Gorilla Trekking Permits Availability, Cost, Discounts 2024

Many questions are usually asked on how to book gorilla trekking permits for Uganda and Rwanda and Discount Gorilla Trekking Permits Availability? In our Gorilla Trekking Permits Booking for 2024 guide to booking gorilla trekking permits, we answer all these questions, You will need to have your gorilla trekking permit secured in advance to confirm that you are booked for a gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. We address all of these questions in our gorilla trekking permit booking information for 2023–2024 guide to booking gorilla trekking permits.

How to book gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda?

When you have finalized your travel dates, please send us an email so we can check the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s website to see whether gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation permits are still available for your dates of travel. If they are, we will inform you and send you an invoice so you can pay for the gorilla trekking permits or An Identification Number (Search Number) to verify that you permits are secured. Your reservation for the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Forest National Park will be confirmed as soon as the money is completed and we have received it on our account. We will then acquire your permits right away and email you a scanned copy of them for your records and review. You should reserve your gorilla permits.

Where is Gorilla Trekking Done in Africa?

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in RWANDA!!! 🇷🇼 🦍❤️

Booking information for gorilla trekking permits in 2024. Gorilla trekking is available in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are home to the four national parks where the last remaining mountain gorillas are found. These include the national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda, and Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You may also see Lowland gorillas in Congo, which can be found at Kahuzi Beiga National Park. A gorilla permit is necessary in order to trek in any of the mentioned national parks if you want to see gorillas. In light of this, after you have determined the dates for your gorilla trek, we urge you to book your trip as soon as possible.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda

You can spend an hour interacting with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda, which costs $700 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $600 per person for residents, and $70 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan). There are 136 gorilla permits available daily for gorilla trekking in Uganda, which contains 17 habituated gorilla family groups, 16 of which are located in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga. With the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which is exclusively available in Bwindi Forest and costs $1500 per person, you can spend more time with the mountain gorillas while gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking Permit Rwanda

Rwanda is one of just three nations in the world where mountain gorillas can be seen. This is the world’s largest primate, weighing up to 200kg/441lb, and one of the most endangered, with a global population of slightly more than 1,000 individuals anticipated in 2023.

Rwanda’s gorillas live at Volcanoes National Park, a well-organized site where primate fans may also climb to Dian Fossey’s former research station. Tracking gorillas here is one of Africa’s most fascinating wildlife adventures, but you must first purchase a gorilla permit. Here’s an explanation of what that means.

Why Is a Gorilla Permit Required?

All people who intend to track gorillas, whether in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or in a neighboring country, must get a gorilla permission (also known as a mountain gorilla tracking permit). This permission system serves two functions. For starters, it allows park officials to control how many people visit each gorilla group on any given day. Second, the price contributes significantly to the conservation of gorillas and their habitat, as well as the well-being of populations living outside the park.

How Much Does a Gorilla Permit Cost?

gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park 🦍

A single gorilla permit in Rwanda costs US$1,500 for travelers from outside Africa as of 2024. For nationals of Rwanda and other East African nations, this charge is reduced to US$200. Foreign residents of Rwanda, as well as citizens and residents of other African nations, must pay US$500 for a permit.

A gorilla permit in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks costs US$700, while it costs US$400 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). However, the only area in the DRC where you may follow mountain gorillas is Virunga National Park, which will close to tourists in March 2020. This was initially for COVID-19-related reasons, but the park has yet to reopen due to severe security concerns that do not appear to be resolved in the near future. It is currently possible to follow gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park, where you will see eastern lowland gorillas rather than mountain gorillas, but keep in mind that the DRC is potentially less safe than Rwanda or Uganda.

Rwanda offers a 30% discount on gorilla permits during the low season, which runs from November to May. This brings the cost down to $1,050 for non-African residents. The discount, however, is only available to guests who book at least two nights in either Akagera National Park or Nyungwe National Park (or one night in either).

How Do I Get a Rwandan Gorilla Permit?

Independent visitors can book a gorilla permit directly through the Rwanda Development Board website. When traveling with an operator, though, it is more common to let them make the reservation. Permits for any given day are frequently booked solid well in advance, so book yours before committing to any other trip dates.

How Many Gorilla Permits Are Available in Rwanda?

On any given day, 96 gorilla permits for Volcanoes National Park are normally available. This equates to eight permits per day for each of the twelve habituated gorilla groups that can be visited. Another eight habituated gorilla groups live in Volcanoes National Park, but they are more difficult to get and are mostly visited by researchers. If one of the tourist gorilla groups crosses into Uganda or the DRC, one of the groups normally visited by researchers will be assigned for a tourist visit in its place.

What Does the Gorilla Permit Cover?

The gorilla permit only covers access to the relevant national park, the guided trek, and a maximum of one hour with the gorillas, whether you track in Rwanda or elsewhere in the region. It does not include porter fees, tips for trackers and guides, or any charges for lodging, transportation, meals, or other activities.

Is There an Age Limit for Gorilla Permits?

A minimum age of 15 years is tightly maintained by mutual agreement between all three countries where gorilla trekking can be conducted. Gorilla trekkers have no upper age limit, but it is a physically hard activity, so senior travelers or those with limited mobility must determine by themselves whether they are up to it.

Is It Possible To Cancel a Permit?

If you cancel your trip to Rwanda or fail to show up on the day, the cost of your gorilla permit will not be returned. It is also illegal to sell or lend a permit to another person, as your passport information will be checked against the permit before you go gorilla trekking. However, if you book your permit through an operator, you can typically reschedule to another day with at least 30 days’ notice.

People who fail to track owing to unexpected migration of their assigned gorilla group will be offered the option of trying again the next day or receiving a full refund. If you track all day and don’t see any gorillas, you’ll get a 75% refund.

Should I Visit More Than One Park in Rwanda?

Although gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s most popular tourist activity, there are numerous additional attractions. Nyungwe National Park protects a large forest where you can track chimps and witness a variety of other forest-adapted birds and animals. Akagera National Park, on the other hand, is a more traditional safari destination that is home to all five of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino). At any time of year, it is worthwhile to combine a visit to one or both of these parks with gorilla trekking. And if you do so between November and May, and visit at least two nights in the other two parks, you’ll get a 30% reduction on your gorilla permit.