Budget gorilla trekking in Uganda

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The pearl of Africa, Uganda is among the top gorilla destinations in the world. Holding up  half of the world’s  mountain gorilla population in the primate destinations. The mountain gorillas of Uganda can be enjoyed and explored on a budget consideration, and yet offer memorable experiences. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the sought  of activities by primate lovers. Besides chimpanzee tracking in the famous primate capital of the world’; Kibale national park and other chimpanzee destinations. The gentle giants of Uganda can only be  trek in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is the most visited gorilla destination in Uganda.   And this is due to the high gorilla population in the park. The park is divided into four sectors that harbor the mountain gorilla families.  The four sectors of Bwindi impenetrable national park include the Buhoma sector at the northern side of the park, Ruhija on the eastern side, Rushaga, and Nkuringo on the southern side.

These sectors are home to a number of different gorilla families.  The gorilla groups in each  of these sectors is encountered on a Uganda gorilla safari. Visitors get the luxury to choose which sector to trek and which gorilla group to visit. However, depending on the physical fitness of the trekkers, they are advised by the park rangers accordingly.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located In the western region of Uganda, in Kanungu district. The western region of Uganda is a tourism hub, with a big number of national parks and attractions located in the region.

Mgahinga national park, another gorilla destination in western Uganda, that offers memorable gorilla trekking safaris and experiences. This national park is located in the far south western region of Uganda in the Kisoro district. Unlike Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park is home to only one habituation gorilla family, the  Nyakagezi family.

The Nyakagezi gorilla family in Mgahinga is the only available gorilla group for trekking. This family consists of nine members, including Mark, Mathew, Bugingo, Nshuti, Nvukagezi, Baby Rukundo, and Mutagamba.

Gorilla trekking is one of the considered “high end” activities on a Uganda safari. However, budget gorilla trekking safari are as well available in Uganda. To enjoy gorilla trekking on a budget, trekkers are to consider a number of few factors and are as follows.

Opting for group tours.

Joining a travel group and travelling in a group, is one way to enjoy budget gorilla trekking in Uganda.  Group tours are usually costed lower than individual Uganda  tours. Shared group tours involve in the sharing of the major gorilla tour costs among the many numbered travelers. Another advantage,  Visitors travelling in a group are sometimes offered discounts on other affiliated tour services such as transport and accommodation.

Unfortunately, even in the large travel groups, the gorilla trekking permits are not discounted and remain charged $700 for the non-foreign residents, $600 for the foreign residents and 250,000ugx for the Ugandan residents.

Travel in the low season

This may not reduce the price of the trekking permits, but rather the best time to enjoy less traffic in the gorilla destinations.  There are as well lower service rates in the low seasons. These are  from the month of march to June.  These  months have been recorded as low tourism seasons in the pearl. But yet a perfect time for the budget travelers. During these months, there are available discounts on accommodation and transport services that enhance the  gorilla tours. Budget gorilla trekking would be preferable  done during the low seasons, to cut the costs.

Choose transportation with in the means.

Travelers interested in budget gorilla trekking in Uganda, are recommended to opt for low budget transportation means. Use of public means is a one way to enjoy a gorilla safari in Uganda on a budget. The prices are lower compared to private car hire.

Using of shared transportation is another way to save and cut costs for budget safaris. Travelers can use joint vehicles with other travelers.  But this budget option is  not preferred by many, since most visited prefer privacy while touring Uganda.

Furthermore, choosing a cheaper vehicle would enhance budget gorilla trekking in Uganda. The use of a tour van, or coaster other than an extended luxury land cruiser, helps to cut down the gorilla safari costs in Uganda.

Choose a shorter transfer means

Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park are located in the far south western region of Uganda. A road transfer from Kampala, the capital of Uganda to Bwindi takes approximately 8 hours, and to Mgahinga 9 hours. This may be regarded as long travel hours, but instead cheaper that than the air transfers to the destination.

Choose affordable accommodation

Sleepovers and night stays are almost unavoidable while at the gorilla destinations in Uganda. With the fact that the destinations are located on far journeys, travelers are to opt for  sleepovers.  There are a number of affordable accommodation facilities at the park that travelers can choose from. Opting to stay at a budget facility with excellent amenities is a good way to enjoy a budget gorilla tour.

At Bwindi impenetrable national park, each sector is established with a number of budget accommodation options. These include; the Bwindi guest house, Bwindi view bandas, Buhoma lodge, Rushaga gorilla camp, Broadbill camp, and Nshongi gorilla camp.

At Mgahinga national park, budget accommodation to opt for include; Muhabura motel and Amajambere iwacu camp.

Number of days of a tour

Opting for fewer days of a gorilla Uganda safari is another way to enjoy gorilla trekking on a budget. A few days means lesser total costs of the tour. A 3 days Uganda gorilla tour package is one of the famous short gorilla tours, that budget travelers can opt for.

Enjoy budget gorilla trekking in Uganda with Dolphin tours and travel. For the best gorilla packages and prices. Check out our best-selling gorilla safari packages below.

 

3 days Uganda gorilla safari.

4 days double gorilla trekking tour Uganda

5 days gorilla trekking and wildlife safari

6 days gorilla tour and primate tour Uganda

10 days Uganda gorilla safari, primate tour and wildlife safari.

 

Garama caves kisoro

Garama caves kisoro

 

The historical garama caves of Mgahinga national park, hold cultural and heritage importance to the Batwa community. And most importantly, the garama caves are one of the significant attractions located within the park.

Garama caves are located on the north side of Mgahinga national park. The caves are found 3k from the main offices of the national park at Ntebeko.

Mgahinga national park is located in the far southwest region of Uganda, Kisoro district. The park can be accessed with either road or air transfer. From Kampala, a road transfer takes about 9 hours approximately to reach the park. Covering a long distance of 495km. Visitors can opt for a one-hour air transfer for a shorter reach to the park. From the park’s entrance, it only takes about 3km to reach the caves.

Mgahinga national park is among the only two gorilla destinations of Uganda together with Bwindi impenetrable national park. The mountain gorillas of Mgahinga are the main attractions for many travelers to the park.

However, the park holds more touristic treasures to be explored on a Uganda safari. A visit and tour of the garama caves in Mgahinga national park is another fascinating activity to explore. Besides gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, mountain hiking, gorge walk, and more.

The garama caves are known as among the first home of the indigenous Batwa people. The Batwa community is a group of minority pygmy communities that were the first inhabitants of the forest with the mountain gorillas of Uganda.

The garama caves were a significant treasure to the Batwa pygmies. The caves were used as a hideout for the Batwa warriors. As they hid from the attacks of their revels. Even after a successful root by the ancient Batwa warriors, the rooted treasures were kept and hidden deep into the caves.

In the ancient years, when the Batwa inhabited the caves, they used them as council chambers to settle all conflict and distribute among the community members. Unfortunately, due to the displacement of the Batwa pygmies to the outcasts of the park, for the establishment of Mgahinga national park.  The batwa nolonger have a full control and stay over the garama caves.

Luckily enough, the garama caves are still in existence and can be visited while on the tour of Mgahinga national park of a Uganda cultural safari. The caves can be accessed through the Batwa trail experience.

Experiencing the Batwa trail takes visitors through the reach history of the Batwa pygmies. The walk along the trail is incited with interesting narratives about the cultural heritage of the Batwa, how they used to gather forest fruit, their hunting skills exposure, traditions, and more.

The trail begins from Mountain Muhavura base stretching about 33km of a splendid marvel of the forest beauty and insight of the Batwa culture. The garama cave is found at the end of the trail, located at a plateau that overlooks the park’s beautiful landscape.  The Batwa trail takes about 4 hours to trek and explore.

The garama caves are 343 meters long and 14 meters deep. Currently, the caves are used as a performance stage of the Batwa community. Showcasing their local, authentic culture through their local dance and song performance.

The visit of the garama caves is also crowned with an interesting dance performance by the Batwa pygmies.

Just as visitors would require gorilla permits to trek the gentle apes of Mgahinga park or to experience any other activity in the park. To visit the garama caves, visitors are to pay for this experience depending on their nationality.

Foreign nonresidents and foreign residents pay $80 to enjoy this experience. East African residents pay 50,000shs, to participate in the visit to the Garama caves.

The garama caves are a hidden treasure of the pearl, nestled in the far depth of Mgahinga national park. The hiking experience and an insightful narrative about the Batwa pygmies and how they relate to the caves. All and more, make a visit to the garama caves worth on a Uganda safari, With Dolphin tours and travel.

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Buhoma sector

Buhoma sector

 

Located at the northern side of Bwindi impenetrable national park. Buhoma sector is among Bwindi’s exceptional gorilla sectors mostly liked and visited by the tourists.

The fascinating ape life situated at Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is one of the major highlights of a Uganda primate safari. This national park hosts half of the world’s mountain population in its forests.

There are over 300 individual mountain gorillas  found in the sectors of the park. The park is bisected into four sectors located at the different regions of Bwindi impenetrable national park. With Buhoma at the north, Rushaga at the south, Ruhija at the east, and Nkuringo sector at the south region of the park.

Buhoma sector is the most visited sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, compared to the other sectors of the park. This sector holds the remarkable gorilla history of Uganda. It was the first gorilla sector opened up for gorilla trekking in Uganda. And Mubare gorilla, one of its gorilla group, was the first habituated gorilla family, where gorilla trekking first took place.

Buhoma sector has about 3 habituated gorilla families available for trekking in the forest. These include; Mubare, Rushegura, and Habinyanja gorilla family.

Mubare.

This was the first gorilla group to be habituated for gorilla trekking in Uganda. It’s habituation process begun in 1991 and by 1993, gorilla trekking had started to commence by the tourists. Mubare group started off as a strong gorilla family with 13 members but these were lost in deaths, gorilla fights, and loss of female members.

The group was first led by a male silverback called Rudondeza. Who died in sleep in 2012. He died at the age of 50 years. He was succeeded by another strong silverback, Kanyonyi who still leads the family.

Mubare gorilla family derived its name from the Mubare hills where the family is located. The family currently hosts about 9 members.

Rushegura

Rushegura gorilla family is one of the families in Buhoma that holds the biggest number of members. This family split away from the Habinyanja group with the leadership of Mwirimu. The groups broke away from a place called Rushegura where the created family derived its name.

Rushegura gorilla group was habituated from 2000 and received its first visitors in 2002. Mwirimu fully established his family in 2010 with stable members.

This is the easiest gorilla family to trek. As it rotates near the headquarters of the park and can easily be sighted. The family currently is made up of a group of 19 members.

 

Habinyanja gorilla group

The Habinyanja gorilla family is similar to the Mubare gorilla group, as among the first gorilla families to be habituated in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. It was habituated in 1997 and started receiving visitors as early as 1999. This family was initially in leadership by Mugurisi, who unfortunately died because of old age.

He left the group in leadership of two silverbacks Rwansiguzi and Mwirima. Who with time couldn’t handle the family together. Mwirima was a most centered leader who wanted to stay in one place, yet Rwansiguzi was a more adventurous silverback. This led to a difference in the preference for the family, that led to the split of Habinyanja in 2002. It was a peaceful split where Mwirima moved away from the group to create his own family that is currently the Rushegura family.

Rwansiguzi remained and established the Habinyanja group, till he was overthrown by Makara who is the current leader of the Habinyanja. This family derived its name a near swamp in Buhoma. Which is referred to” Nyanja”. Which translates to mean “Place of water”.

Buhoma offers Uganda’s memorable gorilla safari experiences visiting  its various gorilla families.

Besides visiting the various gorilla families in Buhoma. The sector has a number of walking trails that reveal the beauty of Buhoma. The Munyaga river trail located the valley of Buhoma, is suitable for bird watching and primate viewing. The Waterfall trail, rewards breathing views of the three beautiful waterfalls located with in the sector.

Other trails in Buhoma include the river Ivi trail, Muzabajiro trail, and rushura hill trail. However, with tourists interested in a more cultural experience, the Batwa trail would be the best trail to walk. This leads to the  Batwa pygmy’s homesteads. Where visitors enjoy the traditional performances from the pygmy community and more.

Accommodation at Buhoma sector

The sector has a number of accommodation facilities that cater for overnight staying visitors to the sector. These range from Budget, midrange to upmarket lodges, hotels, and guest houses.  These include Bwindi guest house, Bwindi view bandas, Engangi lodge, Buhoma community rest camp, Buhoma havens, Lake Kitandara, Buhoma lodge, and Silverback lodge.

How to get to the Buhoma sector.

The strategic location of the sector is one of the reasons why most gorilla lovers trek the mountain gorillas in Buhoma. The sector easily connects to the Uganda western circuit, which follows around Queen Elizabeth national park, Rwenzori national park, semuliki national park, Kibale national park, and Murchison falls national park. The sector is easily accessed from all these national parks.

A road transfer from Kampala to Buhoma via the Masaka Mbarara highway takes approximately 8 hours driving a distance of 463.2k to reach the sector.

However, a with  short travel time, travelers can opt for the use of an air transfer. From Entebbe international airport to the Kihihi airstrip, it takes only one hour to reach Buhoma.