Is Gorilla Trekking your dream adventure in Africa but your budget tight? Here is a great opportunity for you to meet, interact and discover more about Mountain Gorillas. Budget Gorilla Trekking is without doubt a special arrangement offering budget/backpackers a great opportunity to enjoy a magical encounter with a habituated gorilla family in the wild.
Trekking Gorillas in the tropical rain-forests of Africa is undeniably a thrilling experience of a lifetime. Book our exceptional Budget Gorilla Trekking safaris and discover the magic behind trekking with Mountain Gorillas and Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the lust rain-forests of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo, East-Central Africa.
Gorilla Trekking in Africa lets you explore more about the world’s unique Apes, especially the rare Mountain Gorillas and Eastern Lowland Gorillas. All our Budget Gorilla Trekking holidays introduce Gorilla Trekkers into the lush jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo, where Mountain Gorillas only live. Mountain Gorillas alone account for a population of not more than 1063 and half of these are believed to be thriving in Uganda.
Budget gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is amazingly great chance to visit, meet, interact and discover more about Mountain Gorillas in the wild and there are 2 places to undertake a trek to these apes. The 2 Uganda National Parks to travel for Budget Gorilla Trekking in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Uganda is noted to offer the best and most affordable Gorilla Trekking experiences either on budget or luxury safari.
There are 21 habituated gorilla families to track while on a Budget Gorilla Trek in Uganda. These are open for Gorilla Trekking in the 5 sectors; 4 regions in Bwindi including Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo while in Mgahinga, it is only in Ntebeko where visitors begin trekking to view the only Nyakagezi group.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site was gazetted as a Uganda National Park in 1991 primarily to offer refuge to a section of the world’s rare Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, sits on a land area measuring up to 331 Sq. km and it is found in the South-western Uganda.
Due to its ecological diversity, in 1994, Bwindi was designated as a UNESCO Site. Though over 35 families exist, only 20 are set for Gorilla tourism purposes in the park’s 4 main sectors/trail-heads.
While on Budget Gorilla Trekking Bwindi, you can enjoy the best of Gorilla Trek adventure, Community/Cultural walk, birding, Gorilla Habituation Experience, Cycling, Guided nature walks and so much more.
Budget gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla national park.
Just like Bwindi, this park lies in Southwestern Uganda and sits on land area measuring up to only 33.7sq.kms in Kisoro District. There is only one group to visit while on Budget Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park and that is Nyakagezi Gorilla group family. Accessing Mgahinga/Bwindi National Park on Budget Gorilla Trekking often takes Uganda holidaymakers 8-9 starting Kampala and only 3-4 hours when you cross from Kigali Rwanda via Katuna/Chanika border or 1-2 hours on flight from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi/Kisoro airstrip.
Gorilla Permits to book on Budget Gorilla Trekking.
A Gorilla Permit is an essential tool when it comes Budget Gorilla trekking in Uganda. However, Uganda is incredibly the most affordable destination to visit to track Mountain Gorillas. All Uganda safari tourists on Budget Gorilla Trekking can secure their Gorilla Permits at USD 700 for visitor category of foreign nonresidents, USD600 foreign residents & UGX 250,000 for all East African Citizens. In case of visitors who also want to add Gorilla Habituation onto their Budget Gorilla Trekking adventures, habituation permits are available for booking at USD1500 (foreign non-residents), USD1000 (foreign residents) and UGX 750,000 (East Africa Citizens). In total, Uganda has an estimate of 168 Gorilla Permits ready for booking each day but ensure that you have your permit booked in advance.
While on Budget Uganda Gorilla Trekking, visitor overnight stay will be on comfortable budget/basic accommodation options in any of the 5 sectors across the parks. In Ruhija sector Bwindi, the popular budget/basic accommodations include Broadbill Forest Camp & Gift of Nature Lodge; Rushaga region with the best basic lodges like Bakiga Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Ichucmbi Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge.
At Buhoma region, find comfortable basic lodges such as Bwindi View Bandas/Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Bandas while Nkuringo sector has Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel/Mutanda Eco Community Centre. Budget lodges in Mgahinga include Mutanda Eco Community Centre/Golden Monkey Guesthouse & Amajambere Iwacu Camp.
Budget gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Though Rwanda has positioned herself as a high end Gorilla Trekking destination, a Budget Gorilla Trek can also be arranged. This offers budget travelers an opportunity to be part of the exhilarating Mountain Gorilla Treks in the country’s Volcanoes National Park which is home to 12 habituated families.
Volcanoes National Park is a short distance away from Kigali, about 2-3 hours’ drive. You can also begin your Budget Rwanda Gorilla Trekking trip in Volcanoes N/P from Kabale/Kisoro in Southwestern Uganda and this takes 3-4 hours’ drive. Because of the close proximity, it is possible to organize the best 1, 2 day short Gorilla tour to Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda Gorilla Permits are available for reservation at USD1500 either on Budget or Luxury Gorilla Tour. These can easily be reserved via the Tour Operator on ground or the reservation team at Rwanda Development Board and this should be done at 2-6 months before the date you plan to track a gorilla family in Volcanoes N/P. The popular budget lodging/accommodations at Volcanoes National Park include Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse or Villa Gorilla.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in D.R. Congo.
Congo Budget Gorilla Trekking includes a visit to the Virunga National Park to see the Mountain Gorillas & Kahuzi-Biega National Park for Eastern Lowland Trekking. Virunga National Park, one of Congo’s lush rainforest park sits on area measuring up to 7800sq.kms and established in 1925 making it one the Africa’s oldest parks. Today, the vast 7800sq.kms Gorilla Park protects an estimate of 300 Mountain Gorillas and 8 families are already set for Gorilla Trekking here.
The 8 habituated gorilla groups in the Virunga National Park include Humba, Rugendo, Bageni, Lulengo, Mapuwa, Nyakamwe, Kabirizi and Munyaga. Each of these are tracked by only 8 visitors on Budget Congo Gorilla Trekking. The 7800sq.kms rainforest park also protects over 706 bird species which include special species such as the grey throated barbet, Rwenzori Batis, cuckoos etc; other mammals including buffaloes, red colobus monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, waterbucks, Thomas Kobs, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys and others.
Virunga National Park budget lodges include Tchegera Island Camp and others-mid range and luxury include Mikeno Lodge, Kibumba, Lulimbi Tented Camp.
Alternatively, you may visit Kahuzi-Biega National Park to see the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the wild. Kahuzi-Biega was established in 1970 and sits on land area measuring 6000sq.kms.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park shelters about 5 families including Bonnani, Chimanuka, Moungwe, Mugaruka and Nganwa. These are trekked by 8 visitors on Budget Congo Gorilla tours. Congo is undeniably one of the most affordable Gorilla Trekking destinations. All Congo budget gorilla tour permits are reserved at USD450 per person.
Best time to visit for budget gorilla trekking.
The best and most favorable time to visit Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo for your Budget Gorilla Trekking is during the dry season. There are 2 important phases of dry season experienced in the 3 countries, with the first phase often occurring between June through to September and December, to February. The 2 dry seasons record the best weather conditions each year hence favoring Gorilla Treks in Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R. Congo as they record no or little rainfall and the ground is maintained dry.
The other possible time to visit Uganda, Rwanda or Congo for Budget Gorilla Trekking is during the wet/rainy season but this is peak rainy season and expect to encounter muddy/slippery ground. There are also 2 phases of wet or rainy seasons, the longest rainy season which occurs from March, April, May and the short rainy season from October and November.
What to pack?
Whether budget or luxury gorilla trekking holiday, make sure that you have packed well for your trip. This is what guarantees you a memorable Gorilla Trek and the most important items that shouldn’t miss out include the yellow fever certificate, bottled water, first aid kit, valid gorilla permit, snacks, daypack, the best camera for photo shoot, visas, insect repellents, torch, medical aid kit, Long sleeved shirt and the best-waterproof hiking boots/shoes.
Gorilla trekking regulations.
Either on a Budget Gorilla Trekking or Luxury Gorilla Tour, the etiquette to observe are all same in Uganda, Rwanda and the D.R. Congo.
They include but not limited to; guarantee of 1 hour with a family of Mountain Gorillas in the wild upon meeting them, maintaining a distance of 8-10m between you and a family of gorillas, a must to have a valid Gorilla Permit, Trekking Gorillas is open to persons above 15 years, never smoke, eat, or drink while with gorillas, don’t use cameras with flashlight for photo taking, remain back home/hotel/lodge if you are sick, regularly wash/sanitize your hands, keep low your voices when trekking gorillas and listen to your park guide etc.
