How to get gorilla trekking permits

To go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC, you required to have a gorilla permit. It is not possible to track gorillas without a permit, and the system is highly regulated and strictly enforced.

The cost of a gorilla permit for a foreign non- residents is currently USD 1,500 in Rwanda, US$ 800 in Uganda and US$ 400 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This fee includes park entrance, and all guiding and tracking services which are provided by the park, not by individual operators. However, it doesn’t include an optional porter to carry your day pack.

The most important thing you need to know about gorilla permits both in Uganda and Rwanda is that they are scarce. The availability of permits is limited by the number of habituated gorilla families and the number of visitors allowed per family.

• Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated gorilla families, with a standard policy of 8 people per gorilla family (not including guides and porters), which means a maximum availability of 96 permits per day.
• In Uganda, with 23 habituated gorilla families in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and a maximum of eight visitors per group, there are a total of just 184 permits available per day.

Gorilla permits can set out in advance, so if you are traveling during peak season you must book about 3-6 months in advance.

How to book gorilla trekking permits

Besides the difference in gorilla permits prices, there are a few other small differences between the permit systems in Rwanda and Uganda. Here is what you need to know

Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda

Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost USD $1,500 per person which is nearly twice the cost as in neighboring Uganda. The tourism authorities in Rwanda have made a deliberate effort to orient the country towards more exclusive, higher-spending, and lower volume tourism and the permit price reflects the strategy.

In Rwanda, unlike in Uganda, it is possible to organize a DIY gorilla trek by purchasing a permit directly from the Rwandan Development Board and then booking your own accommodation and transportation. Most lodges and hotels are happy to take direct bookings, and they may also be able to organize your transfers to/from the airport and to the park entrance on the morning of your trek.

Depending on how intrepid you are feeling you can rent a vehicle in Kigali to get yourself around, or even travel on public transport.

If you decide to travel independently, arrive at Volcanoes National Park a day early because of you are late, that is it, you will miss your permit and you won’t get your money back.

Because permits are limited and non-transferable, if you have got your heart set on a particular lodge, it’s prudent to check availability first, then book your permit, and then confirm your accommodation booking.

Alternatively you can book the entire gorilla trek through a tour operator. They will arrange your gorilla trekking permit, book your accommodation and organize all the necessary logistics.

Travel Tip – Though it is easy to travel around Rwanda, things can go wrong that is why you need the invaluable support of Tour Operators.

Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda

At USD $800 per person per trek, gorilla permits in Uganda are far from cheap but still more accessible than in neighboring Rwanda. There is an option for an extended gorilla habituation experience permit which allows approximately four hours with the gorillas, rangers and researchers and costs $ 1,500 per person per trek.

Even though Uganda has nearly twice as many permits available, they still sell out quickly. A disadvantage of Rwanda near doubling of the price of their gorilla tracking permits has skyrocketed the demand of permits in Uganda.

Unlike in Rwanda, in Uganda international visitors must buy gorilla tracking permits via a tour operator. Only Ugandan residents can buy permits directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority office in Kampala.

Need to Know about Gorilla Trekking Permits

If you plan to travel during peak season or if you are in a large group, you should book your gorilla permits six months or even a year in advance. Peak seasons in Uganda and Rwanda are June to October and Christmas and the New Year. The earlier you book the more choice you have on where you stay and where you track.

Last minute bookings may be possible during low season or with smaller groups but there are no last-minute discounts, so you shouldn’t risk it.

Each permit is printed with a unique serial number and the travelers’ personal details. You will need to provide your passport when you book your permits and you will need to show this at the start of your tracking activity too.

If you need to postpone your gorilla trip and have booked through a tour operator they may be able to liaise with the authorities to transfer your permit to another traveler and book you a fresh permit. If you need to cancel, the authorities may refund some of your fee depending on how close you are to the trek date. But I wouldn’t rarely on either- make sure you have got travel insurance from the moment you purchase your permit.

In case you are not able to see the gorilla family during your trekking excursion, which hardly happen. You are given a complimentary permit to track again the next day. Since the introduction of monitoring of the gorillas assisted by GPS, seeing gorillas has become more thorough so you can safely assume that you will see the gorillas, although it is not officially guaranteed.

In conclusion, although the gorilla permits are costly, don’t forget they are a main source of funding for gorilla conservation and projects that benefit local communities. Both Rwanda and Uganda have made huge strides in restoring and protecting the gorilla habitats. Overall, gorilla trekking is a tourism success story that deserves to be heavily celebrated.