Want to know why gorilla trekking is so expensive? Before you see gorillas, you need to buy a gorilla permit, book your accommodation, transport, flight tickets, and more.
Gorilla permits alone cost $1,500, $800, and $400 in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo, respectively. Not everyone can afford this, especially the cost of Rwanda gorilla permits.
Nowadays, many clients arrive in Kigali and trek gorillas in Bwindi to save money on permits and reduce driving time. Uganda gorilla permits are more affordable.
A gorilla trekking company can arrange everything for you, but as you may have noticed, the price of gorilla tours is higher than most other safaris.
So why is gorilla trekking so expensive? I will try to explain this clearly and share some facts you may not know.
Also Read: Can you go gorilla trekking when pregnant?
There are only about 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the world. You can only see them in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. The small number of gorillas is one reason why the permits are costly. In general, prices go up when something is rare and in high demand.
However, this is just one of the smaller reasons.
The main reason why gorilla trekking is expensive is because of the gorillas themselves. Years ago, mountain gorillas were close to extinction. If it wasn’t for Dian Fossey and other conservationists, they might no longer exist.
Fossey worked hard to protect gorillas. Sadly, she died on December 26, 1985, and it is believed she was killed by poachers.
Since gorilla trekking started, money collected from permits has been used to help protect the gorillas.
Protecting mountain gorillas is not easy. It needs a lot of money. Before 2018, mountain gorillas were listed as highly endangered. Their numbers only increased to over 1,000 recently.
So, when you buy a gorilla permit, you are not just paying the government. In fact, the government gets the smallest share. About 75% of the money goes to gorilla protection, 10% goes to local communities, and 15% goes to the government.
When you go gorilla trekking, you help support the survival and growth of these animals.
So the simple answer is: gorilla trekking is expensive because it costs a lot to protect the gorillas and their natural homes.
When Rwanda raised the price of their permits from $750 to $1,500, it wasn’t just to make more money. It was to raise more funds to protect the gorillas and help them grow in number.
You can book your tours through these recommended tour operators.
So how expensive is gorilla trekking?
Apart from the permit cost, you will spend more money on transport, accommodation, and meals. You can choose to go budget or luxury.
I previously wrote reviews on budget gorilla trekking and luxury gorilla trekking. You can read them to understand what each experience feels like.
For accommodation, there are lodges that cost as little as $100 per room per night and others that go up to $2,400 per room per night. You just have to choose what suits your budget.
If you prefer to fly, that will cost more. Road transport is done using 4×4 safari vans or Land Cruisers. Land Cruisers are more expensive and are usually used for luxury tours.
You will not know the full cost of your trip until you ask a tour operator for a quote. Contact any of the listed companies for help.
Additional Expenses on Your Trip
Besides the tour cost, you might spend more on personal items. You may need to buy good hiking boots, gloves, a camera, lenses, or other equipment for your trek.
In Uganda, it’s a good habit to tip guides and hotel staff. You should plan for this as well. Tipping is not required, but I strongly encourage it. Even a small tip shows appreciation. Don’t hesitate to tip while on your trip.
Lastly, if you send inquiries to many tour operators, you can compare quotes. But don’t let the price alone decide which one to choose. Many companies may offer cheap prices, but you should ask yourself—is the service worth it?
As a client, it’s not always easy to know what kind of service you’ll get. But don’t worry.
I always advise clients to check the lodges listed in a tour package one by one and read their reviews online. This helps you understand what kind of service to expect.
If a package costs a bit more but includes good accommodation, go ahead and book it. Don’t ruin your experience just to save $100 to $300.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
