Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking is not just a Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience, but also Africa’s most accessible gorilla trekking. Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are all habituated and welcome Rwanda Trekking Gorilla safaris into their natural habitat. Rwanda’s gorillas are the most accessible because they live on the bamboo-covered slopes of the country’s Virunga Volcanoes National Park and are within easy reach. The popular primatologist Dian Fossey did her conservation work on these slopes, and the film Gorillas in the Mist was shot here, making Rwanda Gorilla trekking popular around the world. However, unlike in Uganda and DR. Congo, when you arrive at Kigali International Airport, you are only a few hours away from Volcanoes National Park: hence, making Rwanda’s gorilla trekking the most accessible of all the gorilla safari destinations.
How Much Does Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost?
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost entails several unavoidable costs that are regulated by Rwanda’s tourism governing body the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). There are several expensive aspects of a gorilla trekking safari including permits, lodging, transportation, meals, and tips among other unexpected costs and these prices vary depending on the time of year and destination. To avoid inconveniences, all visitors make reservations for their gorilla safaris in the proper and recommended manner.
Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is expensive, but the most expensive item concerning the gorilla trekking process is the gorilla permit. The permit is heavily regulated and focused on in every country, particularly Rwanda, for the governing manages all human–gorilla interactions. The availability of gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda is also limited by the number of habituated gorilla families and the number of visitors permitted per family. To deter encroachment, the Rwanda Development Board always prints permits with unique serial numbers that include all travelers’ personal information.
Still, to properly prepare for your Rwanda gorilla safari, please keep in mind that the permit fee in Rwanda is nonrefundable and nontransferable, except for cases of medical reasons, and you only need to provide your passport when booking the permit. When you go gorilla trekking, you will meet tour operators who will design a driver guide for the duration of your gorilla safari. The driver will welcome you at the airport, transport you to your lodge, and then accompany you on your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.
Cost of a Rwanda Gorilla Permit: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1500 per person, and a permit is required to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Each person purchases a permit for 1500 USD to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, spending no more than 60 minutes with the mountain apes. The Rwanda gorilla permit is the most expensive for a mountain gorilla trek, though it comes with amazing deals. However, the Rwanda Development Board offers a 30% discount on permits to tourists who spend at least three days in Rwanda for gorilla trekking and other park visits (Akagera National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park); however, terms and conditions apply. Furthermore, a 15% discount is also available to conference tourists who plan to trek gorillas in Rwanda before or after their conference.
Cost of Accommodation: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
When planning your Rwanda gorilla safari, planning where to sleep is also another vital factor to consider. Luckily, the Volcanoes National Park has excellent lodges and camps; your budget will determine your lodging options. A good budget hotel in Rwanda will cost you between $50 and $130 per night and good mid-range lodges cost between $150 and $200 per night whereas luxury hotels range from $300 to $5000 per night. If you plan to self-drive, you can book these lodges on your own, but most travelers book their accommodation through a reputable tour company.
But if you book a hotel on your own, make sure it is close to the starting point of the gorilla trekking sector to which you have been assigned. If you book too far in advance, you may miss the briefing and thus miss the trek – all the more reason to book your gorilla tour through a reputable tour operator.
Cost of Transport: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Hiring a vehicle and plane tickets: Once you have a gorilla permit and a place to stay, the next thing to consider is transportation which includes hiring a vehicle and plane tickets. The cost of air tickets to and from your country varies depending on your country of origin. When you arrive in Rwanda, renting a car in Rwanda costs about $70 per day, excluding fuel and the driver. The Volcanoes National Park is about a 3-hour drive from Kigali International Airport, so you won’t spend so much time on the road.
Cost of Food: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Aside from accommodation and gorilla permits, you should not forget to budget for food, drinks, and, most importantly, water. The lodges provide this, but you will need water and food when you leave the hotel for gorilla trekking. If you are traveling alone, food and drinks should cost around $40 per day. If you intend to purchase expensive alcohol or cigars, you may need to budget for them separately. If you book your Rwanda gorilla safari through a tour company, you won’t have to worry about food. The company should provide food and water while staying at the hotel and traveling between activities.
Visa and Border Crossing: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Crossing borders between Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo is a common part of gorilla trekking. If you want to go gorilla trekking in Congo, expect to pay a fee of about $100 to cross the Goma border post. Those who find the cost of gorilla permits in Rwanda prohibitively expensive can trek gorillas in Uganda instead but must travel through Kigali to avoid traveling for 8 hours from Entebbe or Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Gorilla trekking from Uganda via Kigali requires a \$50 VISA fee at either the Katuna or Cyanika border crossings. For those planning safaris in multiple East African countries, an East African tourist visa can be obtained for $100.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Card: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
A yellow fever vaccination card may seem insignificant, but it is required especially for entry into Uganda and Congo. If you read gorilla trekking reviews and other related information, you will discover that yellow fever vaccination cards are one of the most important documents required at the airport and when crossing borders. If you intend to visit most African countries, you must consider the cost of taking the shot.
Costs of Items on the Gorilla Trekking Packing List: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
To have the best experience trekking mountain gorillas, there is a packing list of equipment you will need to pack. You will need to bring a good camera and binoculars, good hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, hand gloves, a rain poncho, insect repellents, a water bottle, and sunscreen among others. Apart from the gorilla permit itself, these are all hidden costs that must be considered.
Cost of Porters: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
During gorilla trekking excursions, it is casual to need help with heavy equipment, bags, or video cameras; and thus have to hire a porter to assist you in carrying them at a cost. Porters can also assist you with carrying packed lunches and providing assistance during difficult sections of the trek. The elderly must use Sedan chairs and hire about eight porters to lift them to the trekking point, making gorilla trekking more difficult. Hiring a Sedan chair and porters to transport it can cost around $400 and $15 respectively.
Porters live near gorilla parks and some were previously poachers while some of the porters are locals looking for extra cash. Other porters are students looking to supplement their school fees, while others are parents looking to supplement their family’s income. By hiring these porters, you are contributing to the general well-being of the local community and indirectly assisting them in providing for their families. A porter will cost you about $15 and can be found at the park offices or during the briefing.
Cost of Tipping: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost
Though not mandatory, tipping should also be considered an incurable cost when planning your Rwanda gorilla safari. Hotel staff, Guides, Rangers, waiters, and waitresses will sometimes go out of their way to ensure that your time with them is perfect and memorable. You may decide to tip them as a courtesy to show your appreciation for their efforts and the amount is entirely up to you. Tipping is not required during gorilla trekking and should be paid only after a service has been rendered and you are satisfied with it.
In conclusion, the cost of gorilla trekking can also be determined by the number of days you reserve for the activity. If you want to trek gorillas in Rwanda, add $900 to the prices above to get an idea of your total cost. Depending on the lodge, luxury gorilla tours in Rwanda can range from $1600 to $7000. Nonetheless, these prices do not include air tickets, tips, alcoholic beverages, or any other personal expenses.
Traveling alone is more expensive because you must pay for your transportation, lodging, and fuel. Furthermore, it is important to note that companies add their markup cost to the overall safari to account for administrative services which include Guides, office staff, and office running. This is typically 10-20% of the total cost.
How Can One Save on the Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Cost?
There are several ways in which one can save on the Rwanda gorilla trekking cost; One option is to go gorilla trekking in less expensive destinations such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another option is to request that your tour operator recommend the best budget lodges. Ensure to travel with a group of friends, colleagues, or family so you can split the costs of transportation, lodging, and fuel with your spouse or a friend.
Furthermore, you can travel during the low season (rainy season), when there are fewer tourists in the country. In countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, you may find that accommodation is less expensive and that there are discounts on hotels and even gorilla permits. You can also save money by taking public transportation, but this is risky because you have no control over when you leave or arrive. In Rwanda, public buses do not leave on time. You risk missing the activity or arriving late for the briefing at the park headquarters. Because gorilla permits are expensive, you cannot afford to miss the activity. Furthermore, even if you want to, there is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase one the next day.
Another way to save money is to avoid taking chartered flights within the country. The majority of the chattered flights are prohibitively expensive. The high cost of internal flights is because few locals fly. Tourists pay a high price to compensate for the few local travelers. Traveling by road may take hours, but it will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to trek gorillas on a budget gorilla safari. More so, traveling by road exposes you to the African countryside, landscape, and beautiful scenery, as well as local people going about their daily lives. Observing cities and the countryside is the best way to learn about a country.
And lastly, always compare prices from various tour operators. Do not choose the cheapest option; you may end up paying more. Choose a tour operator that charges less but provides high-quality services. The tour operator must be able to provide the essential elements of the trip, which should include food, lodging, water, fuel, and a car. Request that they provide you with information about the available accommodations. Many tour operators make lofty claims but fail to deliver on quality. Book with a tour operator who can book you good accommodations, even if they are slightly more expensive. The choice of hotel is critical and can make or break a safari. You don’t want to ruin your vacation because you’re trying to save money.
Best Time for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris
Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris are good all year round. However, the dry season, from June to September, is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This is also the best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda because the weather is pleasant and the risk of malaria is low. Furthermore, the vegetation in the Volcanoes is short and trekking trails are accessible.
But you can trek to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda outside of these peak seasons (during the wet season between March to May) but expect it to be more difficult due to rain, and steep and muddy hiking paths. You must be in reasonably good shape before embarking on your trek to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s dense forest.
