The high price of gorilla trekking in Bwindi

The price of gorilla trekking in Bwindi : The districts of Kabale, Kisoro, and Kanungu in the southwest of the nation are where you may find Bwindi. Because the gorilla trekking activity is more expensive than other tourism activities, the national park is one of the costliest sites to visit. The Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga regions of Bwindi are home to the greatest number of mountain gorillas in the entire world.

Thousands of tourists from all over the world go on mountain gorilla treks, making them the most costly tourist excursion in Uganda. There are currently 19 mountain gorilla families in Bwindi who have become completely accustomed to human presence. Trekking with these gorillas is now possible. The park also has two other partially habituated gorilla families that are only accessible for gorilla habituation.

Mountain gorillas are a threatened primate species that was on the verge of extinction until Dian Fossey showed the world how important these apes were to the apes and community.

Dian Fossey began her career at Virunga National Park before moving to Volcanoes National Park, where she educated the community about the value of mountain gorillas. She’s the same individual who initiated the habituation process in order to help mountain gorillas become acclimated to the presence of people in their surroundings.

The first party of tourists was permitted to trek the Mubare gorilla family in Buhoma in 1993, following the mocking phase, marking the beginning of gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Thousands of tourists have been drawn to the park by the subsequent habituation of additional mountain gorilla families, as they want to interact with the species that are most closely related to humans. Because they include lodging, transportation, and gorilla permits, gorilla trekking excursions in Bwindi are not affordable to the general public.

The price of gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Surveillance and safety

The necessity for extensive monitoring and research to guarantee that mountain gorillas are not driven to extinction but rather grow is due to the fact that they are an endangered primate species. The cost of these individuals is covered by the permit price, making gorilla trekking a costly endeavor. Different employees, like trackers, ranger guides, and doctors, are hired by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and they are responsible for monitoring these apes to ensure their well-being.

The cost of the gorilla permit is high.

Compared to the Virunga National Park’s gorilla trekking permit, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is somewhat pricey. After seeing that the number of tourists who wanted to spend time with mountain gorillas was higher than the number of gorilla families in the park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority raised the cost of the Bwindi gorilla trekking permits. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi are fascinating to so many people because they are an endangered species that shares 98% of its DNA with humans.

For non-residents of other countries, a regular gorilla trek license in Bwindi costs $800; $700 for residents of other countries; and 300,000 UGX for citizens of East Africa. The cost of these licenses includes a paid park entrance fee, a ranger guide fee, and an hour spent in close proximity to mountain gorillas. The intriguing gorilla habituation experience requires travelers to purchase gorilla habituation permits, which cost $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $1000 for resident foreigners, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East Africa. The cost of gorilla permits is increased by their high prices.

Assisting the local communities around the park

The cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi is high since a portion of the cost of your license is used to support the local communities. About 10% of the funds is used to benefit the neighboring populations, such as the Batwa and Bakiga, by enhancing their neighborhoods and families. The aim is to convince these individuals that the mountain gorillas are very valuable and that, as a result, they should refrain from engaging in poaching in the park.

Transportation costs to and from the park

Due to the high cost of transportation to Bwindi Gorilla Park, gorilla trekking is an expensive activity. To begin with, Bwindi Gorilla Park is about 540 kilometers away from Kampala/Entebbe, which translates to a 9–10 hour drive. The high price of gasoline in the nation contributes to the overall cost of a gorilla safari. Even more costly than utilizing road transport, travelers who choose air travel to avoid the great distances to Bwindi Gorilla Park also wind up spending a significant amount of money, which makes the gorilla trekking trip pricey.

The price of lodging in the park

Because you need somewhere to stay while you’re in the park, gorilla trekking is pricey. The gorilla trekking experience is unique from other safaris in that it might need you to spend up to two days in the park, or even longer, depending on how many events you want to participate in. The lodges are pricey, ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Since mountain gorillas cannot be tracked in Bwindi in a single day unless you are from the nearby communities, you will need to spend at least one night in the park, which increases the cost of the activity.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

Due to the extensive amount of gear required for a successful gorilla trek, it is a pricey endeavor. In contrast to other safari activities, gorilla trekking necessitates the purchase of high-quality waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton socks, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, a rain jacket, a light backpack, a hat, sunglasses, long cotton trousers, long cotton shirts, a camera, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, energy-giving snacks, and a water bottle, among other things.

The local tour companies

Several indigenous tour companies provide varying costs for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda. As compensation for assisting you in organizing your trip, these local tour companies charge you a little bit more in fees, whether they are too much or too little. Compare the prices and services offered by different firms to select the one that best meets your needs in order to lower the cost of the safari.

Tips

Because it necessitates tipping people you value or those you would want to assist during the safari, gorilla trekking is a pricey endeavor. In the nation, tipping is a desirable practice that is supported by several tour companies. If they make you happy, you can tip the safari guides, the ranger guides, and the lodge caretakers.