Cost Price Of Gorilla Trekking safari

The cost price of gorilla trekking safaris is categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. The compulsory cost across all gorilla trekking categories is the cost of gorilla trekking permit. Request For A Qoutation

In Uganda, the cost of the gorilla permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents. Only one hour of gorilla trekking is allowed per day when you get the chance to have one hour with the fully habituated mountain gorillas.

The price of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is currently $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents

Uganda also offers gorilla habituation experience where tourists have an opportunity to have four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorilla family. Maximum four hours are allowed with semi-habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest.

Note that the cost of the gorilla trekking whether in Uganda or Rwanda is influenced by other safari amenities including transport cost, accommodation cost, meals and more. The number of eligible people travelling with, number of days on gorilla safari and more.

Inclusions and exclusions in the cost gorilla trekking permit

The inclusions in the cost of the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda or Rwanda are one hour of gorilla trekking, security, ranger guide fees, conservation support and more

Exclusions in the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Uganda and Rwanda may include transport to and from gorilla trekking, tips, personal expenses and others.

Average Gorilla Trekking Safari Costs

For a 3 days gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, the average cost of this safari is about $1600 per person sharing. Note that the cost of the gorilla permit must be considered as it is compulsory for every participant.

The cost of the 2 day gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda is about $1700 per person sharing. The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit overrides all tour categories. The cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari is considered up scale but its worth every penny. The cost of accommodation to use during Rwanda safari is higher and of standard and more.

In addition, the cost of other logistics that support gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda or Rwanda must be added in the safari quotation that is cost of transport, accommodation, meals and more.

During the peak tourism season in Uganda and Rwanda, the cost of logistics that support gorilla safaris is high due to overwhelming demand compared to the low tourism season. The high season in Rwanda is June to September and December to January. The low tourism season in Uganda and Rwanda is normally March to May and October to November.

Do not forget to carry some hard cash as you plan for the gorilla trekking safari because credit cards are not a common means of exchange used in African. In case you wish to make payments beyond your gorilla safari quotation, cash is a better means to use.

Hiring a porter is very helpful during the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or Uganda at a cost of about $20 to 40 and over. This cost depend on the weight of your baggage. A porter is a person from the local community who will help you carry your gorilla trekking gears so that you get nothing to pull you back.

Why hire a porter during gorilla trekking safari

By hiring a porter during gorilla trekking, he or she carries your bags so that you are not restrained from moving fast by there weight.
The porter may give you a push when exhausted by the long time taken during gorilla trekking. Even some points require hiking or crossing especially the long steams so the porter gives you a hand to maneuver such huddles.
If you wish to directly support the local community around the gorilla trekking area, hiring a porter is that opportunity to extend your help. The money the porters collect when hire is used by them to run their day today life.
Some porters are reformed poachers who resort to gaining from the gorilla trekking destinations in a more positive way other than destroying the home of mountain gorillas. The porters who gain from the presence of mountain gorillas go back to the community and preach the conservation gospel. This is one way to promote community sensitization.

How Much Is The Cost Of Accommodation To Use During Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla-Trekking-Rwanda Accommodation cost to use during gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda vary with category that is upscale, mid-range or basic. Before booking accommodation to use during gorilla trekking you need to know the inclusions and exclusions in the cost so that you prepare accordingly.

Some of the accommodations to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain gorilla View lodge, Kinigi Guest House, hotel Lebambou, Hotel Mille Collines. There is the option of finding booking accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda in Kigali city.

Accommodations to book during gorilla trekking in Uganda include

Bwindi accommodations: Gorilla Forest camp, Nshongi Camp, Clouds Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nkuringo safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Bwindi View bands, Bwindi backpacker’s Lodge.

When booking accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable National Park you need to note the area where the gorilla permit was booked first. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge and more accommodations options are available in Kisoro town which is about 30 minutes drive from Ntebeko park headquarters.

Camping sights are available at Bwindi for those who prefer the outdoor accommodation arrangement during gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda.

How To Get To Volcanoes National Park For Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

From Kigali, the drive to Volcanoes National Park is at a distance of about 179 kilometers and drive time of approximately 3 hours. The roads are winding but scenic however, you need a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle as the roads in the countryside are quite messy.

Charter flight services from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park can be arranged on request. Advance reservation is necessary so that all necessary clearance can be made especially air clearance with the civil Aviation Authority.

The cost of transport to Volcanoes National Park during gorilla trekking includes

vehicle hire
gas or fuel cost
Driver Guide cost
Vehicle maintenance and others

How To Get To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park And Mgahinga National Park In Uganda

From Kampala, the distance to Bwindi Impenetrable National park is about 530 kilometers and drive time of about 8 to 9 hours excluding stopovers. The way to Bwindi forest is scenic with amazing features that make up the topography of Kigezi sub area. Several routes can be used to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The distance from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park is about 540 kilometers and drive time of about 9 to 10 hours excluding stopovers.

You can break the long drive time to the gorilla trekking parks in Uganda by stopping at other Uganda safari destination such as Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking. A Uganda game safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Lake Mburo National Park is worth stopping at.

Flying gorilla trekking safari in Uganda can be arranged where scheduled domestic flights are available or charter flight services. Do not forget to arrange transfer vehicle service to your lodge.

It is best to reserve the plane seat in advance as they also sell out especially in the peak season. The air crafts used as small so park items to travel with according to the baggage allowance advised by the aviation company. There are domestic flights from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips in Uganda

How Is Long The Walk During Gorilla Trekking Safari | Return Time After Gorilla Trekking

The time to take on the walk during the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or Uganda is influenced by a number of factors including:

Gorilla food location

The mountain gorilla family launches it feeding spot but when food becomes insufficient then the family has to move in a new location. During gorilla trekking, the gorilla family may move to a closer to a far location so you need to bear some level of patience.

The weather condition on gorilla trekking day

Whether in Uganda or Rwanda, gorilla trekking destinations are rain forests that receive untimely rains but even amidst a down pour, gorilla trekking still goes on. Sometimes the rain is too intense therefore delaying the gorilla safari adventure because the streams and rivers may over flow.

On a dry day, exploring the forest during gorilla trekking may be quite faster since the trails are usually drier and there is less protruding under growth to obstruct the way. Even the mountain gorillas spend much of the time closer to the ground on a dry day allowing better visibility.

Mood of the mountain gorillas

A gorilla trekking family in good spirits may be quicker to find yet a family with a bad day may keep into far spots of the park. This makes it quite difficult to find the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking.

Pace of fellow tourists on gorilla trekking tour

When in company of slow tourists, the time to find the mountain gorilla during gorilla trekking may be longer since the ranger guide follow the pace of the slowest trekker. It is best to keep up with the speed of other although you do not need to move fast so that you can cover a longer distance to the mountain gorillas without getting so fatigued.

Having some level of fitness before gorilla trekking may save you from getting tired before completing the adventure.

Why Choose To Do Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda is a golden opportunity to be in close proximity with the few leftover mountain gorillas there is in the world. During gorilla trekking maximum 8 gorilla permits are open to the public each day a number that is quite small compared to the demand.
By paying for the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda or Rwanda, it’s a noble act to support the conservation of the vulnerable mountain gorillas. The population of the mountain gorillas is currently about 1000 an achievement that is awed to the conservation fraternity.
Beyond the mountain gorillas, the habitats where these primates live are home to more species including chimpanzees, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more.
Both Uganda and Rwanda have additional safari activities you can combine with gorilla trekking to enrich your wild adventures. In Uganda you can do after or before gorilla trekking game safaris, visit source of river Nile, in land beach activities, birding in Uganda and others.
Rwanda offers chances to chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, rich cultural experience, mountaineering, game safaris in Akagera National poark and others.

What Guarantees finding The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking

Finding the mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda during gorilla trekking safari is a sure deal. The mountain gorillas may be mobile and free to explore the forest where they are masters of the jungle but surely you get to see them no matter the season or time.

After paying the high price for the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda that is $800 and in Rwanda $ 1500 one would wish to get value for money. Unlike other species of gorillas that can survive ant where and are reserved in zoos or conservation centers, the mountain gorilla can only survive in the Virunga area and nowhere else. The number one goal of this African safari is to see and be with the mountain gorillas.

Each day a team of trackers follow the gorilla families earlier than the tourists to trace where they may have spent the night and possible day hangout location. Some of the clues they provide are what rangers with tourists follow during gorilla trekking. At times the mountain gorillas may relocate depending on circumstances in the forest.

The ranger guides with tourists also use the trail leading where the mountain gorilla family allocated to you was last seen the previous day. The gorilla trekking family doesn’t normally move far from this location.

As mountain gorillas explore the forest, they leave behind fresh clues including foot prints, hairs, fresh dung, foliage remains and more. Some of these clues are what rangers use to trace the mountain gorillas.

Gorillas also keep communicating with one another and ranger guides have over time mastered the language or signs presented by the mountain gorillas even without them being physically around. It is some of the sounds produced by the mountain gorillas that the rangers use to trace them.

Each gorilla family is first habituated process that helps them get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature. During gorilla habituation, the mountain gorillas are trained to take atleast one hour before humans. The presence of humans disrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas so it was minimized for conservation reasons.

Finding the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking is a sure deal even though they are wild animals that freely live in their natural homes.