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Gorilla discovery is a safari tour and travel company based in Uganda, fully licensed to conduct safaris within Uganda and Rwanda. We offer several tours and safaris in Uganda including Gorilla Tours, wildlife adventures, mountaineering trips

Budget gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi

Budget gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi

Mountain gorillas are subspecies of the eastern gorillas, which are said to have more than 98% of the human DNA they share with human beings. They are the largest living primates living in the Virunga Conservation Area and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Tourists from across the world would love to meet these apes in their natural habitat.

Mountain gorillas being endangered and close relatives to human beings have left so many tourists wanting to visit them in their natural habitats. Because the government is working so hard to save these mountain gorillas, the gorilla permits are somehow expensive because a lot is needed to keep them safe in the jungles.

Even though gorilla trekking permits are expensive, tourists who are really interested in seeing these apes in their natural habitats can save up and manage to purchase the permits. The gorilla trekking permit will come with one hour around the mountain gorillas and this enables one to learn their habits and watch them carry out daily activities.

The gorilla trekking experience on a Bwindi budget safari

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park begins early in the morning with trekkers gathering at the park headquarters of different sectors first. All trekkers are taught the rules and regulations of trekking and grouped not exceeding 8 people. They are given armed ranger guides to lead them into the jungle where they search and locate the mountain gorillas.

Searching the mountain gorillas of Bwindi takes one through a number of trails and the trekkers have chances of spotting some of the wildlife species harboring in the park. The search for mountain gorillas in Bwindi takes 2 to 4 hours with the time taken depending on the nature of trails and the speed of the trekkers. After hours of searching, trekkers get to meet the mountain gorillas they have been looking for.

While around mountain gorillas for 1 hour, trekkers get an opportunity to learn about the gorilla habits. These apes are said to be close relatives to human beings with over 98% human DNA. Trekkers get to see the apes carrying out day to day activities such as feeding, breastfeeding, nesting, and hunting among others. Everyone is allowed to take photos, and record videos for future memories.

After gorilla trekking, trekkers move out of the jungle with more chances of spotting different wildlife species. Tourists meet their driver guides and move to the next destination or lodge. Gorilla trekking is a once in a lifetime experience every tourist would love to do if they had a chance to. Seeing these mountain gorillas in their natural habitats will be one of the things one will live to remember.

The cost of gorilla trekking permits of Bwindi

The gorilla trekking permit price never changes whether you are a budget traveler or a luxury traveler. Each permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, UGX300,000 citizens of East African Member states. Budget travelers intending to visit Bwindi are advised to book their gorilla trekking permits in advance of 3 to 4 months when they haven’t sold out, especially during the high season.

To book and secure a gorilla permit, you need to contact a licensed local tour operator since the Uganda Wildlife Authority cannot sell permits to direct clients. The company just needs to check for available and in case the permits are available you will be required to send money for your permits to be purchased. The best time to buy is 3 to 4 months in advance.

When is the right time to have budget gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi?

Budget tours in Bwindi can be done at any time of the year however there are those months that are better than others. The right time to go for budget tours in Bwindi is during the dry season months which happen from June to September and December to February. These months have got the best weather which is characterized by little rainfall and plenty of sunshine.

During the dry seasons, the trekking trails in the Bwindi forest are dry and easier to walk through which enables the trekkers to access the mountain gorillas on time. The vegetation is very short and scattered giving tourists a clear view of the mountain gorillas and other forest attractions. When the rain falls is little, the roads leading to the park are dry and easier to drive through which enables the tourists to access different places on time.

Tourists can still visit Bwindi during the rainy season from March to May and October to November if they are looking for discounted accommodation facilities. Tourists should however know that there is plenty of rainfall which makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall with unclear views of wildlife and the roads leading to the park are in poor condition.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for budget tours

Tourists can get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for budget tours using road transport which is the most affordable means of transport to the park. From Kigali, tourists can drive to Katuna or Kyanika borders and cross to Uganda the drive to any of the sectors of Bwindi where they are to carry out tracking. The journey from Rwanda takes just 3 to 4 hours where tourists pass through the beautiful rolling hills.

From Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park it takes 9 to 10 hours. The journey goes through Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, or Kisoro to the park. This long journey comes with a stopover along the way where tourists get to see different tourist attractions and lunch.