How Much is a Gorilla Permit in Uganda
How Much is a Gorilla Permit in Uganda : The most popular and exciting activity is gorilla trekking, in which guests travel into the tropical rain forest in pursuit of the endangered mountain gorillas and spend one hour with them in their natural environment. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in two locations: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Other African places for gorilla trekking include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, located in southern Uganda’s Kanungu region, is home to around 400 mountain gorillas, accounting for half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Bwindi Forest National Park is home to around 19 habituated gorilla families spread over four sectors: Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also provides gorilla habituation experiences, in which mountain gorillas are educated to get accustomed to human presence.
Gorilla habituation differs from gorilla trekking in that tourists who participate in gorilla habituation spend four hours with the gorillas under habituation, but visitors who participate in gorilla trekking spend just one hour with the gorillas.
Mgahinga gorilla national park, located in southern Uganda’s Kisoro county, also offers gorilla trekking. The park is home to two habituated gorilla families, the Nyakagezi and Hirwa groups.
In all places, gorilla trekking is limited to a maximum of 8 persons per habituated gorilla family and begins in the morning with a briefing on the laws, restrictions, and expectations. Trekking takes between 2 and 7 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family, and once there, you will be permitted to be in the company of the mountain gorillas, taking photographs, capturing the moments, and learning more about their routines and behaviors, among other things.
Many guests who wish to go on a gorilla trekking safari inquire about gorilla trekking pricing, therefore by addressing the question, I will break down the cost of gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda.
When calculating the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda, many factors are taken into account, including the cost of the gorilla trekking permit, gorilla habituation permits for visitors who wish to participate in the habituation process, accommodation costs, and transportation to and from the gorilla destination, and the number of days for the safari, among others.
A gorilla trekking permit is a paper or card that allows any tourist over the age of fifteen to hike a gorilla family in either Mgahinga gorilla national park or Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $700 for non-residents from other countries, $600 for residents from other countries, and UGX for East African citizens.
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda may be obtained directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority by calling them, or via a reputable tour operator such as Achieve Global Safaris. It is recommended that you book a permit 3 to 4 months before the trekking date because permits in Uganda are competitive and often sell out, especially during the high season in the months.
Transport expenses are calculated based on the distance travelled, the vehicle utilized, the gasoline consumed, the guide, and the number of days spent on Uganda safaris. Bwindi impenetrable forest is located in south-western Uganda and it takes about 8 to 9 hours by road to the park headquarters and about 9 to 10 hours by road to Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Therefore, if you go on a three-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour, on day one you will travel to either Bwindi forest or Mgahinga national park, day two you will go gorilla trekking, and day three you will transfer back to Kampala.
When budgeting for transportation, you account for the vehicle that will take you to and from your location, the gasoline consumed for the long journey, and the driver guide who will accompany you.
Explore Rwanda Tours has a fleet of 4WD safari vans and can also hire land cruisers for those who prefer these vehicles; please contact us for additional information and transportation prices.
The one-way travel costs $273 and the return flight costs $452, and this applies to both locations. When budgeting for plane tickets, remember to add the safari vehicle that will transport you from the runway to the park headquarters, as well as gasoline and the guide who will be driving you.
You can also visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali, where you will fly from your home destination to Kigali airport and then connect by road from the airport to the park headquarters via Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro, which takes about 3 to 4 hours.
Explore Rwanda Tours organizes Uganda gorilla trekking safaris from Kigali, such as a two-day Uganda gorilla trekking safari from Kigali. Trekking gorillas in Uganda from Kigali would save you money on transportation because you will not have to drive large distances.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both have a wide range of luxury, midrange, and budget accommodations that offer full board and half board services, so when budgeting for the price of accommodation, you should consider the type of accommodation and the number of days for your gorilla trekking safari. Accommodation rates in both gorilla hotspots range from $50 to $70 per room for economy lodging, $80 to $120 per room for mid-range lodging, and $150 per person per night for luxury lodging.
Our tour company Explore Rwanda Tours has picked a selection of luxury and mid-range lodges for travelers in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and these lodges provide quality services and amenities to make our visitors comfortable and feel at home.
Visitors on a three-day Uganda gorilla trekking safari would thus spend two nights at a lodge, whereas visitors on a two-day gorilla trekking safari will spend one night in a lodge. For further information on lodging costs, please contact one of our knowledgeable tour advisers.
Porters are persons who work at the park headquarters and provide assistance to guests during gorilla trekking for a fee. Because gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is done in steep terrain, muddy and slippery grounds, visitors are advised to hire a porter at an affordable price to offer assistance in the form of a pull or push and also carry the backpack which contains essentials such as packed lunch, camera, drinking water, and so on. Hiring a porter costs around $10 to $15 and contributes to community development because some porters have families to feed and others are students.
Tipping is a way of showing appreciation for the services provided, therefore gratuities can be given to waiters and waitresses at the lodge, park guides after gorilla trekking, porters, and driving guides at the end of the safari, among others. Because Uganda has no tipping legislation, you can tip as much as you like.
Explore Rwanda Tours provides gorilla trekking programs such as 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking safari, 2days Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali, and others that provide thrilling and unique safari experiences. For more information on the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda, please contact one of our knowledgeable tour guides.
