How to plan an affordable gorilla trekking trip in Uganda
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is one of the most sought after tourist activities that can be done in both countries, mountain gorillas do exist in the natural habitat of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park and in Mgahinga gorilla national park both parks located in southwestern Uganda sharing districts of Kisoro, Kabale, Kanungu and Rubanda, in Volcanoes National Park also known as “Parc Du Volcanoes” located in the Northern part of Rwanda and in Virunga National park in DR Congo.
What do you need to know when planning affordable gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or in DR-Congo?
While planning an affordable gorilla tour in Uganda, this tour is known to be expensive but there is a way one does not need to spend excessively, for those who don’t know all you need to do is to contact a local tour operator like us Kisoro Tours Uganda we will provide you with all advice and information you need to plan affordable gorilla trekking tour to Africa at free of charge.
There are three most important things you need to take keynote when planning affordable gorilla trekking in Uganda, number one is the gorilla permit price, the second one is car hire with a driver (transportations), thirdly accommodation with the meals, those are the three determinate when planning affordable gorilla tour as we are going to see in detail below.
How to save on gorilla trekking permit.
Mountain gorilla trekking in the whole world can only be done in three countries namely Uganda, Rwanda and DR-Congo remember each country has its own permit price which some travelers don’t notice and it’s the main fact that will influence the cost of gorilla trekking tour, for example currently Uganda gorilla permit cost USD700 per person for a day trek in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, while Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD1500 per person for a day trek in Volcanoes National Park, and in DR Congo gorilla permit costs $500 per person for a day trek in Virunga National Park but at the moment we are not recommending to anyone to go to Congo for gorilla trekking because of insecurity in Virunga region so its always advisable to first find out the security situation before you book Congo gorilla permit.
So is to say currently Uganda and Rwanda are the safe gorilla trekking destination in the world and when you compare the permit prices Rwanda’s permits price doubles Ugandan permits price making Uganda the most affordable gorilla trekking destination in the world remember trekking experience is the same in all gorilla trekking destinations, the only difference is in the permit prices, contact Kisoro Tours Uganda we are at your disposal for free information you may need as you planning affordable gorilla trekking tour to Africa.
Affordable gorilla habituation experience in Uganda
Uganda also introduced new activity called gorilla habituation experience which gives travelers a chance to spend up to 4 hours with an unhabituated mountain gorilla family that is under habituation process, you join a team of researchers and trekkers/ranger, gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 per person but I must say it is worth every pane.
Talking about planning an affordable gorilla tour in Uganda, Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, gorilla trekking is on the top of the list for every travel planning a safari to East Africa because mountain gorillas are one of the most incredible wildlife experiences in the world. Normal/Standard gorilla trekking experience gives opportunity to tourists to spend one full hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this possible they have been habituated and introduced to the human presence, this process that takes about 2 to 5 years un habituation process before the family is open for tourism.
Sample of some affordable gorilla habituation experience itineraries
3 Day Gorilla habituation experience safari
4 Days Uganda double gorilla habituation experience
5 Day Gorilla habituation and chimp habituation safari
For the travelers who wish to take a more adventurous activity with mountain gorillas in the protection and understanding of these gentle giants, Kisoro tours recommend that you book a habituation permit and you can join the researchers and experienced rangers and other professional conservationists in the habituation process which takes place only in Bwindi Forest-Rushaga sector, with habituation travelers are allowed to spend up to 4 hours with the gorillas, habituation process is very important for the continuity of the gorilla protection.
6 Days Uganda Chimpanzee and gorilla habituation experience
During the habituation experience, you see the gorillas which are wild, not used to humans they are just under habituation process while those who go for the standard/normal gorilla trekking see gorillas that are already habituated and used to human presence which means it is safer and you get a chance to run their behaviors and other social behaviors of wild mountain gorillas in its natural habitat.
How to Save on Accommodation when planning a gorilla trekking trip to Uganda.
Uganda has two main seasons of tourism which is dry/high season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, and January while the low season is in the months of February, March, April, May, and November so If you travel during low seasons of February, March, April, May, and November, you stand to benefit from Low season accommodation discounted rates offered by different lodges and Hotel to the local tour operators, for example, lodges which are found in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and in Mugahinga Gorilla National Park, they tend to give discounted rates/prices of about 10% if you book during low season months but during high season there is no discount so this means traveling in low season you stand a chance to save accommodation which makes your gorilla trip to Uganda more affordable.
For those who choose to travel to Uganda during high season, it is recommended to travel in a group which will help them reduce the costs, for example when traveling in the group you share a room which means 2 people pay for one room. When you share a room, it reduces the cost of accommodation making the tour affordable Accommodation ranges from budget, Mid-Range, and Luxury/upmarket in all different types of all national parks in Uganda, book with Kisoro tours we will give you value for your money contact we are always at your disposal for free advise you accordingly.
you can reach us at info@kisorotoursuganda.com for a free quote and other information you may need
