Thinking of choosing a tour company for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda? This is the best way to go, and I always advise tourists to do it.
There are many challenges involved in planning your own gorilla holiday. I will talk about these later in the article. If you want a reliable operator for your gorilla safari, I recommend these selected gorilla trekking companies you can book with.
I have traveled with them before, and I guarantee you will get good service. Women who plan to trek gorillas while pregnant should also use them for better support.
Some tourists think booking a gorilla trek through a tour operator is expensive. This is both true and false. I will be honest and explain why you should use a tour company for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda.
I once had a client who booked his own gorilla permit through me for $800, took a bus from Kampala to Kisoro (about $10), and likely had to walk some distance to his lodge.
It’s good to be adventurous, but have you thought about the risks involved? First, you are in a foreign country, and second, if something goes wrong, you may have no one to help you.
A tour operator always has some level of authority and connections. This means if anything goes wrong, they can help and solve issues faster.
Uganda is a safe country, but no place is 100% safe. Crime can happen anywhere. In this case, the client was lucky and everything went well. Even though he only paid for the permit, I helped him where I could. But not all operators will do that.
Before we continue, you might want to read my luxury gorilla trekking and budget gorilla trekking review.
But why book without a tour operator?
The whole point of travel is to enjoy it. You can’t enjoy much if you’re being too careful with spending. Just know—the more you’re willing to spend, the better your experience.
Tour operators try their best to organize something good for you. They will book nice places for you to stay, get you a vehicle for transport to keep you safe, and provide you with an experienced guide who knows about tourism in Uganda and Rwanda.
If you lose your gorilla permit, they can get a replacement within a few hours or minutes depending on the situation. With this kind of support, you can relax and enjoy your safari.
Another issue is accommodation. Booking lodges by yourself may cost you more than what you would pay through a tour operator. Lodges have rack rates, tour operator rates, resident rates, and confidential rates.
Rack rates are the highest. Tour operator rates are lower. Confidential rates are the lowest and are usually available when a company has a deal with a lodge because of the number of clients they bring.
With this arrangement, an operator may give you a room for $150 per night, even though the rack rate is $350 per night. So don’t think you’re saving money by doing it all yourself.
You may end up spending more and face more risks during your trip.
So which tour company should you use?
There are many tour companies in Uganda like Magical Gorilla Adventures that can plan your trek. I suggest you look at these recommended gorilla trekking companies, Uganda tour operators, and Rwanda tour companies. You can also search online and compare a few prices before confirming your safari.
The only difference is that I have personally traveled with the companies I recommend, and I update the list in case any operator gives poor service or gets bad feedback from clients. This helps me keep a trusted list of operators.
Don’t think that Rwanda-based operators are better than Uganda-based operators. Also, don’t assume that big companies are always the best.
Many of the best operators in Rwanda are actually Uganda-based or have offices in both countries. Very few Rwanda-based operators will plan a good trip for you, and those who do have been in the business for a long time.
Don’t feel uncomfortable if a Uganda-based company sends you a quote. You are likely to have a good experience.
Another mistake clients make is choosing only the big companies and ignoring the small ones.
I’ve worked in both the Uganda and Rwanda tourism industries for a long time, and one thing I’ve learned is this:
Big companies often train the best small companies. Many of the new operators worked with big companies before and gained good experience even though they are new in the market.
They are also more affordable and open to bargaining—something big companies rarely do.
See these recommended companies.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
