Gorilla trekking in Uganda is the most sought-after activity for most travelers to Uganda, especially those visiting the country for the very first time and it’s not just the hype but trekking through Bwindi or Mgahinga and finally seeing mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat, is well worth it.
The challenge for many travelers however, has been that it seems a bit expensive to undertake a Gorilla trek compared to say a beach holiday or ordinary safari. This is because a Gorilla permit is required to take part in Gorilla trekking and it costs $700 in Uganda, $1,500 in Rwanda and $400 in Congo – the permit alone!
So, the question keeps popping up; what is the cheapest way to see Gorillas in Uganda? Although “cheap” is relative, the tips below should guide you towards achieving your dream of seeing Gorillas in their natural habitat without having to go over the limits whether planning to go trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo.
Target the low season; planning your Gorilla trek targeting the low season months of March to May and October – November gives you better chances of seeing the Gorillas without spending a fortune. This is because the hotels, camps and lodges tend to lower their prices for the low season and tourism authorities too tend to offer some low season discounts which you can benefit from.
Currently, there is a running offer for discounted Gorilla permits in Uganda and the Gorilla permit now costs $400 for foreign non residents and $300 for foreign residents within East Africa! The offer ends on 30th June 2021 so that is one cheap way of seeing Gorillas in Uganda right now.
Consider budget accommodation; besides the cost of the Gorilla permit, accommodation costs can make the trip expensive so it is good to consider budget accommodation for your trek to become more affordable. However, it is important to remember that the quality of your accommodation can make or break your trip so, consider a budget friendly place with minimum basic requirements like en-suite bathroom and toilet, a mosquito net and clean environment.
Use public transportation; it can be costly to hire a private vehicle and driver for your Gorilla trek yet you can use public means of transport to get to the bigger towns nearer to the trekking areas like Kabale and Kisoro in Uganda and Musanze in Rwanda and from there, you can easily hire a vehicle and driver for the 1 day of trekking which brings the costs down significantly.
Join a group tour; joining a group gorilla trekking tour means the costs will be shared and thus making it cheap for you to see Gorillas in their natural habitat. We offer scheduled group gorilla trekking tours to Bwindi in Uganda and Volcanoes national Park in Rwanda and you can join one here.
So, there you have it; if you are looking for the cheapest way to see Gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, the above tips should be helpful and should you need further assistance, please contact us.
