How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost?
Gorilla Safari Cost Determinants – Price of Gorilla Trekking Permit – Cost of Gorilla Lodges and Transport costs
Many Travelers usually ask: How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo? It should be noted that Mountain Gorilla Trekking is one of the most sought after safari Activities in Africa. Gorilla trekking is also one of the costliest activities in Africa given that the permit to see the rare and endangered mountain Gorillas is $400 in Congo, $700 in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda and this excludes other costs like Transport, Accommodation etc.
Therefore while planning a gorilla trek one may ask them selves, How much does a Gorilla trekking Safari Cost?, Where can I get the best deals for a Gorilla Trekking Safari?
It should however be noted that the total cost for a gorilla trekking safari entirely depends on the preference of the individual traveler or groups of travelers. There are three main things to consider while planning your gorilla trek, and that is the cost of the Gorilla trekking permit ( price differs for Uganda, Rwanda and Congo), The cost of accommodation (Are you interested in Budget, Mid-range or Luxury Lodging?), The cost of transport and other ad-dons.
If you are planning for a Gorilla Trekking Safari in 2020 / 2021, it is good to note that currently the DR Congo / Virunga national Park has the lowest cost for the gorilla trekking permit at $400, Uganda follows with the permit for Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla national Park being at $700, and Rwanda has the Highest price permit at $1500 for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes national Park.
Looking more closely at the three gorilla trekking destinations, it should be noted that though the Permit for Gorilla trekking in Congo seems to be low priced, there are lot of safety and health issues in the DR Congo, Rwanda on the other side has positioned itself as a luxury gorilla trekking destination and thus cutting off the budget / Mid-range clientele. Therefore, at the moment, Uganda stands out as the number one gorilla trekking destination as it caters for the needs of every category of tourists be it Budget, Mid-range or Luxury in its safe gorilla trekking parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga and has therefore become the number one choice for travelers in coming to see the Gorillas in Africa.
Also while planning your gorilla safari, its important to note that the type of transport you will use will affect the total cost of the gorilla safari. The type of car offered for Budget and Mid-range is a comfortable safari van / super custom, on the other hand luxury trips usually come with a Safari Land-cruiser and then other travelers who prefer at most convenience can choose to fly from Entebbe to Bwindi, though of course this attracts a higher cost.
Our Verdict: Gorilla trekking has always been described as a once in a lifetime experience. Encountering the endangered mountain gorillas in their habitat is thrilling and the experience is like non other. It should be noted that to date, no mountain gorillas have been able to survive in Captivtiy in the zoo, and all gorillas in the zoos all over the world are lowland gorillas, therefore the experience to see the gorillas in the wild is indeed priceless. Moving through the rugged, forested and scenic landscapes of the gorilla trekking destinations of Bwindi, Mgahinga, Parc national des volcans and Virunga is challenging and and entertaining at the same time, but definitely rewarding it the experience of meeting the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bellow is the detailed analysis of gorilla trekking in the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda, the Number one gorilla Safari Destination:
The Safari to track the mountain gorilla in Uganda is relatively affordable with the gorilla trekking permit going for $600 (which has been increased to $700 effective 1st Juy 2020). This means that every traveler interested in seeing gorillas can probably afford a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. The cost of a Mid-range safari to see the gorillas in Uganda is far less costly as compared to the Same in Rwanda and yet the experience in both countries is the same.
Uganda is also very appealing for luxury travelers; this is because there are several exclusive luxury safari lodges which are also at far better prices than those of the same caliber in Rwanda. Uganda also has several other national parks and therefore you can easily add chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing or adventure sports on top of your Uganda gorilla trekking safari.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Uganda? Lesser than Rwanda, and you can therefore use extra money to do other safari activities, add more days on your tour or upgrade the type of the lodge.
Rwanda-The Luxury Gorilla Safari Destination:
Since 2017 when Rwanda increased its Gorilla Trekking Permit price from $750 to $1500, Rwanda has been marketing it self as a luxury gorilla safari destination. This move locked out many budget and mid-range clients who have now moved to Uganda which offers the same gorilla trekking experience for less. The biggest Advantage Rwanda has always had over Uganda is the distance from the Airport to the Gorilla park by Road, it should be noted that to travel from the Kgali international Airport to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is just two hours as compared to Eight hours required to travel from Entebbe to Bwindi impenetrable forest or to Mgahinga national Park. However at the moment it should be noted that you can Land in Kigali, and proceed to track the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest, and drive for only four to five hours. At Adventure in th wild Safaris, we offer both Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris and we are happy to arrange for you a gorilla trek to either of the destinations based on your preference.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Rwanda? Rwanda has positioned itself as the luxury gorilla trekking destination and therefore the cost of the gorilla safari in Rwanda is far higher than that of Uganda, for the same experience.
Democratic Republic Congo Gorilla Trekking:
The democratice Republic of Congo is currently has the most affordable gorilla trekking permit. However, it should be noted that there is quite a limited number of lodges, it should be noted that security wise DR Congo is still volatile with several guerillas living in the areas close to the Virunga national Park. However more importantly, it should be noted that the gorilla trekking package cost for Congo is almost the same like that of Uganda, but still the vote goes to Uganda for providing a more stable security situation. At Adventure in the wild safaris, we do conduct gorilla trekking safaris in Virunga national Park which we usually add with hiking the Nyiragongo active Volcano. Its should be noted that if you are a risk taking tourists, we can arrange for you’re the gorilla safari to the Virunga National Park.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in DR Congo? Relatively the same like Uganda, though the two destinations cannot be compared on a security level.
Adventure in the wild safaris is tour operator specializing in Bwindi Gorilla and Uganda wildlife safaris. We offer a wide range of Gorilla trekking and wildlife safari packages at affordable rates with a focus on delivering high quality services for all travelers who book their trips with us.
