You must know the cost of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda before you go. The total cost includes the entire package rather than just one event or item; therefore, it is difficult to provide an exact price.
If you plan on going gorilla trekking in Uganda, you must know how much it costs. Since the total cost of Gorilla Trekking Uganda includes the entire trip, and not just one event or item, it’s hard to determine an exact price.
Fortunately, there are several factors to consider when attempting to do so.
You need to have a gorilla trekking permit
Because a Gorilla Trekking Permit is required to participate in Gorilla Trekking, the price of the permit is a significant factor in the overall cost of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking currently costs $700 for non-residents from outside of East Africa, $600 for East Africans, and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens at any time of year. Avoid being tricked or misled because there are no discounts anymore.
It costs $1,500 for non-resident foreigners, $1,000 for East African residents, and 750,000 Ugandan UGX for citizens of East Africa to participate in the Gorilla Habituation Experience.
The vehicle that will be used
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park are the two areas where gorilla trekking takes place and getting it isn’t always easy.
While tarmac roads will get you to the parks and the starting places of your gorilla trek, you will likely need a 4X4 vehicle for the shorter portions of the route.
For the Bwindi walk, there are four distinct areas of the mountain range where the trek takes place: Buhoma; Ruhija; Rushaga; and Nkuringo.
Rental rates for little cars range from $40 to $60 per day; for large 4X4s, the rate is between $80 and $100; and for luxurious Jeeps and Land Cruisers, the rate is $200 to $300. All of these rates are for the use of a vehicle only, not for fuel.
When visiting a developing country, it can be difficult to plan your journey. Because of this, most tourists prefer to leave transportation, permits, and lodging to their tour operators so that they may simply show up at the airport.
Another thing to consider is that only a few travel agencies are willing to buy airline tickets for the benefit of their customers. For help booking flights to and from your home country, contact your trip operator.
Accommodation
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga requires that you spend at least one night in the area, therefore the sort of lodging you choose has a direct impact on the cost of your trip.
Affordable Bwindi housing costs $30 to $60 per night, mid-range Bwindi accommodation costs $80 to $180, luxury Bwindi hotel costs $200 to $500, and upscale Bwindi accommodation costs $800 to $3000.
The price of a full-board plan could be a little more expensive than the price of an all-inclusive package.
At the end of the day, having porters to help you carry your gear and lend a hand when the going gets tough may make your gorilla trekking trip that much more enjoyable.
For $10 to $20 every trek, you can hire a porter to carry your gear. You may not need to hire a guide because the permit includes one.
Cost of food
In these countries, food, drink, and water costs should be factored into your vacation budget. When you’re out of the hotel or travelling, you’ll need to bring your water and food.
If you’re travelling alone, a day’s worth of food and drink should run you roughly $40. You may need to budget more per day if you want to buy costly wine or cigars.
Food should not be an issue if you are travelling with a tour group. Food and water should be taken care of at the hotel and while travelling between events.
Estimated costs for a three-day gorilla trek in Uganda
Taking all of the above into account, the cost of a typical 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking package is as follows:
- Gorilla trekking on a budget – permit $700 + car rental $150 + petrol $200 + accommodation $150 = $1,200.
- Gorilla trekking on a budget – permit $700 + car hire $300 + petrol + $250 + hotel $450 = $1,700.
Luxury gorilla trekking costs $700 for the permit, 750 for the car hire, 350 for petrol, and 900 for lodging, for a total of $2,700.
For a solo traveller, this is the estimated cost of a private Gorilla expedition. Depending on the number of participants and whether it is a private or a group tour, the price may vary slightly or significantly.
As far as Gorilla trekking is concerned, contacting a local tour operator who is on the ground and has the local knowledge is still the best approach to get the best price and create a seamless and memorable trip.
Why is Gorilla trekking so expensive?
Compared to other wildlife interactions, gorilla trekking is expensive as we’ve just discovered.
Gorilla trekking is one of the most exhilarating nature activities on the planet. It’s a completely different experience than a game drive in the Serengeti, Masai Mara, or Kruger National Park.
Gorilla trekking is unique because mountain gorillas look and act like humans. They are organised into clans, each headed by a dominant silverback who sets the rules for the rest of the tribe.
Then there’s Gorilla conservation
Investing in research, rangers, and scientists necessitates large sums of money. Some of the money collected from gorilla permits is used to make significant investments in research, rangers, and scientists to protect these majestic primates.
This requires money. For the sake of accuracy, 15% of donations go to the government, 10% to the local community, and 75% are used to further the cause of gorilla conservation.
Also keep in mind that if permit prices were slashed significantly, there is a good chance that too many visitors would flock to the parks, which would harm the few habituated gorilla groups.
Only in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo can you go gorilla trekking. Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks in Uganda are good places to look for mountain gorillas.
Conclusion
How many days of gorilla trekking are you willing to put aside for the experience will determine the cost.
Given the foregoing expenditures, how can you save money on gorilla trekking? One option is to go gorilla trekking in places like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is both quite inexpensive.
