What does a Gorilla safari cost in Rwanda or Uganda?

Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most magical safari experiences — and one of the most expensive. Between permits, luxury lodges, and transfers, the numbers can seem daunting. But don’t panic: with the right planning, you can balance cost with comfort. And still enjoy that unforgettable magical hour face-to-face with the gorillas.

Unlike destinations such as Kenya or South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda don’t follow dramatic seasonal pricing swings. Demand for gorilla permits is high year-round, so while there are seasonal variations, they’re relatively modest. (You can ONLY trek to see the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, or Uganda and – to a tiny degree – in the DRC.)

What DOES make a big difference is the level of lodge you choose — from comfortable mid-range to over-the-top luxury such as Bisate, Singita Kwitonda or One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.

And then, of course, there’s the big-ticket item: permits. In Uganda, a gorilla trekking permit is $800 per person, while in Rwanda it’s $1,500 per person (with an off-peak discount down to $1050 if you combine parks). Yes, it’s steep. But this trekking fee directly funds conservation and ensures the gorillas are protected for future generations. Think of it as the world’s most worthwhile “cover charge.”

In a Nutshell

So, what does a typical gorilla trekking safari cost? For an 8-night safari, you can expect ballpark figures of:

• $6,500–$8,000 per person for a tour using moderate properties in either Rwanda or Uganda (including activities , meals & gorilla permits)
• $9,000–$12,500 per person for premier camps in one of the two peak seasons (Uganda)
• $11,500–$17,500 per person for premier camps in one of the two peak seasons (Rwanda)
• And between $1,800–$3,000 per night if you’re opting for Rwanda’s ultra-luxury lodges, depending on season and exact lodge.

Ultimately, there’s no “cheap” gorilla safari. But there are ways to make it cost-effective: consider a scheduled group tour in Uganda, travel with friends to reduce transfer costs, or look at shoulder season dates for modest savings.

Just don’t pick April or November purely to save a little — heavy rains can dampen more than just the forest floor.

Let’s go into a little more detail:

Guide to Typical Nightly Safari Costs in Uganda or Rwanda

Below we give some typical prices per night for the safari including the cost of in-country travel, park fees, game drives and the all-important gorilla permit. Obviously, these exclude the international flights.

Overall Rwanda is a little cheaper in the moderate category, but its top end prices are much higher, due to several ultra-luxurious gorilla trekking lodges – such as those mentioned above. Plus, the Rwanda gorilla permit is more…

More on that later…

Price per Night	Mid-range/Scheduled (or 4 people)	Premier Camps*	Deluxe Camps*
Rainy Season	$650-$900	$950-$1,300	$1,600-$2,300
Peak Season – Uganda	$800-$950	$1,100-$1,550	$2,100-$2,500
Peak Season – Rwanda	$650-$950	$1,450-$2,200	$2,300-$3,000+*

There’s not much little difference at the moderate end of the scale between the two Peak Seasons and the Rainy Season in terms of the overall safari cost.

Plus, Rwanda is no more than Uganda because the higher cost of the permit is offset by the slightly lower cost of travelling around.

At Premier lodge level, you start seeing a great disparity between seasons and between Uganda and Rwanda

And at the Deluxe level, there starts to be a clear difference between the secondary peak season (December to mid-March) and the higher or main Peak season (June to mid-September.)

* Note that the uber-deluxe lodges such as the exquisite Bisate Lodge or One&Only properties are very expensive and thus skew the nightly averages.

So what influences these prices?

High cost of Gorilla Trekking Permits

Let’s address the big ‘gorilla’ in the room, as it were. Which is the cost of the trekking permits which are as steep as the hike up the mountain itself.

• $800 per person per day in Uganda, which also has more lodges at mid-range levels.
• And a whopping $1500 per person per day in Rwanda  as they want to position itself as a high-value destination.

If you are just in Uganda or Rwanda for the gorillas and spend 4 nights in country, then that’s a massive $125 to $350 extra per night! But that’s why you’ve chosen to come! So you just must chalk it up to having a life-affirming once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Important Note for Rwanda

If you visit out of the Peak Season (i.e. June to October), then the Rwanda park authorities reduce the gorilla permit to $1050 per person IF you visit two or more National Parks, such as Akagera or Nyungwe Forest.

We now include the Gorilla Trekking fees

There are three main reasons…

Firstly the main reason is that people vary as to whether they want one or two days of gorilla trekking. As this affects the price so much, we safari specialists leave it to the client to decide. Similarly some people will want to do the chimpanzee trekking and others may prefer to do a different activity such as a community visit or a forest walk.

Thus in Rwanda and Uganda, the basic safari price includes all the meals, game drives and park fees. But then there are various optional activities that people can add on. These are always itemised clearly, and added in at time of quotation.

A secondary reason is that if you come out of peak season (ie not June to October), then the Rwanda park authorities reduce the gorilla permit to $1050 per person IF you visit two or more National Parks, such as Akagera or Nyungwe Forest.We used to NOT include them as many of our competitors choose to give those fees separately. And so we didn’t want to look artificially more expensive!

However now we do, as then there are no nasty price shocks like permits to be added. But DO make sure you are comparing apples with apples when looking at different prices.

Generally, we include one permit fee and one chimpanzee tracking fee if relevant. However we still list various optional additional activities separately:

• Some people want a SECOND gorilla trekking permit
• Though we include the chimpanzee trekking, this can be changed to a different activity such as a community visit or a forest walk. Or even upgraded to a chimpanzee habituation excursion which is a little more.
• Some people want to do everything. Whilst others like some down time to soak in the atmosphere.

These extras are always itemised clearly and added in at time of quotation.

What other factors affect the Uganda & Rwanda safari price?

UUnlike some other safari destinations (where many factors affect the price), there are relatively few factors here.

• Time of Year
• Your mode of safari & number of people
• Specific camps

Here the length of stay doesn’t reduce the per night price at the lodges (unlike in Botswana for example). But the longer you stay in country, the high cost of the gorilla trekking permit can be psychologically spread over several nights.

Time of Year

Because of the popularity of gorilla trekking, this is not as critical as elsewhere. But it should be!

Prices are cheaper in April, May & early November because that’s the main rainy months. And rain in Uganda is a serious thing. This is high altitude tropical rainforest country. Rain is serious here and can affect your safari significantly. Given the prices are not that much cheaper, don’t choose this time to come just to save a few bucks.

Scheduled versus Private Gorilla Tours

UUganda has a good choice of scheduled and private safaris. If you are a couple and need to keep costs down, then taking a scheduled safari is an ideal way to go. However Rwanda offers private touring.

Gorilla Express

Uganda Explorer Safari

Interestingly private safaris are not that much more, even for 2 people. And if you are a party of four, then there will be virtually no difference in costs. Some examples of our private safaris include Ultimate Uganda and Rwanda & Uganda Highlights. Contact us for a digital itinerary.

Number of People

As both Uganda and Rwanda are mainly privately guided destinations, the number of people in your party makes a big difference, especially if you’re choosing more modest accommodation.

The difference in price for our Upgrade options between 2 people (as shown) and 4 people is between is 7 to 10%. It is more like 10-15% for our base itineraries, and even more if you opt for more affordable accommodation.

Specific camps (in Rwanda)

You don’t come to Uganda to stay at fancy safari camps as you may choose to do in South Africa or Botswana. So there is not as great a difference in price between the various camps in Uganda.

But Rwanda is a slightly different story. Mainly in Volcanoes National Park, but also elsewhere, there are some some seriously luxurious lodges to stay at – such as Bisate Lodge or Singita Kwitonda. These are very pricey, but they are also amazing experiences if you can run to them.

Affordable Gorilla Safaris in Uganda (and Rwanda)

So how to save a little money? Fundamentally the cost of a safari and gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is what it is.

There are no easy ways to save money. You either want to do it and pay those prices, or you decide on a different bucket list dream.

However here are some tips:

• Consider a scheduled tour In Uganda
• Or entice some friends to join you so that a private safari is more affordable. Prices continue to drop if you are 5 or 6 people.
• Look at coming in the second half of June, October or early December. This is often a 15% to 20% saving

Best of Rwanda

A gorilla trekking safari is one of the most magical safari experiences that you are likely to have. Don’t let the price put you off!

Other Rwanda & Uganda Blog Articles

Best time to visit for gorilla trekking?

Which destination is best for Gorilla trekking – Rwanda or Uganda 

Interested in Booking a Gorilla safari in Rwanda or Uganda?

The cost of a gorilla safari isn’t small — but neither is the reward. We’ll design a trip that balances budget with unforgettable experiences, from permits to lodges. Talk to us and let’s make your gorilla dreams a reality.

Not sure how to weigh up Rwanda versus Uganda costs? We’ve trekked in both and can guide you through the options, so your safari is planned with clarity — and no surprises.

‘What does a Gorilla safari cost in Rwanda or Uganda” is written by Cedarberg Africa

Who is Cedarberg Africa? We’re a specialist safari operator that’s been arranging tailor-made journeys for over three decades. We don’t just quote prices — we explain what’s behind them. Thanks to our relationships with lodges and camps, we secure favourable rates. But more importantly, we ensure your safari reflects your style and budget. Transparent, experienced, and passionate — that’s the Cedarberg way.

Contact Us if you’d like a tailormade safari quote for your Rwanda safari trip.