Budget Gorilla Trekking: How to Plan A Uganda Budget Gorilla Trek
No safari to Uganda is complete without mountain gorilla trekking, and if you are determined to do a 3-day/2-night trip in this country, we can recommend a budget gorilla trekking safari. The country’s two flagship safari destinations- Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks offer the quintessential gorilla safari experience.
In these two National Parks, you will find a combined 20 gorilla groups (19 in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga), and if you dreamed of coming face to face with these Giant Apes, these are the two best places to make this dream come true. Gorilla trekking is physically demanding and has a minimum age limit (15 years), thus enough preparation is required to make this happen. No matter how you feel unlucky, there’s no way you will get out of the forest without coming across and spending the allotted one hour with the Giant Apes, owing to the fact that trackers first follow mountain gorilla trails based on their previous night’s nests. Bwindi and Mgahinga are the kinds of places where any primate lover can embark on a lifelong addiction to the African jungle, especially meeting face-to-face with the Giant Apes to learn about their human-like behavior and day-to-day activities.
Gorilla Trek Uganda
Regardless of how exciting gorilla trekking is and how many visitors wish to meet face-to-face with the adorable creatures (that are only found in three countries), most of them frown or get puzzled after hearing the price of gorilla permits alone- $700 per person for foreign non-residents, $600 per person for foreign residents, and Shs. 250,000 for East African community residents. However, there are several ways of how you can trek Uganda mountain gorillas on a budget, and we shall show you how;
Going for Gorilla Trekking in the low season
While trekking mountain gorillas during the Low season won’t guarantee getting discounted gorilla permits, at least you are sure of one thing- lower accommodation prices, in addition to fewer visitors. This means you will have a more peaceful, intimate, and enjoyable gorilla trekking experience. The months of March, April, May, October, and November are generally the low season for gorilla safaris and other activities in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, owing to the fact that vegetation cover becomes denser and forest trails muddy and slippery due to heavy rains which make it more challenging to trek the Giant Apes.
Staying in budget/cheaper accommodation facilities
Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable, and most especially the latter has no shortage of budget/more affordable and comfortable accommodation choices for visitors interested in trekking the Giant Apes in their natural habitats. Some of these places include Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Karungi Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Broadbill Forest Camp, Bwindi Guesthouse, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, and Bakiga Lodge among others. The accommodation you choose will depend on the sector you are trekking the mountain gorillas from.
Consider using public transportation
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
The Towns near Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks boast well-maintained tarred roads and many scheduled bus services from Kampala. It is undeniable that public transport is way cheaper but you will be forgoing your freedom to drive at your own pace and comfort since you will be sharing seats with total strangers. Bus Companies like Bismarkan, Link, Horizon, and Jaguar Coaches operate daily services from Kampala and charge anywhere between $15 and $20 per person for one-way journeys. Since you have no control over these Bus services, expect longer journeys than when hiring a vehicle for your trip.
Book your Gorilla Safari in advance
Many visitors don’t know that one of the secrets to saving money on their next Uganda gorilla safari is by booking the trip, especially accommodation in advance. In so doing, you will have enough time to compare different options and get the perfect deals that suit your gorilla safari budget