Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo

Budget Gorilla Safaris & Tours

All gorilla trekking destinations in Africa can offer budget gorilla trips.

The only difference is their respective gorilla permit costs, which vary.

Congo offers the cheapest gorilla permits at $400 each, Uganda offers its permits at $700 each, whereas Rwanda offers each permit at $1500 each.

These are the only fixed costs involved.

Other expenses like accommodation, transportation, meals, and activity fees can be managed depending on how much you are willing to invest in them.

This is where budget gorilla treks comes into play – to save as much as you can on each of the mentioned services without compromising the quality of your trip.

Below, we compare budget trekking in the top three African gorilla destinations.

Budget Gorilla Trekking Uganda

Uganda is a renowned safari destination on the African continent, providing unmatched budget gorilla treks and wildlife expeditions.

The country has gazetted 10 national parks, and two of these are preserved to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.

The two gorilla national parks inhabit up to 50% of the total mountain gorilla population, with over 21 gorilla families that are well habituated and ready for gorilla trekking on a daily basis.

The two national parks are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Here are some important tips one can follow to have an exciting budget gorilla trekking safari in Uganda:

Choosing the right season to go budget gorilla trekking in Uganda

There are favorable seasons in Uganda when one can embark on a rewarding budget gorilla adventure in the magnificent national parks.

Choosing the best time for budget gorilla treks in Uganda depends on the travel calendar.

It is not advisable to trek gorillas on a budget in the high or peak season but in the low season.

The low season begins in the months of March, April, May, and mid-October up to the end of November.

The low season is characterized by low visitor traffic in the destinations since these months are characterized by heavy rains, and many people do not like to travel a lot during this season.

Therefore, one stands a chance of trekking on a budget since tour packages and hotels are discounted during this time to attract more visitors.

Joining a group trek

One of the best options when embarking on budget treks in Uganda is to join scheduled tour groups.

One can comfortably join a group of other travelers to realize a perfect budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda.

You pay less for more when you join a group trek.

Tour operators organize scheduled groups and invite travelers to join at a subsidized fee since most services are shared.

Purchasing a tour package as a group is way cheaper than purchasing individually, which helps to cut the costs and realize a budget tour in Uganda.

Selecting a more affordable park

Choose a national park that better suits your budget.

There are two national parks in Uganda offering gorilla tours, that is, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks.

Bwindi national park has 21 gorilla families living in its four gorilla sectors of Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.

On the other hand, Mgahinga has only one gorilla family.

Due to the popularity and high volumes of travelers to Bwindi National Park, many hotels are quite expensive compared to those in Mgahinga national park.

Therefore, it is better to choose Mgahinga National Park over Bwindi National Park if you want to realize a budget gorilla tour in Uganda.

Opt for budget accommodation

Travelers embarking on budget gorilla safaris should also consider going for budget accommodation options.

Both Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks have affordable budget lodges that have been established in any of the sectors of the park to cater to shoestring, backpackers, and budget travelers.

These further make it a more affordable option for budget tours in Uganda.

Some of the budget lodges one can book include Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Bwindi Backpacker’s Lodge, and Nshongi Camp.

Other budget accommodation options can be found in Kisoro town near Mgahinga National Park.

Self-drive options

Self-drive is yet another option available for travelers going for budget trekking safaris in Uganda.

One can rent out a 4×4 vehicle that is good for all terrains and undertake a self-drive gorilla safari instead of hiring a chauffeur-driven car.

Self-drive option is cost-effective because travelers do not have to pay a driver to take them to their destinations.

All they need is to carry with them a map for guidance and the necessary travel documents, hence saving more money.

Planning your meals

One ought to plan carefully to cut costs on meals.

The most cost-effective way to save on meal costs includes dining at local restaurants.

The local restaurants also have good chefs that can prepare delicious local cuisine.

This can help save money as compared to eating at costly high-end restaurants or tourist lodges.

You should not shy away from also snacking on roadside delicacies like roasted cassava, roasted bananas, and roadside meat.

Street food too is scrumptious and cost-effective, thus in favor of budget travelers.

Uganda is one of the countries with a variety of dishes, and a stopover at a local restaurant or roadside eatery will enable you to enjoy the best of delicacies and also engage with locals and experience their unique culture.

Budget Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

Also known as “the heart of Africa,” Rwanda is a captivating East African country with breathtaking land-forms that add to her sensational beauty.

Rwanda hosts mountain gorillas in the northwestern-based Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is a remarkable destination for gorilla trekking in East Africa.

This park is home to 13 gorilla families that are fully habituated and open for trekking daily.

Each family is visited by a maximum of eight people; therefore, over 100 gorilla permits are available on a daily basis to allow visitors access to these gentle giants.

Rwanda also offers budget gorilla safaris, and to have the best experience, one needs to take a series of factors into consideration, including:

Choosing the right season

The best time to undertake budget gorilla tours in Rwanda is definitely during the low season when gorilla permits are not in high demand and are discounted.

The low season in Rwanda is usually during the months of March, April, May, and November.

There is not much traffic in the national park; therefore, visitors can also purchase gorilla permits at a slightly cheaper price.

Rwanda gorilla permits in the low season are 30% cheaper at $1050, compared to the usual $1500 price.

Consider staying in budget lodges

Budget travelers also need to consider going for less pricey hotels.

There are many budget accommodation options near Volcanoes National Park, including Muhabura Hotel, Villa Gorilla Hotel, La Locanda Hotel, and Kinigi Guest House.

These provide top-notch services at lower costs and, therefore, help you cut your travel expenses without compromising quality.

Combine multiple activities

To make your budget safari rewarding in Rwanda, you should consider combining a gorilla tour with other activities.

Try to mix other tours with the beautiful Lake Kivu, which is renowned for its captivating sightseeing opportunities.

Explore the vibrant capital of Rwanda, Kigali, which is the fastest-growing African city with state-of-the-art buildings and malls for shopping.

Cultural tours can also be added to your itinerary to visit vibrant local communities of the indigenous Hutu and Tutsi people.

A combination of these exhilarating activities can help spread your expenses and create a more diverse and exciting experience in the heart of Africa.

Budget Gorilla Trekking Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the lushest countries on the African continent.

Its thick tropical rain-forests are inhabited by gorillas and other primate species.

Congo is home to several species of gorillas, with mountain gorillas living in Virunga National Park and eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Most importantly, Congo is the cheapest gorilla trekking destination in the whole world.

Gorilla permits in Congo are priced at $400, which is the cheapest price for trekking mountain gorillas compared to Uganda ($700) and Rwanda ($1500).

This makes Congo a favorite spot for budget gorilla tours.

To further have the best budget safari in Congo, you need to consider some factors, including:

Staying in budget accommodation

Visitors to the Democratic Republic of Congo need to consider staying in budget hotels to have a less costly gorilla trekking safari.

Budget accommodation options for visitors trekking mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park include Kibumba Tented Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp, Tchengera Island Camp, and many budget hotels located in the nearby Goma city.

Safety and security in Congo

D.R. Congo tourism has, over the years, been antagonized by rebel militias who tend to take over the rain-forests and use them as bases to terrorize the sitting government.

However, the combined forces of East African governments and the UN managed to defeat these rebel militants in the forests.

Congo has since been regaining its safety, and tourism activities are moving on smoothly.

However, it is important for travelers to always check travel advisories before embarking on tours to Congo.

Local travel advisories include guidelines and state of the security addresses by experts and governments.

They further advise on the safe routes to use when in Congo.

Travelers are advised to always use local tour operators to book their budget gorilla tours in Congo, who can advise on the best hotels to book, safe routes to use, and offer safety advisories.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a safe place to visit all year long, for eastern lowland gorilla trekking.

Planning transportation

Roads to Virunga National Park from Goma are still being worked on, and again, it is better to consult a local tour agency about the state of roads before embarking on a budget tour to Congo.

It is advisable to book a 4 × 4 safari car from Goma town to Virunga National Park and from Bukavu to Kahuzi-Biega National Park respectively.

These help in maneuvering through the tricky terrain and bad roads with less hardship.

Explore the local communities

While on budget gorilla treks in Congo, you should endeavor to check out the local communities for authentic interactions and mingle with the local people.

The local communities you are likely to encounter include the Mbuti, Batwa, Hutu, and Tutsi people.

These provide interesting entertainment and storytelling based on their respective cultures and traditions.

Responsible travel in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Responsible travel has been advocated for by authorities and other conservation stakeholders over the past years.

Responsible travel entails undertaking safari activities without causing any negative social, economic, or environmental impacts on the places visited.

Visitors embarking on budget gorilla treks should also travel in a responsible manner to minimize the negative impacts on the habitats of mountain gorillas.

Responsible travel can be achieved through keeping track of the garbage, following the rules and guidelines of the park, making sure you do not trek gorillas while sick, using biodegradable materials, maintaining a reasonable distance of 7 meters when trekking gorillas, keeping your voice low at all times until you are done with trekking, using cameras without a flash, and following other guidelines as given by the park authorities.

In a nutshell, budget trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is very possible, but the cheapest country is obviously Congo, with affordable gorilla permits at $400, followed by Uganda at $700, and Rwanda at $1500.

However, all countries provide chances of experiencing budget gorilla safaris if you stay in budget hotels, travel in low seasons, eat at local restaurants, and join scheduled tour groups to minimize unnecessary expenditure.

Cheapest way to see gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

Uganda and Congo offer the most affordable gorilla trekking experiences in Africa.

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700, while in Congo, it’s $400, with Rwanda providing the most expensive permits at $1500.

Congo also offers discounted gorilla permits during the low months, priced at only $200.

Uganda used to provide discounts for gorilla trekking during the low seasons of October and November, as well as April to May.

However, that changed when Rwanda doubled the price of their gorilla permits from $750 to $1500.

The cheapest way to see gorillas in Uganda was by visiting during the low season when acquiring gorilla permits is more accessible and less expensive.

During this season, the number of trekkers in national parks decreases, allowing you to trek with fewer people and have the opportunity to spend time with the mountain gorillas without much congestion.

The low season was also the most economical time to see mountain gorillas in Uganda because many hotels offered discounted rates to attract more clients.

This is in contrast to the dry season when most lodges are fully booked, and prices are higher.

Another cost-effective approach to seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda is to travel by road rather than using air transport.

One of the budget-friendly ways to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is by booking accommodations in affordable lodges.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four sectors: Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo.

Each of these sectors offers accommodations in various price ranges, including budget, mid-range, and luxury options.

Choosing a budget lodge can help you keep the cost of your trek down, although it’s worth noting that Buhoma sector has the most luxurious lodges.

Uganda is a year-round destination for tourists; however, some months offer better experiences than others.

The best time for gorilla trekking is during the dry season, which falls between June to September and December to February.

Top Budget-Friendly Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Below are some of the most popular budget gorilla safari lodges that you can stay in to save on costs.

1. Buhoma Community Bandas. Buhoma Community Bandas are situated in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park. Tourists trekking for gorillas from Buhoma or Ruhijja can stay in this accommodation. Clients can choose from self-contained bandas or bandas with shared facilities.
2. Wagtail Eco Safari Camp. Wagtail Eco Safari Camp is also one of the best budget options for those trekking gorillas in the Rushaga or Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi. The lodge offers various activities apart from gorilla trekking, such as bird-watching, community and nature-guided walks.
3. 3 Way Gorilla Resort. 3 Way Gorilla Resort is situated in Kisoro town. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation and provides a cultural experience to visitors with performances by the locals.
4. Bwindi View Bandas. Bwindi View Bandas are situated in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi National Park. Though the bandas are not self-contained, they provide good views of Bwindi, and the beds are simple and comfortable, making it a good option for budget travelers.
5. Broadbill Forest Camp. Broadbill Forest Camp derives its name from a threatened bird, the African green broadbill. The lodge is situated on the edge of Bwindi Forest, making it a perfect place for birders to stay, with some bird species seen at the lodge. The lodge has four en-suite comfortable tents, a well-stocked bar, and a restaurant serving continental meals. The starting point for gorilla trekking is just about 3 kilometers from the lodge.
6. Nshongi Campsite. Nshongi Campsite is one of the accommodations for low-budget travelers or backpackers in Bwindi National Park. The camp is located on the edge of the forest, making it eco-friendly, built with local materials. There are four traditional bandas and a camping site where you can pitch your own tent. The staff at the lodge can also take you through the Rushaga village for a cultural experience with the Batwa people.
7. Kisoro Travelers Rest. Kisoro Travelers Rest is one of the nature lodges found in Uganda and is one of the oldest hotels in the country, often referred to as the second home by the famous American primatologist. The lodge provides views of the Virunga volcanoes. The hotel consists of 11 en-suite rooms. The restaurant serves delicious meals, and the bar is well-stocked with various drinks.
8. Gorilla Valley Lodge. Gorilla Valley Lodge is part of Uganda Nature Lodges. The lodge offers spectacular views of Bwindi Forest, and gorillas sometimes visit its gardens. Tourists staying at Gorilla Valley Lodge can trek mountain gorillas in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. The lodge consists of 12 self-contained rooms with a restaurant and bar. The staff at the lodge also provide exceptional service to visitors.

Please note that there are more budget accommodation facilities available outside of these options.

Finding the right choices may require some research, and most importantly, always check their TripAdvisor reviews.

This is a great way to gauge the quality of service a particular lodge provides.

Additionally, make sure to book lodges that are either in or near your gorilla trekking sector.

Buhoma and Ruhija are close to each other, as are Rushaga and Nkuringo.

You cannot stay in Rushaga and trek gorillas in Buhoma, and the same applies to Ruhija.

Clients who miss out on gorilla trekking because they booked the wrong accommodation are not entitled to a refund.

The good news is that our agency can assist you with the right planning and offer you the best possible cost-effective options.