COMPARING THE COST OF GORILLA TREKKING BETWEEN 2017 AND 2018

Are you planning to spend your next vacation in Africa? Are you interested in mountain gorilla trekking but you do not how much it costs? When you think about African adventures, mountain gorillas feature on top list in most travelers’ itineraries and yet also a certain class is left with no knowledge of how much it costs to go and trek these dramatic creatures. For primate enthusiasts on safari to Africa, there are only 3 most stunning safari destinations that you should add into your travel plan and at the end of day you would have realized that long term dream. And no where else in the world offers that magical encounter except only Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mountain gorilla trekking is generally regarded as a lifetime experience which also comes at a cost. 

SILVERBACK GORILLA

Before you think about undertaking this adventure, it is wise that you first take time and analyze prices of each destination. This will help you make better informed decisions this year as you plan for your vacation to Africa.

Regardless of various factors, the price for gorilla permits at one point or the other must have bared you from realizing your dreams. For travelers on gorilla safaris to Africa, permits in Uganda are sold at $600 per person while in Rwanda, they are sold at $1500 per visitors, meaning you can save up to $900 if you chose to track gorillas in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is conducted in only two protected areas; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Besides the usual treks, there is Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience which takes the whole day and instead of the usual one hour, visitors spend 4 (four) hours with the apes in the wild. This adventure is conducted by researchers, conservationists and visitors and costs $1500 per visitor and Bushaho and Bikingi group are the only two families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park where this extraordinary adventure is conducted.

For visitors who are interested in visiting Rwanda, permits are sold at $1500 per visitor and treks are done in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda Development Board increased the cost of  gorilla permits last from $750 to $1500 per person. Volcanoes National Park features 10 habituated families which represent 80 permits. The advantage that Rwanda has over Uganda is that Volcanoes National Park can be accessed within 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali International Airport unlike Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park which take up to 9 hours’ or more from Kampala city center or Entebbe International Airport. However, things have also become easier for Uganda where visitors can fly direct from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. The other alternative is setting off from Kigali to Bwindi and Mgahinga and visitors can spend around 3 to 4 hours’ drive to reach southwestern Uganda. Besides, a trip to Bwindi and Mgahinga also comes with several attractions that visitors enjoy along the way which may not be the case with Volcanoes National Park. The best stopover for visitors on gorilla adventures in Uganda are tree climbing lions at Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Equator and many more wildlife species.

For trekkers who are interested in visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo for this lifetime experience, permits can be purchased at $400 making Congo one of the cheapest destinations for one to achieve his or her dreams. The treks are conducted in the Virunga National Park, East of DR Congo. However, the main challenge is that the country is still recovering from the insecurities.

In conclusion, if you are planning to travel to Africa this year, comparing prices between gorilla destinations ideally is something very crucial. This plays a great role in guiding you especially as you make the best choice on which destination to spend your vacation and at the end of day, you won’t regret in life. With the information provided above we believe that it will be of great value to you as you think of exploring Africa’s Great Apes while in their natural habitat.