The top-secret to planning a budget gorilla tracking tours is to wisely select your gorilla trekking destination; Uganda or Rwanda?, choose the appropriate accommodation; Budget or midrange? and finally, decide if you are going to do it yourself or are going to use a registered tour operator.
Uganda is known to offer the most affordable gorilla trekking experiences. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost $700 per person to trek and spend 01-hour with a group of habituated mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
In Rwanda, the permits cost USD1,500 per person. Rwanda commands the highest Price on gorilla permits making it an expensive destination for travellers looking for low budget Gorilla Trekking Safaris
Budget Uganda Gorilla Tracking Tours & safaris for 2022 – 2024
Not known to many, Uganda is the most affordable gorilla trekking destination in Africa. Uganda has over half of the total gorilla population all spread out between two (02) known locations; Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.
Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park is home to 19 habituated mountain Gorilla families; that can be tracked from four (04) different regions; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo regions all located in the larger Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to one (01) habituated mountain gorilla family (Nyakagezi gorilla family) – providing for a much more exclusive gorilla trekking experience. This is an ideal choice for travellers with a big budget and can afford to pay for a couple of nights stay at the upmarket Mt. Gahinga Lodge.
** If you are a low budget traveller, we recommend trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest other than Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Why? Bwindi offers varied budget accommodation.
Top Budget accommodation in Bwindi
Budget Gorilla Tracking Tours & Safaris in Uganda for 2022 – 2024
2022 – 2024 Budget Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda
Even though Rwanda prefers to market itself as a Luxury gorilla trekking destination, travellers on a low budget can equally track gorillas in Rwanda. Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda takes place at Volcanoes National Park.
There are quite a few budget properties in the nearby Musanze town where one can stay in order to successfully enjoy an affordable Gorilla trekking overnight stay.
For the mid to high-end budget travellers, there is a variety of accommodations in Kinigi to cater to this group.
Budget Accommodation in Musanze ( Formerly Rhuhengeri)
Our Popular Affordable Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda
Essential information worth reading as you consider planning you next trip
Gorilla trekking on a Budget is something many travellers are looking for but just don’t have an idea on how this works. However, today, we will give you practical tips on how to plan and book a budget Gorilla Holiday.
How to plan & book a Gorilla Trek On a Budget in 2022 – 2024
- Decide on your Destination. gorilla trekking on a Budget
The choice of destination does greatly after your budget on any holiday. Mountain Gorilla Trekking can be done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost USD700 per person to trek and spend 01-hour with a group of habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Rwanda Gorilla permits cost USD1,500 per person for one to spend 01-hour viewing and photographing a group of habituated mountain Gorillas.
DR. Congo gorilla permits prices fluctuate between USD400 – 600 per person and is the lowest price for gorilla Permits you can find anywhere in the world. However, Gorilla trekking in Congo is quite unsafe, and tourists and park rangers have been kidnapped and shot dead. The most recent attack happened on 24/April/2020 (see: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/twelve-rangers-killed-in-latest-virunga-park-incident/)
- Decide on where to stay. gorilla trekking on a Budget
The accommodation comes in various categories from Basic campsite, homestays, Bend & breakfast guesthouses, midrange lodges located close to the gorilla trekking point to the very luxurious “break a bank” properties.
You need to choose the accommodation based on your budget. There is really no need to lavish your Money on a very luxurious property unless you think otherwise. There are great value mid-range properties that offer amazing rates on Fullboard.
- Decide whether to use a tour operator or Do it yourself.
Tour operators come in two (02) categories: Foreign tour operators based in your home country, and local tour operators based in the actual place you want to visit.
Your home-based foreign tour operator is probably one you have worked with on a couple of trips previously and he/she has been amazing. The untold truth, however, is that your home-based tour operator does mark-up the trip with about 15 – 30% added to what the actual local tour operator has quoted. The additional mark-up by your home-based tour operator makes the trip costly however we also understand that you might feel safer dealing with the one you know than risk your money in the hands of a local tour Operators located miles away from you.
To keep the price of the trip reasonable affordable, you might consider working directly with a reputable local tour operator. We, however, recommend proper vetting for whichever tour operator you choose to work with.
Top tip(s): Make time and read through their reviews from previous clients (**be careful as a review can be deceiving), check if the tour operator is a member to any trade Association, for instance, Realm Africa safaris™ is a fully registered member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators.
If you are a DIY (do it yourself) person, you will need to start planning well in advance. For instance, you will need to contact the Uganda wildlife Authority to book your Gorilla permit(s), then also move fast to secure your accommodation and eventually decide on a Car Hire company. This can be cheap but might cost you at one point. It can be risky to drive on African roads, the signage is very poor, internet connections are unreliable for you to work on GPS – It does get even more complicated when you don’t get the timelines correct for your gorilla trek.
- Decide the best time to go. How to plan & book a Gorilla Trek On a Budget
There are three (03) travel seasons for most destinations in East Africa; Low season, Shoulder season, and Peak Or high season.
Low season -April, May & November (rainy season) is characterised with fairly unpleasant weather, but amazing discounts on accommodation and general logistics like transport. There are fewer people travelling during this time.
Shoulder season – September, October, December to March is the season between the short rains – not so wet, but prices are beginning to go up again. There is, however, fewer people travelling then.
Peak season is elf explanatory (June to August). It is this time that we see crowds, gorilla permits, accommodation, and package tours have limited availability or are completely booked/sold out. It is expensive to travel during this time.
