The cost of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda – How much a safari to track gorillas costs, Price of Gorilla Permits and more Travel Guide
What is the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda? The cost of gorilla tracking in Uganda & Rwanda varies depending on different factors. By putting into consideration those factors, it becomes easier to ascertain or establish the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Cost of gorilla permits
To be in position to engage in gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, gorilla permits are a must have. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are obtainable by foreign non-residents at USD700, foreign residents USD600 and citizens from East Africa Community pay UGX250000. Gorilla habituation permits cost USD1500 for foreign non-residents, USD1000 foreign residents and East Africa citizens UGX750000. Rwanda gorilla permits cost USD1500 per tourist and whether it is in Uganda or Rwanda where you plan to undertake a trek to see mountain gorillas, it is advisable to have your gorilla permits booked early 2-4 months before the date you plan to go gorilla trekking.
Read more about gorilla permits here: Gorilla Permits in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo
Tourist vehicle
In order for you to travel to and from your destination- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you need a 4×4 vehicle. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone has 4 sectors that tourists can easily access by road- they include Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga and Buhoma. The prices of hiring vehicles differs depending on the tour operator, the small cars like 4×4 Toyota Rav4 can be rented at USD45 to USD60 per day, medium sized 4×4 vehicle at USD80-USD100 per day and Land Cruisers at USD200-USD300 per day. These rates are only for car hire excluding fuel.
Where to stay/Accommodation
Where to stay is important factor while you are on gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda and there are different accommodation choices- budget, midrange and luxury. The cost of accommodation influences the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. The cost of budget accommodation option usually ranges from USD30-USD60 per night, mid-range from USD80-USD180 while luxury costs from USD200-USD500 and up-market accommodation from USD800-USD3000 per night.
The cost for accommodation are usually per room, per night on bed and breakfast basis meaning, it might be a little different in case a visitor is booking a full board package. The other essential element to consider is porter fees which tourists have to consider when planning for gorilla trekking. Porters are usually hired to help carry luggage of visitors and you can hire one at USD10-USD20 per gorilla trek.
The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda also varies depending on the days you plan to spend in the destination. Cost estimates for 3 days gorilla trekking differs depending on budget, mid-range and luxury. Budget gorilla trekking costs about USD1200 in Uganda and costs about USD2000 in Rwanda.
Midrange gorilla trekking costs about USD 1700 in Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking costs like USD2500. Luxury gorilla trekking in Uganda costs about USD2700 and in Rwanda you may need about USD3500. These cost estimates are for solo travelers on a private gorilla trekking safari and may change depending on how many people are in a group safari or private gorilla safari.