Is gorilla trekking worth the money in Bwindi?
Is gorilla trekking worth the money in Bwindi?: Gorilla trekking is the most expensive tourism activity in Africa and most travelers always ask if the activity is worth the money. Well. Yes, gorilla trekking is worth the money in Bwindi gorilla park because the activity allows you to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime activity. Gorilla trekking is every person’s dream come true where trekkers surround a silverback with their members for 1 hour. The priceless activity is done in a few national parks in the world and these are Bwindi gorilla park, Virunga national park, Mgahinga national park, and volcanoes national park.
The gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi helps you to encounter primates that are believed to be with 98% human DNA. There are so many things that make mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi worth the money. One of them is meeting the endangered mountain gorillas human beings have always feared and being around them for 1 hour, meeting different park animals, meeting the Batwa pygmies, and also seeing different plant species in the park.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is worth the money because it comes with good security while in the park and in the jungle. Bwindi national park has a lot of security personnel among which included armed rangers that protect you from dangerous wild animals in the jungle. The gorilla trekking permit money pays for the 2-3 years of gorilla habituation for mountain gorillas to become used to human presence, and also armed ranger guides to protect you in the jungle.
Where to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be done in all the 4 sectors of the park. The activity can be done in Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the east, Buhoma sector in the north, and Rushaga sector in the south. These sectors have different mountain gorilla families and the trekking experience is always the same. There are 100% chances of meeting mountain gorillas in all the sectors of the park. All Bwindi sectors have 19 fully habituated mountain gorilla families and 2 families Bikingi and Bushaho gorilla family are going through habituation in Rushaga and Nkuringo sector respectively.
Spend one hour with Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
How to book a Bwindi gorilla trekking tour
You will need to confirm the dates of the month and year first in order to book a tour in Bwindi. Once you have your dates ready, you will search for a trusted local tour operator to book a gorilla tour to Bwindi for you. Africa Adventure Vacations is one of the local tour operators that can help a traveler book their gorilla tour in Bwindi. All you need is to contact us via email indicating the dates of the month and year you want your tour to happen. We shall look at your areas of interest do some calculations and see how much money your safari can take. Later, we shall send you an email showing how much money you need, and once you have decided to work with us, we shall check for the availability of the trekking permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
When the permits are available, we shall send you banking details and you choose how to send us money. Once you are done, you can send us a scanned copy for confirmation and we shall go ahead and book the permit for you. On arrival, you will find us with your permit. We shall go ahead and book the accommodation you are to use during the safari and also transport. Booking a gorilla tour to Bwindi should be done 3-4 months in advance since the gorilla permits sell out quickly.
What is the cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi?
The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. The gorilla trekking permit is a card that allows you to join other trekkers and enter the jungle to search for mountain gorillas and spend 1 hour with the gorilla group. Bwindi gorilla trekking permit comes with paid park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, and community development fees. The permit fees don’t include transport to and from the park as well as accommodation during your stay in the park.
Best time to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be done all throughout the year in the park but there are months that are much better than the rest. The dry months are good for mountain gorilla trekking in the Bwindi, they are characterized by little or no rainfall, trekking trails are dry, the vegetation is very short with good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in good conditions.
Travelers can go gorilla trekking in Bwindi gorilla park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November and this favors the budget travelers because there are huge discounts on accommodation facilities. During the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thick and tall with good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in bad conditions.
pack list for a gorilla safari in Bwindi
What to pack for a gorilla trip in Bwindi?
Things to pack for a gorilla trip in Bwindi include a facemask, sanitizer, insect repellents, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, a pair of gloves, cotton stocks, waterproof hiking shoes, a pair of gaiters, a camera, extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, a hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, a rain jacket, and toilet paper among others.
Where to stay on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi
Where to stay on a gorilla trekking in Bwindi depends on the sector where you are to do mountain gorilla trekking from. There are 4 sectors in the park and every sector has different accommodation facilities as follows
Accommodation facilities in Ruhija sector
Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.
Accommodation facilities in Buhoma sector
Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.
Accommodation facilities in Rushaga sector
Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.
Accommodation facilities in Nkuringo sector
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite
