Gorilla Trekking is arguably one of the most expensive adventure activities in the World. Gorilla Permits in Uganda Cost $700 per person to trek and spend 1-hour with a fully habituated Mountain gorilla. For travelers that would prefer to go on the exclusive Full-day 4-person Gorilla Habituation experience, permits cost $1,500 per person, and only a maximum of 4-persons are allowed each day. Gorilla Habituation is only done in Uganda.
As for Rwanda, the Gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person to spend the traditional 1 -hour in the company of a group of habituated mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
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Which is the Best Place to go Gorilla Trekking? Uganda or Rwanda?
- Uganda
Where to see Gorillas in Uganda: Travellers to Uganda have two (02) Gorilla trekking destinations to pick from; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Forest National Park. We like to recommend Bwindi which is home to over 500 mountain gorillas, half of the world’s remaining gorilla population which slightly exceeds 1,000 Individuals.
Bwindi Forest National Park Boasts has the highest number of Habituated gorilla families which currently stands at 20 habituated family groups. For serious adventurers, there is a unique gorilla experience called Gorilla Habituation for a more exclusive experience. This intimate, four-hour hike in the Rushaga Sector (the southern part of Bwindi) offers an incredibly unique and rare encounter; meeting gorillas that are not yet fully habituated means you get to help introduce them to human interactions.
Best time to go gorilla trekking In Uganda: Gorilla trekking is available any time of the year, but most people prefer going during the two dry seasons: January to February or June to September. It may be advantageous and perhaps most exciting to opt for the rainy season when the gorillas are just as present and there’s less competition to secure one of the limited gorilla permits issued per day.
What you Need to Know: Gorilla Permits in Uganda are $700 regardless of when you decide to go. Unlike Rwanda, gorilla trekking areas are assigned at the time you buy your permit. This is important information because it could add up to 2 hours of driving to begin your trek, depending on which Gorilla Trekking region you are assigned and where you’re staying. The permit for the exclusive Full-Day Gorilla Habituation Experience is $1,500 with a maximum of four (04) people allowed per group.
Learn More about Gorilla Habituation in Uganda
Warning: Trekking across these regions is not for the faint-hearted thanks to elevation gains of up to 7,500 feet in humid and muddy conditions. It’s a long drive from Entebbe (9-10 hours) to Bwindi, so we like to combine Uganda trekking into a five-day, or longer, safari to explore other areas of the country as we get closer to where the gorillas are found (Bwindi or Mgahinga). If you have very limited time and still want to see the Gorillas in Uganda, besides driving direct from Entebbe for 9 -10 hours, you could opt to Fly into Rwanda and drive only 05 hours to get to Bwindi, or if your travel budget permits there are daily flights from Entebbe to the forest. (See: 3 days Flying Gorilla Safari from Entebbe).
- Fly into Kigali and drive to trek Gorillas in Uganda – See how it works.
- Best Way to get to Bwindi Forest National Park.
- Better to Fly or Drive from Entebbe to Bwindi?
- Best Place to trek gorillas in Uganda.
- Best sector in Bwindi for Gorilla Trekking.
- Rwanda
Where to see Gorillas in Rwanda: Unlike Uganda which offers two gorilla trekking destinations Mgahinga & Bwindi Forest, gorilla trekking in Rwanda can only be done at one location Volcanoes National Park. This rainforest is home to 10 habituated gorilla groups of varied sizes, ranging from 11 to 33 family members. This park traces back to the times of Diane Fossey – an American primatologist and conservationist, who studied the Gorillas in this part of Rwanda. Where to see Gorillas in Africa
Best time to go: Gorilla trekking is a year-round activity, but like any rainforest, it’s easier to trek in the dry seasons, which are mid-December to early February and June to September. Park rangers track the groups’ movements year-round, so if you don’t mind muddy boots, the opportunities are still there when the rains come down—just bring your best waterproof gear. In the wet season, the air is crystal clear, so you’ll find great views of the volcanoes and gorillas tend to hang out on the lower slopes of the mountain.
What you Need to Know: In abid to support Gorilla Conservation efforts, the Rwanda Development Board only issues 80 gorilla permits daily for $1500 per person—with a max of eight people allowed per group. Each trekking group is “assigned” a gorilla family by a ranger the day of their trek, according to group size and fitness levels. The pricey permit grants you an hour-long experience with a gorilla group once a park ranger locates them. This price may be steep, but you’ll be in one of the cleanest, most progressive model nations on the continent. Also, 10% of what you pay goes to surrounding communities. Best place to trek gorillas in Africa
The Plus about trekking Gorillas in Rwanda: Rwanda combines easily with a Kenya or Tanzania safari as a two- or three-day add-on. There are daily flights from Nairobi and parts of Serengeti to Kigali International Airport which is only a 2.5-hour drive to gt to Volcanoes National park. For those really pressed for time, you can also hire a private helicopter from Kigali.
Which is the cheapest place to trek gorillas in Africa?
In our opinion, Uganda is the cheapest place to trek gorillas in Africa.
Why?
- The Gorilla permits In Uganda are fairly priced at $700 per person Compared to Rwanda which charges $1,500 per person.
- Uganda offers varied categories of fairly priced budget accommodation including the options to camp in Bwindi.
Read our article & Learn More about: The cheapest Place to trek Gorilla in Africa.
Why is a gorilla safari so costly?
- Research, monitoring, and safety
Because Gorillas are considered critically endangered, they require constant research studies and monitoring to ensure they continue to exist. Both Gorilla research and monitoring require a lot of money which is financed through the sale of Gorilla Permits thus making it expensive for one to go gorilla trekking.
In each gorilla country, bodies responsible i.e. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda hire personnel to monitor the where about the gorillas like; their movements, feeding, and ongoing health status. Every morning, an advanced group of trackers hikes into the forest to check on the gorillas. Similarly, tourism police and other armed rangers are hired to accompany tourists during their trek to see the gorillas. This is to ensure the client’s safety from any possible external attacks by either poachers or rebel groups from DR. Congo who in the past used the gorilla habitat as their hiding place.
- Limit human interference
One of the reasons gorilla trekking has been made expensive is to control or limit human interference. Mountain Gorillas are considered an endangered species with hardly 1,000 still surviving on earth. These can only be seen in three places; Uganda, Rwanda, and DR. Congo.
Rwanda & Uganda remain the safest places to see gorillas – click & read our blog; Why gorilla trekking in Congo is considered unsafe.
On a typical gorilla trekking day, only 08 persons are allowed to trek and visit a particular gorilla family. It is at this point that the high price charged on gorilla permits ($700pp in Uganda or $1,500pp in Rwanda) helps limit crowds. Not Many can afford it, meaning that there will be fewer people visiting. This, in turn, helps to minimize human interference and possible disease transmission from us, humans, onto the gorillas – remember they are endangered species and if we are not careful we could lose them completely.
- The livelihood of the communities living beside the gorillas
Gorilla tourism has become an indirect source of livelihood for the communities besides the gorilla parks. All governments have a standing revenue-sharing policy with the local communities in a bid to promote sustainable gorilla conservation. For example, In Uganda, the locals are entitled to 20% of the total revenue earned from the sale of gorilla permits. Revenue sharing with local people has created a positive attitude of local people towards gorilla tourism and conservation hence creating a conflict-free harmonious living between the locals and the management of respective national parks.
In a bid to continue conserving these endangered species, all governments have put up clear Gorilla Trekking rules and regulations for tourists to follow. We kindly request that you adhere to these regulations as they protect both you and the gorillas.
Gorilla trekking rules & regulations
- Keep a distance of about 5 to 7 meters which is about 15 feet from the Mountain Gorillas. This way you protect the mountain gorillas from diseases and illnesses humans may be carrying and not seem threatening to gorillas
- Stay together as a group when you are in the presence of the Gorillas to reduce potential confusion of the gorillas
- Voices need to be kept low and it is best to keep silent and just treasure the moment with the Mountain Gorillas.
- Do not partake of food or drinks and no smoking in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas.
- Don’t stare straight into gorillas’ eyes – this can be seen to be aggressive.
- Don’t ever run from a gorilla – if one approaches you just act submissive and crouch down.
- If you sneeze or cough, turn your head away from the gorillas so as not to spread your germs.
- No flash photography is permitted. Do not make a lot of movement when taking pictures – keep calm.
- There is no touching or attempting to touch the Gorillas.
- Keep your voices down until you are well out of range of the Mountain Gorillas.
Learn more about the rules that govern Gorilla Trekking and why you should adhere to them
