Cheapest Ways to See Gorillas in Uganda

Booking tips for budget Uganda gorilla tours to Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks,  Where as seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda is a dream come true for many travelers on Uganda safaris, the experience is undeniably costly and feels expensive especially for travelers on tight budget. However, Superfine Safaris has good news for you! We guide on the best cheapest ways to see gorillas in Uganda.  In this article, we show you how you can smartly reduce the overall cost of gorilla trekking and be able to trek gorillas cheaply without compromising the conservation and safety of these endangered species. The secret lies in understanding which expenses are fixed and which ones you can minimize through smart planning with Superfine Safaris Limited

Understanding the Costs First

First understand the overall gorilla tours cost breakdown and see which costs you can cutoff or minimize if possible. The biggest and most unavoidable part of the trip is the gorilla permit which covers park entry, ranger guides, trackers and an hour with the endangered gorillas. The permit cost is fixed and cannot be minimized.  However, there are other inclusions in the overall gorilla cost such as transport, accommodation, additional activities and meals among other whose cost we can minimize. Once you understand this, planning a budget-friendly gorilla trek becomes much easier.

Tips for Trekking Uganda Gorillas Cheaply

Choose the Most Affordable Travel Style

The travel lifestyle you choose determines the overall gorilla tour cost.  Booking the trip directly or joining a budget friendly group is one way of cutting expenses. Private gorilla tours are the best though expensive.  In a group safari, all travelers share cost of accommodation, transport, and guiding fees which make the trip affordable per person unlike the Private safaris where a  vehicle, guide, and fuel charges all fall on just one person

Use Public or Shared Transport Where Possible

There are public means of transport connecting from Entebbe to Kampala and then from Kampala to Kabale to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Kisoro to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  Budget travelers can therefore use public buses which are cheap. Upon reaching Kabale or Kisoro, they again hire taxis or private cars connecting them to the respective gorilla parks

Stay in Budget Accommodation or Community Lodges

Accommodation also contributes a big part of the overall gorilla safari cost.  Choosing a budget hotel/lodge is a big deal if you want to minimise the costs. Interestingly, both Bwindi and Mgahinga have a wide range of budget lodging options which serve excellent but affordable services. These places are super clean, friendly, and much cheaper than mid-range or high-end lodges. Superfine Safaris Limited helps you to reserve affordable lodges saving you huge costs on lodging

Trek in the Sector Closest to Your Route

For travelers visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, endeavor to visit the gorilla sector close to the route you are using.  Each sector has the easiest connecting route depending on where you will be coming from.  The four gorilla regions in Bwindi Forest are Buhoma in the b north, Ruhija in the Est, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south.  If you are connecting from Kabala, Buhoma  and Ruhija are your suitable sectors. For travelers connecting from Kisoro, Rushaga and Nkuringo in Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are your suitable regions. Trekking in a closer sector is an opportunity to save on transport costs and time

Travel During the Low or Shoulder Seasons

Minus the gorilla permit whose cost is fixed all through, low season is a suitable time for budget travelers. Due to fewer visits, most service providers such as lodges, hotels and transport companies often drop their rates in the low season. In the low season between March–May and October–November, there is room for negotiation which make services cheaper and more affordable for budget travellers. The low-cost accommodation and transport services allow you to lower the total cost without compromising the trek itself.

Bring Your Own Trekking Gear

You can also trek gorillas cheaply by bringing your own trekking gear and avoid  renting, The essentials you should bring include closed hiking shoes, rain jacket, long sleeved shirt, Long pants and gardening gloves among others, Optional items like walking sticks can be rented cheaply at the trailhead, but carrying your own saves every small cost.

Also, whereas porters are extremely helpful, you can carry you on bags up to the gorilla trek and save the $15 to $20 you might have spend on porter hiring. However for the sake of local community support, you can still hire a porter and help him/her improve the standards of living

Skip Add-On Safaris and Focus on the Gorillas

Adding other activities on your gorilla trekking adventure comes with an extra cost.  You can therefore skip all other addon on activities and only focus on gorilla trekking. However, if you can adjust in your budget, add on activities such as game viewing, chimpanzee trekking, boat cruise and community tours are highly recommended as they add on the overall experience rewarding you lifetime memories

Book Early and Plan Logically

Early booking gives you enough time to plan, bargain for discounted offers and look out for different options.  Endeavour to secure a gorilla permit early enough, book cheaper accommodations, look a round for any group to join and choose the best route to reduce transport costs. Avoid last minute bookings which are costly with no option

The Cheapest Practical Gorilla Trekking Strategy

The possible ways to minimize expenses and cheaply trek gorillas in Uganda

1. Book a gorilla permit early.
2. Join a budget group or use public transport to reach Kabale or Kisoro.
3. Stay in budget accommodations near your trekking sector.
4. Trek from the closest sector to minimize local transfer costs.
5. Travel during low season for lower lodging rates.
6. Bring your own hiking gear.
7. Limit the itinerary to the gorilla trek only.

Conclusively, Uganda offers one of the most affordable ways in the world to see mountain gorillas. Apply m smart planning with Superfine Safaris Limited and enjoy a trek with Uganda gorillas affordably!