How Much Does Gorilla Trekking Permits Costs in Africa? The mountain gorilla trekking permits in Africa are mainly sold in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The entire world’s mountain gorilla population of over 1000 individuals lives in these countries. Where Mountain gorilla groups in the habituation process are available for tourists to visit every day. Each group is allowed a maximum of 8 visitors daily for one hour. A total of 72 tourists are allowed to visit the groups and to participate in gorilla habituation every day to enable the gorillas to avoid stress. Thus, at least three to nine guides are needed to monitor each gorilla group or habituation visit, and each tourist is joined with a guide.
Visitors pay a fee to visit these mountain gorillas which allows them to obtain permits from any of the three countries that they may want to trek from.however costs aren’t the same ,the cost depends on which country among the three your going to trek from,
Mountain gorillas are prime tourist attractions and considered flagship species in terms of generating wildlife tourism revenues. Mountain gorilla tourism plays a significant role in generating foreign exchange for the economies of Uganda, Rwanda and DRC where they are found in these countries . This is important in creating political goodwill among certain groups of individuals within and outside the host countries that perceive mountain gorillas as having a positive effect on incomes and thus, a source of employment. In addition, there is potential for enhancing citizen ownership of mountain gorilla resources through socioeconomic spill over benefits. Enhanced direct and indirect benefits may potentially reduce anthropogenic pressures on the forest through agricultural encroachment, poaching in the national park, livestock rearing, and illegal extraction of non-timber forest products.
Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the main economic activities in the repatriated economic activity zones of the great ape parks, and it benefits many local communities in the surrounding areas of the parks. Local community tourism benefits should be highly promoted to turn them into local support for wildlife conservation. The reduction of direct tourism benefits to local communities can greatly undermine park management. The government’s decision to return a substantial level of tourism revenues to the local area is a demonstration of, and an example of local people identifying clearly that wildlife and tourism can contribute to local national development and self-sufficiency. Therefore, governments should understand that providing substantial proportions of tourism benefits to the local communities is one of the best ways to gain ordinary resident support for gorilla conservation, and that it underpins the main aim of the parks: to conserve the gorilla.
It is known that communities who are getting direct tangible benefits from tourism can make positive contributions to wildlife conservation and therefore encourage others not to poach or destroy the environment. When revenues generated from tourism are shared equitably among local communities who are neighbouring with the parks, negative attitudes and policies that form subunits can be changed to more positive attitudes towards conservation, and therefore the value of protected areas in both economic and conceptual values.
As we mentioned above the cost of gorilla trekking among the three countries depend on which country your trekking from.
In Uganda a gorilla trekking permit costs 800 USD per person that’s for nonresidents, (visitor who are not based in Uganda) 700 USD for foreign resident (a resident who is not a Ugandan citizen) and 300,000 Ugandan shillings for East African residents, however kindly note that these costs are subject to change according to season
In Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost, USD 1500 per person for Non-residents, USD 500 for foreign residents of Rwanda, as well as citizens and residents of other African countries and finally USD 200 for citizens of Rwanda and east African citizens
As of Democratic Republic of Congo which is way cheaper compared to Rwanda and Uganda, A gorilla trekking permit in Congo costs $400 to all people during the low season, and charged at $200 USD per person for all tourists who wants to trek gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Congo favours almost all the budget travellers who would prefer enjoying gorilla trekking in all seasons because it offers the cheapest gorilla permit compared you Uganda and Rwanda
However, its important to note that the costs in thee three countries are always subject to change according to the seasons, but they cost is worth it and the experience for gorilla trekking is very rewarding and unmatched.
