The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park depends on the price of the gorilla permit in Uganda costing USD700 Per permit which is a constant for every one. The rest of the gorilla tour logistics vary from tourists to tourist covering Accommodation type, transportation options. Bwindi National Park is situated in southwestern Uganda about 8-10 hours’ drive from Kampala capital city. It is a home to a section of mountain gorillas that today remain not more than 1004 on earth and only thrive in Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park and the Virunga National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park is conducted in any one of the four regions; Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Buhoma area. Over 20 gorilla groups have been habituated and readily available for visitors to trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. They translate into 160 gorilla permits that are always available for visitors to purchase.

Cost of gorilla trekking permits

A gorilla permit is a must to have when you think of trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park. To obtain a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, you need $600 if you are a foreign non-resident, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African community residents. Or if your plan is to embark on gorilla habituation experience, you need $1500 to secure a gorilla permit and this gets you a chance to spend about 4 hours with these creatures on a face to face encounter compared to one hour for usual gorilla treks.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be booked through a trust worthy, recognized and reliable tour operator and reservations at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Please, book your gorilla trekking permit early enough at 2-6 months before the actual trek and avoid last minute stress.

Where to stay in Bwindi National Park

When booking a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, you also need to reserve a comfortable accommodation for your overnight stay in Bwindi National Park before and after your adventure. There are many accommodation options for you to make a choice for your overnight stay. They range from budget to luxury and they distributed in and around Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Buhoma area. You can plan for at least 2 to 3 nights. A budget lodge can cost $150 and luxury goes at $300 or more.

Cost of transport / Hiring a vehicle   

When planning a gorilla safari in Bwindi National Park, you also need to think of how you can get here and this means; you need some cash to secure a good and comfortable safari car.  Note, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is reachable both by road and by air. By road, you need 8-10 hours to drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi National Park and this requires a good four wheel safari car. We have wide range of cars for hire at pocket friendly prices and you will have enjoyable road trip. They include comfortable land cruisers, customized safari vans, Rav4s and others. Alternatively, you can connect from Kigali via Katuna or Cyanika border area to Bwindi National Park. By air, you need to plan for flight fare if you do not want to spend more hours on road. You can take a flight from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip where you can drive to Bwindi National Park.

Other things to consider when planning gorilla trek to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park include;

Cost of hiring porter

Gorilla trekking is a strenuous adventure that requires some physical wellness in you. For visitors with heavy luggage, you may need to hire a porter to relieve you from the heavy load. Porters are found at the park headquarters and can be hired at $10-$15.

Tipping

Tipping is not a must to do but it is one way to say thank you for the good service rendered to you. You can tip a porter, driver guide, park ranger guide, waiter, waitress and others. There is no standard amount for visitor to tip because it should come from your heart.