Where to buy or book gorilla permits in Uganda or Rwanda

Gorilla permits in Uganda, and Rwanda are the property of the government and referred to as documents or tickets that are issued by the regulating bodies, which are the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda that allow visitors to have access to the gorilla trekking parks and Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda but don’t know how and where to get the gorilla permits? We are going to discuss where to book gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda and the things to consider when planning for the safari.

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It is important to book the permit in advance, and you should book at least 6 months before the trek date, especially if you are planning on trekking during the peak/dry season.

Gorilla permits in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is carried out in Volcanoes National Park where 12 habituated gorilla families are trekked throughout the year. The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens and $200 for East African citizens. Gorilla permits in Rwanda are on the high end as compared to Uganda and have to be booked in advance since few are printed per day. Booking early in Rwanda ensures that you have enough time to plan for other logistics like accommodation and transport among others.

Booking permits in Rwanda: Gorilla permits in Rwanda can easily be bought through trusted tour operators, or you can buy them directly through the Rwanda Development Board. The first step in acquiring a gorilla permit is to use a recognized tour operator because safari companies not only help with the booking process but also plan transport, accommodation and other services needed for the gorilla trekking safari. Contact a tour operator with the dates that you want to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, and if possible, provide at least three dates, especially when booking during the peak season.

The advisor proceeds to check for the availability of the gorilla permits on the dates provided and after confirming that the permits are available, they will be prebooked to secure the dates. An invoice with the bank details will then be sent to you, and you need to make sure that the payments are made as early as possible before the days chosen are taken up by other tourists since it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. You will also be required to provide a copy of the passport, especially the biodata page showing your name, photo and passport number, as these will be used when booking for the permit, and the same details will be put on your permit.

Once the payments have been made and confirmed, the operator will proceed to make the purchase and a copy of the permit will be sent. Make sure that the copy of the permit that is sent to you is yours and that the details match with the ones sent.

Cost of permits: The cost of the permit in Rwanda is slightly higher as compared to Uganda for the different categories of tourists visiting the country. Known as a luxury destination, the cost of the permit: foreign non-residents have to pay $1500, foreign residents have to pay $500, East African citizens have to pay $200, citizens from other African countries have to  pay $500. The cost of the gorilla permit for two days is $3000 for foreign non-residents and $4500 for a three-day’s permit.

Rwanda has discounted permits during the low season, which is from March, April, May and November. The discount, however, comes with conditions, and every tourist who comes to Rwanda for gorilla trekking but pre-books to spend at least two nights in either Akagera National Park or Nyungwe Forest National Park is viable for this discount. The discounter gorilla permit for one day is $1050 per person, $2100 for a two days permit and $3150 permit per person for a three day’s permit.

A 15% discount is offered to families and organizations or companies purchasing more than 30 permits get a 10% discount. Contact us for more information.

Gorilla permits in Uganda

To be able to track gorillas in Uganda, one needs to purchase a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, however, note that purchasing it directly from the UWA website can be challenging and frustrating, and that is why travellers should book or buy permits through their chosen tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris. All travellers are advised to book their permits in advance to avoid disappointments, and this is because the permits are always in high demand and there is a limit of only 8 people trekking a gorilla family per day. The fact there are few permits printed per day, you need to secure the permit as soon as possible for proper planning of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.

Booking permits in Uganda: To be able to book permits in Uganda, you will need to find a reliable trustworthy tour operator to help you with the booking and purchase the permits on your behalf. It is better to book directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority only if you are living in Uganda because it might be hard for you to do so if you are not. Booking through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris makes the booking process easier and faster since they have experience in booking permits. You need to, however, note that tour operators add an extra service fee of about $50 to $100, and this extra charge covers the logistics of booking the permit, for example, making calls, picking up the permits, transport and administrative costs. When going for a pre-packaged tour, the cost of the gorilla permit is already included in the price.

The first step is letting your tour operator know the dates you plan to trek gorillas in either Bwindi or Mgahinga for planning purposes. By providing the dates, the tour operator checks to see if the dates you prefer are available for the safari, and if, indeed, they are available, a temporary booking will be made to secure the permits on your behalf. You will then be sent bank details to make the money transfer for the permit to be purchased or you can still use your credit card to pay for the permit.

The tour operator will then acknowledge receipt of the money but you have to make sure that you instruct your bank to deduct the bank charges for the transactions to avoid less payment for the permit. After this, you will also be requested to send a copy of your passport with your details and this will be used when registering for the permit. Your name, passport number and nationality will be used to purchase the permit, and after the payments have been effected, the permit will be purchased for you, but note that the permit alone does not guarantee that you will 100% see the Mountain gorillas. The permits only grant you a 95% chance of seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat.

Checking for the availability of the permits: Checking for the availability of the gorilla permits in Uganda is an easy step and all you have to do is send an email to your tour operator with your dates. The tour operator, using the online booking system that is controlled and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and accessed by registered tour operators and other stakeholders, will check for the availability of the permits and later confirm to you and advise accordingly.

How much are gorilla permits in Uganda

Gorilla permits in Uganda are currently at $80 for East African citizens, $800 for foreign non-residents and $700 for foreign residents. The cost was changed in July 2024 and is valid till 2026.

Validity of the gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda

The gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda is valid from the time of purchase to the trek day. The ID on the permit expires, and the permits become invalid after the trek day, and that is why travelers are advised to plan accordingly not to miss the trek date. However, due to unavoidable circumstances, you might miss out on the trek date and this is where rescheduling comes into play.  Reschedules need to be made at least a week before the trek date.

Rescheduling permits in Rwanda: A tourist is permitted to reschedule their permit maximumly only two times and with valid reason presenting evidence as well. The rescheduling will not be possible after two attempts regardless of the circumstances given, and note that the rescheduling is only possible if there is available space for a specified date and location.

The first reschedule for the permit is free but when the second one is carried out, there will be a surcharge of 25% added to the original cost of the permit. When the reschedule is carried out, the revised dates should not be more than 12 months from the original trek dates. The rescheduling of the permits should be at least 14 days before the trek date, and if it is done more than 14 days, a 25% charge will be added.

Note that the rescheduling can only be carried out in the same conservation or location where the original gorilla trekking activity was carried out.

Rescheduling in Uganda: just like Rwanda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority only offers two reschedules per person and after this, it is not allowed. Rescheduling means that you can change the trekking dates, but it can only be done in the same sector and location as the original trek. The reschedule has to be done at least 14 days before the trek date, and on the second reschedule, a 25% surcharge is added to the original cost of the gorilla permit.

If you are planning on rescheduling, make sure that you communicate with your tour operator so that it is done on time. You have to write a letter to the Uganda Wildlife Authority with clear evidence about the reason for the rescheduling and the tour operator can help with this. After they have reviewed everything, the rescheduled dates will be sent to you for record purposes. Get in touch with our team for more information.

Is the permit mine after the purchase?

No, you do not own the permit after purchase because it is still the property of the government. Upon arrival in the country, you will be given your permit, and it will be yours until the time you sign in at the national park. After, gaining access to the park on the morning of the trek, the permits are taken by the Uganda Wildlife Authority personnel, and they are later taken back to the headquarters, where they will be reused. After purchasing the permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda, a copy and receipt to confirm the purchase will be sent this comes with a booking ID which sets the permit apart from the rest and this is what is considered when accessing the national parks where the gorilla trekking is done. The copy that is sent is to confirm that the permits have been purchased and for your records.

Can I cancel my permits in Uganda and Rwanda?

Yes, it is possible to cancel the permit if you have paid the full cost of the permit. If you have only paid a deposit, there will be no refund upon cancellation. In case there is a cancellation, there are certain cancellation rules and policies that are followed and these include:

• No refunds are going to be made if the cancellation is made zero to eight days before the trek date.
• A 25% refund-9 to 45 days
• A 50% refund is made if cancellation is made 46 to 90 days before the trek date
• A 75% refund is made if you cancel 91 days or more before the trek date.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for gorilla permit purchases in Uganda and Rwanda and plan your gorilla trekking safari.