Uganda, Congo and Rwanda are one of the best destinations in Africa and only three countries where you will find mountain gorillas in the whole world. When planning your budget gorilla safari, you need to first know which country that can fit your budget.
You need to know the costs that are standard, costs that cannot be negotiated but standard. This will help you to plan your best budget tour based on facts. You need to know the price permit for gorilla trekking safari within these three countries, Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. While you can negotiate on transport and accommodation, the price of a gorilla permit is the same for luxury and budget travelers.
A gorilla permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs $700 USD per person spending one hour with gorillas, while Gorilla Habituation Experience costs $1500 USD per person spending 4 hours with gorillas. Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1500 USD per person while Democratic Republic of Congo permit costs $400 USD per person.
Many people dream of trekking mountain gorillas, but think that it is too expensive in all countries, but our selection of medium range to budget safaris make it possible for anyone to explore the African landscape in search for wildlife. Watching animals behave in their natural habitat is the key focus on our African safaris.
To Budget travelers, Uganda and Congo are affordable than Rwanda when you compare in terms of gorilla permit thus giving advantage to Uganda and Congo over Rwanda.
The best option is to travel in a group and save money and it is easy when you travel in a group of 4 to 6 people or family which is manageable because the costs go down and also more fun.
When travelling in a group the price goes down and this is because you share the costs and most of the things like hotel or lodge prices, car fuel and many other things while on safari go down unlike when travelling alone.
For an excursion of a lifetime in a truly unique setting, try experiencing a gorilla safari in Uganda national parks. Uganda has many safaris on offer to suit any sort of budget. Get up close and personal with mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located south western part of Uganda.
Other places that provide an opportunity for gorilla trekking are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda as well as Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. So, before you decide to book a gorilla tour in Uganda, you need to convince yourself that you have made the right decision on where to trek these gorillas.
One may wonder why a budget gorilla Safari should be done in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks and no other places but the secret behind it is that these parks have a thick rain forest with a wide variety of tree species and gorillas are known to be vegetarians.
There is enough food for them in the park and this is the reason why some even migrate from Congo and Rwanda to this place. Though not in large numbers, gorillas of Mgahinga are easily seen in their natural habitats and this makes tracking easier compared to other parks.
Both Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed by road or Air. You can assess Mgahinga using services of fly Uganda or Aero link scheduled flights to Kisoro Airstrip.
The flight is about an hour or so from where you can then transfer by road to your accommodation facility. Kisoro Airstrip severs both Mgahinga and the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
On the other side the north and southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Buhoma and Ruhija respectively) can be assessed by air through Kihihi Airstrip followed by road transfers to respective lodges.
If driving from Kampala, you will pass through Mbarara, Kabale to Kisoro and then to Mgahinga National park, this is the same route used by those tracking in the southern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National park as well.
A world Heritage Site located South-western Uganda. Bwindi is a sanctuary for chimpanzees, at least 348 species of birds, 220 butterfly species but most famous for its mountain gorilla population, more than half of the world’s gorilla’s permanently live here. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is undoubtedly the best point in the entire world to enjoy the ultimate gorilla experience.
Gorilla tracking is a year-round activity. The rain-forest is moist, and it rains very often in Bwindi forest throughout the year. Tracking commences every morning from the park headquarters at 8:00am. There is a daily maximum of eight visitors to each gorilla group and each group is accompanied by a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack for you.
Your guide will then lead you along generally clear paths up into the forest, in radio communication with the trackers that stay with the group so that they can be located. The mountain gorillas cover large distances throughout the day and they rarely do stay in one area.
The guides will use their knowledge of the gorilla’s habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts. That is why the time taken to track the gorillas can vary greatly from half an hour to 8 hours before returning back to your lodge.
The terrain has steep trails covered in the dense vegetation that gives the park its name. Once the gorillas are located, the gorilla group will be allowed a maximum of only one hour as you observe and watch them carry out their daily activities.
Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo is another country where you can do a budget gorilla safari. Virunga National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas on the planet. The park was founded in 1925 by King Albert I of Belgium and originally known as Albert National Park.
Virunga was the first national park on the continent of Africa. The park was founded primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif that were controlled by the Belgian Congo.
Later, Virunga was expanded north to include the Rwindi Plains, Lake Edward, and the Rwenzori Mountains. In 1979 UNESCO designated the park as a World Heritage Site.
Trekking mountain gorillas in Virunga is an incredible place experience. The visitor groups are small versus Uganda and the rangers and trackers are able to get you in the best positions for photos and viewing throughout – answering all our questions in perfect English.
Porters are available for 10usd which is handy if you are carrying a camera. Packing – need to bring enough water and snacks for a walk of up to 3 hours each way.
Also recommend sturdy pants because some of the grass is sharp. Wet weather clothing a must, and suggest bringing a spare set of clothes for the return trip in the car.
