The Question – How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost?
Gorilla Safari Cost Factors – Gorilla Permit Price – Lodging Cost and Transport Cost
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Uganda – Rwanda – DR Congo? Mountain Gorilla Tracking is one of the most expensive Tourist Activities in all of Africa. It is also the one activity that most Visitors to Africa want to include in their time on Safari in Africa.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost? That is the question that Gorilla Trekkers most often ask. Where can I get the best deal on a Gorilla Safari? The Cost of a Gorilla Safari depends primarily on you and your choices.
The Total Cost of a Gorilla Safari includes three essential components: the Cost of the Gorilla Permit, the lodging cost, and the transportation cost.
The lowest-priced gorilla trekking safaris are in Virunga National Park in DR Congo. There is, however, a catch; the lowest does not mean the safest. If you trek gorillas in DR Congo, you might see guerrillas instead of Mountain Gorillas.
Gorilla Tracking in DR Congo comes with the most risk factors making it a no-go zone for Trekkers. You will find tour operators offering safaris into DR Congo, but read the travel advisories for Eastern DR Congo before you sign up.
That leaves you with Uganda and Rwanda for a safe Gorilla Safari. Rwanda has chosen to take the deluxe route for Tourism. It means that Rwanda is the most expensive Gorilla Trekking destination. With its $1,500 Gorilla Permit Price, Rwanda makes it the most costly gorilla tourism destination. Add the cost of lodging in the country, and you will understand why Rwanda is not the prime Gorilla Destination. Rwanda’s high-end marketing strategy has virtually eliminated budget and mid-range travelers.
The gorilla trekking experience is not better in Rwanda, and it is more costly.
Uganda has become the choice for those wanting an affordable Gorilla Safari. A luxury Gorilla Safari comes at a fraction of the price it costs in Rwanda without compromising quality. A mid-range Gorilla Safari will cost over $1,000 less than in Rwanda. A mid-range safari in Uganda will cost between $1,100 to $1,300. The same mid-range safari will cost you $2,200 and more in Rwanda.
The Transport Cost also determines the Cost of a Gorilla Safari. Flying to a Gorilla Park is the most expensive yet convenient way, and a Private Toyota-Land-Cruiser trip is a distant second. Thirdly, you can choose the lower-cost Toyota Super Custom for your private Safari.
Based on our over a decade of experience with Gorilla Safaris, we suggest that you look at the Gorilla Trek as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. No zoo in the world has Mountain Gorillas, and they do not belong to any zoo and do not survive captivity. And you can only see them in the wild, in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
Focus on the experience. The Incredible Encounter with the Mountain Gorillas in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Uganda’s ruggedly beautiful Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The Scenic Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the biodiverse Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
No Gorilla Trekker with us has complained about the Gorilla Encounter. There have only been raves.
Gorilla Trekking is a priceless experience. Cost enters the equation, but the experience outweighs the cost.
We suggest that you look at our Gorilla Trekking comparison page, where we evaluate each country, and you can see the pros and cons.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost?
Rwanda-The Deluxe Gorilla Destination:
In 2017, Remarkable Rwanda chose to take the exclusive luxury, high-end promotion path. Gorilla Permit prices were doubled to $1,500, and the permit price is the same for tourists and Rwandans alike. This move locked out those looking for affordable Gorilla Trekking. The great Gorilla Trekker Migration led to mostly safe and reasonably priced Uganda.
A few years later, fantastic exclusive Lodges have opened monthly throughout the country. Travel Agents worldwide are enthusiastic about Rwanda’s route, focusing on the select upscale luxury market, bringing a higher commission to travel agents.
Since gorilla trekking is almost twice as expensive as in Uganda, you might conclude that Rwanda trekking is better than other countries. The answer is no, and the experience of being with the gorillas is the same in each country6.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Rwanda? The answer is thousands more than in other countries. Rwanda is the High-end Gorilla Trekking Destination, and it is an excellent choice if you can afford it and are willing to spend a lot of money.
Democratic Republic Congo:
DR Congo is the most affordable destination, and your choice of lodges is minimal. What keeps Gorilla Trekkers from DR Congo? Though affordable, DR Congo is, for most, a “no-go zone.” The area is a haven for all types of guerrillas. Virunga National Park was closed for most of 2018. Travel Advisories abound issued by governments from the US to the UK, among many others.
Affordability, yes. However, one must be an “Indiana Jones,” a character willing to throw all caution to the wind. You have to be realistic and consider the risk factors that come into play here, and yes, tourists have been kidnapped in the area of Virunga National Park.
When safety and security return, we will offer gorilla trekking safaris there.
If you want to take advantage of the lowest Gorilla Safari Price and get a $400 Gorilla Permit, contact Virunga National Park. They will direct you to one of their recommended Tour Operators and assist you with the Visa required and the Gorilla Permit.
Uganda – the Premier Gorilla Trekking Destination: 
Uganda offers Safe and affordable Gorilla Tracking. The $600 Gorilla Permit ($700 after July 1, 2020) keeps a gorilla Safari within most. A midrange and some upmarket 3-day Gorilla Safari will cost less than a gorilla permit in Rwanda without compromising the quality of the Gorilla Encounter.
Those looking for luxury Safari find Uganda appealing since exclusive luxury gorilla safaris are a fraction of their price in Rwanda. That amounts to a lot of money that can be used to add extra days in Uganda and additional Safari Days that can include Chimpanzee Tracking and Wildlife activities.
How much does a Gorilla Safari Cost in Uganda? A lot less than in Rwanda and enough money to pay for your airfare or an upgrade to a luxury lodge. It is no wonder that Uganda is the premier Gorilla Destination.
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