Uganda Gorilla Trekking Prices
Gorilla trekking is the most popular and interesting activity where visitors move into the tropical rain forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas and when found are allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitats.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two places that are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but gorilla trekking is also done in other African destinations like Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga and Kahuzi Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in the Kanungu district that harbors over 400 mountain gorillas which are half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors of Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma.
In Bwindi, tourists can also experience the gorilla habituation process which is different from mountain gorilla trekking, and the tourists that take part in the gorilla habituation process have a chance to spend four hours with the gorillas compared to gorilla trekking where you get to spend one hour with the endangered mountain gorillas.
Mgahinga gorilla national park is the other place in Uganda where you can carry out mountain gorilla trekking. The park is located in southwestern Uganda in the Kisoro district and is home to two habituated gorilla families namely Nyakagezi and Hirwa families.
Gorilla trekking in both national parks allows a maximum of 8 people to trek each habituated gorilla family and the trekking mostly starts in the morning with a briefing session where the tourists are talked to about the rules and regulations, expectations and the trekking takes 2 to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorillas and once they are found, you can spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas taking their photos, recording the moments, learning more about their habits and behaviors.
Price of Gorilla Trekking Permit
A gorilla trekking permit is a card that is issued to tourists above the age of fifteen allowing him or them to trek a gorilla family in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs$700 for Foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and for East African citizens UGX 250,000 per person, and the prices of gorilla permits are cheaper compared to trekking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda at $1500 per person for all the nationalists.
The gorilla permits in Uganda are booked directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority or you can book via a trusted tour operator like Vibrant Holiday Safaris. Tourists are advised to book a permit 3 to 4 months in advance before the traveling date to avoid disappointment, and since the permits are so competitive more especially during the peak season in the months of December to February and June to September.
Price of transport
Transport costs are budgeted considering the distance, vehicle used, fuel, guide, and the number of days that you want to spend on a safari. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in southwestern Uganda and when using road transport, it takes about 8 to 9 hours to reach the park headquarters and about 9 to 10 hours when going to Mgahinga Gorilla national park there those planning for a 3 days gorilla trekking tour they have to know that on the first day, it will be traveling to Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; Day 2; Gorilla trekking and the last day is when you travel back to Kampala so when budgeting, you need to calculate for the vehicle, fuel and the driver guide who will be transporting you to the destination.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can both be accessed by air transport means and there are domestic companies like Aero Link and chartered flights which fly daily from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi ansi Airstrip to Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips so the visitors who do not like traveling long distances can book a flight ticket either directly by putting a phone call across to the Aero link companies or by contacting Vibrant Holiday Safaris to help you book the flight ticket for you. When budgeting for the flight ticket, you need to include the safari vehicle that will pick you up from the airstrip to the park headquarters, fuel, and the guide.
Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mganhinga gorilla national park can also be accessed from Kigali where you can fly to Kigali airport from your home destination and then connect by road from the airport to the park headquarters via the Katuna border in Kable or Cyanika border in Kisoro which takes about 3 to 4 hours. Vibrant Holiday Safaris in Uganda organizes safaris from Kigali like 2 days of Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali which mostly saves you from traveling long distances and cut costs.
Price Of Accommodation
Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks have a wide range of luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodations that offer full-board and half-board services and when considering the price for accommodation you need to know the type of accommodation and the number of days that you are spending for the gorilla trekking safari.
Cost Of A Porter
Porters are people found at the park headquarters who help visitors at a price during the gorilla trekking activity since trekking gorillas leads to steep terrain, muddy and slippery rounds, and visitors are advised to hire a porter at an affordable price to help them push, pull, carry the essential items and the prices you pay to the porters leads to the development of the community and also to sustain their families.
Cost Of Tipping
Tipping is a form of appreciation for the services offered so the tips can be given to the waiters, waitresses at the lodge, park guides, porters, and driver guides. In Uganda, there is no tipping policy so you can tip as much as you feel.
Vibrant Holiday Safaris offer gorilla trekking packages like 3 days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris, and 3 days Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali offering you an amazing and unforgettable experience on your safari for more information about the price of gorilla trekking in Uganda, you can contact our experienced tour guides.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Prices