How to do gorilla trekking on a budget in Rwanda?

It is incredible how gorilla trekking can be done on a budget, even in Rwanda. You have to be smart to ensure an unforgettable gorilla trek without spending too much of your money. With a bit of flexibility on your part and some local insight, gorilla trekking on a budget in Rwanda is 100% likely. Volcanoes National Park is the only destination where gorilla trekking is done in Rwanda. Below are some ways of doing a gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda on a budget.

Travel in a group

You can choose to reduce the overall expenditure of your trip by traveling in a group. Being in a group is one of the best ways of sharing transport costs, accommodation costs, and guiding fees. This is because you share the costs among each of you. This makes the gorilla trek the single most costly thing you will need to concentrate on. Besides, traveling in a group seems fun since you will have company while tracking gorillas.

Choose budget accommodation

Reduce the overall expenditure of your Rwanda gorilla trek by choosing to stay in a budget accommodation. There are several guesthouses and community-run accommodations that offer basic amenities and meals. However, the jungle experience is still the same, authentic, and thrilling while done on a budget. Discounted rates are offered by many midrange accommodations during the low season. So, you can choose to travel during this time.

Pack your own food

To reduce the budget of your gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda, choose to pack your own food. This is for you to avoid pricey food at the restaurants around Volcanoes National Park. Most budget accommodations allow you to carry food for self-catering. This can be in the form of snacks and other non-perishables that you can eat while at Volcanoes National Park. You will need to follow the park rules to avoid littering in the forest.

Trek during the low season

Rwanda offers discounts on each gorilla permit if you travel for a gorilla trek during the low season. This season runs from November to May each year, offering a chance for visitors to trek on a budget. A 30% discount is offered on each gorilla permit during the low season. This implies that instead of paying USD 1,500 for a gorilla permit, it will now cost you just USD 1,050.

However, there are requirements to qualify for this discounted rate. You should have spent 2 consecutive nights in either Akagera or Nyungwe National Park in addition to a forthcoming gorilla trek. Alternatively, you must have spent a night at Nyungwe National Park and another night in Akagera National Park consecutively. This is, by the way, also combined with a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. No cash payments are allowed at the park entrance.

Trek gorillas while on a MICE tour

Take advantage of any MICE tour in Rwanda for a chance to trek the gorillas at a reduced cost. The gorilla trek can be done either before or after a MICE tour. Each delegate on a MICE tour is offered a 15% discount on a gorilla permit if they are interested in a gorilla trek. Therefore, instead of your ordinary gorilla permit costing the usual USD 1,500, you will now pay just USD 1,275. Also, it is not acceptable to make cash payments at the park entrance.

Book with a reputable tour operator

Reputable local tour operators like Standard Safaris will help you save plenty of money and hassle while on a gorilla trip. All you have to do is search online for a tour operator with good reviews and transparent pricing. If you compare us with other operators, you will just notice that this is what we, at Standard Safaris, have. We also handle the gorilla permits, plus accommodation and transportation, very efficiently.

Trek gorillas in Uganda

In comparison, trekking gorillas in Uganda is much cheaper compared to Rwanda. While exploring Rwanda, you can reduce the gorilla trekking budget by choosing to do it in Uganda instead. If you compare a gorilla permit being sold at USD 800 to Rwanda’s USD 1,500 per permit, Uganda becomes the better option. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated just 82.4 kilometers from Volcanoes National Park.

Do fewer activities

If you choose to do fewer tour activities in Rwanda, your overall budget for the trip is reduced. This implies that your expenditures focus more on the gorilla trek. In case you choose to participate in more activities besides a gorilla trek, you will have to choose budget-friendly activities. These include nature walks, village visits, and cultural tours, among others. It is important to know that Rwanda offers plenty of memorable activities for tourists. These include chimpanzee trek, colobus monkey trek, birdwatching, game drives, and boat cruises, etc.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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