How Much It Cost To See Gorillas In Uganda
The price of Gorilla trekking in Uganda depends on a number of factors involved and these are what we need to look at to establish Uganda Gorilla trekking cost because when looking at the cost, it involves the whole package and not the single event / item of Gorilla Trekking Uganda.
Gorilla permit Cost; to be able to take part in Gorilla trekking, you must obtain a Gorilla permit so the cost of the Gorilla permit largely determines the cost of Gorilla trekking in Uganda. The Gorilla trekking permit now costs $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents of East African countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania) and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens throught the year. There are no low season discounts anymore or any other discounts so do not be deceived or misled.
How do I book a gorilla trekking permit?
You can book your gorilla trekking permit online, but the staff of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park strongly encourage visitors to book their gorilla permits through a tour operator like Follow Alice. One reason for this is that it’s better to travel to Bwindi with a local tour operator who knows the roads well and has the right sort of car to navigate them, as they’re not in good condition.
Why is gorilla trekking so expensive?
There are a number of reasons why gorilla trekking is costly. The main reason is that there are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild and they require constant research and monitoring to preserve their fragile existence. This is funded through gorilla trekking permit fees, hence the high cost.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority hires personnel to monitor the gorillas at all times, keeping a close eye on their general health, feeding, and movements in the region.
Trackers hike the mountains where they reside each morning to check on them. What’s more, tourism police and armed rangers are employed to accompany tourists on gorilla treks to ensure both the client’s and the gorillas’ safety from threats, such as poachers.
Gorilla trekking’s high expense is also a way to control human interference with these magnificent, endangered creatures.
Close proximity between humans and mountain gorillas presents the risk of disease transmission, so the Uganda Wildlife Authority has developed rules to help protect the health of the gorillas. Each habituated mountain gorilla group is limited to a single 60 minute visit each day by a group of no more than 8 tourists. On a gorilla trek, visitors must maintain a 15 foot distance from gorillas at all times.
Tips to help you prepare for your Uganda gorilla tour
1.Know your fitness and train before you depart.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is at high altitude, which makes gorilla trekking much more difficult, even for experienced hikers. Know your fitness level and if you aren’t an experienced hiker, hit the gym or go for a hilly hike in your area before you depart to achieve an adequate fitness level. It could take up to 10 hours to find gorillas on your trek, so keep this in mind as you train!
2.Be prepared for any weather.
Due to the jungle climate, the weather on your gorilla trekking tour could potentially be hot and humid as well as cold and rainy in the space of a single day. Prepare for erratic weather on your gorilla trekking safari.
3.Bring food and water
There are no shops in Uganda’s national parks and while some tour operators may offer packed lunches, it’s essential to pack water and it’s strongly suggested that you pack snacks. You’ll need to keep your energy level up because you could be hiking for up to eight hours while you locate the gorilla family you’re tracking. Trail mix, granola bars, and bananas are a few easy items to pack. Never feed the animals while on a gorilla trek!
4.Waterproof your camera and turn off your flash
Weather conditions require you to waterproof your camera on your gorilla trek. Flash photography is not permitted either while trekking or while near the mountain gorillas so it is also essential that your flash setting be turned off.