Organizing budget camping tours in Bwindi and Mgahinga

Budget camping gorilla tours in Bwindi and Mgahinga are possible when you get in touch with the right safari consultant who has extensive knowledge when it comes to budget camping safaris like Encounter Africa Safaris. When planning a camping safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga, you have to take into consideration the weather and other activities you plan on participating in. Camping is not usually done in Bwindi but if you wish to do so, the drier months of June to September and December to February are the best and recommended times for one to go for budget camping tours in Bwindi. Mgahinga on the other hand is the smallest National Park in Uganda and camping is usually done near the park headquarters and there are no other accommodation facilities inside the park.

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All other factors remain constant, the best time to go for a budget camping safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga is during the rainy season from October to November and March to May, however, expect rainfall, soggy and slippery grounds. But if you do not mind the large crowds during the dry season, then it will be the best time.

Bwindi and Mgahinga are best known for gorilla trekking but other activities are offered and these include bird watching, cultural safaris, guided nature walks, and primate walks among others. As you plan your budget camping tour to Bwindi and Mgahinga, there are things that you need to take into consideration and in this article, we are going to discuss how and what is needed for the best camping safari. Get in touch for more information.

The cost of the gorilla permit in Bwindi and Mgahinga

The cost of the gorilla trek permit in Bwindi and Mgahinga is the same and it is determined and set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of the national parks where gorilla trekking is carried out and in 2024, the cost was increased to cater to the many demands that come with conservation of the Mountain gorillas and their natural habitat. Uganda does not offer discounts on the gorilla permit even during the low season and the current cost of the gorilla permit is UGX300,000 for EAC citizens, $800 for foreign non-residents and $700 for foreign residents. Besides gorilla trekking, Bwindi is also where gorilla habituation takes place and the cost of the gorilla permit is higher than the standard gorilla trekking because tourists get to spend more time. The cost of the habituation gorilla permit is UGX750,000 for EAC citizens, $1000 for citizens from other African countries, $1500 for foreign non-residents and $1000 for foreign residents.

The cost of the gorilla permit covers park entrance fees which are to be paid by all tourists, medication for the Mountain gorillas, security during gorilla trekking and around the national perk, research fees for the Mountain gorillas, community support through projects like roads, health and education and ranger guide fees.

How to book gorilla permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park

Booking trekking permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga has to be done in advance because few permits are printed per day for both Mgahinga and Bwindi and early booking also helps with proper planning of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. You need to first note the date on which you wish to trek the gorillas in Uganda and the number of people you are willing to trek with. A large group means that the cost of the safari per person will be less as compared to when you are traveling alone.

After coming up with the dates, get in touch with a tour operator/safari consultant like Encounter Africa Safaris to check for the availability of gorilla permits on the dates provided. In cases of a positive response, you will be requested to make payments for the permits as soon as possible because of their high demand, especially during the dry season. The first come first serve policy is the rule followed when purchasing the gorilla permits.

You are to send payments for the gorilla permits as soon as they are available and send in personal details like a copy of your passport (, passport photo, passport number, date of birth and nationality visible) as these details will be used when issuing the gorilla permits. After you have made the payments and this is confirmed by the safari consultant, the purchase will be made and a copy of the gorilla permit sent to you. Note that you can pay for the permit in installments like a 30% deposit and the balance is supposed to be paid 90 days before the trek date.

Budget gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga

The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks starts at the park headquarters with a briefing from the guides about what to expect and what to avoid when gorilla trekking. Tourists are also divided into groups of 8, assigned gorilla families and if you have any issues, the briefing session is the best time to air them out. All tourists have to attend the briefing and once the gorilla families are assigned especially in Bwindi which has about 19 habituated gorilla families in the different sectors, Mgahinga with one family, the trek starts with each group escorted by an experienced ranger guide, and an armed ranger.

The trekking can take more than 6 hours or less depending on the location of the gorilla family you have been assigned. The rangers sometimes use machetes to clear the paths through the forests because there are no clear paths in some areas where gorilla trekking is done. After locating the Mountain gorillas, each trek group will have an hour with the Mountain gorillas taking photos and learning more about them. You will also have a chance to see other primates in the national parks including red-tailed monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, and golden monkeys among others. After spending an hour with the gorillas, you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will be awarded with a certificate of participation.

Is gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga safe?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga is safe because of the security that is put around the national parks by the government and other security agencies. The Uganda Wildlife Authority also put in place rules and regulations that are to be followed by the tourists during the trek and after meeting the Mountain gorillas. These rules help in protecting the Mountain gorillas and the trekkers as well and they include the following.

• Children below the age of 12 will not be allowed to trek Mountain gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga. This is because the topography of the national parks is hard and the exercise takes a long time between 1 to 6 hours which children might not be able to handle without throwing tantrums.
• Touching and feeding the Mountain gorillas is prohibited. All tourists have to wash and sanitize their hands before the start of the trek.
• Tourists who are sick will not be allowed to trek Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and this is to protect the gorillas that are highly susceptible to human diseases.
• Everyone is prohibited from smoking and eating around the Mountain gorillas.
• You should avoid making a circle around the Mountain gorillas because this scares them forcing them to go into protection mode. They feel threatened sometimes forcing them to retreat into the forests.
• You have an hour to take photos and record videos of the Mountain gorillas after locating them. The one hour is to limit interactions between humans and gorillas in a bid to protect the primates.
• You have to leave a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the Mountain gorillas.
• A maximum of 8 people per trek group is allowed to trek each habituated gorilla family per day.
• Spitting on the vegetation and throwing rubbish in the national parks is prohibited.
• Human waste is supposed to be buried in a hole about 30cm and it should be covered well to prevent the Mountain gorillas from digging it up.
• The camera flashes to be turned off at all times when taking photos of the Mountain gorillas.

The cost of budget gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga

The cost of the budget gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi and Mgahinga usually starts with the purchase of the gorilla trekking permit which is a must for every tourist to get. As discussed before, the cost of the gorilla permit is constant and can only be changed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of the gorilla permit is $800, however, other factors contribute to the total cost of the gorilla safari and these include:

The number of days you plan on doing a camping budget safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga contributes to the cost of the gorilla safari. The more days you plan on spending on your gorilla safari, the higher the cost of the safari and the fewer days spent, the lesser the cost of the camping gorilla trekking safari.

The number of people traveling for the budget camping safari greatly contributes to the cost of the safari. When you travel in a group, the cost of the safari is greatly reduced because the costs of the safari services including vehicle hire, driver fees, and transport are shared among the group unlike when you take on a solo safari where all the costs fall on one person making it an expensive safari.

The season of travel that is dry or wet season contributes to the total cost of the safari. Traveling in the dry season is expensive because many of the service fees are increased and this is because of the many tourists who visit the country during the dry months of June to September. The low season also known as the rainy season is a good time to travel when on a budget because service providers like accommodation offer discounts during the rainy season.

The number of safari activities added to your itinerary also contributes to the cost of the gorilla trek safari in Bwindi and Mgahinga. The more activities you add to your safari, the more money paid, and the fewer activities added, the lower the cost of the gorilla safari.

What should I bring for the budget camping gorilla safari in Bwindi and Mgahinga

When packing for a gorilla safari, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration and the main one is weight. Pack only the essentials for the gorilla safari but make sure that it does not exceed the weight limit that will make it hard for you to enjoy your safari. Below is a list of the essential items to bring for your safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga.

• Clean neutral-colored clothes and these include long-sleeved shirts and trousers. The colors that you should consider when packing include green, brown, khaki and any other dull color. You should also avoid colors like blue, camouflage, and any other bright colors.
• A pair of knee-length hike boots which should preferably be waterproof. You should also come with a bag to keep your shoes in case you do not get time to clean them after trekking.
• Warm clothes to keep warm when the weather changes or during the morning and evening hours. These should include a sweater, ponchos and scarves if possible.
• Thick socks to keep warm. During the trek, there are crawling insects and to prevent these from crawling up your leg, you will be told to tuck your trousers into the stockings to avoid. them
• A camera to keep your gorilla trekking memories. Since you are going to be in the forest with no electricity, you should carry extra camera batteries, memory cards and lenses.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen, a waterproof backpack, a refillable water bottle, a foldable sun hat, a pair of binoculars, snacks especially energy bars, Garden gloves, toiletries, a travel adapter, and a First Aid kit.

Contact us for more information about budget camping tours in Bwindi and Mgahinga.