Best Budget Gorilla Trekking Safaris 2024 / 2025
Although Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo have the same species of mountain gorillas, their national parks are managed by different Governments, each with its own priorities. In turn, this has influenced the pricing of their gorilla permits. First forward, Rwanda’s costs $1,500, Uganda’s $700, and Congo’s $400. Here are ways on how you can still have a budget gorilla trekking safari at any of these parks:
Budget Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
It is over three years now since gorilla permits to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park were doubled to $1500 from $750. This followed the rebranding of the park as a high-end destination.
This means that if you wish to visit Volcanoes in particular but have a shoestring budget, the easiest way out is to stay at one of the budget or midrange accommodation options around the park.
The good news here is that there are a lot of them, with most averaging $80-$250 per person per night. Even better, the park’s proximity to Kigali International Airport means you will spend less on fuel while on your budget gorilla trekking safari with us, thus enabling you to make some savings.
Budget Gorilla Trekking Uganda
In contrast, gorilla tracking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park is at $600. As per initial communication by Uganda Wildlife Authority in January 2020, there was a tentative plan of increasing the price of the permit to $700 as of June 2021.
However, following the devastating blow that COVID has given the tourism industry, this proposal has been put on hold till June 2022. Until then, gorilla tracking in both parks will remain at $600. There are no hidden costs such as concession fees, park entry, etc.
Even better, each of the four wings where gorilla trekking takes place in Bwindi has at least four budget guesthouses, three midrange, and four high-end safari lodges. Collectively, these two aspects explain why Bwindi is currently the most visited mountain gorilla destination in the world.
That $1,500 that you would have spent on gorilla permits alone in the case of Rwanda is enough to not only afford you a similar tracking experience in Bwindi but also get you excellent midrange accommodation and car hire for a to and fro trip.
The only thing that most people find tricky with this option is that Bwindi is an exhaustive nine hours’ drive from Uganda’s airport.
To avoid this, most of our clients prefer to fly in via Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport. From here, our driver-guides pick them up for a drive across Uganda’s border and over to Bwindi. It is just a four hours journey.
Budget Gorilla Trekking Congo
Among the only four parks with mountain gorillas in Africa, Congo’s Virunga National Park is the most affordable, with gorilla permits costing $400. On a low note though, there are no budget accommodations in the park. One must prepare to spend at least $250 per person per night if they are to stay at one of these lodges. For the two nights, you are likely to spend here, this comes down to $500.
While there are relatively less costly guest houses in the surroundings of the park, the road between them and the starting point for the gorilla trek requires at least four hours for maneuvering. Why? They are poorly maintained. Even worse, gorilla tracking starts as early as 8 am as the primates are in their most active state during this time of the day. This means that if you are to make it to the park in time, you need to wakeup up as early as 4 am. Not so many people are comfortable with that.
If you are looking for affordable gorilla tracking packages in Uganda, Congo or Rwanda, we are happy to help. We are blessed to be one of the most experienced budget gorilla companies in the Virunga Region where the four gorilla parks are located. Our cost reduction avenues are effective enough to save you money without compromising on the quality of your experience.
Through our mutually benefiting partnerships with various service providers in the region, we get the best bargain and discounts on tourism facilities such as safari lodges with self-contained rooms and a cozy ambiance to ensure maximum satisfaction.
That aside, we have enough cars in our fleet and thus don’t spend on hiring cars whenever a client places a booking. At the end of the day, this enables us to tailor a safari that matches both your interests and budget. To see some of our budget gorilla safari packages, click to see some of the trending itineraries.
Alternatively, you can talk to one of our seasoned professionals today and learn more about our packages. All your inquiries and suggestions will be attended to promptly.
