2024 detailed gorilla trek cost comparison of gorilla trekking Uganda Rwanda, prices for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, Gorilla tour prices; Which is the best place to do a gorilla trek – Uganda or Rwanda? Are gorilla trek tours cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda and why? Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park, which is easier to access, Is tracking Rwanda better than Uganda?
If you looking for prices for Rwanda gorilla trekking tours, we have them listed at Gorilla Trekking Cost Rwanda.
Rwanda Vs Uganda: Compare 2024 Gorillas Trek Tours, Gorilla Trekking Cost, Experiences In comparing gorilla trekking Uganda Rwanda, we have to first look at the costs involved.
Okay, aside from the price differences with the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit now at $1500 and Uganda gorilla going for $800, could there be some real difference in the experience one finally gets? As all the mountain gorillas in both countries are the same species only separated by national boundaries, the only difference that should mainly arise is in your experience in the tracking and the general gorilla tour arrangement. Because Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is only about 125kms from your arrival airport – Kigali, it makes it much easier to access by road. For Uganda’s Bwindi/ Mgahinga, you would need 8 hours to drive from Entebbe Airport and another 8 hours back to the airport, although daily flights are available (taking about 50 minutes). With this prevailing, you would need at least two days to complete your gorilla tour in Rwanda and 3 days for a Uganda gorilla tour. So, even though the Uganda gorilla's permits are cheaper, you would incur a transport cost of about $600-$700. Some visitors choose to arrive in Kigali and arrange to visit Bwindi from Kigali. You would still need 3 days for the entire tour.
All else being equal, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has a slight edge over the rest because its gorillas are the most wholly habituated, and they are often found in bamboo than the dense forest which makes photographing easier. The major challenge with trekking gorillas in Rwanda is certainly the price of the gorilla permit at US$1500 compared to Uganda’s US$800. However, Rwanda’s pride is in the ability for one to do the gorilla trek even in one day and fly back home which is impossible for Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is located 116 km from Kigali and can be driven in just 2 hours. On the other hand, Bwindi is located 500 km from Kampala/ Entebbe Airport and a drive can take 8 hours plus. In that sense, you will spend at least 3 days for your gorilla trek tour – one traveling to Bwindi, another doing the gorilla trek, and the other driving back to Kampala/Entebbe. If a tour operator is making you a tour package, they shall definitely have to consider this cost and include it in your tour cost.
With the oncoming of daily scheduled flights to Bwindi, operators now can have 3 days flying packages to Bwindi.
In real practice though, the one-day gorilla trek tour is not recommended because of the pressure it exerts on the trekker. For those limited on time, we would suggest the 2-days gorillas package.
However, the long drive to Bwindi is quite enchanting with great sceneries all through like the Equator, Lake Mburo National Park ( for some Queen Elizabeth National Park with abundant wildlife), terraced mountains with flowing rivers, and a lot of rural Africa. This is not so really the case for the drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park.
You will certainly spend more on transport and time to track the mountain gorillas in Uganda than it’s for Rwanda although this cost is compensated for by a cheaper gorilla permit.
Besides, some sections of the roads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not so comfortable to drive on yet in the case of Rwanda, you drive on the smooth tarmac at least up to the Volcanoes National Park head office. Not to mention though, the roads leading from the Volcanoes park office to the gorilla trek trail-heads can only be accessed with a raised 4x4 vehicle.
Where will I get the best Gorilla Trekking Experience in 2024 - Uganda or Rwanda?
In general, the experience can only be different due to the way a particular gorilla family behaves in front of the trackers, how long and tough one has to track before reaching the gorillas, and the way the park staff conducts the exercise. Personally, I found the Rwanda gorilla tracking package more charming than the Ugandan one on the tracking day. Should we say that this’s because of the gorilla permit price difference? Anyways, on your gorilla tracking day in Rwanda, you will definitely get more than that. At about 7:00 AM, tea/ coffee dispensers with cups are laid for visitors going for the trek. You are free to take as much as you wish. As visitors are enjoying the tea/ coffee, they are entertained by the lively traditional dance troupe (SACOLA Traditional Dancers) who bring on a wholesome Rwanda traditional cultural experience all visitors enjoy.
Of course, you can get this in Uganda in the evenings (at a fee) from the various traditional cultural groups that are near the park. However, the drive from Kampala to Bwindi is a very fabulous one traversing at least another national park (either Kibale or Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for tree-climbing lions and many other big mammals, or Lake Mburo National Park) and not to miss- the Equator. In a way, even before you arrive in Bwindi you have had a bit of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as is fondly known. To many, driving along paved eucalyptus avenues to the gorillas is not the best deal. Indeed many do purchase tour packages combining both Rwanda and Uganda, first doing Gorillas in Rwanda and then crossing to Uganda to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for the BIG 5 safaris and chimpanzee tracking among other tours.
How expensive is gorilla tracking tour, which is more expensive, is Rwanda more costly than Uganda?
Because of the long drive, one endures from Kampala to Bwindi, the general cost is increased (even when you travel by public buses). It even increases more because you have to travel 2 days (to and from Bwindi). However, the increased cost is countered by the low-cost gorilla permit of US$700. If you are 2 persons, the cost of a Uganda gorilla trek tour is $1152 per person in lower budget accommodation and if you are solo the gorilla tour price is USD1400 for the 3 days gorilla trek tour in Uganda including the gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport) for one person on tour. The two days Rwanda gorilla trek costs about $1950 ( with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport), and a three days Rwanda gorilla tracking tour costs is about $2030 (with gorilla permit, accommodation, and transport).
In case you are willing to camp, the Uganda 3 days camping gorilla tour is about $1230 for 1 person, $998 per person if 2 persons. This comes with a nice tent, camping mattress, sleeping bag, the gorilla permit, transportation, and breakfast.
What other differences are there in gorilla trekking safaris between Uganda and Rwanda?
Lastly, if you are not traveling just to see the mountain gorilla, and you want to include other activities in your visit, Rwanda may not be the best choice. Many tourists have continually had to cross to Uganda after their Rwanda gorilla trek to tour other reserves like Queen Elizabeth National Parks so endowed with abundant wildlife one cannot see in Rwanda. This is why probably folks continue enduring the long drives to Bwindi yet there is an easy way out.
At the end of the day – the ultimate jury is those who are looking as to which country to visit in order to track Gorillas – it is not Rwanda, not Uganda, not the Democratic Republic of Congo but where their pockets and hearts choose. If you precisely want the mountain gorillas and nothing else, go for a one-day gorilla trek but if you are one who wants it and all of it, go for the long drive – you won’t regret it…
Have you been on a gorilla trek in Rwanda or Uganda? What was your experience? What have you had about tracking gorillas in Rwanda Vs Uganda? Let me hear your views on comparing gorilla trekking Uganda Rwanda as well.
How much is the Rwanda Gorilla Tour Trekking Volcanoes National Park (including gorilla permit, accommodation, and transportation)?
For the best Rwanda Gorilla trekking tour experience, we suggest the 3 days Rwanda gorilla tour. The lowest cost for this gorilla trekking tour is USD1850 per person if you are 4 person sharing rooms, USD1960 per person if you are 3 person sharing rooms, USD2100 per person if you are 2 person sharing rooms, or USD2500 if you are 1 person going on the gorilla trek alone. If you are staying at midrange lodges like Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, the cost of your gorilla trekking tour is USD2000 per person if you are 4 person sharing rooms, USD2070 per person if you are 3 person sharing rooms, USD2237 per person if you are 2 person sharing rooms, or USD2700 if you are 1 person going on the gorilla trek alone. Please contact us for more updated offers here>>>
What is the Cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour in Mid-luxury lodges?
And if you are staying in mid-luxury lodges like Five Volcanoes Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge the cost of your gorilla tour is USD2107 per person if you are 4 people sharing two rooms, USD2150 per person if you are 3 people sharing a triple room, USD2290 per person if you are 2 persons sharing a double/twin room, or USD2820 if you are 1 person going on the gorilla trek alone. Please contact us for more updated offers here>>>
How much is a Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Tracking tour?
Luxury lodges for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking include Virunga Lodge, Silvrback Savibyo Gorilla Lodge among others. If you will be staying at these luxury lodges, the cost of your gorilla trekking tour is USD3370 per person if you are 4 person sharing rooms, USD3400 per person if you are 3 person sharing triple rooms, USD3580 per person if you are 2 person sharing rooms. Please contact us for more updated offers here>>>
What is the cost of a 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour?
If you are planing only two days gorilla trekking tour, the prices for your gorilla trekking is as follows:
The cheapest Rwanda gorilla trek tour when you stay at Kinigi Guesthouse is USD2100 if you are 1 person on tour. USD1850 per person if you are 2 persons sharing room, USD1775 if you are 3 people sharing a room and if you will be 4 persons sharing 2 rooms - USD1736 per person
If you are staying at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge: 1 person on tour - USD2300; 2 persons sharing room - USD1940 per person, 3 persons sharing room - USD1840 per person, 4 persons sharing 2 rooms - USD1790 per person.
If you are staying at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Five Volcanoes Lodge: 1 person on tour - USD2380; 2 persons sharing room - USD1950 per person, 3 persons sharing room - USD1920 per person, 4 persons sharing 2 rooms - USD1860 per person.
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