A Budget-Friendly Guide to Gorilla Trekking Safari
A Budget-Friendly Guide to Gorilla Trekking Safari: One of the most exhilarating experiences that gives you the chance to see these huge, critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is gorilla trekking. The lush greenery of Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to these gentle giants. However, there are a few things to carefully consider while making plans for a low-cost gorilla trekking experience.
The Cost of Gorilla Trekking Permits
Besides studying a guide to budget gorilla trekking safari, Rwanda permits for gorilla trekking are twice as expensive as those in Uganda. This equates to a three-day gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, which includes lodging for two nights in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, transportation, meals, an English-speaking driver guide, a gorilla trekking permit, and lots of fun in the African sun. In Rwanda, gorilla permits cost US$ 1,500 per person. In Uganda, they cost US$ 800 per person for foreign non-residents and US$ 700 per person for foreign residents.
Ultimately, whether you decide to go on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or Uganda is entirely up to you, but with our experience, we will ensure that your travels are the most memorable experience possible and that trekkers leave with priceless memories. Additionally, the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which costs US$ 1,500 per person and is exclusive to the Rushaga section of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, allows visitors to spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas.
Peak season / low season
On a budget gorilla trekking safari, prices are always lower in the off-peak months during the months of March, April, May, October, and mid-November, particularly in the national parks of Uganda and Rwanda. When the weather is bad, most lodges and hotels lower their rates to get guests to their establishments. The term “low season” refers to a period of time when there is very little competition for engaging in adventurous tourism activities like gorilla trekking or other tourism-related activities in national parks. This is because there is a lot of rain during this time. Budget travellers can book these discounted rates since lodges lower their prices during this period, tour firms lower the cost of vehicle transportation, and park officials run promotional rates. Consequently, each of these components contributes to the lower cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and Uganda.
Advance Booking
During your budget gorilla trekking safari, booking your gorilla trekking trip in advance is advised for the sake of adequate planning. This primarily pertains to group travellers and allows us adequate time and space to haggle with our lodging providers, such as hotels or lodges. Additionally, there is less chance that there will not be adequate lodging or room for the events. Budget travellers benefit from this since, in contrast to individual travellers, they may choose to split the cost of the vehicle and transportation. Numerous reasonably priced cars are available for hire, catering to large groups of passengers.
Accommodation facilities
Numerous accommodations options are available for selection. There are three types of accommodations available: low-cost and basic, mid-range and high-end and luxurious. You should always be aware that Journeys Uganda has evaluated and tested the lodge or hotel facility before presenting it to you, our customers, to ensure you have the greatest possible time there. Despite what many people believe, the accommodations that Journeys Uganda refers to as cheap accommodations are everything but. However, despite their low hotel pricing and reasonable rates, these are decent facilities with good meals, comfy beds, and a helpful and pleasant staff for those on a budget. These lodgings are therefore essential for any safari that visits Uganda’s national parks with savannah animals as well as gorilla sites. To save money on the safari, guests can also alternate between comfortable, low-cost accommodations for one night and luxurious or mid-range accommodations for the remaining nights.
In order to attract customers, the lodges are compelled to provide discounted rates, which are always higher during the peak season and lower during the off-peak months. You can choose from a wide variety of affordable hotel options in each of the gorilla sectors of Bwindi Forest. Numerous lodges surrounding Lake Bunyonyi are located there, such as Bunyonyi Overland Camp, Crater Bay Cottages, Bushara Island, Bunyonyi Backpackers’ Hostel, and Rushaga, which is home to Nshongi campsite, Kisoro Traveler’s Rest Inn, and Gorilla Valley Lodge. The most popular ones are Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Wagtail, Eco Safari Camp in Buhoma Sector, and Broadbill Forest Camp in Ruhija Sector.
Best season to do gorilla trekking
Since there is limited number of visitors during the wet season, there is less traffic, which allows budget travellers and backpackers to get up close and personal with the enormous apes in the wild. While many visitors tend to avoid this season, budget travellers take advantage of it. The low season is characterised by heavy rainfall, which makes the gorilla woods muddy, slippery, and too wet for tourists to trek through to see the endangered monkeys in the wild. As a result, many travellers avoid this time of year. The fact that there is an abundance of food during this time for the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the wild makes it exciting for travellers to have the possibility of seeing them.
On your guide to a budget gorilla trekking safari, expect to see unique forest birds, golden monkeys, and wild chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, where over 1500 individuals are conserved alongside 12 different primate species, which will astound you as you enjoy your low-cost trekking safari. This makes Kibale Forest National Park a stopover in Queen Elizabeth National Park for equator photos or sightings of the tree-climbing lions at Ishasha sector.
Since a gorilla permit only costs US$800 per person, Uganda is the finest country for affordable gorilla trekking safaris. Additionally, Bwindi offers inexpensive lodging options; a $50 visa is issued upon arrival. Rwanda charges US$1,500 per person per day for gorilla permits, which is comparable to a three-day Uganda gorilla trekking safari. In comparison, this country is less expensive. The Democratic Republic of Congo, on the other hand, is a relatively new gorilla destination; nonetheless, a gorilla permit costs $400 USD per person and requires a $100 visa. There are pricey hotel options despite the low cost of the gorilla permit.