Gorilla trekking Uganda price

Gorilla trekking Uganda price : Compared to other wildlife encounters, the cost of gorilla trekking is relatively high and in this article, you will discover why gorilla trekking is expensive or high.

Gorilla trekking is one of the most thrilling wildlife activities in Africa and it so different from game drives in Serengeti national park, Masai Mara national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and other savannah parks in the world.

Gorilla trekking is a special activity as it is only done in 4 parks (3 countries in the world) and also mountain gorillas look and behave like humans, they live in families led by a dominant silverback who dictates everything that is done by the group.

Mountain gorillas are endangered species and this is why visiting them is expensive, also there are many people who want to see them and this have forced the government of Uganda to raise the price of permits.

Basing the principle of demand and Supply, the higher the demand, the higher the price.

The demand is not the only factor explaining the high price for mountain gorilla trekking, there is a great need of funds to protect the primates.

Gorilla Conservation involves significant investments in research, infrastructure, rangers and scientists. This requires money and part of the money is collected from gorilla permit, the funds are used to fund activities related to protecting these majestic primates. 15% of the money collected from gorilla permits goes to the government, 10% to the local community and 75% to gorilla conservation.

It is important to note that if the cost of gorilla permits were to be reduced, too many tourists would visit the gorillas thus affecting the overall well –being of the few habituated gorilla groups.

Note: Mountain gorilla trekking is possible only in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Uganda mountain gorillas can be tracked in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The cost of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

It is important to note that the price of gorilla permit is just a fraction of the overall cost of gorilla trekking, you still have to consider transportation, accommodation, food, Visa, air tickets, packing list, porters and tips for the guides and all of this will be discussed in this article.

The following questions will be discussed in this article

How expensive is gorilla trekking?

What is the cost of gorilla trekking?

How much does a gorilla safari cost?

How much does gorilla trekking cost?

What is the gorilla trekking price range?

How much does it cost to go gorilla trekking in Uganda

What are the gorilla trekking in Uganda prices?

If you are planning to do gorilla trekking in Uganda, you need to have a gorilla permit which can be obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority through a tour operator.

A gorilla permit costs as follows

US$ 700 per person for Foreigners

US$ 600 per person for foreign residents

UGx 250,000 for East Africa Community Residents

For those interested in the gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Bwindi impenetrable National park, a gorilla habituation permit costs US$ 1500. This experience allows visitors to stay 4 hours in the presence of mountain gorillas.

A gorilla permit is a requirement for gorilla trekking, you cannot be allowed to take part in the activity without showing your permit to the park authorities.

What is included in the price of a Gorilla Permit?

A Gorilla permit includes interacting with the gorillas for one hour, park entrance and ranger fees.

The cost of a gorilla tour

To book a gorilla permit, you need to go through your tour operator. The permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority, it is important to book your gorilla permit or gorilla tour at least 2 months in advance.

Price for gorilla trekking safari

The cost of accommodation: when planning your gorilla tour, one of the first things to consider is where to sleep. All the gorilla national parks in Uganda have high quality lodges and a choice of accommodation will depend on your budget.

A good budget hotel costs between $ 50 to $ 130 a night.
Good mid-range lodge costs for between $150 to $ 200
Luxury hotels cost from $ 450 to $ 1,000

If planning on booking your accommodation by yourself, ensure that tit is located close to the starting point of the gorilla family or sector if you have been assigned. If you book a faraway lodge, you may miss briefing hence missing the trek. This is all the more reason why it is better to book your gorilla tour through a reputable tour operator.

The cost of food (meals): Apart from accommodation and gorilla permits, you need to put expenses of food and drinks into consideration, the hotels provide food and water but when going into the forests you will need to have food and water which can cost about $ 40 each day that is if you are traveling on your own. If you are planning to buy expensive booze or cigars, you might have to plan for them separately. If you are traveling with a tour company, you shouldn’t worry about food as it is included in your quotation.

The cost of transportation: after securing the gorilla permits and knowing a lodge, the next thing to consider is how to get to the gorilla park, Air tickets to and from your country of origin which can cost between $ 600 to $ 2500 depending on the choice of airline and season.

If you are planning to book chartered flight to get to the park, it costs about $ 200 – $ 400.

From Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi or Mgahinga, it takes between 8 and 10 hours of driving.

Arranging your own vacation in an unfamiliar and developing country can totally complicated, this is why most travelers leave the issue of transportation, permits and accommodation to the tour operators of their choice.

Note: a few tour companies book air tickets on behalf of their clients, to be sure consultant your tour operator/ company to see if they can help you with booking flights to and from your country of origin.

Cost of items on the gorilla trekking packing list: for the best gorilla tracking experience, you will need to travel with a good camera, insect repellents, sunscreen, hiking boots, hiking boots, hand gloves, a pair of binoculars and a rain jacket. These are all hidden costs that need to be taken into consideration apart from the gorilla permit itself.

Visa and border crossing: gorilla trekking often involves crossing borders, you can choose to arrive in Rwanda and cross to Uganda’s Bwindi for gorilla trekking experience. This involves paying a Visa fee of $ 50 at either the Katuna or Cyanika border crossing, the East African Tourist Visa can also be required for tourists on an East African safari combing different countries of East Africa.

Yellow Fever vaccination card: this is required for entering Uganda and you will be asked to present the vaccination card at the airport or while crossing borders, so if you are planning to visit Uganda you will need to consider taking the shot.

Cost of porters – most especially for the elderly – if you are traveling with heavy equipment, bags or video camera, you will need to hire a porter to help you carry them while tracking the gorillas.

Porter can also help you carry packed lunch and lend a hand during the difficult sections of the trek, gorilla trekking for the elderly is more complicated because they would need to use Sedan chairs and hire about eight porters to carry it. It can cost about $ 400 to hire sedan chairs and the porters to carry it.

Porters live close to the gorilla parks and some were once poachers, a few of the porters are students who are looking for money to top up their school fees or parents interested in making some money to put food on the table.

By hiring these porters, you are supporting them and their families, hiring a porter cost about $ 15 and they can be found at the park offices or during the briefing.

Tips for Guide/ Driver, Park Rangers and Hotel Staff: sometimes hotel staff, guides, rangers, waiters and waitresses go out of their way to make sure that your time with them was perfect and memorable. Out of courtesy, you might decide to show your appreciation for the work done by giving them tip, the amount depends entirely on you.

Tipping during gorilla trekking is no compulsory and should only be paid after service is rendered and you are happy with it.

Note: The cost gorilla trekking also depends on how many days you have for the activity.