One of the mornings, we did recieve an iquiry via email asking”Which is the cheapest Place to trek Gorillas in Africa?”. The other sections of the email also had questions like;
- Which is the best way for me to plan a cheap gorilla tour?
- When is the best time to Plan a cheap gorilla tour?
- How do i book a cheap gorilla Permit, Should i work with a local tour Operator or rather do it my self?
…….see how we responded to it. this might be helpfull to you to – share if you find it worthy!
One fact for sure is “Gorilla Trekking is generally an expensive thing to do”. However, there is a way around this very expensive lifetime experience. We will talk about how to take on this very expensive venture without having to “break into a bank”.
First and foremost, we need to understand that yes Gorilla trekking is expensive – especially for the Gorilla Permits – which cost an arm and a leg – however, gorilla permits are expensive for a reason!
Why are Gorilla Permits so expensive? Mountain gorillas are generally still in small numbers and remain endangered mainly due to poaching, habitat loss, etc – the making of Man. There are approximately 1,063 mountain gorillas currently surviving in the entire world. These can only be found in three countries; Uganda, Rwanda & DR Congo. Out of all three countries, the safest place to see gorillas is in Uganda & Rwanda. DR Congo is currently unsafe because of ongoing civil wars.
Here is the analysis: Only two countries (Uganda & Rwanda) offering Safe mountain gorilla trekking but with millions of travelers out there wanting to come and see them it’s only fair that a decent fee is levied on the permits to see them as a way of trying to control who gets the chance to see them and also to minimize the number of travelers that can afford to see them. Both the amount of money charged on gorilla permits and the limited number of people able to see them is absolutely good for the sustainable conservation of the mountain gorillas. This is why they cost a fortune. (Further reading: Why Gorilla Permits are so expensive).
Current Gorilla Permit Prices; Cheapest place to trek Gorillas
- Price of a Uganda Gorilla Permit $700per person
- Price of Rwanda Gorilla permit- $1,500per person (See: Why are Rwanda gorilla permits are so expensive?)
Now we know why the gorilla permits are so expensive, and the ugly truth is that the price of a gorilla permit stands – let no one lie to you that they can negotiate the price down!
The Gorilla Permit stands. So how do we get to plan around it?
Besides the gorilla permit, there are a couple of other important things to factor in while planning a gorilla safari to either Uganda or Rwanda (whichever you choose); accommodation, meals, transport, visa, and international flights to the gorilla destination of your choice.
Accommodation: Both Uganda & Rwanda offer budget accommodation. However, accommodation in Uganda is a lot more fairly priced accommodation that caters to all travelers including low-budget student travelers. Rwanda instead focuses on upmarket travelers. Carefully choose one that fits your budget.
Meals: Although most Budget hotels offer mainly breakfast included in the price of the room – these also operate affordable restaurants where you can pay directly with cash to get a decent meal. If staying in the city or towns, consider choosing to eat out at local restaurants within walkable distance from your hotel.
Transport: We recommend working with a local tour operator to provide professional transportation services. While you could hire a cab, we recommend working with a trusted tour operator – they know the value of your gorilla permit and the cost of the entire trip and will ensure to get you to the right place for your gorilla trek – take no chances. (checkout our Safari car rentals page).
Visa: A tourist Entry visa in Rwanda costs $50 single entry or 70 multiple Entry. In Uganda, it costs $50 for a Single Entry. If visiting Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Burundi, we recommend applying for an East African Tourist Visa at $100 Valid for 90 days. (see: How to apply for an East African tourist Visa)
International Flights: These, unfortunately, you will have to arrange for yourself. checkout Skyscanner for cheaper flights across the globe).
Ok. So 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.
- Uganda offers varied categories of budget accommodation including the options to camp in Bwindi.
Cheap – Budget Uganda Gorilla Safaris & Tours for 2022 – 2023
