What is the cheapest way to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda : Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities in Uganda that attracts big number of tourists and it involves moving on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks namely Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbours the highest number of mountain gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in south western part of Uganda. The cheapest way to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda is determined by various factors such as the length of the gorilla trekking safari, type of accommodation, transportation among others and this article will guide you on how to plan a cheap gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park starts early in the morning at around 8:00am with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to view other primate species, bird species, plant and tree species among others and once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviours, habits, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park cost 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is cheaper compared to a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park Rwanda which costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this time there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be done in the low or rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November because during this period there are few tourists in the parks therefore you will be able to explore the park with less crowds, booking of gorilla trekking permits will be easy and some lodges offer discounts as a way to attract visitors hence favouring budget travellers.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari
Another cheap way to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda is booking affordable accommodations where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. You can book budget or midrange accommodations such as Buhoma Haven Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bweza Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, CPTH Gorilla Conservation Camp, Bwindi View Bandas, Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Travellers Rest Hotel, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Bwindi Guest House among others.
How to get to the gorilla destinations in Uganda
The cheapest way to see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park is by using road transport means where tourists will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to the park headquarters which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive in a safari vehicle.
Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda where tourists will fly to Kigali international airport and the cross to Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park via cyanika border in Kisoro or Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Number of days for a gorilla trekking safari
Length of a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda also determines the price therefore travellers who wish to see the mountain gorillas at a low budget should consider booking a 3 days gorilla trekking safari where on the first day you will drive from Kampala/ Entebbe to Bwindi impenetrable national park, day two engage in gorilla trekking experience and day three transfer back to Kampala/ Entebbe. The other short gorilla trekking safari is a 2 day gorilla trekking safari from Kigali where on the first day, you will drive from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable national park via cyanika or katuna border and on the second day, engage in gorilla trekking and later transfer back to Kigali.
For more information about the cheapest way to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda, do not hesitate to contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for affordable gorilla trekking packages.
