GORILLA TREKKING UGANDA COST PER PERSON
August 12, 2026
GORILLA TREKKING UGANDA COST PER PERSON
Gorilla trekking Uganda Cost, Establishing a gorilla trekking Uganda cost per person is the first step when planning a gorilla trip to see mountain gorillas in Uganda’s two national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga.
A gorilla trekking trip in Uganda comprises two main costs: the mandatory trekking permit (issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority) and general safari expenses which include transportation, lodging, and meals.
There other factors that influence the gorilla trekking Uganda cost per person include: safari group size, time of travel, budget (budget vs Luxury), citizenship of clients and the gorilla trekking experience preferred (standard gorilla trekking vs gorilla habituation experience).
Some of the gorilla trekking costs person are individual in nature while others can be shared. Let’s dive into details starting with individual costs.
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Gorilla trekking Permit Costs (Per Person, Per Trek)
The gorilla permit issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority that covers park entrance, armed ranger guides, and 1 hour observing a habituated gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a mandatory cost per person that you will have to incur:
The price of gorilla permits varies depending on your nationality at the time of booking as below:
- Foreign non-residents: $800 USD
- Foreign Residents (with East African work permit/residency): $700 USD
- Rest of Africa Residents (non-EAC): $500 USD
- East African Citizens (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC, Somalia): UGX 300,000
The above-mentioned gorilla permit allows you to spend one hour with a given gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga.
For those interested in spending more time with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an upgraded option of a gorilla habituation experience is available for you.
If you go for gorilla habituation experience permits, the Uganda gorilla trekking cost per person will increase since the cost of a gorilla habituation permit is $1500 (2026) and $1800 (2027) for foreign nonresidents. See details below.
2027 Gorilla Habituation Permit Rates
- Foreign non-residents: $1,800 per person
- Foreign Residents (Expats): $1,600 per person
- Rest of Africa Citizens: $1,000 per person
- East African Community Citizens: UGX 750,000 per person
Key Details & Inclusions
- Duration: Gorilla habituation permits grant you 4 hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family in the Rushaga (southern) sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, compared to 1 hour with fully habituated gorillas for standard gorilla trekking.
- Group Size: Gorilla habituation experiences are capped at 4 visitors per habituation group per day compared to standard trekking allows which allows 8 people per trek per day.
- Inclusions: A gorilla habituation experience is inclusive of park entry fees for the day, ranger guides, trackers, and researchers.
- Booking Policy by UWA: Immediate full payment is required upon booking to secure your spot.
Shared or group costs that affects Uganda gorilla trekking per person.
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Private vs Group tours to see gorillas
The Uganda gorilla trekking cost per person will differ depending on whether you are travelling in a group or solo. Sharing reduces on the cost per person since transport, fuel, and rooms at your hotels/lodges will be shared.
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Budget vs Luxury gorilla safaris
Cost per person for a budget gorilla tour is roughly 500-550 per person sharing while it may go up to 1800-2500 for luxury gorilla safari based on a 3-day trip.
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Low season vs High/Peak seasons.
Gorilla trekking Uganda costs per person differ depending on seasons. Uganda Wildlife Authority offers low season gorilla discounts of $600 per person compared to high season prices of $800. This therefore means that it’s cheaper to travel in April, May and November compared to January, February, March, June, July, August, September and December.
Total Gorilla Trip Cost Estimates based on (3-Day Safari Per Person)
Most gorilla trekking safari itineraries from Kampala/Entebbe run for 3 days / 2 nights. Below are the trip total cost estimates per person (inclusive of the $800 permit, private 4x4 transport, lodging, and meals):
| Budget Tier | Accommodation Type | Total Estimated Cost (Per Person) |
| Budget | Basic eco-lodges / Bandas ($80–$120/night) | $1,390 – $1,760 USD |
| Mid-Range | Comfortable mid-tier safari lodges ($200–$400/night) | $1,590 – $2,250 USD |
| Luxury | Premium safari camps ($600–$1,200+/night) | $2,490 – $3,500+ USD |
Additional On-the-Ground Costs per person
- Porter Hire: $15 – $20 per person per trek
- Guide & Ranger Tips: $10 – $20 per person per day.
- Domestic Flights (Optional): $250 – $400 one-way from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips to skip the 8–9-hour drive. Charter flights are also available upon request.
The above cost per person for Uganda gorilla safaris is just a guide and Encounter Africa safaris is just an email or call away to give you the exact cost when contacted.
Feel free to get in touch with us so that we can tailor a Uganda gorilla trekking safari to suit your interests, budget and time. Encounter Africa safaris has been offering top-notch safaris for the last 15 years and we have never gone wrong when it comes to customer satisfaction.
EARLY BIRD SAFARI DISCOUNTS FOR 2026-27
Take a budget gorilla trip into Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek mountain gorillas and stay in low-cost camps and gorilla lodges.
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