Are you considering choosing a tour Company for gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda or Uganda, and don’t know to go about it? While most travellers skip this booking process and instead opt to plan their own Gorilla safari, there are numerous drawbacks of this planning process.
However, if you must use the services of a Tour Company for organizing your gorilla safari adventures, make sure that it is credible and reliable. It is sometimes difficult for travellers to determine the sincerity of these Companies but simply check out the list of credible companies on the “Association of Uganda Tour Operators” (AUTO) Website. The perception some travellers have about booking gorilla trekking tours through Tour Operators is that they are very costly. This can be true and false at the same time, depending on the chosen Company.
Imagine the stress and hustle of booking your own gorilla permit (that costs $700 foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and Shs. 250,000 for East African visitors), having to run around to book and board a public bus from Kampala to Kisoro or Kabale Town (for about $14) then struggle to find a motorcycle taxi (popularly known as Boda Boda) or walk for a reasonable distance to the reserved place of stay. This sounds interesting and an experience worth trying, considering the risks involved but one thing you need to keep in mind is that you are visiting a foreign country and also, you might have no one or take long to find help in case things go south.
As for a gorilla safari with a Tour Operator, you will always be helped by your Safari driver or better still easily find help. Although Uganda and Rwanda are generally safe and secure, there can never be a 100% safe safari destination because some incidences of petty crimes are inevitable.
Reasons why you have to book with a Tour Company?
The entire essence of undertaking a safari is exuberance and you can’t get the most of your trip with stinginess. Put it this way; the more money you are willing to spend, the mote merriment you will expect to have.
Tour companies usually put their best skills, energy and commitment in organizing memorable gorilla safaris for travellers. Right from booking gorilla permits, putting together the most exquisite places of lodging, the most comfortable safari vehicle for transferring to the Gorilla National Parks and back as well as hiring an expert safari driver who is seasoned and very conversant about gorilla tourism in Rwanda and Uganda.
The other reason has got to do with accommodation where the tour operators have knowledge on the best kind of accommodation to book, especially in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where gorilla families and places of lodging are based on the trekking region/sector. And also, you are likely to take a longer time if booking by yourself and surprisingly, places of lodging have different rates-rack, residential, tour operator and confidential.
The Rack rates are the ones offered on brochures, websites and during inquiries, thus higher than the tour Operator rates. Confidential rates are the ones offered as an agreement between the booking agent and accommodation facility depending on the volume of sake thus are the lowest. For this reason, a room might cost $350 per night when you are booking by yourself yet the tour operator will offer the same room plus all the amenities at $200 per night.
Which tour Company should be chosen for Gorilla Trekking?
Many Tour Companies in Uganda and Rwanda offer gorilla trekking tours but the question is, “how can you choose the best company to book with?” First, the credible ones are members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators). Send inquiries to some of these Companies and go with the best prices/quotation.
When choosing the Tour Company to go with, avoid being biased or making preferences for the big dogs because even the under dogs have organized successful and memorable gorilla trekking tours.