Budget Gorilla Tours in Rwanda.
Budget gorilla tours in Rwanda offer travellers an affordable opportunity to experience one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife adventures, trekking through the dense forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northern part of the country, bordering Uganda and DR Congo. It’s one of the smallest national parks in the country, covering about 160 square kilometers. Volcanoes National Park is globally famous for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas, which attracts thousands of nature lovers to have a close encounter with them.
It’s not only home to over 30% of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, but it’s also home to over 236 bird species, 36 mammal species, 12 primate species, butterflies and reptiles, which can be encountered while searching for the gorillas in the forest. While Rwanda is often known for luxury gorilla safaris, budget-friendly tours make it possible for backpackers, solo travellers, couples and small groups to enjoy this once in a lifetime encounter without overspending.
Budget-friendly tours involve more affordable accommodations, travelling as a group to share expenses like transportation, and experienced guides. Despite being more affordable, these tours still provide a thrilling and intimate wildlife encounter while supporting gorilla conservation and local communities.
Budget Gorilla Tours Experience in Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park offers incredible experiences to primatologists and nature lovers. This involves hiking through the steep slopes in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Trekking starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity, and visitors are grouped into 8. Each group is assigned to a gorilla family and an experienced park guide who leads them through the forest and gives them more insightful information about the park’s inhabitants. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years, since it involves hiking, and participants should assess their level of fitness. Trekking these giant gentles takes between 2 and 7 hours, depending on where they slept at night. The guide leads the search for the endangered mountain gorilla mountains and once located, they are strictly given one hour to be with them. They will have an opportunity to observe them as they play, feed, groom, and mothers taking care of the young ones, which is a memorable safari experience in the heart of Africa.
Best time for Budget tours in Volcanoes National Park.
Travellers planning budget gorilla tours in Rwanda can visit the park at any time of the year; however, some months are better than others. The park experiences two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season is the best season for budget gorilla tours, which is from October to November and March to May. During these months, the park receives enough rainfall, the park is muddy, making it hard to penetrate. The vegetation cover is tall and dense, which creates unclear views of the animals. This season favours budget travellers, since accommodations and travel companies offer discounts. It’s even easier to get gorilla trekking permits since there are fewer travellers visiting the park. Travellers can also visit the park during the dry season, which is from June to September and December to February. This season is characterised by little to no rainfall, the park is dry, and the vegetation cover is short, which makes it easy to penetrate.
Where to stay on Budget Gorilla Tours in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park offers budget-friendly accommodations ranging from budget to mid-range options, all providing charming experiences. Consider choosing Kinigi Guest House, Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Virunga Hotel, and Amahoro Guest House.
Things to Pack for Safaris.
Travellers visiting the park for a gorilla trekking safari should pack essentials, which will allow them to have a successful safari. They should pack comfortable waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton socks, a pair of gaiters, long-sleeved clothes, a face mask, a hat, sunglasses, trekking poles, insect repellents, sunscreen, a camera with extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, a rain jacket, a drinking water bottle, and energy giving snacks.
