The process of Rwanda gorilla permit availability and booking

If you are planning a thrilling and fun-filled experience when gorilla trekking in Rwanda, note that the most crucial item you need is the gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is a document that grants you access to the Volcanoes National Park, home to the Mountain gorillas. Rwanda is a prime safari destination for gorilla trekking with 12 habituated gorilla families. The gorilla permit in Rwanda is issued by the Rwanda Development Board and there are 96 gorilla permits available per day. Due to the limited permits printed per day, there are no last minute gorilla permits in Rwanda and that is why tourists are advised to secure the gorilla permits at least 3 to 6 months in advance to make sure that the permits for the chosen dates are booked and secured.

Most Popular Safaris

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

4 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking & wildlife viewing safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

4 day gorilla trekking & Dian Fossey tomb visit

4 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

3 Day Akagera National Park Safari

3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali

Rwanda is a luxurious gorilla trekking destination, and despite the high cost of the gorilla permit, they are always in high demand, mainly due to the fact that Volcanoes National Park is just a 2 to 3 two-hour drive from the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali, the luxurious safari experience and shorter trekking distances. Contact us for more information.

The process of booking a gorilla permit in Rwanda

The gorilla trekking permit is a ticket that is purchased from the Rwanda Development Board through a trusted tour operator for tourists to take part in the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. With a gorilla permit, you have an hour with the primates in their natural environment. There are two ways in which gorilla permits can be booked in Rwanda and these are through a trusted tour operator and directly from the Rwanda Development Board.

Through a tour operator

The process of booking a gorilla permit starts with identifying the dates/dates you wish to trek gorillas in Rwanda, and after getting the date, get in touch with the tour operator. The tour consultant will then check for the availability of the gorilla permits on the provided dates via the Rwanda Development Board websites. If the permits are not available for the chosen dates, you will be provided with dates that are available and you can choose from any of them. When the permits are available, they will be pre-booked for you and you will be requested to make the payments immediately due to the high demand of the gorilla trek permits.

Once the consultant confirms that that the payments have been made (payments can be made via credit card or direct bank transfer make sure that you inform the bank to deduct the bank fees so that the amount withdrawn is not less than what it should be), the permits will be purchased on your behalf, a scanned copy sent and the original copy kept for you till you get to the country for the safari.

Some of the requirements needed for one to be able to purchase a gorilla permit in Rwanda include:

• One should be 15 years and above
• Pay for the gorilla permit
• Provide information like full name, passport and other details that will be needed when purchasing the gorilla permit.

Through the Rwanda Development Board

The Rwanda Development Board offers a straightforward process of booking and purchasing a gorilla permit in Rwanda, and this has been made possible by first getting the trek dates; you will then fill in the mandatory forms and check for the availability of the permit. After confirming that the dates are available, you will be required to upload necessary supporting documents, complete forms and make the payments for the permit using the bank details of the Rwanda Development Board.

Note that when you are applying for a permit, you need to provide the name of the applicant, a copy of the passport, an email, a contact number and any other details that will be needed. You have to make sure that you keep on checking the website to see how far the process has gone. Once the permit purchase is successful, a scanned copy will be sent to you, and the permit will be available at least a week before the trek date.

The advantage of booking through a trusted tour operator is that they help with the entire process of booking and purchasing a gorilla permit, and they also help in procuring other services like vehicle hire, guides and accommodation, among others, and all you have to do is come and enjoy your gorilla trek safari in the country.

The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda

The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is different depending on the category of tourists you belong to. The different categories of visitors include foreign non-residents, foreign residents, citizens from other African countries and East African citizens. The Rwanda Development Board offers a 10% discount to tourists purchasing permits in bulk (30 and above) and organizations or families traveling together are offered a 15% discount. Tourists who are going to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park and Akagera National Park for two nights after gorilla trekking pay $1050 per person per night.

The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda for foreign non-residents who are 15 years and above is $1500; foreign residents with work or residence permits in Rwanda pay $500, and East African citizens pay $200 per person per trek.

The gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is a single trek and can only be used by the person who purchased the gorilla permit. It cannot be transferred or reused by anyone but if tourists wish to trek gorillas in Rwanda more than once, there is an option of purchasing multiple permits but for different trek dates.

The gorilla permit inclusions in Rwanda

Gorilla permits are a bit expensive but this is because the sale of the permits offers significant funding for the conservation of the Mountain gorillas, helps with maintaining the national park, improves park services, protects the natural habitat of the gorillas, and pays for park trackers, rangers and it is used to facilitate habituating gorillas and caring for them when they are sick.

The inclusions of the gorilla permit in Rwanda include the natural habitat of the Mountain gorillas, security for both the gorillas and the trekkers and an hour with the primates. It however

does not include accommodation, transport, meals, personal purchases and other safari activities you might want to combine with gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Refunds on gorilla permits in Rwanda

Rwanda offers various options when it comes to refunds and this is done under special circumstances. However, on any other given day, the RDB does not offer refunds on cancellations. In cases where tourists fail to see Mountain gorillas on the trek day because the gorillas have migrated to a different country, they will be given another chance to trek the gorillas the next day or receive a full refund on the gorilla permit fee. Note that this has never happened before and all trekkers have been able to spot Mountain gorillas on the trek day from the time the exercise was introduced in the country. In cases where the trekkers have trekked the whole day and are unable to make contact with the gorilla family for unknown reasons, they receive a 75% refund on the permit fee.

It is, however, important to note that there will be no refunds for flight delays, absences, late arrivals, and cancellations of the trip without a valid reason. When making the cancellation, some rules are followed and below are the percentages of refunds for trekkers who provide a valid reason with proof of why they are canceling.

• Zero refunds are made if cancellation is done 0 to 8 days before the trek date
• A 25% refund is made if the cancellation is done 9 to 45 days before the trek date
• A 50% refund is made if cancellation is made 46 to 90 days before the trek date
• A 75% refund is made if cancellation is made 91 days or more before the trek date.

Cancellation: When you need to make a cancellation, you have to first write a formal letter addressed to the Rwanda Development Board Executive stating the reason why you need to make a cancellation with clear evidence of why you need it. After attaching the evidence, make sure that the letter is delivered to the RDB head offices and follow up on the issue to find out if the cancellation process was positive or negative. Tour operators can help you with the process, and note that all refunds are made by the Rwanda Development Board and not tour operators.

Are there last-minute gorilla permits in Rwanda?

There are last-minute gorilla permits that can be procured in Rwanda, and these have to be obtained through a licensed and trusted tour operator who usually purchases from the Rwanda Development Board in bulk with hopes of selling them to trekkers at the last minute. However, this should not be guaranteed because of the high demand for gorilla trekking permits. Sometimes tour operators have available permits for cancelled trips which makes them viable for last-minute booking and sales.

You should, however, note that during the dry/peak season, it is impossible to get last-minute gorilla permits and to ensure that there is availability of the permits, you should be able to make the reservations at least 3 to 6 months in advance.

The Rwanda gorilla trekking experience

The gorilla trekking experience starts early morning with a briefing, which is carried out at the park headquarters, which is located at Kinigi, and this has to be carried out before 8:00 am. The briefing is to be attended by all trekkers and failure to do so might lead to disqualification from the exercise. During the briefing that is carried out by ranger guides, the warden will verify the permits and information of all the trekkers to make sure that the names on the passport and the trekking date match. You will also be divided into groups of 8 allocated gorilla families, and the trek officially begins with each group escorted by an armed ranger and a guide.

The trek can take hours depending on the location of the family you have been assigned and the physical fitness of the trekkers in a group. When you locate the gorilla family, you have an hour with the gorillas, studying their behavior, taking photos and recording videos. After the one hour is up, you trek back to the park headquarters where you will be given a certificate of participation. During the entire trek experience, make sure that you follow all the rules and regulations and be patient because the gorillas are still wild animals and move from one location to the next.

The best time to book for the permit and go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla permits in Rwanda are best booked 3 to 6 months in advance as this helps with the proper planning of the safari. The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is June to September and December to February. This is considered to be the best time because the trails that are used for gorilla trekking during the dry season are not muddy and slippery making it easy to trek and find the gorillas. The disadvantage of gorilla trekking during the dry season is that it is an expensive time to travel and there are large crowds of tourists. The wet season from March to May and October to November is characterized by rainfall, and the trek routes are slippery, wet and muddy, which usually affects gorilla trekking. The advantage of trekking during this period is that discounts are offered during the low season, and it is also the best time for tourists who don’t love large crowds.

Preparing for a gorilla safari in Rwanda is a process and we at Encounter Africa Safaris are available to help you plan your gorilla trekking safari to Rwanda and help with processing and booking the gorilla permit. Get in touch with us for more information, and our consultants will be ready to help you.