How much is gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the famous gorilla safari destination in Uganda with almost half of the total world mountain gorillas combined. Knowing how much gorilla trekking in Bwindi costs, surely helps to plan a gorilla trip to the park. The cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi is very much dependent on the cost of the permits as well as the type of accommodation that a client prefers.

Uganda gorilla trekking permit cost varies for the different categories of travelers that are foreign nonresidents (FNR), Foreign Residents (FR), and East African Residents.

Foreign nonresidents refer to tourists who are not Ugandans and visiting from other countries for Uganda gorilla safaris in Bwindi. Foreign non-residents require US$ 700 to purchase a Uganda gorilla permit.

Foreign residents refer to foreigners who live in Uganda and have a working permit or any other identification as residents of Uganda. Foreign residents will require US$ 600 to buy a Uganda gorilla permit.

East African citizens refer to the people of the East African community countries. East African Residents purchase a gorilla permit at Ugandan shillings 250,000.

Until 30^th June 2021, the gorilla permits to trek gorillas in Bwindi are at US$ 400 for foreign nonresidents, US$ 300 for foreign residents, and UGX 100,000 for East African safaris.

However, note that the cost of a gorilla permit isn’t the cost of a gorilla safari. The popular and short gorilla tours to the park are 3 days from Kampala and a minimum of 2 days from Kigali. It may cost about US$ 800 for a person to have a short 3days gorilla tour to Bwindi. This excludes the cost of the gorilla permit.

Where Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi

Here are the four gorilla trekking sectors which are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Buhoma Gorilla Trekking Sector of Bwindi

The Buhoma gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi is home to 4 gorilla families and these are;

Rushegura gorilla family has 16 gorilla families and one of the large groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The group poses a short time for trekking since they do not stay further from the park headquarters. This is a splinter group from the Habinyaja gorilla group.
Habinyaja gorilla group was opened to gorilla tours in 1997 and was first seen near a swamp within Bwindi forest. The group has 17 members though it was formerly bigger than this. The group split and the Rushegura group was formed.
Mubare gorilla family is the oldest gorilla group in Bwindi forest. It was opened to gorilla safaris in 1993 following a successful habituation process of 2 years. It was named after the beautiful mubare hills. The group has about 10 members.
Katwe Gorilla group has 7 individuals and the newest in the sector. In the group is 1 dominant silverback, 2 infants and 4 adult females.

Ruhija gorilla trekking sector

Ruhija gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi has 4 habituated gorilla families which are;

Bitukura gorilla family is led by silverback Ndahura with about 14 individuals in the group. The group has 4 silverbacks and the group that was easily habituated in the fastest time.
Oruzogo gorilla family has about 23 individuals and therefore very large. The group has 2 silverbacks and twins.
Mukiza gorilla family has 13 members with 1 silverback gorilla, 4 infants and 8 adults. Silverback Mukiza leads the group. It was formerly part of the Kyaguliro group.
Kyaguliro gorilla group has 15 individuals with 2 silverbacks.

Nkuringo Gorilla Sector Bwindi

The Nkuringo gorilla trail head of Bwindi forest has 1 habituated gorilla group for gorilla trekking in Uganda and this is Nkuringo gorilla group.

Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi

Rushaga gorilla sector of Bwindi has almost the highest number of gorilla families and these are;

Kahunjye gorilla family has 13 members in the Rushaga sector. Silverback Gwigi leads the group.
The Busingye gorilla family was a splinter group from the Kahunjye group. There 9 individuals in the group with only 1 silverback.
Nshonji gorilla group is very big and has about 25 gorillas. It is named after the river in which they were first seen.
Mishaya gorilla group split from Nshonji group led by silverback Mishaya.
Bweza gorilla family has 9 members and also split from the Nshonji group.