How much does seeing gorillas in Rwanda cost in 2024-25?

How much does seeing gorillas in Rwanda cost in 2024-25? To see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, you must first incur the gorilla permit cost. The cost of Rwanda gorilla permits is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents, and $300 for East Africans. The Rwanda Developments Board is mandated to sell and regulate the cost of Rwanda gorilla permits.

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Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda's only habitat for mountain gorillas, hosting about 15 gorilla families that are open to public visits. Gorilla trekking is the main activity in Volcanoes National Park, but you can also engage in golden monkey trekking. Birding in Volcanoes Nationals National Park is rewarding, with over 300 bird species, including Albertine rift endemics, recorded as residents of this forest so far.

During the gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda, you may also engage in botany, visit the Dian Fossey grave, mountaineering, and much more. The cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda includes accommodation booking, categorized into luxury, mid-range, and basic facilities.

The accommodation category you choose contributes considerably to the final safari package type. Choose the means of transport to use during gorilla safari in Rwanda. Road transport may be the most common means to get to Volcanoes National Park, but you can also charter from Kigali airport.

Where To See Mountain Gorillas In Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park is the only Rwanda National Park that hosts mountain gorillas. About 15 gorilla families are Volcanoes National Park residents, including Kwitonda, Amahoro, Susa, Umubano, Agashya, and others.The drive from Kigali airport to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours, going through stunning winding roads covered with lush green vegetation. Generally, the topography of Volcanoes National Park is steeply influenced by the five volcanoes that form the terrain of this park: Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Muhavura.

What is the cost of a Gorilla safari in Rwanda?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we cost and categorize our Rwanda gorilla safaris according to upscale, mid-range, and basic safari packages. To the cost of the gorilla safari packages, we consider

The number of people booked to do the gorilla safari

The more people booked per safari to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the less the per-person cost. Besides the gorilla permit cost per head, you get to share some safari costs like vehicle hire, fuel costs, driver guide, and share room costs in case you are booked in a double or twin room. You need to note that the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and over, so children below this age may not be allowed to participate.

Number of days on gorilla tour in Rwanda

The least number of days you can be on the Rwanda gorilla tour is two days. The first day is the arrival into Volcanoes National Park. The time you take to drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours going through winding roads. The second day is for gorilla trekking, and you may depart for Kigali on this same day. The more days on gorilla safari in Rwanda, the higher the cost of the Rwanda gorilla tour because most service providers charge per day expenses.

Time of booking the Rwanda gorilla safari

The cost of Rwanda gorilla tours in the high season is higher because the logistics that support this safari are charged at a high price. This is due to the demand for these safari services in the peak season: June, July, August, September, December, and January.

Other than gorilla tours, even other Rwanda safari activities use some service providers, such as on-game drives and driver guides. Most of the logistics that support gorilla safaris are charged per day, and these costs accumulate with the number of days for which you are booked. 

The low season may come with discounted costs of gorilla safari logistics. Some accommodation facilities offer cost discounts on services during this season to break even. Tourists with a limited budget may use this opportunity to enjoy the mountain gorillas in the low season.

If you want to get an upgrade, the low Rwanda tourism season offers you this opportunity.In case you are booked for gorilla trekking in the low season but also had two nights in either Akagera National Park or Nyungwe National Park or both, your gorilla permits are discounted from $1500 per person to $1050 per person according to Rwanda Development Board policy terms and conditions apply. 

Additional activities to Combine with the Rwanda Gorilla tour

Suppose you combine gorilla safaris with other Rwanda safari activities like game drives in Akagera, chimpanzee safaris in Nyungwe National Park, and birding in Rwanda. In that case, canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, golden monkey trekking, Kigali city tour and others the safari cost is higher. You may be required to pay park fees for most wildlife parks before being allowed entry. The more additional Rwanda safari activities there are, the higher the cost.

Book accommodations to use during gorilla safari in Rwanda

The accommodation cost during gorilla safari varies according to Upmarket, Mid-range, and category essential. Most accommodations charge per-day costs, but you must know their package inclusions before booking because some charge complete board plans, bed, breakfast plans, and Bed-only plans. This helps when planning your Rwanda safari so you can carry the right cash to support your other expenses.

Volcanoes National Park accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Hotel La Palme, Gorilla Nest, Virunga Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Kinigi Guest House

The cost of transport to use during Gorilla Safari in Rwanda

The primary means to get around Rwanda is by road from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. The drive is about 3 hours, going through winding roads and beautiful escarpments covered with green vegetation. You must hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition to navigate the countryside roads.

Consider the cost of fuel to use when driving to Volcanoes National Park and other destinations included in your Rwanda itinerary. A full fuel tank is an excellent idea because finding fueling stations up country is challenging.

Hiring a professional and experienced driver guide is an added advantage because you learn about Rwanda and beyond. The more engaged the driver guide is with the proper knowledge about Rwanda, the more information you get about the country.

Is the costs of Rwanda Gorilla permits worth the money?

The Rwanda gorilla permit cost is worth every expenditure as you get a chance to be just a few meters from the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Rwanda is one of the few homes to the only mountain gorillas in the world, sharing them with Uganda and D.R.Congo.When you purchase the gorilla permit, you support the work of mountain gorilla conservation, which started when the American primatologist Dian Fossey brought the plight of mountain gorillas to the world in the 1980s.

The census carried out by the Dian Fossey team reported that by then, about 300 mountain gorillas were living in the world.From then on, the conservation of mountain gorillas was adopted by both internal and external conservation bodies, and through the sale of gorilla permits, part of the funds that support this project were collected. You support the sustainable existence of the mountain gorillas when you purchase the Gorilla permits.

Do I need To Hire a porter For the Rwanda Gorilla Safari?

Hiring a porter during the gorilla safari is essential as the porter helps you carry your belongings so you can walk without pulling you back. A porter is a person who helps carry your belongings while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.The porter may also push you when tired because the trek to find mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is steeper than other mountain gorilla destinations. Porters are locals who make a living by helping tourists with their bags while they walk in the wilderness. If you wish to support the local community, hiring a porter is one of the direct ways.

How Safe Is Rwanda For Gorilla Tours?

Rwanda is safe for gorilla safaris because Volcanoes National Park has well-trained ranger guides who monitor the mountain gorillas, other inhabitants, and their habitat. Each day, a team of ranger guides patrols Volcanoes National Park in the early morning to establish where the mountain gorilla may have nested, their possible hangout spot for the day, and the status of the forest. In case they trace any snares, they disband them.

Before going on the gorilla safari, the ranger guides brief tourists about how to behave in the wilderness so as not to fall prey to the reactions of the forest dwellers. At least two ranger guides lead, one holding a machete while another carries a machete just in case of an emergency.

The ranger guides are always on radio calls to keep in touch with the security team in case backup is needed.The ranger guides coordinate with other Rwanda security bodies to keep law and order in this park.

How difficult Is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?

The gorilla trekking adventure of Rwanda is in a more steep area influenced by the five Virunga volcanoes that may up its terrain. Volcanoes National Park comprises Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, and Mountain Gahinga.

Sometimes, the mountain gorillas spend their day feeding and lounging on the slopes of some of the highlands in this park, so tourists are required to hike. You need to have some level of fitness to complete this adventure. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker, but take the rest because you may end up frustrated.

Request a walking stick for extra support if you walk through the soggy ground and slippery slopes.

What time do you return from gorilla trekking in Rwanda

?Return time from gorilla trekking is hard to determine because even the time of finding the mountain gorillas is hard. Some tourists have located the mountain gorillas within two hours after starting the trek, while others have spent more than three-quarters of the day. Finding the mountain gorillas depends on factors like proximity of their feeding area, weather conditions of the day, pace of fellow tourists, in case the gorilla family is adventurous, and others.It would help if you had patience before finding the mountain gorillas because they are mobile primates. Look out for other exciting features in the wilderness, like highlands, waterfalls, enchanting monkeys, and birds, instead of focusing on only finding the mountain gorillas.

What are the dos and don'ts of gorilla safaris in Rwanda?

There are no surrounding mountain gorillas when you locate them. They feel agitated by people around them, which may push them into hiding.

• Anyone with a contagious infection cannot visit the mountain gorillas because they are highly susceptible to flu, cholera, coronavirus, and Ebola.

• Never use flash photography while with the mountain gorillas because they get scared of new occurrences in your presence.

• Littering the forest is forbidden because it alters the nature of the forest where mountain gorillas thrive.

• If you need to sneeze or cough, do it away from the mountain gorillas or in your elbow so as not to spread infections to the mountain gorillas.

• If you wish to smoke or eat, do it at least 300 meters from the mountain gorillas because they may be forced to grab it and eat it. The mountain gorillas are wild animals that must find their food.

• When you locate the mountain gorillas, leave a space of about 8 meters away to reduce any chances of passing an infection to them.

• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden because it may contaminate the foliage on which mountain gorillas thrive. It is disgusting, too, for other trekkers who regularly visit.

• The age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years. This is because the time for locating the mountain gorillas has yet to be discovered. These children may need to be able to hike the slopes where the mountain gorillas may be lounging.

• Keeping a low voice or talking in a low tone is advised so as not to scare the mountain gorillas or other interesting forest dwellers watching while trekking to locate the mountain gorillas.

• The time you locate the mountain gorillas is limited to just one hour. You must utilize it well to keep memories of your experience with the mountain gorillas.

• Wearing a mask during gorilla trekking is a must for all trekkers as a preventative measure decided on by the Rwanda Development Board to prevent spreading infections.

• Provoking the mountain gorillas is forbidden because they may get agitated and go into hiding. They may be serene creatures but have feelings and mood swings.

• In case you wish to take a long call, do it in a whole of about 30 centimeters deep. Ask the ranger guide to dig it and cover it well afterward beyond recognition. The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers may wish to exhume this waste but cover it to prevent this.

Visit gorillas in Rwanda for an experience like no other. Contact us for more information.