What are the implications of being found tracking gorillas in Rwanda without a gorilla permit?

Everyone going on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda must have a gorilla permit from the Rwanda Development Board. The Maximum number of Rwanda gorilla permits opened to the public daily is 8 per gorilla family. Currently, Rwanda has 96 gorilla trekking families open to the public.

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Booking the Rwanda gorilla permit is the number one ticket that allows you to spend that precious one hour with the only few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens in Volcanoes National Park. This mountainous park is home to gorilla families like Kwitonda, Hirwa, Susa, Amahoro, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Krisimbi, and others.

On gorilla trekking day in Rwanda, all tourists gather at the ORTPN to hand in their gorilla permits and all necessary verification documents. You may prolong your verification time if your information doesn’t match the document you hand in. This is why you must forward your personal details per the documents you hope to travel with. 

If you sneak in to join other gorilla trekking, you get a hefty penalty, including imprisonment, or pay a heavy fine. Mountain gorillas are Rwanda’s foremost attraction and are protected highly. One of the rules set to protect the mountain gorillas is to have a maximum of 8 people visiting daily. Any excess person joining the gorilla trek burdens the gorilla family and their environment.

The Rwanda Development Board employs several ranger guides and park wardens to monitor the forest activities, including gorilla trekking, and they are in place to ensure all supervision necessary is well done. Sneaking in tourists without a gorilla permit is also an inconvenience to fellow tourists who know that a maximum of 8 people must visit each gorilla family per day per trek.

Where to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park is the only home for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This forest is one of the few African forests that survived the ice age period expected to have happened between 1200 and 1800 years ago. 

The mountain gorillas are the primary attraction of this park, but it hosts other primates too, like the golden monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey checked mangabey, L’Hoest’s, Black and white colobus, and others.

During the gorilla trekking adventures in this park, chances of spotting several birds, including Albertine rift endemics, are also open. Some birds living in Volcanoes National Park include Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Dusky Turtle Dove, Malachite Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, and others.

Hiking some of the mountains of Volcanoes National Park is stunning. The topography of Volcanoes National Park comprises several highlands, including Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Karisimbi, and Mountain Sabynyo. You can book a guided excursion mountaineering adventure on any of these mountains.

When Can I Book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit?

It is best to secure the Rwanda gorilla permits at least six months to a year in advance, especially if you hope to travel during peak season. The peak Uganda tourism season usually is June, July, August, September, December, and January. Demand for Rwanda gorilla permits for this season is high, yet supply is limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family per day.

Finding last-minute gorilla trekking permit availability is quite challenging during the high season. Even accommodation during gorilla trekking must be booked in advance during the peak season. 

The low Rwanda tourism season usually is March to May and November, with less demand for gorilla trekking permits. Even the cost of logistics that support this safari is lower. Chances of getting discounts during gorilla safari in the low season are more open. There is less demand for gorilla permits of the low season plus supporting amenities, too. 

Rwanda gorilla permits are generally open all year, but note the season under which you wish to travel to avoid last-minute disappointment.

How can I Book a Rwanda Gorilla permit?

Choose a gorilla trekking date for your Rwanda Safari. You can book the gorilla permit through a tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris or directly online through the Rwanda Development Board portal.

Check for gorilla permits availability first, but you must know the number of gorilla permits you hope to book. This is to avoid moving back and forth with finding gorilla permit availability. The status of gorillas permits changes at any time, yet their supply is limited, too.

As soon as our tour consultant becomes available, he or she will get back to you, but we recommend booking your gorilla permit as quickly as possible. Rwanda Development Board gorilla permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Later, forward us some personal details, including your full name, present on the passport, date of birth, and nationality. These are for record purposes and verification on the day of the gorilla trek.

Note that you must carry your personal identification documents on gorilla tour day so that your credentials can match those registered in the system. This is why you must be very keen with the information you send.

What Is The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit

The current cost of Rwanda gorilla permits is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents, and $200 for East Africans.

The cost of Rwanda Gorilla permits covers Park entrance fees, Ranger guide fees, security, mountain gorilla conservation, certificate, and one hour with the mountain gorillas.

How can I Be Sure To see the Mountain Gorillas In Rwanda?

Seeing the mountain gorillas is a sure deal as they live in families that rarely move without purpose. The ranger guides monitor movement trends for the different Volcanoes National Park gorilla families. Each day, a team of ranger guides wakes up early to patrol where the gorilla families might have nested and predict their possible ways.

It is first habituated to human presence before opening the gorilla family to the public. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get accustomed to human presence without changing their traits. A team of researchers does this process, and ranger guides for the unknown until the gorilla family is confirmed and ready for public visits.

Mountain gorillas feed from a particular location until food is insufficient for the entire family. The mountain gorillas are vegetarians and must feed on foliage that will support their bulky bodies throughout the day and night.

Tracing mountain gorillas includes tourists, too, and they can help find the mountain gorillas by using clues left behind. Tourists are asked to keenly look for footprints, fresh dung, leftover fresh foliage, and much more. The mountain gorillas get to know about your presence before you find them, so you must obey gorilla trekking guidelines to avoid being mistaken by these keen primates.

What is the return time from gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park?

It is hard to determine when to return from gorilla trekking, but the starting time is approximately 0700 hours each day. Tourists follow the trail where the mountain gorillas were last seen the previous day. Mountain gorillas rarely move far from their previous locations because they feed from a particular area for as long as they can all be satisfied. When food is exhausted, the silverback searches for a new feeding area.

Time spent meeting the mountain gorillas varies with factors prevailing in the forest, like the death of a family member, the location of the feeding point, an attack from another gorilla family, weather conditions of the day, and much more. Even going mountain gorilla trekking with the unfit company may cause a delay in finding the mountain gorillas.

Only one hour is allowed with the fully habituated gorilla family when you find the mountain gorillas. This time is restricted because human presence disrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas.

Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda safe, and are mountain gorillas dangerous?

The gorilla trekking tour in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is safe, and mountain gorillas are calm primates to be around. The image portrayed about the mountain gorillas is that they are aggressive creatures, but on the contrary, they are the most serene primates.

At a glance, the outlook of the Mountain gorillas is intimidating because of their dark-furred bodies and dark sunken eyes. Their locomotion style is knuckle locomotion, which looks like they are about to attack you.

Their one hour with the mountain gorillas gives you a glimpse into their daily life and behavior; however, you realize how vulnerable these primates are by the elapse of this time.

The security of the mountain gorillas is under the Rwanda Development Board ranger guides, who jointly carry out this work with the help of other Rwanda security agencies. Mountain gorilla conservation is the number one priority, but even the safety of tourists is equally important.

As tourists, you need to attend briefings where information about how to behave while with the mountain gorillas is given. This helps you be in harmony with the mountain gorillas in the wilderness.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda?

Fifteen years and over is the age limit for gorilla safaris in Rwanda; however, you must be fit to enjoy the entire experience. The terrain of Volcanoes forest is rugged, resulting from volcanic action that led to the formation of various highlands. Five of the six Virunga Volcanoes, Mountain Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Muhavura, Karisimbi, and Bisoke, influence the volcanic forest environment.

 Children below 15 years may be unable to complete the hike to locate the mountain gorillas because of the steep slopes that make up most of this area. The guidelines for gorilla trekking in Rwanda include not shouting while in front of the mountain gorillas, but at a glance, a child below 15 years is likely to make some noise. Noise may throw the entire forest into a stampede, causing another tourist to lose the opportunity to be with the mountain gorillas.

Staring into the eyes of the mountain gorillas may cause them some discomfort and send them into hiding. Children under this age may not be in a position not to stare into the deep brown eyes of the mountain gorillas.

What to Pack for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

• Use insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that would harm you while walking to locate mountain gorillas or any other primates in the jungle.
• Garden gloves protect your palms from stinging nettles and even rough surfaces you may land on when you trip and fall.
• Bug spray is in case your room is infected.
• Toiletries in case your skin is very sensitive or your lodge does not provide.
• Snacks to munch on in case you get hungry because breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time in the wilderness.
• A raincoat or poncho is used if it rains in the wilderness. This area receives rain at any time without warning.
• Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt in the wilderness to protect your body from harsh conditions in the forest.
• A pair of stockings to tack in your trousers and protect your body from insects that would creep into your clothes.
• Safari boots can go through the soggy surfaces in the jungle as the wilderness is wet most of the time, and rivers overflow, especially in the severe rainy seasons.
• Safari hat to protect your hair from getting wet in case it rains or dew drips off the leaves.
• Pajamas to wear in the night when getting to bed.
• Duffel bag to carry with your belongings, as you may get no help offloading your bags.
• Flip flops to change into in case you come from gorilla trekking and are tired of wearing closed shoes.
• Some cash to exchange into local currency when purchasing anything locally.
• Clean Face masks to wear when standing before the mountain gorillas. This was adopted after the Covid-19 period. The mountain gorillas can be victims of this virus since they are susceptible to human infections because they have about 96% human DNA.
• A camera to take photos and protect memories of your experience during gorilla trekking

Contact us for more information.