Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda
Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda: Uganda, the pearl of Africa, is one of the few destinations in Africa endowed with the magical mountain gorillas, a top destination that supports affordable gorilla trekking tours in its two gorilla parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Unlike Rwanda, whose gorilla trekking activity is a little higher at $1500, almost twice that of Uganda at $800, gorilla trekking tours in Uganda are more affordable to travellers with little money.
Affordable gorilla trekking tours in Uganda take place in only these two destinations; however, Bwindi is arguably the most visited park due to its gorilla population. Bwindi alone is home to over 459 mountain gorillas, which is more than half of the remaining mountain gorilla population in the world, spanning the four sectors of Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Rushaga.
Local tour operators such as Nakra Safaris craft affordable gorilla trekking tours in Uganda for travellers planning to trek mountain gorillas on a low budget. Most of the tour agencies organise this by booking ordinary gorilla trekking permits, budget accommodation, and cheaper or affordable means of transport.
Travelers can also book gorilla trekking tours independently, but the best alternative is to book through a tour operator. Nakra Safaris is one of the tour operators that assist visitors on a budget to organise their affordable gorilla trekking tours. Here, what you need to do as a traveler is to email us with your travel dates, budget, and activities to engage in on your affordable gorilla trekking safari. These specific dates will help us check for availability, and we will verify the trekking permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the permit-issuing body.
Booking Gorilla Permits Directly from Uganda’s Wildlife Authority
Budget travelers can also book gorilla trekking permits directly from the issuing government body, the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This means that visitors can collect them from Uganda Wildlife offices on their way to the tracking destinations during their safari. In order to organise your booking with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, there is a need to first find out your travel dates, month, and year; after that, send your email to the reservation office for clarification. Don’t forget to send your travel details when sending an email, including the travel dates, month, and year. This will definitely help you to check and confirm the availability of the gorilla trekking permits. Once availability is confirmed, an email with banking details to send money will be sent to you. After you send the scanned copy as proof of payment, your permit will be set for booking.
Through Using a Local Tour Operator
Local tour operators can assist in organising affordable trekking tours for visitors to both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks by securing gorilla trekking permits. Nakra Safaris is one of the reliable local tour operators capable of arranging and preserving gorilla permits for Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks. Once you choose Nakra Safaris to book your trekking gorilla permit, all you need to do is send us your travel dates, month, and year via email so that this information can guide us to verify the availability of the gorilla permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Once the availability of the trekking permits is approved, you will receive an email with the banking details, and you will select the easiest mode of payment. After you send the money, send us a scanned copy of your receipt, which will be forwarded to the Uganda Wildlife Authority to reserve your permits. What to note is that travelers on a budget should reserve gorilla permits at least 4-5 months in advance.
Prices of Gorilla Trekking Permits for Budget Travelers.
A gorilla permit is a must-present requirement for all budget travelers to allow them access to mountain gorillas in any of Uganda’s gorilla parks. Non-foreign residents pay a fee of $800, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. This cost caters to the entrance fee, community development fee, and ranger guide fee. During the high peak season, travelers, especially those on a budget, should book their permits at least 4-5 months in advance to avoid last-minute disappointment.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Trekking mountain gorillas in the misty jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park is a unique and sustainable wildlife adventure that offers visitors an opportunity to have a close encounter with mountain gorillas in their natural setting. Bwindi’s four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga are all home to the endangered mountain gorillas, which is the reason for their popularity. Additionally, one semi-habituated gorilla family is set aside for gorilla habituation in the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi, and the 22 gorilla families are all open for gorilla trekking.
What to Pack for Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours in Bwindi and Mgahinga?
Essential items to pack during your gorilla trekking tours include a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, energy-boosting snacks, waterproof shoes, long-sleeved shirts, a brimmed hat, a camera, extra batteries, gardening gloves, long cotton socks, long-sleeved pants, a face mask, hiking shoes, and a waterproof jacket, among others.
What is the Best Time to do Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours in Uganda?
Budget gorilla trekking tours in Uganda’s gorilla parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga can be done all year round, although some months are better than others. Unlike the dry season, the rainy season is the best time to have affordable gorilla trekking tours in these gorilla parks because during these months, lodges offer huge discounts in almost all the sectors of the park. During the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, there is torrential rainfall, which makes the roads connecting to the park muddy and slippery; the vegetation cover tends to be thick and tall, which obscures the views for wildlife, especially primates such as gorillas and bird species.
However, budget travelers still have a chance to visit Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. In the dry season, these gorilla parks receive little rainfall, and trekking trails are dry with thin and trimmed vegetation, along with clear views of wildlife such as gorillas and other park animals. The roads connecting to the park are always dry, and this makes them easily accessible.
Cheap Accommodation in Uganda’s Gorilla Parks
Bwindi has several accommodation options for budget travelers in almost all sectors of the park, and these include Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Forest Camp, Ruhija Safari Lodge, Nshongi Campsite, Broadbill Forest Camp, and Ride 4 a Woman, among others. On the other hand, Mgahinga National Park has Amajambere Safari Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, and others.
