What is the Cheapest Way to See Mountain Gorillas?
“What is the cheapest way to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo” is one of the frequently asked questions Many people consider gorilla trekking safaris to be expensive yet there are many ways of making the adventure cheap. With proper planning, you can have the cheapest mountain gorilla trekking safari in any of the above-mentioned countries. From our experience, we have had clients do gorilla trekking in all three countries in a single trip without breaking the bank.
Are you a budget trekker and wondering what is the best and cheapest way to see mountain gorillas in Africa? Or have you always wondered how you can see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo on a budget? Explore all tips on the cheapest way to see mountain gorillas.
Tips for having the cheapest mountain gorilla trekking tour or safari
1. Choose the cheapest/most affordable gorilla safari destination to visit
There are strictly 3 destinations to consider visiting to see mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Mountain gorillas can only be found in 3 countries in the world. These include; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda and Congo offer the cheapest mountain gorilla trekking services. Gorilla permits in these countries are cheaper than those in Rwanda. They are ideal places to visit if you want to cut down on the cost of the gorilla tour in Africa.
Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda are done in two major destinations. These include; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks have almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. One thing you need to keep at the back of your mind is that there are many ways of having a cheap gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda.
2. Access to your gorilla trekking destination is key when choosing where to see mountain gorillas
It will take you about 7 to 10 hours to access gorilla parks in Uganda from Entebbe International Airport. But there is an option of cutting on the long hours by setting off from Kigali which is a 4-5-hour drive. This involves crossing Katuna or Chanika border and a comfortable 4×4 drive car is most recommended. Besides road transportation, there is also an option of connecting to Bwindi or Mgahinga by air. Fly-in gorilla trips involve setting off from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip.
Volcanoes National Park is the most accessible mountain gorilla destination. Getting to this park takes just 2-3 hours for you to drive from Kigali. Virunga National Park in Congo can easily be accessed starting from Kigali. A valid visitor is required for you to have access to Congo. Virunga is situated in the Eastern part of Congo and you can easily drive there to enjoy gorilla trekking adventure.
3. Travel on budget
Budget gorilla safari is the cheapest way to see mountain gorillas in the wild. With budget gorilla tour packages, you can book a budget-friendly accommodation option and a budget-friendly rental car and consider short trips.
4. Book budget/affordable accommodation
All the gorilla parks have budget-friendly lodges or accommodation choices to book for overnight stays. The budget gorilla lodges are distributed across the different parts of the park. Budget lodges in and around Bwindi National Park are available across the 4 main gorilla sectors; Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Here are the different budget accommodation options to book for gorilla trekking in Uganda; Bwindi Backpackers, Broadbill Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Homestay, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge.
Budget lodges in and around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include Countryside Guesthouse, Amajambere Iwacu Camp, Golden Monkey Guesthouse, and Mutanda Eco Community Centre. In Kisoro, the accommodation options include Travelers Rest Hotel, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, and others. Budget accommodations to stay during gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park include Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse, and others.
5. When to visit – Travel in a budget-friendly season
Traveling in the right season is one of the best ways of having the cheapest ways of seeing mountain gorillas in Africa. Traveling around the low or off/rainy season is amazingly the best if you want to have a budget-friendly gorilla trip in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. The low or off-season can save you a lot of money, especially if you are a backpacker or budget traveler. The low or off-season falls in March, April, May, and October to November.
During the off-months, the lodges sometimes reduce the accommodation rate to attract more clients. This is not the case with the peak months (June to September or December to February) when there is high demand for accommodation. The rates for accommodation, car hire, and other things tend to remain constant during the peak season unlike during the off or low season.
The peak months of the year for gorilla trekking occur starting from June, July, and August to September, and December, January to February. These are the dry months of the year when a low amount of rain is experienced in most of the gorilla trekking parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
6. Choose budget-tailored gorilla packages
There are many budget gorilla packages to choose the best that suits your interest. Short-budget gorilla tour packages range from 2 Day Uganda gorilla trip from Kigali to Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 3-day Uganda gorilla tour from Kampala/Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. 1-3 day gorilla tour in Rwanda and you explore Volcanoes National Park. You can also have a 3-day Congo gorilla tour starting from Kigali.
7. Mind about the price of gorilla permits
Valid gorilla permits are required for gorilla trekking and each destination issues out permits at their respective rates. Uganda mountain gorilla permits can be booked at USD 800 per person. USD 1500 per person on a gorilla tour in Rwanda. USD 400 for visitors intending to explore Congo mountain gorillas.
Besides paying normal gorilla permit rates, there is an option to book discounted permits as follows. 30% discount offer available for visitors who may visit Akagera or Nyungwe Forest National Park combined with Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. The 30 percent discounted offer is available for visitors who plan to visit Rwanda to see gorillas around November to May. 15% discount offer for visitors who stay pre or post-MICE event in Kigali to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. This translates to USD 1275, while for those who prefer an exclusive personalized trip with an exclusive guide, you can pay USD 15000.
USD 30,000 is an available option for a minimum of 3 guests in need to enjoy the Behind the Scenes. Plan and book your remarkable Rwanda gorilla trip with Native Africa Tours. Native Africa Tours is one of the most reliable local tour operators to trust for all your captivating gorilla trekking adventures.
8. Travel as a group
Group gorilla tours are the perfect way to cut down on the rates for gorilla trekking. With group travel, you have a chance to share the cost of fuel and car hire, etc.
9. Make the right packing list
Pack wisely for your gorilla trekking adventure. Begin with waterproof hiking boots, a camera, a daypack, a rain jacket, insect repellents, a first-aid kit, long-sleeved shirts, a pair of socks, a sweater, and others. Read about what to pack for mountain gorilla trekking safaris here.
