Costo del trekking de gorilas en Uganda: permiso y viaje

The Uganda gorilla trekking cost starts with the permit, which is widely reported at US$800 for foreign non-residents, with a US$600 low-season price announced for April, May and November. On top of that you pay for lodging near your sector, transport (the biggest hidden cost, because Bwindi is far from the airport), a porter, tips, food and insurance. A trip costs much less than the Rwanda equivalent, where the permit is US$1,500 according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), but the longer drives add days.

This guide breaks down every part of the cost, shows how to build a budget, and compares Uganda with Rwanda fairly. Prices and tariff dates are reported inconsistently, so confirm them with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or your operator. We checked the details in October 2026. To see how to book, read how to book a Uganda gorilla permit.

One source says the latest tariff covers July 2026 to June 2028, while others point to an earlier one. Because we could not see the UWA document itself, treat these as guides and confirm the figure for your date.

1. Start with the permit price for your date.
2. Add the nights in your sector (plus nights en route).
3. Add the transport and driver for each day.
4. Add a porter, meals and tips.
5. Add insurance, visas and flights.

For a quote that bundles these, see our 3-day Bwindi gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural tour, the 7-day Bwindi gorilla trekking tour and the 6-day Mgahinga gorilla trek and golden monkey tour. Prices depend on dates and group size, so ask for a quote.

The permit is. At US$800 against US$1,500, the difference in the permit alone is US$700 per person. But Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is two and a half hours from Kigali, while Bwindi is a long drive of many hours from Kigali or Entebbe, and many travellers add a domestic flight or an extra night. Uganda also lets you add chimpanzees, boat safaris and Murchison Falls in a longer trip. Read the full comparison in Rwanda vs Uganda gorilla trekking and the Rwanda cost guide.

• Travel in April, May or November for the announced low-season permit.
• Share a vehicle in a small group.
• Choose mid-range lodges.
• Pick the sector that is closest to your route; see the best sector in Bwindi.
• Combine the trek with another activity in one trip so the transport is shared.

Mgahinga has one gorilla group and its permit is at the same standard price. It is closer to the Rwandan border, so it can be cheaper to reach from Kigali. See Bwindi vs Mgahinga from Kigali.

A short trip shows how the cost is spread. Day one is a flight into Entebbe and a transfer or a domestic flight toward the south-west. Day two is the long drive to your sector, usually with an overnight in a lodge near the trailhead. Day three is the trek, with the permit used and a porter hired, followed by a rest afternoon. Day four is the drive or flight back. The permit is a single line on that plan. The other lines are two or three nights of lodging, two long days of vehicle and driver, meals, and either a domestic flight or an extra night on the road.

This is why a "cheap" permit can still lead to a long trip. If you can only spare four days, flying one way, or choosing a sector close to your arrival point, often saves more than a cheaper lodge. Our 3-day Bwindi gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural tour is built around that logic, and the 7-day Bwindi tour spreads the same permit over a slower, wider itinerary.

• Visa and vaccination papers. Check the current Uganda entry rules and whether yellow fever evidence is needed for your route.
• A porter. Optional, but most trekkers hire one for the slippery sections. The fee is modest and supports local families.
• Tips. Guides, trackers, rangers, drivers and lodge staff. Plan a small envelope for each group.
• Domestic flights and baggage. Small aircraft have strict weight limits, and extra bags can cost more.
• Laundry, drinks and bottled water. Many lodges charge for these unless the rate is all-inclusive.
• Insurance. Medical and evacuation cover is not optional in remote areas.
• The cost of changes. Permits are generally not refundable, so a missed flight or an illness can cost you the whole permit.

Reports from 2026 say the old seven-day unpaid hold on permits has been removed, so the permit is paid in full when it is booked. That matters for your plans: do not ask an operator to book a permit before your flights and visas are settled. Ask what payment methods are accepted, what the deposit for the rest of the trip is, and when the balance is due. Make sure the permit confirmation shows your name exactly as it is in your passport. If prices change between the date you enquire and the date you pay, ask the operator to state in writing which price applies.

In Rushaga, UWA offers a longer experience in which you accompany trackers and researchers with a family that is still being habituated, and you may stay with the gorillas for up to four hours instead of one. Sources report the permit at about US$1,500, with a higher price from 2027. It suits photographers, researchers and people who want to see behaviour over a longer time. It is not for everyone: the day is long, the group is small and the terrain is the same as a normal trek. For most first-time visitors, the standard permit already gives a full hour with the gorillas, and the saved money buys a night at a better lodge.

• Travellers who want a lower permit price
• Those who also want chimpanzees, wildlife and culture

• Visitors with only three days, since transport adds time

• Comparing only permits. Include the drive and the extra nights.
• Booking late. The best lodges fill early.
• Forgetting tips and the porter.
• Ignoring the tariff date. Confirm which rate applies.

US$800 is widely reported for foreign non-residents, with US$600 in the low season.

The permit is, but transport can narrow the gap.

Usually not. Buy insurance.

We recommend one. It is inexpensive and helpful.

Yes. Sources disagree on the effective date of the latest tariff and on low-season rates, so confirm the price for your exact trek date with UWA or your operator, and ask for it in writing.

The permit is cheaper, but the transport can be longer and costlier. Compare the whole trip, not just the permit, before you decide. See Rwanda vs Uganda gorilla trekking.

Tell us your dates, your group and the sector you prefer, and we will send a quote. Talk to Our Tour Specialist.

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority.