Budget Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
With two gorilla trekking destinations, Uganda is the best place to see mountain gorillas in the world. Crowned the “Pearl of Africa” by Churchill Winston, Uganda is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas thriving in the rainforests of South western Uganda.
Uganda has 21 habituated gorilla families thus offering an incredible gorilla trekking experience. For budget gorilla trekking in Uganda, here are important tips to follow.
Choose the right season to go on a gorilla trekking in Uganda
Choosing the best time to go for budget gorilla trekking in Uganda is crucial, since you are looking for a budget trekking, it is not advisable to travel to Uganda in the high or peak season but the low season.
Low season in Uganda begins in the months of March, April, May and mid-October up to the end of November. This season is characterized by low visitor traffic in the destinations since these months receive heavy rains, and many travelers do not like traveling during this season. Therefore, one stands a chance of gorilla trekking in Uganda on a budget as tour packages and accommodations are discounted as a way of attracting more visitors.
Join a group trek
One of the best ways to go for budget gorilla trekking in Uganda is joining scheduled group tours. Join a group of other travelers to Uganda for gorilla trekking, this way you pay less for more.
Tour operators organize scheduled groups and invite travelers to join at subsidized fee since most services are shared. Purchasing a tour package as a group is way cheaper than purchasing individually, which helps to cut the costs and realize a budget tour in Uganda.
Select more affordable gorilla destination
For budget gorilla trekking in Uganda, choose a national park that better suits your budget. Uganda has two national parks offering gorilla trekking tours that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 20 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla trekking in the four gorilla trekking sectors of Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 1 habituated gorilla family.
Due to the population and high numbers of travelers to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, many lodges and camps are quite expensive compared to those in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Therefore, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the best choice over Bwindi Impenetrable National Park if you are looking for budget gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Opt for budget accommodation
Those on a budget gorilla trekking in Uganda, consider choosing to stay at budget accommodation options. Both Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offer affordable budget accommodation options in the five sectors.
These make it more affordable and possible to go on a budget gorilla trekking in Uganda. Some of the budget lodges in Mgahinga and Bwindi include Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Buhoma Community Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Bwindi Backpacker’s Lodge and Nshongi Camp among others.
Other budget accommodation options can be found in Kisoro Town near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Self-drive options
Self-drive is yet another way to secure your budget gorilla trekking in Uganda trip. Once can rent out a 4×4 vehicle that is good for all terrains and undertake a self-drive gorilla safari instead of hiring a chauffeur – driven vehicle.
Self – drive option is cost-effective as travelers do not have to pay a driver to take them to their destinations. All you need is to carry with you is a map for guidance and the necessary travel documents thus saving more money.
Plan your meals
The most effective way to save money on your gorilla trekking in Uganda trip is dining at local restaurants. Planning carefully will help cut costs on meals.
The local restaurants also have good chefs that can prepare delicious local cuisine. This can help save monkey as compared to eating at costly high – end restaurants or tourist lodges. Also, you can snack on roadside delicacies like roasted cassava, roasted bananas, and meat.
Uganda’s street food is too scrumptious and cost- effective, thus in favor of budget travelers.
With a variety of dishes, make a stopover at a local restaurant or roadside eatery to enjoy the best of delicacies and also engage with locals and experience their unique culture.
