Discounted gorilla trek permit price for East African residents in Uganda and Rwanda

Discounted gorilla trek permit price for East African residents in Uganda and Rwanda. When it comes to gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda, many questions are asked before the purchase, and this is because everyone wants to know if there are discounts when it comes to the purchase of Mountain gorilla permits in both countries. Gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after safari activiity in Uganda and Rwanda and the current cost of the permit in Uganda is a bit cheaper than in Rwanda because Uganda is known as an affordable gorilla trekking destination as compared to Rwanda which is a luxurious gorilla trekking safari destination.

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Has marketed itself as an affordable gorilla trek destination, whereas Rwanda has marketed itself as a luxurious gorilla  safari destination. The cost of the gorilla permit for East African residents/citizens in Uganda is at UGX 300, 000 and $200 in Rwanda.

Who are East African residents?

This is one of the many questions that are asked of tourists visiting Uganda and Rwanda, and these are simply citizens of all East African citizens who have a valid National ID or passport to identify their nationality. If you are wondering about how to get discounted gorilla permits, this guide will help you get to know more about when the discounted gorilla permits are available, who qualifies for them, the best way to get one and other alternative budget options.

Uganda:

It is safe to note that Uganda does not offer any gorilla permit discounts for East African residents all year round, and this is because the cost of conservation and protecting the Mountain gorillas is high. The discounted gorilla permits have been discontinued in Ugabda and as of July 2024, the new gorilla permit prices in Uganda are UGX300,000 for East African residents (citizens), $700 for foreign residents and $800 for foreign non-residents. Uganda also has an offer for all the African citizens from other countries apart from the East African community countries and their permits are priced at $500 per person.

The gorilla habituation in Uganda allows tourists to interact with the mountain gorillas for 4 hours, and the price of the permit is $1500 for foreign non-residents, UGX 750 000 for East African residents (citizens), $1000 for African citizens from other African countries and $1000 for foreign residents with work permits and residents IDS.

Rwanda:

Rwanda, however, offers discounts on the gorilla trekking permits, and this is usually done during the low/rainy/green season of March to May and October to November, and this is also known as the rainy season. Discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda come with terms and conditions that need to be followed to be able to get them. The price of the gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park for East African Residents/citizens is $200.

This is a discount from the $1500 which is what foreign non-residents pay and the $500 for African citizens who are not from East Africa. For the East African residents (citizens), you need a valid national Identity Card or valid passport to be able to secure a gorilla permit. Below is a list of the discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda.

$200 for East African residents

$500 for citizens from other African countries

$500 for foreign residents

$10 of the cost of the permit for corporates or organizations.

Gorilla permits

A gorilla permit is a document that is provided and issued by the governing bodies of UWA and RDB allowing them to participate in the gorilla trekking exercise and gorilla habituation exercise. The gorilla permit is the only ticket that will allow you to have access to the Mountain gorillas in the national parks, and it can be booked 6 months in advance of the trek date.

How to book a gorilla permit:

Booking a gorilla permit is always done in advance, and this is because many of the tourists need the permits, and yet few are printed per day. The first thing you need to do is identify a tour company like Encounter Africa Safaris to help you with the planning and provide the dates you have chosen for your gorilla trek. A tour consultant will get in touch with you after searching for the availability of the gorilla permits on the dates you have shared. In cases where the dates are available, you will be requested to make the necessary arrangements and where they are not available, you will have to choose other available dates.

Once the dates are approved, you have to make the necessary payments as soon as possible because of the high demand for the permits. After the payments have been approved and confirmed, the tour consultant will go ahead to book and purchase the gorilla permits on your behalf. After the purchase and for record purposes, the permit will be sent to you via email and you have to print it out and come with it on your safari.

What is included in the permit:

The gorilla permit covers a lot of areas and these include an hour with the gorillas for standard gorilla trekking and four hours in the gorilla habituation experience, security throughout the trek, conservation of the mountain gorillas, experienced guides and rangers and contributions to the nearby communities.

Exclusions: The gorilla permit, however, does not cover some things, and these include accommodation, meals, personal purchases, flights, other safari destinations, tips and transport, among others.

The gorilla tracking experience

Gorilla tracking experience in Uganda and Rwanda is the best and starts with a briefing with the tour guides and rangers at the park headquarters on the morning of the trek. The briefing is all about telling the tourists about the rules and regulations and assigning the gorilla families to the trekkers available. After being assigned a gorilla family, the trek will begin as early as 7:30 am and 8:00 am depending on the schedule. The trek time is unpredictable because of the location of the Mountain gorillas and the physical fitness of the trekkers. It can last as little as 30 minutes or as long as 6 hours, but all you need to do is be patient and calm because these are habituated; they are still wild animals and are always on the move.

Note that once you have been assigned a specific gorilla family, it will be hard for you to exchange it for another one, and the same applies to the gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After locating the mountain gorillas, each group has an hour with the gorillas, and during this hour, you have time to learn about the characteristics of the gorillas, record videos and take photos, among others. After the hour is up, the entire group will trek back to the park headquarters where each trekker is awarded a certificate of participation.

Gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is one of the popular safari activities and a top earner for the government in Uganda and Rwanda. There are two safari destinations in Uganda where tourists can go for gorilla trekking and these are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, and Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park.

Bwindi: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most visited national park in Uganda because it is home to half the remaining population of mountain gorillas in the whole world and it is also home to 19 habituated gorilla families. Bwindi is divided into four sections and these are Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija and Buhoma. It is the only place in the world where gorilla habituation experience is carried out in the Rushaga sector. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and it takes 8 to 9 hours from Kampala or Entebbe.

Mgahinga: Mgahinga National Park, also located in the southwestern part of Uganda near Bwindi along the border of Uganda and Rwanda and DRC; it is the least park for gorilla trekking but is considered to be the best, especially for tourists who are looking at gorilla tracking with fewer crowds. It has one habituated gorilla family commonly known as Nyakagezi and this can tracked throughout the year. The Nyakagezi gorilla family used to be on the move between the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and DRC but it finally settled in Uganda.

Volcanoes National Park: The national park has 10 habituated Mountain gorilla families,  the best and only gorilla trekking destinations and the only one in Rwanda. You need to have purchased a gorilla permit from RDB or through a trusted tour operator to have access to the Mountain gorillas. Note that Rwanda is a luxury safari destination especially when it comes to the accommodation and you need to plan accordingly to be able to enjoy your safari to Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking guidelines in Uganda and Rwanda

The gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Uganda and Rwanda are similar and these were set up to ensure that the Mountain gorillas are protected and conserved together with their natural habitat. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board have come together with the respective governments and officials to make sure that the rules are enforced. Below are some of the rules and regulations that need to be followed by all the trekkers.

• All tourists, guides and rangers have to leave a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas after locating them
• No one is allowed to eat and feed the Mountain gorillas
• Eight tourists are allowed to trek with a gorilla family per day for an hour.
• Sick/ailing tourists with viral infections and other diseases will not be allowed to trek the gorillas but this can only be done when there is evidence.
• No one will not be allowed to spit on the vegetation because the mountain gorillas use it as food
• All the trek groups have maximamly an hour with the mountain gorillas after locating the assigned family.
• Always turn off the camera flash as you take photos of the Mountain gorillas
• Communication should be done in low tones when trekking and when with the gorillas. This will give you ample time to learn more about the gorillas and see the different wildlife within the park.
• Ensure that you follow all the guidelines provided by the tour guides
• Never leave the trekking group to wander off in the forest because it is home to other wildlife species.
• All tourists are supposed to attend the briefing
• Avoid staring at the mountain gorillas, especially the silverback straight in the eyes, as this will be seen as a challenge.
• With no toilets in the national parks, all the human waste is supposed to be buried in a 30cm hole and covered well so that the mountain gorillas do not dig it up.
• In case a gorilla approaches you, make sure that you do not run away but crouch down in a submissive way and do not look at it in the eyes until it passes by or goes back.
• Touching of the Mountain gorillas is strictly prohibited
• Smoking when in close vicinity to the Mountain gorillas is not accepted because the smoke greatly affects the gorillas.
• Littering in the national parks is not allowed, and all rubbish has to be taken out of the park.

What you need to bring on your gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda

The essentials that you need to bring for your gorilla trekking safari as East African residents and other tourists include the following:

• Neutral-coloured long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Some of the colours that you should avoid include blue, camouflage, and other bright colours
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands
• Warm clothing, which includes ponchos, sweaters and ponchos. It tends to get cold in the mornings and late in the evening and you will need to keep warm at all times.
• Waterproof rain jacket and coat. The weather in Uganda and Rwanda is very unpredictable and you must be prepared at all times for the rains since it is a tropical rainforest.
• Socks to keep you warm
• Waterproof backpack
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Refillable and foldable water bottle
• Snacks. Although meals are provided during a gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda, you need to carry a few snacks to eat along the way.
• A first aid kit. The first aid kit should be well equipped and have some of your prescribed medication with you at all times.
• A camera and you should also carry extra batteries, lenses and a camera bag.
• Binoculars

Get in touch with us for more information at Encounter Africa Safaris.