How much does seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park cost in 2024-25?

How much does seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park cost in 2024-25? The cost of seeing mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park starts with gorilla permit costs. Although Mgahinga National Park is the smallest Uganda National Park covering an area of about 33.7 kilometers, it is also home to mountain gorillas. At the moment, one gorilla trekking family is open in Mgahinga National Park called Nyakagezi.

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In the past, the Nyakagezi gorilla family was known for its adventurous nature as it used to wander into Rwanda, making it hard to pre-book its gorilla permits. This gorilla family is settled in Uganda, and gorilla permits are available for pre-booking.

A gorilla trekking permit at Mgahinga National Park costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East Africans.

In addition to purchasing the gorilla trekking permits for Mgahinga National Park, the cost of booking accommodation to be used during the gorilla safari must also be considered. Mgahinga National Park accommodations are categorized into Upscale, Mid-range, and budget facilities.

The cost of seeing gorillas in Mgahinga National Park is also determined by the number of people traveling for the gorilla safari, the number of days on the gorilla safari, and other activities to combine with the gorilla safari.

Transport to be used when getting to the gorilla safari destinations must be included in the gorilla safari cost. To get to Mgahinga National Park, you can use road transport, including hiring a vehicle, fuel, driver guides, daily fees, and other expenses. If traveling by air, air transport costs must also be considered because you need to book a seat on the daily domestic flights or charter to the Kisoro Airstrip.

What Is The Cost Of Seeing Mountain Gorillas In Mgahinga National Park?

Gorilla permit cost

The gorilla permit cost is the first expenditure to consider before confirming the gorilla safari. To book a gorilla permit for Mgahinga National Park, you must have a date or timeframe for your gorilla safari. Upon receiving your gorilla safari inquiry, our tour consultant checked gorilla permit availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority list.

Gorilla permits are reserved with payment. The first come, first served policy is used to book the gorilla permits. Depending on the timing, you can make a full payment or make installments for a gorilla permit purchase. Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts 30% and 70% installment gorilla permit purchases.

To be eligible for an installment gorilla permit purchase, you must secure the gorilla permit 90 days before the trekking date and top it up 90 days before the trekking date. Failure to comply may lead to reopening the gorilla permit to the public and the deposit not being refunded according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority installment gorilla permit purchase policy

What is the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Mgahinga National Park?

Currently, a gorilla trekking permit for Uganda costs $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300000shs for East Africans.

The cost of gorilla permits include:

• Pack entrance fees.
• Ranger guide fees.
• Security.
• Mountain gorilla conservation support.
• One hour with the mountain gorillas.
• Local community support.
• Certificate after the gorilla trek and others.

Exclusions in the gorilla permit cost are accommodation costs, porter hire fees, ranger guide tips, and other individual expenses.

Cost of accommodations at Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park's accommodation costs vary with the facility category you select. In Mgahinga National Park, accommodations are graded according to upmarket, mid-range, and budget facilities. Booking accommodations to use during the gorilla safari is the next step after securing the gorilla permit. Mgahinga National Park has limited accommodation options, which sell out fast during the peak season.

Other accommodations you can book during the gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park are in Kisoro town, about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from the Ntebeko visitor center. 

Mgahinga accommodations: Gahinga Volcanoes Lodge, Mgahinga gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu, Community Camp

Transport cost to Mgahinga National Park

Hiring a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with an experienced and professional driver guide is a great decision. The terrain of the Kigezi subarea, where Mgahinga National Park is part, is rugged with highlands that curve meandering roads.

Sometimes, the roads in southwestern Uganda are in bad conditions during the severe rainy season, so you must have a reliable vehicle to get through. Consider the fuel cost for the journey to Mgahinga National Park from your point of commencement. A full gas tank is essential before entering the countryside because fuel stations may be unavailable in the village areas.

The driver guide fees are charged daily, which must be included in the cost. The more experienced the driver guides are, the higher their charges. If you want the best experience during the gorilla safari, hire a professional and knowledgeable driver guide to keep the trip lively.

Consider extra transport costs too, like in case of a mechanical breakdown as you do transport costs too.

Daily domestic flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kisoro airstrip are available, taking about two hours. You need to hire a transfer vehicle to Mgahinga National Park. Booking is necessary too for the seats because they sell out.

Charter flight services from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield are available, too, in case you opt for more private means of transport. You also need a transfer vehicle from the Kisoro airstrip to your lodge in Mgahinga National Park.

Other factors we consider when costing your gorilla safari package for Mgahinga National Park

Number of people traveling with for gorilla safari

The more people joining the gorilla safari, the less the safari cost per person. You can share logistics costs on fuel, car hire, and driver guide fees. Only the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is not shared because it is per individual.

If you have children booked to do the gorilla safari, they must be 15 and above because this is the age limit for gorilla safaris. Children below 15 years old may need to withstand the conditions in the jungle or follow the rules of gorilla trekking as advised by the ranger guides at a briefing.

Number of days on gorilla safari

Three gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is the least number of days you can be on this safari. The first day is to arrive and depart for Mgahinga National Park, 

The second day is gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

The third day is departure after the gorilla safari

Most amenities that support the gorilla safaris charge per day costs, and the more days on the gorilla safari, the higher the safari cost.

Select Other activities to combine with the gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park.

Besides gorilla trekking, you can do a golden monkey safari in Mgahinga National Park, but you need a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Golden monkeys are a charming monkey species with a body structure more significant than normal monkeys. Although the golden monkeys are habituated to human presence, they still possess their endearing nature and cannot settle in one location, so get ready to keep on your toes.

A guided excursion on either of the three volcanoes that form the topography of Mgahinga National Park is rewarding. You can hike Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhavura with stunning views.

Birding in Mgahinga National Park allows you to spot some Albertine rift endemics like Shelley's Crimsonwing, handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-faced Woodland Warblers, and others.

Uganda is endowed by nature, and other than activities in the Bwindi forest, you can do game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Launch trips, chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park, Visit the source of River Nile, white water rafting on River Nile and so much more.

Each of these Uganda safari activities has a cost, but you must pay park entrance fees before entering the national park.

Time of booking the gorilla safari for Mgahinga National Park 

Prices on logistics that support gorilla safaris, like accommodations, vehicle hire, and driver guide fees, tend to increase during the high Uganda tourism season: June, July, August, September, December, and January. Even the high demand for these services creates scarcity as the season breaks in.

Finding availability of gorilla permits, accommodations and other services during the high season is challenging.

Low-season gorilla safari costs may be lower during March, April, May, and November as some service providers may lower their prices to break even. You may use a quiet period if you have a limited gorilla safari budget for Mgahinga National Park. Last-minute gorilla permits may be available during the low season, although only a guarantee sometimes.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

The duration of the gorilla trekking adventure in Mgahinga National Park is hard to determine as it's influenced by factors prevailing in the wilderness. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas run into the deeper parts of the forest, prolonging the trek. When the gorilla family loses a member, they may go into hiding. The pace of other trekkers determines when to find the mountain gorillas.

Some tourists find the mountain gorillas within two hours of starting the gorilla trek or more time, but patience is required. Open your mind to see attractive forest inhabitants like the black and white colobus, blue monkeys, grey checked mangabey, olive baboons, and others. Look out for sparkling waterfalls, a dense network of rivers, and so much more.

When you find the mountain gorillas, you have one hour with them to let them go about their day-to-day activities like grooming, feeding, and others. Human presence interferes with the daily life of the mountain gorillas.

How Difficult is gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park?

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is quite tedious because of the highlands that form the topography of this park. Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Sabyinyo are part of Mgahinga National Park. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of this highland, and you have to hike. Hiking is challenging, but you need to bear some level of patience to get through the entire experience. 

During the breaks you take, you can munch on the energy bites to keep you going as you search for the mountain gorillas.

What to Pack For Gorilla Safari In Mgahinga National Park

• Extract fully charged batteries to exchange with if one runs low
• Garden gloves to cover your hands in case you need to secure a tighter grip.
• Safari Boots that can withstand water-logged conditions in the forest in case the rivers overflow.
• A foldable safari hat with a large brim that can protect your hair from water dripping off the tree leaves
• Safari long shirt and trousers that can withstand forest conditions. They must be in colors like Tan or Khaki to camouflage dirt.
• A raincoat is needed if it falls in the jungle as this area is known to receive rain at any time without warning.
• First Aid kit with emergency items, especially if you have a non-communicable infection that may require urgent medical care.
• Medicated Insect repellent to keep away stinging insects in the wilderness
• A camera to capture highlights of the gorilla trekking tour for memories of your safari.
• A pair of binoculars to bring close the far-ranging items of your interest
• Toiletries, especially if your skin is sensitive to certain body chemicals.
• Energy bites to snack on when hungry and keep you going.
•  Shoe bags to keep in your dirty shoes, especially when you have no time to clean them up after the trek.
• Hard cash to change into local currency if you need to purchase specific items like souvenirs. Credit cards are rarely used in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

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