Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south-western side of Uganda is a renowned haven to the endangered mountain gorillas, meaning a gorilla trekking trip to the safari destination bring visitors to some of these iconic Giant Apes. Given the prevailing weather conditions as well as rugged terrains of Bwindi, gorilla treks are generally strenuous and physically demanding to every participating trekker regardless of physical ability, age and gender.
With this nature of difficulty, it is always recommended to hire a porter to offer assistance in the trek and from this article, you will be provided information of cost of hiring porters, why you need to hire and how to go about it.
Why should you hire a porter?
Gorilla trekkers are always torn between hiring a porter or not, in an attempt to search for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Porters are handy in carrying your luggage and offering assistance along the strenuous gorilla trek to make it easier to hike through this jungle. Unlike gorilla permits that you need to book 3-4 months in advance, porters can be hired on the actual day of trekking mountain gorillas and this is done after the registration and briefing process. Depending on the size and weight of the backpack, each visitor can hire a porter. This is the first reason to hire the porter and obviously benefit the tourist.
The second reason to hire a porter is that most of these locals live around Bwindi and are indigenous Batwa pygmies, who are surprisingly former poachers trying to redeem their lives and became active participants in gorilla conservation. The most interesting thing is that these people are conversant with the terrain and general geography of Bwindi Impenetrable forest hence making your gorilla trekking experience easier and more comfortable. Porters not only offer help with carrying heavy backpacks but also offer support in lifting sedan chairs for elderly, weak or visitors with reduced mobility. However, this comes at an extra cost.
Besides hiring a porter, feel free to ask for a walking stick from the Park headquarters for extra support during gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Cost of hiring a porter in Bwindi national park.
It is of great importance to understand the cost of hiring a porter in Bwindi, given the fact that most Tour Operators don’t add it in the final gorilla safari cost. Intending trekkers should therefore put it in mind that advance preparation is required for gorilla trekking trips. Porter hiring costs are not fixed but vary from $15 to $20 per porter, although also depends on the time of the year, size and weight of backpack and many other parameters.
This cost only covers assistance in carrying your backpack with so much care, support when passing through difficult and trickier parts of the gorilla trails and in some cases simple guiding and advice to the visitors. This doesn’t cover the tip you give the porter at the end of rewarding trek, especially when you are satisfied with the service and this varies between $5 and $10 per person.
Don’t worry about communication issues because these porters are generally well trained with basic professional code of conduct in addition to good command English language, safety and security procedures during the trek. Therefore feel safe and comfortable when in their company.
Hiring a porter in Bwindi is crucial in easing your mountain gorilla trekking adventure but is also a way of directly supporting local livelihoods as well as community conservation. Since it is a way of promoting local employment, their livelihoods are improved and therefore they are encouraged to conserve giant apes and their natural habitats.
For more safari experiences in Uganda, consider our 10 Days Best of Uganda Safari which offers a comprehensive view of Uganda’s diverse wildlife.
