Gorilla trekking in Africa offers a unique chance to see not only endangered mountain gorillas but also eastern lowland gorillas. Seeing any of these special gorilla species in the wild is a dream come true for many travelers.
The mountain gorilla population in Africa and worldwide is less than 1,063. Spending an hour face to face with these gorillas in the wild is a rare and special experience. This is one reason to join our budget gorilla trekking safaris.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
A budget gorilla trekking tour in Uganda lets you explore two main places to see endangered mountain gorillas. These places are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Uganda, known as the Pearl of Africa, is home to about half of the world’s remaining 1,063 mountain gorillas. It also has the most habituated gorilla families, giving visitors many chances to see these amazing animals. Uganda has 21 habituated gorilla families: 20 are in Bwindi National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Budget gorilla trekking in Bwindi offers a great chance to get close to mountain gorillas at an affordable price.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It covers parts of Kabale, Kanungu, and Kisoro districts. The park was created in 1991 to protect the rare mountain gorillas, a type of eastern gorilla.
Bwindi is the favorite mountain gorilla trekking spot for many travelers. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its rich wildlife.
Trekking in Bwindi gives travelers an unforgettable chance to see gorillas. The park has about 35 gorilla families, but only 20 are open for trekking and research.
Bwindi covers 331 square kilometers and has four main trekking areas: Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija. While trekking in Bwindi, you can visit gorilla families in the southern Nkuringo and Rushaga areas or go to Buhoma in the north or Ruhija in the east.
In Nkuringo, you may see the Bushaho, Nkuringo, or Christmas gorilla families. In Ruhija, you can track the Oruzongo, Kyaguriro, Bitukura, and Mukiza groups.
Buhoma has the Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, and Mubare families. Rushaga has about nine habituated groups, including Bikingi, Busingye, Mucunguzi, Kutu, Rwigi, Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, and Kahungye.
Besides gorilla trekking, Bwindi offers other activities like mountain gorilla habituation, bird watching, nature walks, cycling, and Batwa cultural experiences.
Budget gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lets you track the only habituated group there, the Nyakagezi family, starting from the Ntebeko area.
Mgahinga is in Kisoro District, about 8 to 10 hours from Kampala by road. It is Uganda’s smallest national park, covering 33.7 square kilometers.
The park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and includes three of the Virunga Massifs.
Gorilla Permits in Uganda
Uganda is known as a budget gorilla destination in Africa. Gorilla permit prices vary by visitor category: foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African Community citizens.
As of 2024, permits cost $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 Ugandan shillings for East African citizens.
There is also a gorilla habituation experience available in the Rushaga region. As of 2021, habituation permits cost $1,500 for foreign non-residents, $1,000 for foreign residents, and 750,000 shillings for East African citizens.
Where to Stay on a Budget in Bwindi & Mgahinga
When visiting Bwindi, it is best to book accommodation in the area where you plan to trek. In Ruhija, budget options include Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, and Gift of Nature Lodge.
In Rushaga, budget lodges include Ichumbi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nshongi Camp, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge.
Buhoma has Buhoma Community Bandas and Bwindi View Bandas. In Nkuringo, budget options are Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Virunga Campsite, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel.
Near Mgahinga, budget places include Amajambere Iwacu Camp, a community-run camp near the park entrance about 12 kilometers from Kisoro; Golden Monkey Guesthouse in Kisoro Town; and Mutanda Eco-Community Centre, 6 kilometers from Kisoro.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Budget gorilla trekking in Rwanda offers a chance to spend time with mountain gorillas at an affordable price.
These tours take place only in Volcanoes National Park, one of Africa’s top gorilla destinations.
A budget gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park begins with a briefing. The park offices are in Kinigi, where officials explain the rules before you start trekking.
Volcanoes National Park is in Ruhengeri, in the northwest of Rwanda. There are over 18 gorilla groups in the park, but only 13 are open to tourists. These include the Karisimbi, Kwitonda, Ugenda, Bwenge, Titus, Pablo, Agashya, Susa A, Amahoro, Hirwa, Sabinyo, and Umubano families.
The park also protects five of the eight Virunga Massifs, including Muhabura, Sabinyo, Gahinga, Bisoke, and Karisimbi volcanoes.
Other animals in the park include buffaloes, bushbucks, spotted hyenas, elephants, and more than 200 bird species.
Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
As of 2021, gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost $1,500 per person. It is important to book your permits early, ideally 2 to 6 months before your trip.
Booking is easier through a local tour operator or the Rwanda Development Board.
Budget Accommodation Near Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park has several budget lodging options. These include Muhabura Hotel, located near Musanze district along the main road to Rubavu, and Kinigi Guesthouse, about 11 kilometers from Ruhengeri. Villa Gorilla is another affordable choice.
Budget Gorilla Trekking in D.R. Congo
Going on a budget gorilla trek in the D.R. Congo is a great chance to see mountain gorillas and Eastern Lowland gorillas in their natural home.
On a budget gorilla safari in Congo, you can visit two main places: Virunga National Park, where you find mountain gorillas, and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, known for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking.
Virunga National Park is the largest of the four gorilla trekking places, covering 7,800 square kilometers. It was created in 1925 as a national park. This large rain-forest protects about 300 mountain gorillas and has eight groups of gorillas that are used to people.
On a budget gorilla trek in Virunga, you can track families like Munyaga, Bageni, Mapuwa, Kabirizi, Humba, Nyakamwe, Rugendo, and Lulengo.
Besides mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park is home to many animals that live in wetlands, savannas, woodlands, and rainforests.
You can find about 706 types of birds, including double-toothed barbets, Rwenzori Batis, grey-throated barbets, and barred long-tailed cuckoos. Other animals include Thomas Kobs, waterbucks, buffaloes, hippos, duikers, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, Dent’s mona monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys.
If you plan to visit Virunga National Park for a budget gorilla trek, there are some places to stay. Tchegera Island Camp is near Lake Kivu and is known for great views of the nearby volcanoes and the lake.
Mikeno Lodge is a more expensive place inside Virunga National Park with views of the rift valley and Nyiragongo Volcano. It is close to many activities like gorilla trekking, bird watching, and hiking Nyiragongo Volcano.
Other lodges include Lulimbi Tented Camp, Bukima Tented Camp, and Kibumba Tented Lodge.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park, created in 1970, is Congo’s main place for Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking. It is one of the largest gorilla parks with 6,000 square kilometers.
The park is named after Mount Kahuzi (3,308 meters) and Mount Biega (2,790 meters). While Eastern Lowland gorillas live in other places too, Kahuzi-Biega is the only park currently open to tourists for gorilla trekking.
There are five groups of lowland gorillas used to visitors in the park: Moungwe, Nganwa, Chimanuka, Bonnani, and Mugaruka. You can trek any of these groups if you have a gorilla permit, which costs 450 US dollars per person.
Mountain gorilla trekking and Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking have some clear differences. Mountain gorilla trekking means finding and seeing mountain gorillas.
Eastern Lowland gorilla trekking is mainly to see Eastern Lowland gorillas. Mountain gorillas live only in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Virunga, and Volcanoes National Parks.
These four parks are the only places in the world where you can find them. Eastern Lowland gorillas live in many parts of Eastern Congo and Western Africa.
What to Carry on Your African Budget Gorilla Trekking
When packing for your gorilla trek, bring strong, waterproof hiking boots, a camera without a flash, a small backpack, snacks, bottled water, a torch, insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket or poncho, your visa, gorilla permits, yellow fever certificate, a first aid kit, gardening gloves, and other useful items.
Etiquette to Follow on Budget Gorilla Trekking
- Always keep 8 to 10 meters distance from the gorillas.
- After a 2 to 6-hour trek, you will spend one hour with the gorillas.
- Avoid making noise and speak quietly.
- Only people above 15 years old with a gorilla permit can go on the trek.
- Do not touch the gorillas.
- Cover your mouth when coughing and your nose when sneezing.
- Using camera flash is not allowed during gorilla trekking in Congo, Uganda, or Rwanda.
Other Budget Activities Besides Gorilla Trekking
Climbing Nyiragongo Volcano is a popular adventure in Virunga National Park. The permit costs 300 US dollars per person. Other places for mountain climbing include the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda and volcanoes like Sabyinyo, Muhabura, Karisimbi, Gahinga, as well as Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega near Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Bird-watching is great in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo because they have many bird species. You can see birds like ostriches, African green-breasted pittas, broadbills, and shoebills. These countries have birds from savannas, forests, woodlands, and wetlands.
Golden monkey tracking is another option. Golden monkeys live in the Virunga Conservation Area, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo.
Cultural safaris are also special. Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo offer chances to learn about local traditions, cultures, and lifestyles. You can enjoy music and dance performances.
Some cultural activities include visiting Batwa communities after gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga, visiting Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village near Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, or exploring nearby communities in Congo near Virunga or Kahuzi-Biega National Parks.
Other activities include nature walks, cycling, and community volunteering.
When to Travel for Budget Gorilla Trekking
You can plan budget gorilla trekking at any time of the year in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo. But the dry and wet seasons are important to know.
The dry months, from late May to September and December to February, are best for gorilla trekking because there is little or no rain.
The wet months, from March to May and October to November, can be better for budget travelers because many lodges offer lower prices.
