specializes in providing the ultimate authentic safari experience in Uganda & Rwanda at the highest level of bespoke service to discerning travelers.

We connect clients with one-of-a-kind experiences that add to their daily lifestyle. No detail is overlooked. Every component is carefully executed. The experiences we offer our clients are custom tailored to reflect their personalities. From the big task to the smallest of details, we put you front and center. Scenic Luxury Vacation delivers exceptional experiences for exceptional individuals. No questions asked. Nothing held back.

Gorilla permit fees increased in Uganda as the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) announced recently. UWA announced an increase in permit fees for gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, effective July 1, 2024. For foreign non-resident visitors, the trekking permit fee will increase from $700 to $800.

UWA has undertaken a comprehensive review of the conservation tariff which has seen changes in the pricing of some park activities.

“The primary objective of this review was to ensure that our pricing structure remains not only fair and competitive but also reflective of the current market dynamics and the diverse perspectives and insights shared during our consultation sessions.”

CHANGES IN GORILLA & CHIMPANZEE FEES EFFECTIVELY JULY 2024 TO JUNE 2026

GORILLA TRACKING & HABITUATION EXPERIENCE
Activity	National Park	Foreign Non – Residents (FNR)	Foreign Residents (FR)	Rest of Africa	East African Community citizen (EAC)
Gorilla Tracking	Bwindi & Mgahinga	$ 800	$ 700	$ 500	UGX 300,000
Gorilla Habituation	Bwindi National Park	$ 1500	$ 1000	$ 1000	UGX 750,000

 

Chimpanzee TRACKING & HABITUATION EXPERIENCE
Activity	National Park	Foreign Non – Residents (FNR)	Foreign Residents (FR)	Rest of Africa	East African Community citizen (EAC)
Chimpanzee Tracking	Kibale National Park	$ 250	$ 200	$ 200	Ugx 180,000
Chimpanzee Habituation	Kibale National Park	$ 300	$ 250	$ 250	Ugx 250,000

The fee increase will allow UWA to continue protecting and conserving mountain gorilla populations in Uganda. Mountain gorillas remain critically endangered, so supporting ongoing conservation efforts in Uganda is crucial to the long-term survival of these incredible animals. The revised fee gorilla permit fees increased in Uganda will provide essential funds for park operations, law enforcement activities, community projects, and health monitoring of gorilla groups habituated for tourism.

Destinations for gorilla trekking where gorilla permits fees have been increased

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the more popular option, with about 20 fully habituated gorilla families but only 19 are open for trekking while one is reserved for gorilla habituation and research purposes. These trekkable gorilla families are found in four different trekking regions/sectors. They include; Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mukiza, Nshongi, Kahungye, Muyambi, Busingye, Kutu, Rwigi, Bikingi, Mishaya, Mucunguzi, Bweza, Christmas, Nkuringo and Bushaho.

For Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, only one gorilla family has been habituated for trekking and this is called ‘Nyakagezi’, known for foraging on the lower slopes of Virunga Volcanoes thus making it easier to trek than most travellers actually believe.

Permits for enjoying this outstanding signature experience cost only US $800 for foreign non-resident travellers, $700 for the foreign resident travellers and UGX 300,000 for East African resident travellers. You can contact us to book for your gorilla tracking permits.

Mountain gorillas are one of the most interesting wildlife species in Africa, with many visitors having them on their bucket list but know little or nothing about them. Would you like to learn more about the mountain gorilla? Simply delve into this article for more exciting facts about them;

Scientifically known as “Gorilla Beringei Beringei”, the mountain gorillas are a sub-species of the Eastern gorilla. These Great Apes are categorized as “endangered” under the IUCN Red List and their World Population currently stands at about 1,063 individuals (according to the last Mountain Gorilla Census in 2018).

Mountain gorilla populations are distributed in two geographical locations, with a bit more than half being in the Virunga Mountains (a spectacular range of extinct mountains that stretch across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda). The other population of these Giant Apes lives in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. Like their name, these primates occupy forests that are high in the mountains at altitudes of 2500 to 4000 meters above sea level.

Mountain gorillas are characterized by thicker fur (compared to other gorilla sub-species), and this is a special adaptation to live in their cold natural habitats high in the mountains. The longer and thicker fur makes it possible for them to survive in these areas where temperatures drop below freezing. However, as human encroachment into their natural habitat keeps getting worse, these Great Apes have been pushed deeper and deeper into the mountains for a long period hence making them to endure harsh and life-threatening conditions.

Physically, these Great Apes are four to five and a half feet tall when standing on two feet. A matured male mountain gorilla is between 265 and 420 pounds while a mature female mountain gorilla is between 154 and 216 pounds. This makes them smaller than their counterparts (the eastern lowland gorillas) in the same species. Besides weight, do you know another way to differentiate between adult females and males? The latter have more pronounced bony crests on the top and back of their skulls thus giving their heads a more conical shape. This doesn’t mean that females don’t have the crests. The only difference is that theirs are less pronounced.

Regardless of their weight, mountain gorillas are generally gentle and shy (not as aggressive as they are usually portrayed). However, cases of aggression are exhibited when two gorilla families encounter each other, sometimes resulting in two silverbacks engaging in fights with their canines thus causing deep and life-threatening injuries.

More interesting facts about the mountain gorilla

These Great Apes are primarily terrestrial and quadrupedal, although they sometimes climb fruiting trees, on the condition that the branches can handle their weight. These primates like most Great Apes (except humans of course) have longer arms and move by knuckle-walking.

Being diurnal, mountain gorillas spend the largest part of their day foraging on huge quantities of vegetation to sustain their heavy weight. They start eating early in the morning, take time to rest during late morning and about midday, then continue eating in the afternoon until evening when they retire for the day. It is a norm for every gorilla in the family to build a nest by collecting vegetation from the surroundings to sleep in, and a new one has to be built every evening. The only individuals that share nests are infants who sleep in the same nests as their mothers.

These Great Apes are social creatures that live in relatively stable and strong groups (known as families) that have strong bonds between adult females (silverbacks) and adult females. Being non-territorial, the dominant male must defend his family instead of an entire territory. The average tenure of the dominant male is 4.5 years, after which another male takes over the leadership of the family. It will interest you to know that more than 50% of gorilla families have one adult male and several females, and other members include blackbacks, juveniles, and infants.  Mountain gorilla families usually have 5 to 30 members, although the average number is 10 individuals.

These herbivorous Giant Apes mainly feed on leaves, stems, and shoots of at least 142 plant species, in addition to barks, fruits, flowers, and small invertebrates. In a single day, an adult male mountain gorilla can consume up to 19 kilograms of food while females about 15 kilograms of vegetation each day.

Interestingly, mountain gorillas are closely related to humans because they share 98.2% of their DNA with mankind. This means that the exposure of these Giant Apes to human diseases especially colds, coughs, flu, measles, and even Tuberculosis can be very detrimental to their health and existence thus great efforts are required to protect them.

Mountain gorillas have over 16 kinds of calls/vocalization which include short barks that are used when alarmed or curious, roars, or hoots to intimidate their rivals. Adult males also beat their chests and strut with stiff legs to scare away their enemies.

 

 

For many visitors, the cost of undertaking a gorilla safari may seem pretty extortionate,  but here we show you how to enjoy the same gorilla trekking on a budget. Many dream of a gorilla trekking experience, spending time watching these Giant Apes exhibit interesting human-like behavior while playing, foraging, resting, nursing infants, or grooming each other, but end up staying put because of the high costs involved.

Few wildlife experiences can match up to the joy is watching a baby gorilla jump on tree branches or seeing a silverback trying to be affectionate and care for an infant. Regardless of the cost of a gorilla safari (which is undeniably high), you can surprisingly still afford the experience without having to break the bank, if you commit yourself to a detailed well-planned budget. Some things won’t change (for instance the price of gorilla permits which is standard at $1500 per person in Rwanda) but our article articulates simple tips on how to go gorilla trekking on a budget.

Going on a Group Gorilla Safari

We understand you might be interested in going on a gorilla trekking safari solo but this won’t make your dream of trekking on a budget possible.

By joining a group during a Gorilla safari, you will share costs on many things- accommodation, vehicle hire, fuel, and even meals. Adopted by many travelers on a budget, going on a group gorilla safari not only saves costs but also makes it possible for visitors to share their experiences with travel mates from cultural backgrounds. However, joining a group comes with several challenges like having to take turns to enjoy window-seat views, and having to keep up with the group.

Going for the gorilla safari outside peak months

Another tested and proven way to go gorilla trekking on a budget is by choosing off-season (March to May, October to early December). When you travel to Rwanda out of season, there are high chances of cutting costs. Surprisingly, many travelers believe gorilla treks in the rainy/wet months are hindered, which is not right. Yes, precipitation levels indeed increase during these months but it never showers all day instead, rains are experienced in the night. Also, let us burst your bubble by saying showers in Volcanoes National Park can be experienced at any time of the year (regardless of season), due to the altitude of the area.

Nonetheless, the advantage of traveling during the low season is that accommodation rates are usually cheaper for many Lodges around Volcanoes National Park. Additionally, there are lesser crowds during these months, which enhances your gorilla safari experience.

Book affordable accommodation facilities

We always tell visitors that you don’t need to stay in luxurious accommodations to have your maximum gorilla trekking experience. For this reason, opt for the affordable Safari Lodges because it will drastically cut down on your overall expenses. There are many great budget and midrange accommodations around Volcanoes National Park with clean private facilities and amenities that you can stay in. For this reason, you can find several fantastic hidden gems by talking to an expert who knows several lesser-known places that surprisingly carry huge price tags.

Book in advance/Plan ahead

Making a reservation for your gorilla safari is undeniably both time and cost-saving. While flight schedules are normally available several days in advance with direct flights into Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, booking your gorilla safari at least 6 months to one year early will help you take advantage of discounted fares in addition to reducing costs for accommodation and logistics.

Booking in advance is also a wonderful opportunity for capitalizing on promos as well as seasonal discounts that are offered by some Tour Operators while booking. You will also be able to book the right/appropriate safari vehicle that fits your budget when you book in advance.

Booking your Gorilla Safari with a local Tour Operator

Many travelers don’t know this but booking your gorilla safari with a tour operator is way cheaper than online booking platforms such as Safari Bookings and Viator which charge commission for a typical Rwanda gorilla safari. Much as hot deals are offered by these online platforms, you have higher chances of enjoying better deals when booking directly through a ground Tour Operator. However, not every Tour Operator is genuine thus always choose credible/reliable Companies by checking reviews from past clients.