Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost : Gorilla trekking is one of the most incredible wildlife encounter in the world and Uganda is an excellent destination to visit for an encounter with these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Uganda offers the most affordable gorilla trekking than its counterpart Rwanda, these two countries offer equally fantastic experiences however the big difference is in the cost of the gorilla permit. Rwanda’s gorilla permits cost US$ 1500 per person per trek and Uganda’s permit costs US$ 800 per person per trek.
Still Uganda offers an expensive adventure compared to other African destinations, besides the gorilla permit price there are several additional costs to a Uganda gorilla trekking safari.
Gorilla Trekking Permits
No traveler is allowed to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park without a gorilla permit, in Uganda these permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Note: the permit must be bought for the park where you wish to go gorilla trekking, in Bwindi you have to be sure of the sector you want to trek (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 gorilla trekking sectors that is Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Buhoma).
You can only book your gorilla permit through a registered local Uganda tour operator.
You need to book your gorilla trekking permits in Uganda well in advance to ensure you are not disappointed.
How Much Is Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda?
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs as the following
US$800 for a foreign non-resident
US$700 for a foreign resident
Uganda Shillings 300,000 for the East African Citizen
For travelers who wish to spend more time with gorillas, you can take part in gorilla habituation experience. A gorilla habituation permit costs as follows
US$ 1500 for a foreign non-resident
US$ 1000 for a foreign resident
Uganda Shilling 750,000 for the East African Citizen
Additional Costs for Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost are as explained below
Accommodation Cost
In Uganda, you cannot do gorilla trekking without staying at least 1 night within the area. In Uganda’s gorilla destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there are different types of accommodation facilities to choose from. These range from budget, midrange to luxury and they category you choose determines your Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost.
Below is the rough cost for the accommodation options, per person, per night, inclusive of meals.
Budget accommodation – $50 to $100
Mid-range accommodation – $100 to $500
High-end accommodation costs – $600 to $1500
Transport Cost
If you are planning to book a domestic flight from Entebbe Airport to an airstrip near Bwindi or Mgahinga, the flights cost about $ 450. The fight takes about 1½ hours.
Traveling by road from Entebbe or Kampala is a cheap option to flying, the road trip from there to the gorilla parks takes about 8 to 10 hours. Hiring a vehicle in Uganda will cost you about
US$40 – US$60 per day for small 4×4 car
US$80 – US$100 per day for medium 4×4 car
US$200 – US$300 per day for a safari 4×4 Land Cruiser
The above prices do not include fuel for the vehicle and the drive, the price may include a driver / guide but it is advisable to talk to the operator before making the payment. Maintenance, certification and insecure of the vehicle are the responsibility of the owner or tour operator.
The Cost Of Food & Drinks – Water
Lodges and hotels offer food and drinks, water and meals can cost you about $ 30 each day if you are traveling on your own. When traveling with a tour company, you should not worry about food as it is normally included in the quotation.
The company takes care of the water and food while at the hotel and when traveling.
Cost Of Items On The Gorilla Safari Packing List
For the best gorilla trekking experience, you will need to travel with the following items
A good camera
Hiking shoes or boots
Insect repellents
Hand gloves
A rain jacket
The cost of all these need to be taken into consideration apart from the gorilla permit itself
Porter Fees
Porter fees also add to the Uganda gorilla trekking cost, gorilla trekkers are encouraged to take porters for several reasons
- To carry your bags and when you are approaching gorillas, they will remain with your packed lunch and all items you might not need.
- They will give a push or a pull during your trek in the forest, this extra effort is to enable you to achieve your dream of viewing these endangered mountain gorillas.
- By taking a porter, you are contributing to the community development since most of the porters are school dropouts or continuing students that need this money to finance their education
A gorilla trekking porter costs a minimum of $ 10
Tips
Tips are a form of appreciation of good service rendered to you by your safari guide, gorilla trekking guide, waiters and porters. It is not a must that you have to do this.
Tipping in Uganda during gorilla trekking is not compulsory and should only be paid after a service is rendered and you are happy with it.
The amount entirely depends on you, however as a responsible tour company. We recommend that you put some small funds aside for tipping.
Visa Costs
Most nationalities pay US $ 50 for a single entry visa to Uganda, if you will be traveling to other countries like Rwanda or Tanzania, you need to get an East African Tourist visa which costs US$ 100.
Company Markup
Tour companies charges between 10 – 20% of the total gorilla trekking cost as fixing or service fee, it is part of the profit as well as helping the company to book all services such as gorilla permits, accommodation and making telephone calls to check for accommodation availability among others.
3 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Cost Estimates
Putting all the above factors in consideration, the cost of a typical 3 day gorilla trekking Uganda Safari Package can cost as below
Budget Gorilla trekking trip: permit $700 + car rental $150 + fuel+ $200 + Guide 150 accommodation $150 equating to $1350.
Mid-range Gorilla trekking safari: permit $700 + car rental $300 + fuel÷ $250 + Guide 150 + accommodation $450 equating to $1850.
Luxury Gorilla trekking tour: permit $700 + car rental $750 + fuel $350 + Guide 200 + accommodation $900 equating to $2900.
This gorilla safari price estimate is for 1 person traveling alone on a private gorilla trek, however the cost can slightly or considerably change depending on the number of people.
FAQs About Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost
- Why Is Gorilla Trekking So Expensive?
Mountain gorillas are highly endangered with just over 1006 individuals left on earth, and due to the shared DNA Mountain gorillas are easily affected by our viruses and illness. This has forced governments including that of Uganda to raise the price of gorilla trekking permits.
It is important to note that if the Uganda gorilla trekking cost was reduced considerably, too many people would be attracted to visit the gorillas hence affecting the overall well-being of the few habituated gorilla families.
Also gorilla conservation efforts needs significant investments in infrastructure, rangers, research and scientists which requires money.
A fraction of the money collected from gorilla trekking permits is used to fund activities related to protect these endangered primates. In general, a 15% of the income from gorilla permits goes to the government 10% to the local communities to limit poaching, and 75% to gorilla conservation.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Go Gorilla Trekking?
- Book your Uganda gorilla tour with a local tour company
- Travel in group, this helps you reduce the cost of transportation and accommodation
- Visit in low season months of October, November, May and April. Lodges tend to lower their rates during the low season when tourists are few.
- Opt for short gorilla safaris like a 3 day Uganda gorilla safari
- Instead of chartered planes or private planes, use road to get to gorilla trekking destinations.
Ready To Start Planning Your Uganda Gorilla Safari?
Plan your gorilla trekking safari with us, contact us and our expert consultants will tailor a gorilla safari for you according to your budget and interests.
