
Tipping Guides For Gorilla Trekking
Tipping safari guides – Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that many tourists want to engage in so that they meet eye to eye with the human closest relatives sharing 96% human DNA. Gorilla trekking is the most expensive tourism activity in Africa with gorilla trekking going for $1500 in volcanoes national park Rwanda, $700 in Bwindi impenetrable national park, and Mgahinga national Uganda and the cheapest being Virunga national park of DR Congo at $450.
Mountain gorillas survive in the sub-tropical rainforests in mountainous areas, they have thick and long fur that helps them to survive the environment with very cold temperatures on a high altitude. Mountain gorillas cannot survive in zoos it’s the only lowland gorillas that can survive there.
Tipping Safari guides after gorilla trekking
Tipping is always done on a personal level; you only give according to what you have and how you think the individual deserves. Many of the guides are paid little money by the tour operators so they normally rely on tips from the people their guiding.
There are no set rules for tipping or a particular amount of money you should give people but tourists usually tip from $10 to $25 for their guides and others can even add to that if the guide provided them the best service. Tipping is always up to you and your guide did his job.
During gorilla trekking, you will have trackers, a ranger guide, and a porter in case of heavy luggage. Only eight people are allowed to trek a single gorilla family on a single day. If you want to give your ranger some tip you can talk with your group members and you agree on how much you can collect and give him.
Tips are not a must in countries like DR Congo and Uganda but it’s recommended for all tourists to tip their guides, porters and tipping is always done after the activities are done or at the end of the safari. It’s also advisable to always tip your guide on a game drive safari apart from gorilla trekking safaris.
You can also tip potters, waitresses, and waiters in lodges or hotels if you are happy with the services given to you. tipping is very much appreciated by the people you tip because you are always contributing to their welfare and sometimes even help their families unknowingly through tipping.
Porters are not paid by the park authorities so they depend on the money given to them per trek, potters earn about $10 to $20 per trek, and adding on the money given to them by tipping them they will really appreciate you.
Best time for gorilla trekking
Best time for gorilla trekking is not curtained as mountain gorillas are trekked throughout the year, however knowing the best time for gorilla trekking is very important since each season comes with its advantages and disadvantages.
The best time for gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park in Rwanda can be specified because there are 2 rainy seasons. The short season taking place in October and November, the longer season starts from mid-March to May and the remaining months are dry seasons.
The travelers should book their permits in advance from trusted tour operators or Rwanda development board in Rwanda at least three months before the activity.
The best time for gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons of January to December and June to September. They are most favorable for gorilla trekking since the forest is less sleeper. Trekking in high seasons is most expensive in the accommodation sector compared to low seasons when the lodges re cheaper.
Low season is the best season for gorilla trekking for budget trekkers. Tracking in this season is cheap because the accommodation is lowered at a budget rate. The low season months are March, April, May, and November and the months are discouraging.
The prices of lodges is more favorable than high season rates and the low price rates are set to attract budget travelers. The few travelers are grouped into different gorilla families giving different experiences.
Although travelling in this season has an advantage of being cheap, it rains a lot making trekking in this season difficult. The forest grounds are muddy and slippery making travelers uncomfortable.
What to bring for gorilla trekking
The fact that gorilla trekking involves people hiking on the mountain slopes in search of great apes, you will need to come along with waterproof hiking boots, insect repellents to keep you away from insects bites, garden gloves, rain jackets, long-sleeved warm clothes, enough drinking water, energy giving snacks among others.