Excludes in a gorilla permit price or cost for Bwindi and Volcanoes NP

Excludes in a gorilla permit price or cost for Bwindi and Volcanoes NP. First, we need to know what a gorilla permit is. This is a document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda to allow a traveller/tourist to be part of the gorilla trekking exercise and meet the giants in their natural habitat. The gorilla permits allow travellers to meet the gorillas, one-on-one for an hour and 4 hours in Bwindi during the gorilla habituation experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in Uganda, whereas Volcanoes National Park is found in Rwanda.

Excludes from the gorilla trekking permit cost

The gorilla trekking permit does not cover several things when it comes to gorilla trekking and these include the following:

Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the services that is excluded from a gorilla trek permit. Accommodation is to be covered individually and your tour operator will help you with the different choices that are available in both Bwindi and Volcanoes NP. Accommodation has to be booked in advance because, just like the permits, it's always in high demand, and the different categories of accommodation to choose from include budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. You will need to set money aside to pay for the accommodation and make sure that it is close to the trekking destination so that you can keep time.

Bwindi: When gorilla trekking in Bwindi, travellers are advised to get accommodation within the sectors they have been assigned and some of the facilities you can use while in Bwindi include Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge, Clouds lodge and Engage Lodge among others.

Volcanoes: The different accommodation facilities that tourists can use during a Volcanoes trek include Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge Bisate Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Villa Gorilla, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Kinigi Guest House and Mountain Gorilla View Hotel among others.

Transport

Transport is one of the excludes of the gorilla permit and it has to be paid for independently. Whether you decide to use road or air transport to the national parks, the cost of the preferred mode of transport is paid for separately after securing the gorilla permit. When you decide to use road transport, tour operators have different types of safari vehicles they use to transport tourists to and from their destination but this does not mean that they are free. The money that you pay for transport ensures that you are picked up from the airport to the gorilla trekking destination and then back to the airport or your desired area. The same applies to tourists who prefer to fly to the gorilla trekking destination, especially Bwindi, which is located in a remote area.

Bwindi: The types of transport used to get to Bwindi are road and air transport. Road transport is the most commonly used mode because it is affordable and exciting to use with the beautiful scenery that is found along the way to Bwindi. 4x4 safari vehicles are used for transportation and it takes 9 to 10 hours to drive from Kampala to Bwindi. Tourists can also drive from Rwanda through Cyanika or Katuna borders to Bwindi, and this journey takes 4 to 5 hours.

Flying from Entebbe to Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi airstrip takes 1 to 2 hours. And from the airstrip, an already arranged 4x4 safari vehicle will be used to get to the park headquarters.

Volcanoes: The drive from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes NP is about 3 to 4 hours. Other factors remain constant. The good road network system in the country has made it easy to get to the National Park in time and 4x4 safari vehicles are used to transport tourists to and from the National Park.

Flying from Kigali to Volcanoes NP can be organized on a more private level using charter flight services that are available in the country. Encounter Africa Safaris can help you organize this as well for you.

Tips

Tipping is one way in which you can show your appreciation towards the different service providers for the services rendered to you throughout your gorilla safari in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP. Although there is no specific amount that was set aside for tipping, we encourage tourists to tip generously depending on what they can afford. Some of the service providers that you can tip include rangers, driver guides, porters, and many others. Rangers should be tipped because they dedicate most of their life to protecting and conserving the mountain gorillas and making sure that tourists have a chance to have a one-on-one meeting with them.  As you plan your gorilla safari to Bwindi and Volcanoes NP, carry some cash with you for tipping purposes because this will not be covered in the cost of the gorilla trekking permit.

Food and drinks on your safari

When booking accommodation, make sure that you include meals in your package because the cost of the gorilla permit does not cover meals on the safari. Accommodation facilities have different meal plans that you can choose from and in cases where you have allergies or aversions to some types of food, we advise that you inform us in advance so that the chefs at the lodges can make adjustments fitting your diet. This has to be done before you travel to Bwindi and Volcanoes NP for gorilla trekking. The meals that are served at the various accommodation facilities include both local and international cuisines and three meals are provided per day. Note that the fee paid for meals and drinks does not include premium drinks.

During the gorilla trek, you might get hungry and we advise that you carry some snacks or energy bars with you. There are safe areas where you will be allowed to eat at the discretion of the ranger guides before meeting the mountain gorillas and these are not covered under the cost of the gorilla permit.

Porter fees

Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity that involves moving through the thick forests, valleys and steep slopes. The terrain within the national parks keeps on changing and you cannot fully enjoy your safari when carrying luggage with you. This is where the porters come in, they will help you carry your luggage for you at a friendly cost so that you can enjoy your gorilla trek. The fee paid to the porters comes out of your pocket and is not covered by the cost of the gorilla permit. We advise tourists to use porters if possible because many of the porters earn a living from this activity improving their livelihoods and those of their family members.

Personal purchases and expenditure

In cases where you want to purchase souvenirs or other items during the trek or along the way, the cost of whatever you purchase will not be covered by the cost of the gorilla permit.

International flights

This is one of the things that are excluded from the cost of the gorilla permit. The flights to and from your country of origin are a personal expenditure that has to be covered by the travelling party. This is why tourists are advised to book their flights in advance so that they do not miss out on their gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park.

Sedan chairs

Sedan chairs were introduced to make sure that tourists who cannot trek for a long time or those with physical disabilities can be able to take part in gorilla trekking. These are carried by porters throughout the trek as an inclusive measure for the different types of tourists. The cost of the sedan chairs is independent of the cost of the gorilla permit and you have to pay for the chair in advance to the park authorities because there are limited chairs available in both Bwindi and Volcanoes NP.

How much is the gorilla permit in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

Bwindi: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has two types of gorilla permits and these are the gorilla trekking permit and the gorilla habituation experience permit, and the cost for each is different. The gorilla habituation permit, which can only be used in Bwindi, costs UGX750,000 for East African citizens, $1000 for foreign residents, $1500 for foreign non-residents and $1000 for other African citizens. The cost of the standard/normal gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi is UGX300,000 for East African citizens, $700 for foreign residents, $800 for foreign non-residents and $500 for other African citizens.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority does not offer discounts on any of the permits printed and issued in the country.

Volcanoes: Volcanoes National Park has only one type of gorilla trekking permit, and it is issued by the Rwanda Development Board. The cost of the permit in Volcanoes is $200 for East African citizens, $500 for foreign residents and other African citizens and $1500 for foreign non-residents.

Is the cost of gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP worth it?

Yes, the cost of the gorilla trekking exercise in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP is worth it because all the money that is collected is used to continue with the research and conservation of the mountain gorillas. Your time and money spent on mountain gorillas ensures that they are cared for, and this has greatly increased their number, which had been reduced due to poaching (this led to the mountain gorillas being declared endangered species).

With the increased support from tourists, the population of the gorillas has increased to over 1000, and although it seems costly, from the purchase of the trekking permits to organizing transport and accommodation, every penny that is spent is worth it.

How many permits are printed in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority prints 152 permits per day for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and these are distributed among the four sectors depending on the gorilla families found in each sector.

The Rwanda Development Board prints 96 gorilla permits per day in Volcanoes National Park.

The permits that are printed per day in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP are limited and this is why tourists are advised to book in advance.

How can book and purchase the permits in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP?

Booking and purchase of permits can be done through a tour operator or directly from the authority body websites in both Bwindi and volcanoes.

Volcanoes Np booking and purchase of the permits can easily be made using the Rwanda Development Board website, which was made user-friendly for both tourists and tour operators. However, this is not the case with Bwindi NP because the UWA booking system can only be accessed by the operators. Tourists are advised to book through a registered tour operator for smooth and faster results in both Volcanoes and Bwindi.

The process: Get in touch with your tour operator after coming up with the dates you wish to trek mountain gorillas. This will allow tourists to check and see if the provided dates are available, and if the answer is positive, you will be informed to make the necessary payments for the permits, and they will be temporarily booked. When the payments have been confirmed, you will be requested to provide a copy of your passport because the details here are used when printing the permits. The tour operator will then proceed to make the purchase on your behalf and send a copy of the scanned purchased gorilla permit.

The payments: As you send in the payments, make sure that you inform your bank to deduct the bank charges so that the exact money needed to purchase the permit is received. Tour operators charge extra for the process of purchasing the permit, and it ranges between $100 depending on the company.

Encounter Africa Safaris can help you reserve the gorilla permits, accommodation and transport depending on your preference and other amenities that you might need for your gorilla safari in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP.

Contact us via our website or email for further information about gorilla permits in Bwindi and Volcanoes NP.