How to Choose a Tour Operator for your Gorilla Safari in Uganda Rwanda
Tracking the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats is undoubtedly one of the most fulfilling safari experiences any traveler can get. Taking a walk of nature through the jungles of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, or Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks to get up close and personal with the Giant Apes as they go about their daily routines is definitely a moving experience. Uganda and Rwanda are the most popular countries for any curious gorilla trekker who yearns for a more rewarding experience while learning about primates who share at least 98.2% of DNA with humans.
Undertaking a gorilla trekking safari, more so if it’s your first time in Uganda and Rwanda is undeniably a daunting experience but many travelers still book their adventures in these countries and divulge that they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else. This brings us to the question that many travelers ask “How do I go about my gorilla trekking trip?” The next answer is choosing a tour operator to organize the trip (organizing airport pick-up and drop-offs, ground transportation to the National Parks, providing the best safari drivers for the gorilla safari, booking for accommodation as well as meals in/around the National Parks, and booking for the gorilla trekking permits).
The Tour Operator makes it easy to organize your gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda but with the endless complaints of fraudsters/conmen, it is always safer (than sorry) to be careful. We shall provide information on how to choose a tour operator for your next Gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking
Conduct a little research on different tour operators in Uganda and Rwanda
Take time to do a little research on the tour operators in Uganda and Rwanda, and learn more about them. You can do this by checking their websites, Social Media as well as the different review platforms like Safari Bookings and TripAdvisor. You can also get opinions of travelers who have used the same Company in organizing their gorilla safaris.
Always follow your gut and undertake proper research before making the final decision as if you rush, you might crush.
Compare prices for Gorilla safaris
Having done research on some of the credible and good tour operators, it won’t hurt to ask and compare prices as well as services offered. In so doing, you will be able to decide on what Travel Agency to go with and make sure that the one chosen offers good services, and unforgettable experiences at a pocket-friendly rate.
Opt for a very informed/experienced Tour Operator
You wouldn’t choose a Travel Agency that has been in operation for a few months at the expense of one that has been organizing gorilla safaris for over a decade. Remember that every job needs considerable experience in the same or related field, and so is the Tourism sector. You need the confidence to know that you are traveling miles upon miles from your home country to a new safari destination and are in the good hands of a Tour Operator who knows what he/she is doing.
With many years of experience, a Tour Operator most likely knows how to handle unexpected situations like lost luggage at the Airport, without wasting much time. These details you can get them by simply interacting with the Company staff/reservationist and in such scenarios, ask as many questions as you can.
Locally raised/local experience
Another important thing to consider when choosing a Tour Operator for your Gorilla safari is local knowledge of the destinations and this is easy for someone who is locally raised. A local Travel Agency will understand the destinations (Volcanoes, Bwindi and Mgahinga), the activities you intend to undertake, accommodation options and their distance from the trekking points, and even how best to relish your time in Uganda and Rwanda.
Business/Tourism License
No traveler wishes to be coned out of their hard-earned monies by unscrupulous Tour Operators and for this reason, be sure that the Company has a Tourism License (only issued by Uganda Tourism Board or Rwanda Development Board). Possessing a Business/Tourism License means the Company is bound by the laws that protect clients and their money. For a Ugandan Tour Operator, you can check the Company’s website on Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) by searching the Company name.
Use recommendations
The best Tour Operator to use for your Gorilla Safari in Uganda and Rwanda is the one recommended by friends or family, especially if the service was satisfying.
With the above tips, you won’t go wrong in choosing a good Tour Operator to organize a hassle-free and memorable Gorilla Safari in Uganda and Rwanda
