Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga: A Complete Guide to Costs & Tips (2025/2026)
How much does gorilla trekking in Mgahinga cost in 2025/2026? This comprehensive guide provides the essential information about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, including the current permit prices, overall tour expenses, what is included, and expert tips for an optimal experience. Whether you’re deciding between Mgahinga and Bwindi or planning a once-in-a-lifetime safari in Uganda, this updated 2025/2026 guide will help you make well-informed and budget-friendly choices.
What is the cost of visiting the gorillas in Mgahinga? Understanding the expenses associated with a gorilla tour in Mgahinga National Park simplifies the planning and organizing of your gorilla trekking Expedition. The price of a gorilla tour can vary based on several factors, including the season, permit costs, accommodation, transportation expenses, and more.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga provides an incredible experience with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It is an ideal choice for those wishing to visit a less crowded destination. At Mgahinga, only 8 guests set off on a gorilla trekking expedition. This might be a popular choice among travelers, but what is the cost of trekking gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Here is a complete guide on the expenses related to gorilla trekking in Mgahinga, as we explore the various elements that influence the cost of such an adventure in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park
On a Mgahinga gorilla trekking adventure, you’ll journey into the jungles to meet mountain gorillas. Mgahinga is home to one habituated gorilla family: the Nyakagezi group. A maximum of eight guests can visit the Nyakagezi group daily.
Mgahinga gorilla trekking starts with a briefing at the Ntebeko reception. A park ranger guide is available to lead your gorilla search in Mgahinga National Park’s lush rainforest and highlands.
Of Uganda’s ten renowned national parks, Mgahinga is the smallest. This park is set in Kisoro district, Southwestern Uganda.
The cost of gorilla trekking permits
A gorilla trekking permit for Mgahinga National Park costs USD 800 per visitor under the category of foreign nonresidents. Visitors on gorilla tours and are under the category of foreign residents can secure a gorilla permit at 700 per person. A Ugandan and East African citizen is charged UGX 300,000.
The Rest of Africa (visitors outside the East African community membership) can book a Uganda permit at USD 500 per visitor. The cost of gorilla permits is always added to the total cost of the tour as per the itinerary.
Cost of accommodation
The accommodation costs are not the same across the available options. The budget, midrange, and luxury lodges all have their set rates. An addition of accommodation costs can influence the overall rate of the gorilla tour. Some luxury accommodation options can even cost USD 1000 per night. Factors such as these provide insight into the variation of gorilla trekking costs.
Lifestyle
All visitors have their preferred travel lifestyles. Some may prefer a budget travel style, mid-range, and luxury. The different lifestyle options all come at varying rates. Don’t expect the cost of the budget to be similar to that of the luxury.
Packing list
When you look at the recommended items to pack for gorilla tours, higher chances are that you may not have all that is required to have during a gorilla tour. What is required of you to pack include long-sleeved shirts, long pants, gardening gloves, insect repellents, a daypack, rain jacket, safari hiking boots, a pair of socks, a camera, memory cards, and more.
Transport
It is a must to have a means to connect from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park to enjoy a gorilla tour. A 4×4 safari vehicle is essential for your road trip, and the rates of hiring one may vary among tour operators. Interestingly, booking a gorilla tour with us can save you on transport costs. We organize a complete gorilla trekking package, inclusive of a rental car, for you to embark on a gorilla tour. You don’t need to bother yourself researching to find the best means.
Length of stay
The cost of a gorilla tour in Mgahinga also varies depending on the number of days you wish to spend in the day. Short trips are likely to have a lower cost than long trips. Short gorilla tours often focus on only gorilla trekking. Long safaris can include other activities within Mgahinga or in other destinations.
Talking about additional destinations, tourists can have game-viewing tours in some of the finest savannah destinations. The strategically set savanna parks in western Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. If you are interested in chimpanzee encounters, you can also have an addition to Kibale National Park.
Kibale is where the highest concentration of East Africa’s chimp population can be encountered. A total of 1500 chimps live in Kibale Forest. A chimpanzee trek and chimpanzee habituation are two unmatched adventures that allow you to enjoy up close with chimpanzees in the wild. As you search for chimpanzees, you can also explore multiple primates that survive in the lush Kibale Forest, including l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and many others.
What else to do in Mgahinga
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking –in addition to enjoying up close with mountain gorillas, Mgahinga also allows you to embark on a trek to see golden monkeys. These are unusual primate species and reside mainly in the Virunga region. A visit to Mgahinga is great to interact with these amazing creatures in their natural habitat.
Birding
Mgahinga holds a diversity of unique birds including the Albertine rift endemic species and resident species. Among the birds to spot include Kivu ground thrush, African paradise flycatchers, Rwenzori turacos, malachite sunbirds, yellow-billed kite, blue-headed coucal, Rwenzori batis, strange weavers, speckled mousebirds, moorland chat, handsome francolins, and Rwenzori double-collared sunbird.
Volcano hiking
Mgahinga National Park in Uganda is the only place where you can embark on the hike to the summits of the Virunga region’s volcanoes, especially Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura. Volcano hiking excursions are ideal for all adventure seekers with plans to explore the Virunga Volcanoes and their breathtaking scenery.
Nature walks and hikes.
Mgahinga National Park also presents you with a chance to experience the best of nature walks in and around the enriching trails. The guided nature walks in Mgahinga involve exploring the hidden treasures.
Batwa cultural trail
The Batwa cultural trail offers the best opportunity for you to explore more about the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa lived in the lush forest in Mgahinga for decades as hunters and fruit gatherers. It was till 1991 when they were evicted to allow Mgahinga to be officially gazetted as a National Park.
Where to stay
Accommodation options to book for overnight stays in and around Mgahinga National Park include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Traveler’s Rest Hotel, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, and more.
Getting to Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga National Park can be reached by road or using air transport. Using road travel, you can drive for 8-9 hours to drive from Kampala to Mgahinga or 4-5 hours when you depart from Kigali. By air, flights can be arranged and you depart from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airstrip. From the Kisoro Airstrip, it is easier to connect to Mgahinga by road.
How to plan your gorilla tour to Mgahinga National Park
Want to explore Mgahinga gorillas? Gorilla tours in Mgahinga are best planned and booked through a reliable and trusted local expert, Native Africa Tours. We offer amazing Uganda gorilla tour packages within the visitor pocket range. Talk to our reservation team now to begin planning and booking a captivating Mgahinga gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park provides a more personal and less congested experience than other parks. With gorilla permits for foreign non-residents priced at $800 for 2025/2026, it’s vital to plan to secure your trek. This complete guide to gorilla trekking in Mgahinga, along with the expert advice offered, guarantees you’re fully equipped for one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences. Are you ready to organize your Mgahinga gorilla tour? Let the team at Native Africa Tours assist you in creating your ideal itinerary.
