Safari journal

Everything here is written by the people who run the trips. Guides, drivers and planners who were in the park last week. We publish when there is something worth saying, which means fewer articles than a content calendar would produce and none of them written to fill a slot.

Most of it answers what guests actually ask us. When gorilla permits go on sale. What the Mara looks like in April. Whether a six year old will cope with a long day in a vehicle.

A ranger leading trekkers into the forest

8 June 20268 minute read

What actually happens on a gorilla trek, hour by hour

In Uganda you report to a park entry point for a briefing, track from 8:00am with UWA guides, walk anywhere from two to seven hours, then get a strict maximum of one hour with the gorillas in a group of no more than eight. Here is the whole day, in order.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

The forested ridges of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

6 June 20267 minute read

The four sectors of Bwindi, and which one to trek from

No Bwindi sector is officially "best". Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo are UWA's four designated entry points, the permit costs the same at all four, and UWA's brochure count puts most habituated groups at the two southern trailheads. Choose on groups, terrain and route.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

4 June 20267 minute read

Nyungwe Forest: the canopy walk, the chimpanzees and the fees

The Nyungwe canopy walk costs USD 40 per international visitor, guide included, in groups of two to eight. Park entry is charged separately on top — and it is a cumulative total for your stay, not a nightly rate. Chimpanzee tracking is a separate USD 150 permit.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

A young mountain gorilla with its family group

2 June 20267 minute read

The gorilla trekking age limit, and what to do if your child is younger

The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, in Uganda and Rwanda alike. It is a permit condition set by UWA and RDB, not a guide's call on the day. Uganda's chimpanzee minimum is unsettled: the 2024 UWA guidelines say 12, UWA's Kibale page says 16. If your child is under age, here is how to plan.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

A telephoto lens trained on distant wildlife

20 May 20266 minute read

Safari wildlife photography: the kit list that actually matters

Two bodies, a 100 to 400 mm zoom, a fast standard zoom, a beanbag and more cards than you think. Everything else is optional, and the tripod stays at home.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

6 May 20266 minute read

How much does an East African safari really cost?

A realistic mid-range safari runs from roughly 350 to 600 US dollars per person per day, before international flights. Gorilla permits sit on top of that at 800 or 1,500 dollars.

By Nuwagaba Michael

A road through the East African countryside

22 April 20267 minute read

Which vaccinations do you need for East Africa?

Yellow fever is the one with a legal requirement attached. Everything else is medical advice from a travel clinic, ideally six to eight weeks before you fly.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

A family watching wildlife from a vehicle

8 April 20266 minute read

Is a safari safe for children?

Yes, with the right pacing, malaria precautions and camp rules. The binding constraints are the minimum ages: 15 for gorillas, 12 for chimpanzees in Uganda.

By The Mnyansio safari desk

Open conservancy grassland in the greater Mara

25 March 20266 minute read

Masai Mara reserve or a private conservancy: which should you book?

The reserve has the river crossings and lower nightly rates. The conservancies cap vehicles at a sighting and allow night drives and walking. For most travellers, the answer is one of each.

By Nuwagaba Michael

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More from the journal

What actually happens on a gorilla trek, hour by hour

The four sectors of Bwindi, and which one to trek from

Nyungwe Forest: the canopy walk, the chimpanzees and the fees

The gorilla trekking age limit, and what to do if your child is younger

Safari wildlife photography: the kit list that actually matters

How much does an East African safari really cost?

Which vaccinations do you need for East Africa?

Is a safari safe for children?

Masai Mara reserve or a private conservancy: which should you book?

Reading this because you are actually going