If you are looking to go gorilla trekking in 2025 – 2026 but want to do this on a budget, Check Out our cheap Gorilla Trekking Offers for 2025 – 2026 from as low as $1,380 per person sharing in a Double or Twin Room.
Realm Africa Safaris™ specializes in organizing the cheapest gorilla tours in Uganda visiting either Bwindi Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. All our cheap Gorilla tours in Uganda include gorilla trekking permits, and travellers get to enjoy the low costs of shared accommodation, meals, ground transportation, and all transport-related costs like fuel and parking.
Solo travelers are welcome on our tours however it does get a lot pricer than if they were sharing the costs on accommodation, transport etc….
Learn More about Planning a Budget solo trip to trek Gorillas in Uganda
All our Gorilla safaris & tours are fully escorted by a local driver-guide – this means you have a private local guide to assist drive and also directly give you answers to possible questions or concerns you might have while travelling. The guides also double up as nature interpreters with vast knowledge of the flora & fauna you will encounter on your safari to the Gorillas.
Browse the list of Cheap Gorilla tours in Uganda for 2025 – 2026 to find that ideal holiday that fits your interest(s) and travel budget.
Popular Cheap gorilla tours in Uganda
Popular Cheap Gorilla Tours to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
HOW TO PLAN & BOOK A CHEAP GORILLA TOUR IN UGANDA
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Decide on your Destination. gorilla trekking on a Budget
The choice of destination does greatly after your budget on any holiday. Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda can be done in either Bwindi Impenentrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga gorilla National Park.
Learn More about: Where is the Best Place to Trek Gorillas in Uganda – Mgahinga Vs Bwindi
Mountain Gorilla Permits in Bwindi & Mgahinga cost;
- $800 per person/permit for Foreign Non-Residents.
- $700 per person/permit for Foreign Residents (Proof of residence Is needed).
- UGX300,000 per person/permit for East African Citizens.
- $500 per person/permit for Africans from the rest of Africa.
Keep Up-to-date: Current Price of Gorilla Permits in Uganda
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Decide on where to stay. gorilla trekking on a Budget
The accommodation comes in various categories from Basic campsites, homestays, Bed & breakfast guesthouses, and 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 travel 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.
WHERE TO STAY IN MGAHINGA: The Cheapest Accommodation in & around Mgahinga
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Decide the best time to go. Budget Uganda Gorilla Safaris
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 characterized by 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 are, however, fewer people travelling then.
Peak season is self-explanatory (June to August). It is during this time that we experience crowds, gorilla permits, accommodation, and package tours have limited availability or are completely booked/sold out. It is expensive to travel during this time.
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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 operator located miles away from you.
To keep the price of the trip reasonable and affordable, you might consider working directly with a reputable local tour operator. We, however, recommend that you do thorough checkups to ensure that the tour operator you choose to work with is legit; legally registered, and belongs to the Association of Uganda Tour Operators
Top tip(s): Make time and read through the reviews from previous clients (**be careful as a review can be deceiving), and check if the tour operator is a member of 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, and 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.
Related: How to book my own Gorilla Permit Directly with UWA. | How to book a Rwanda Gorilla Permit with RDB.
You might also like this: Cheap Gorilla Tours in Uganda
