After the increase of Rwanda gorilla permits prices from $750-$1500, wise tourists have already devised means of seeing the mountain gorillas on budget in the neighboring countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In May 2017, the Rwanda Development Board announced the increment of the gorilla permit price from US$750 to US$1500. The double price was aimed at turning Rwanda into a luxury gorilla safari destination. According to Belize Kalisa of RDB, the move was aimed at controlling the tourist numbers visiting the Rwandan Volcanoes National Park as well as increasing the revenues generated from gorilla tourism.
The increment in gorilla passes price affected many travelers across the globe as well as tour operators. Both local and international operators reported that the increment was to affect the prices of Rwanda safaris that are quite popular on the travel market.
At the end of the day, there was an increased demand for other gorilla passes for the neighboring destinations in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For while now every tourist who wish to track mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park of Rwanda must pay $1500 as gorilla permit fee. There is a high demand for gorilla permits in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest, the most popular destination attracting tourists interested in gorilla watching.
According to the survey done by stakeholders in the tourism industry, several travelers who have not been able to pay the gorilla permit fee of $1500 have found Uganda and Congo a ultimate solution to bypass paying the high gorilla permit fees for Rwanda gorilla permits. These two destinations today attract a considerable number of budget travelers and even backpackers who prefer to travel on their own.
Rwanda Becomes a Transit Destination
Most of these tourists use Rwanda as the transit destination and a good number of tour packages start from Kigali the capital of Rwanda. A journey to Bwindi takes about 4-6 hours while a journey to Virunga takes 5 hours.
Today Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park are the top budget gorilla safari destinations in Africa where most travelers make their way making the life time travel dream come true. If you want to track mountain gorillas on budget or get discounted gorilla trekking tours in the most convenient and amazing way, fly Rwanda and track gorillas in Uganda or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The high demand for gorilla tourism in Africa has changed the travel story for Uganda and Congo DRC and now they are the most amazing famous gorilla trekking spots across the globe for all kinds of travelers. Don’t miss the chance to look into the eyes of the giant silver back gorilla as it protects its family members just like a father in the home. The thick forest jungles are not just beautiful but being part of the life changing wildlife encounter in the forested environment is a rare experienced enjoyed only in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo DRC.
