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Gorilla Trekking Information
Gorilla Trek Price £250 · 380 · CHF630 · US$500 · C$540 · A$600 · NZ$680 Gorilla Booking Fee £30 · 50 · CHF80 · US$60 · C$60 · A$70 · NZ$80 Booking and Payment If you want the chance to trek to see the rare Mountain Gorilla, you will need to buy a special permit. Due to the strict controls imposed by the ORTPN (Office Rwandais du Tourism et des Parcs Nationaux) to protect the gorillas, only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to visit each habituated group per day. This means that permits are at a premium, particularly in the high season months of July and August. You need to make your booking as far in advance as possible and will need to provide Budget Expeditions or your Travel Agent with your passport details in writing at the time of booking, along with a deposit (see booking conditions) or the full amount if booking within 60 days of departure. During the high season, we strongly recommend that you book your permit at least 3-4 months in advance. If you choose to book your permit less than 60 days before departure, we will still attempt to secure you a permit but limited availability is likely to greatly reduce your chances of success. There is also a US$10 transport fee to be paid locally to get you from Rhuengeri (where we camp with the truck) to the starting point of the trek. Please bear in mind that Mountain Gorillas are wild animals and that there is no guarantee that you will actually see them although we have never experienced this on any previous trips. Cancellation Once your permit has been confirmed, we cannot make any changes to the trek date as it is non changeable and non refundable. If other changes need to be made to the permit (excluding date changes), an administration charge will apply so it is important that we get all the correct details from the start. Cancellation by you is subject to our standard booking conditions (see clause 4a on page 97). Please see the `Gorilla Information Sheet' on our website for full booking conditions. Your Passport Important Information You MUST apply for your permit with the same passport as you will use to travel to Rwanda. It is therefore extremely important to check that it has a minimum of 6 months validity after the end of your tour before you apply. Your permit is linked to your name and passport number and if you amend or renew your passport after we have confirmed your permit it will no longer be valid. Price Changes Please note that the prices quoted are subject to local regulation and may change without notice. Although we will endeavour to keep to the fees listed, it may become necessary to increase our prices accordingly. Therefore the cost of the trek is based on the trek date and not the booking date. Any changes in these permit prices will be posted on our website and also advised at the time of booking if known. Any price increase will be paid locally in US$ cash. Trekking to the Mountain Gorillas There is no doubt that this is one of the most amazing wildlife opportunities in the world. Sadly, as gorilla numbers continue to decline, this is an opportunity likely to become less and less possible as time goes on. In order to make the most of your visit, it is important that you are well prepared. The actual trek itself can vary from being a relatively easy one hour walk to an arduous and tiring 8 hour climb through dense, rough jungle; it will all depend on where the gorillas are when you visit. They are tracked by the rangers on a daily basis, and you will start your trek from the area where they were seen the previous day.
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G o r illa Tr e k k ing Inf or ma t ion
The weather is extremely changeable, is often raining and can vary from extreme heat to extreme cold, so you will need to wear layers and have a good waterproof outer layer. As the vegetation can be thick and sharp, you will need protective clothing (so no shorts) and we suggest that you also take a pair of gardening type gloves so that you can pull yourself up on vines etc. A comfortable, worn in pair of walking boots / shoes are essential as you may be walking for a long time and a day pack to carry water, camera, insect repellent, sun cream, toilet roll and lunch etc is also necessary. Before you leave for your trek, you will be given a brief talk by the Park Rangers to explain the rules of being with the gorillas and how to behave. They not only have your safety in mind, but also that of the gorillas, so therefore no contact is permitted and you are expected to keep a few metres distance between you and the gorillas. You will be accompanied at all times by a tracker / guide and an armed park ranger and once you reach the gorillas, you will have no longer than one hour to watch them. This time passes incredibly quickly so we recommend that as well as taking photos, you do take some time away from the camera to just watch them and enjoy being a part of their habitat for a short while.
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Budget Expeditions · Price Does Matter · Tours for 18-35's
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