How much does a Rwanda gorilla tour cost

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla tour is directed by the cost of the gorilla permit, which is currently at $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents, and $250 for East Africans. The gorilla permits are the only item that guarantees a Rwanda gorilla trekking tour.

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Rwanda Development Board has the mandate to sell and regulate Rwanda gorilla permits. This body sets the policies that govern all Rwanda gorilla safaris. The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit is universal and doesn’t discriminate whether you are traveling Upmarket, mid-range, or budget.

Currently, Rwanda has about 15 gorilla trekking families open to public booking, yet a maximum of 8 gorilla permits can be booked by the public per gorilla family. Some Rwanda gorilla trekking families include Karisimbi, Kwitonda, Agashya, Hirwa, Susa, and others. All these gorilla families in Rwanda are residents of Volcanoes National Park.

Other safari logistics accompany gorilla permit booking. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can book the gorilla permit and organize other tour logistics to save you from having to plan and book this Rwanda safari. Our expertise of over ten years in designing African safaris has won us many reviews and referrals to clients on travel platforms like Trip Advisor, Safari Bookings, and others.

In addition to the cost of the gorilla permit, knowing the accommodation cost and booking as soon as possible is also very important. During the peak season, which is June to September and December to January, Rwanda experiences a scarcity of accommodations as there are so many bookings. Rwanda accommodations for gorilla safari range from up-market to Mid-range to budget. When the peak tourism season in Rwanda opens, options for the best accommodations in each category run out, so advance booking is required.

How do you book, and how much Is the cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit?

Selecting a date for your gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda is important, as gorilla permits are sold daily. Knowing the number of gorilla permits you wish to book is important before checking permit availability to avoid moving back and forth.

Upon receiving your inquiry about the Rwanda gorilla tour, our safari consultant checks availability from the list of the Rwanda Development Board. You can also apply for a Rwanda gorilla permit online.

Our tour consultant will get back to you when he or she finds gorilla permits available. It is best to purchase your gorilla permit sooner because their status changes at any time without warning. Rwanda gorilla permits opened to the public are limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The cost of a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is 

$1500 for foreign nonresidents 

$500 for Foreign residents

$250 for East Africans.

What are the inclusions and exclusions in the cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit?

The Rwanda gorilla permit cost covers park entrance fees on the day of the gorilla tour, security while trekking, certificate, mountain gorilla conservations, one hour of mountain gorilla viewing, and others.

The Rwanda gorilla tour excludes porter hire, packed lunch, snacks, and other individual expenses.

What is included in the cost of the Rwanda gorilla tour package?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our gorilla tours according to Luxury, mid-range, and budget. The cost of gorilla tours in Rwanda varies with factors like the number of days on safari, number of people traveling with, time of booking the gorilla safari, additional activities to combine with the gorilla tour, and others.

The Rwanda gorilla tour package may include items like gorilla permit costs, accommodation costs, which vary according to your budget, transport costs, driver guide fees, park entrance fees for other safari activities combined with the gorilla tour, and other items.

Is the cost of the Rwanda gorilla Tour worth spending on?

Truly, gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime African safari adventure. When you visit Rwanda, gorilla trekking is one of the foremost safari activities you can engage in. Rwanda is one of the few homes for mountain gorillas since they cannot live elsewhere other than the Virunga area.

Mountain gorillas are some of the remnants of the Ice Age period and are believed to have lived in the same period as the dinosaurs. Although mountain gorillas are portrayed as aggressive and intimidating, you can only prove their nature when you visit. They are shy and cowards who retreat into hiding when provoked. Mountain gorillas have never attacked any tourists since opening gorilla trekking in Rwanda and beyond.

By purchasing the gorilla tour, you contribute to the funds collected to support the conservation of these primates. According to the population census carried out, mountain gorillas were at the rim of extinction by the 1980s. About 300 were living then. More funds need to be collected to support the sustainable conservation of mountain gorillas.

While on the ground, and you hire a porter to carry your gorilla trekking gear, you contribute to their livelihood as the money collected is used for home consumption. Some of the porters are ex-poachers but are now the mouthpiece in the community advocating for the conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat.

How sure can I Be to See the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda?

After spending a hefty price on the gorilla trekking permit, you wish to get value for the monkey, and that is seeing the mountain gorillas. Be sure to visit the mountain gorillas any time of the year. The chances of spotting mountain gorillas in the wild are about 99%.

The mountain gorilla families opened to the public are first habituated for some time by researchers to get them used to the presence of human beings. The traits of the gorilla family are not altered, which is why only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Mountain gorillas are bulky in size, so they cannot move very fast from their present location. This is why rangers follow the trail where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day.

In the early morning, a team of ranger guides wakes up early to trace where the mountain gorilla family may have nested and their possible hangout area. These clues are what rangers and tourists use to trace the mountain gorillas.

Tourists also participate in searching for the mountain gorillas, following clues like footprints and freshly chewed foliage, listening to their murmurs, feeding on foliage, and others. This is part of the fun of searching for these living treasures in the middle of nowhere.

Be sure to see the mountain gorillas, whether in the dry or wet season, because they feed from a particular area until food is not enough for the entire family. 

If you fail to trace the mountain gorillas, a rare case, the Rwanda Development Board may allow you to do the gorilla trek the next day or refund you according to their refund policy.

What is the Age Limit For Gorilla tours in Rwanda?

15 years and over is the age limit for gorilla tours in Rwanda. Glancing at the mountain gorillas may stimulate some adrenaline, yet you must not show any signs of freight to the mountain gorillas. It may be hard for children below 15 years to withstand the first look or touch of mountain gorillas.

The time of finding the mountain gorillas is not clear as sometimes tourists trace mountain gorillas in two hours while others take more time. Children get fed up easily, yet there is no turning back until completing the gorilla trek.

Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda difficult?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite strenuous because of the nature of the topography of the Virunga area. The volcanic action in this area led to several highlands like plateaus and ridges covered by thick vines that draped over to obstruct the way.

Volcanoes National Park has five volcanoes: Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Karisimbi. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas feed on this foliage, so you have to hike to trace them. The way is steep and slippery from the rains that fall without warning.

To withstand the terrain of Volcanoes National Park, you need to do exercises before the gorilla tour to keep your body fit. 

Wear the right gorilla trekking gear to protect yourself from the rough surfaces in the jungle.

How long is the gorilla tour in Rwanda?

Tracing the mountain gorillas may take about 2 hours or more, depending on factors prevailing in the wilderness. Finding Rwanda gorillas may be influenced by factors like the proximity of their food, the adventurous nature of the mountain gorillas, the loss of a silverback, weather conditions of the day, and other factors. The pace of fellow tourists also determines when to find the mountain gorillas.

Searching for mountain gorillas is like treasure hunting, and the excitement you get when you finally find them is magical and beyond your imagination. Some tend to forget the long walk in the thick jungle and wish to have extra time in the company of the mountain gorillas.

Having some level of patience gives you chances to spend that precious time with the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure experienced by a few people. Imagine being just meters away from the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world.

Gorilla trekking is worth the wait and time of your holiday.

What accommodation do you book for the gorilla tour in Rwanda?

Accommodations in and out of Volcanoes National Park are categorized into Luxury, Mid-range, and budget. You need to secure where to spend your night during your Rwanda gorilla safari, especially if you are visiting in the peak season.

Volcanoes National Park accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Hotel Lebambou, Muhavura Hotel, Gorilla Nest, La Palme Hotel

What else to do on safari in Rwanda?

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Visiting Nyungwe National Park for a chimpanzee trekking adventure is breathtaking. The headquarters are in Uwinka, where you go for briefing. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen each day: morning and afternoon.

You must book the chimpanzee trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board to be allowed to do this adventure. Another chimpanzee community is in Cyamudondo, where semi-habituated chimpanzees live on the periphery of the Nyungwe forest.

Canopy Walk in Rwanda

Within Nyungwe National Park, you can do the canopy walk on the 160-meter-long suspension bridge. This adventure, however, is not for the faint-hearted but very scenic as you enjoy the forest canopy and its stunning surroundings. You may mark some special lifetime moments while at the top of this pristine forest.

Game drives on Rwanda safari

Akagera National Park is the home of game drives in Rwanda. When driving through the tracks of Akagera National Park, you may spot animals like giraffes, herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, and black rhinos.

 A boat trip on the stunning Lake Ihema is breathtaking. Look over for the different features and ever-green vegetation in this park. This park has so many birds that keen birders may spot, including Albertine rift endemics.

Golden monkey trekking safari in Rwanda

These endangered golden monkeys are in Volcanoes National Park. They are charming species despite the fact that they are habituated to human presence. You must book a golden monkey trekking permit to access these unique monkeys.

 The body structure of the golden monkeys is larger than that of normal monkeys, covered with golden brown hairs on the lower body. When watching the golden monkeys, you must be ready to stay on your toes because they keep hoping from tree to tree.

Kigali city tour

The Kigali city tour lets you know how the local people spend their daytime, especially the business people of Rwanda. You may visit the Kandt house, break off to a coffee shop to enjoy the aromas of Rwandese coffee, visit Rwanda genocide memorials, and much more.

Contact our safari consultants to help you plan your safari to Rwanda for a gorilla trekking adventure.