Looking for Budget Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tours/Cheap Gorilla Trekking in Uganda in 2023/2024? While mountain gorilla trekking is not cheap, there is nowhere else so well suited to doing this iconic activity more affordably than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
This popular Uganda gorilla safaris park protects a magnificent range of forested hills and is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its rich biodiversity, which includes 120 mammal and 350 bird species.
The main attraction of Bwindi is the opportunity to track the endangered mountain gorilla, several families of which have been habituated to tourist visits. The park also hosts many other rare creatures, from L’Hoest’s monkeys to prehistoric looking three-horned chameleons and Grauer’s broadbill.
Best Budget Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tours
3 Days Gorilla Trekking Uganda
Highlights
Day 1: Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking adventure & Batwa Pygmies Cultural Experience.
Day 3: Transfer Back to Kampala/Entebbe Via Igongo Cultural Centre & the Equator
3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari via Kigali
Highlights
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi in Uganda
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 3: Transfer back to Kigali (Rwanda).
2 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
Highlights
Day I: Drive From Kigali To Bwindi Impenetrable Impenetrable Forest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi & Transfer Back To Kigali.
4 Days Uganda Wildlife And Gorilla Tour
Highlights
Day 1: Visit Lake Mburo National Park, Boat Safari & Game Drive
Day 2: Morning Safari Walks in Lake Mburo & Transfer to Bwindi
Day 3: Gorilla trekking & Batwa Pygmies Cultural Experience
Day 4: Travel Back To Kampala/Entebbe
5 Days Gorilla And Wildlife Safari in Uganda
Highlights
Day 1: Travel from Kampala/Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Afternoon Game Drive & Katwe Salt Lake Tour.
Day 2: Enjoy a Morning Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains, Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel, & Evening Game Drive along the Channel Track.
Day 3: Search for Tree-Climbing Lions in Ishasha Sector & Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Day 4: Do Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Have an Evening Batwa Pygmies Cultural Experience.
Day 5: Transfer Back To Kampala/Entebbe.
5 Days Gorillas, Chimps, And Wildlife Safari
Highlights
Day 1: Visit Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetland Walk
Day 2: Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest National Park & Relaxation
Day 3: Relaxed Breakfast & Transfer to Bwindi via Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest & Community Cultural Experiences
Day 5: Drive to Back Kampala/Entebbe via Uganda Equator
6 Days Uganda Gorilla And Wildlife Safari
Highlights
Day 1: Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park & enjoy a late afternoon game drive
Day 2: Morning Game drive in Kasenyi Plains, afternoon boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, and evening game drive along the channel track.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest & Game Drive in Ishasha Sector in search of tree-climbing lions.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive as You Travel to Bwindi. Evening Batwa Cultural Experience.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi & relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 6: Relaxed Breakfast & Transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe.
5 Questions About Budget Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tours
1. Can I See The Gorillas In Bwindi On A Budget?
That depends on your definition of ‘on a budget’.
All Uganda safari tours that include a gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park need to incorporate a Uganda gorilla permit fee of per person of US$700 for foreign non-resident, US$600 for foreign resident and UGX 250000 for East African Citizens, which few people would regard as cheap.
As a result, any Uganda tour that includes gorilla trekking tends to be expensive compared to a more conventional safari, regardless of whether it is aimed at a budget or upmarket clientele.
Having said that, the fee for a Uganda gorilla trekking permit is a lot less than the US$1,500 charge for a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda.
As a result, Bwindi (together with nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, also in Uganda) is the most suitable gorilla trekking option for budget travelers who don’t want to cross into the unstable Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the only place in the region where you can track gorillas more cheaply at US$ 400.
If you want to keep your Budget Bwindi Gorilla Trekking safari as affordable and focused as possible, here are some useful tips;
Start Your Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
You should be able to reduce the cost by booking a Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Kigali city of Rwanda.
This is because Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport is so close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that you will be able to trek for mountain gorillas on a 2-day, 1-night package.
By contrast, coming from Uganda’s capital Kampala or nearby Entebbe city (the home of Entebbe International Airport, you need to set aside at least 3 days and 2 nights to allow for the 8 to 10-hour drive in either direction to/from Bwindi.
Join a Group Tour
Joining a group gorilla trekking tour means the cost will be shared and thus making it cheap for you to see gorillas in the natural environment. We offer scheduled group safaris in Uganda that include gorilla treks to Bwindi.
Choose budget accommodation
Aside from the cost of the gorilla permit, Uganda accommodation costs can make your gorilla trekking trip expensive. So it is good to consider budget accommodation for your gorilla tour to become more affordable.
But, you should note that the quality of accommodation can make or break your safari. It is therefore very important to consider budget friendly accommodation with minimum basic requirements like en-suite bathroom and toilet, a mosquito net and clean environment.
Visit Gorillas in Low season
The best time to trek gorillas in Uganda is when there is less rain.
Therefore drier season’s months of June to early September and December to February are good for gorilla trekking in Uganda since trails are less slippery.
However, the drier season coincides with high and peak seasons in Uganda, making services slightly expensive.
Low seasons in Uganda are the traditional rainy seasons of April, May, November, and October. During this period, some Uganda safari lodges offer discounted rates of around 10% which you should take advantage of.
2. Which Other Safari Parks Should I Visit On A Trip That Includes Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi?
That depends greatly on the duration of your Uganda safari itinerary.
A 2-day Uganda gorilla package out of Kigali or a 3-day Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Entebbe or Kampala will leave you with little time to do anything other than gorilla trekking and possibly another guided walk in Bwindi, or a boat cruise and relaxation at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.
If your itinerary is 4 to 5 days, you should definitely include at least 1 night in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can see lions and elephants on the plains, hippos on boat trips in Kazinga Channel and chimps at Kalinzu Forest.
Bump that up to 6 or 7 days, and other possibilities include Lake Mburo National Park for plains wildlife and Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking adventure, monkeys, and amazing forest birds.
The 10 day Uganda safari is the best comfortable an itinerary that continues farther north to Murchison Falls National Park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, though 12 days Uganda safari tour would be better. Two weeks would allow you to do all this then you can slot in a white-water rafting excursion at the source of the Nile River near Jinja city.
3. What Is Usually Included In A Budget Trip That Features Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Tour?
A budget Uganda safari that incorporates a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Forest should include accommodation, meals, and transport and driver/guide fees.
The price should also include your gorilla trekking permit and any other fees associated with prescribed activities and national park visits.
Drinks (apart from water) will usually be excluded from the Uganda gorilla trekking safari cost, as will porter fees and tips.
It is always better to understand what is exactly included in the price of your gorilla safari in Uganda before you book it.
4. What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Budget Camping Gorilla Safari In Bwindi?
The most obvious advantage of a camping safari is that it tends to be much cheaper than a comparable itinerary using roofed accommodation.
Particularly at the budget end of the scale, campsites also often have more attractive natural locations than guesthouses and other budget rooms.
A negative about camping close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is that the high altitude tends to make it quite chilly, despite the proximity to the equator, and rain can fall at any time of year.
Camping safaris also tend to involve more time wastage setting up and breaking down tents and other gear.
5. How Much Does A Bwindi Budget Gorilla Safari Tour Cost?
The cheapest option for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a 2-day budget Uganda gorilla safari starting and ending in the Rwandan capital Kigali should be priced at around US$1000 to US$1,500 per person.
If you are starting in Entebbe or Kampala, the most affordable option will be a 3-day budget safari, which is likely to cost in the range of US$1,500 to US$2000.
Gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi are also incorporated into a variety of longer Uganda safari packages that range from 4 days to 2 weeks in duration and might visit several other Uganda national parks.
Depending on the exact duration and itinerary, longer budget Uganda safaris including Bwindi typically work out at US$250 to US$350 per person per day.