What is the price of a gorilla trek permit in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is not a cheap affair, especially the cost of the trekking permit, and this is because the money that is collected from gorilla trekking is used to conserve the natural habitat of the Mountain gorillas, offer 24/7 security and protect both the gorillas and the trekkers. The cost of the gorilla trekking permit differs from country to country and it is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board. If you are planning on gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, you have to purchase a gorilla trekking permit from the authorities through registered tour operators. A gorilla permit is a legal document that is used to access the Mountain gorillas in the national parks.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Rwanda’s gorilla permit cost: The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is almost double the cost of the permit in Uganda, and this is because Rwanda largely targets luxury gorilla trekking safaris and this is why you find that many budget travelers prefer to trek from Uganda. The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is $1500 (foreign non-residents), $200 (EAC citizens) and $500 (foreign residents and citizens from other African countries).

Booking gorilla permits in Rwanda can be done directly through the Rwanda Development Board website. The best way of booking gorilla permits in Rwanda is by contacting a tour operator of your choice and providing them with the dates for your trek. They will, in turn, check for the availability of the permits and get back to you with the findings. If your chosen dates are available, you are requested to make payments for the permits, and once they are purchased, a copy will be sent to you. You will also have to provide a copy of the passport, the number of permits to be bought, and note that each permit is unique to the person purchasing it and full name. Note that the gorilla permits in Rwanda are non-refundable and they have to be purchased in advance.

Rwanda prints and issues a limited number of gorilla permits per day, approximately 96 permits, and these are only available for Volcanoes National Park. This means that you have to book well in advance, at least 6 months prior, to be able to participate in the exercise in Rwanda.

Ugana’s gorilla permit cost: The cost of the gorilla permit in Uganda is lower than Rwanda’s permit, and this attracts many tourists to Uganda for gorilla tracking. The cost of the permit during both the dry and wet seasons is the same and is UGX300,000 for EAC citizens, $700 for foreign residents and $800 for foreign non-residents. Bwindi offers habituation, and the cost of the permit for habituation is $1500 for foreign non-residents, UGX750,000 for EAC citizens, $1000 for citizens from other African countries and $1000 for foreign residents.

Getting a gorilla permit in Uganda is best done using a tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris who will check for the availability of the gorilla permits on the dates you provide for trekking you have provided after getting in touch. After checking for the availability of the permits, you will be contacted and requested to make the necessary payments for the permit. When payments are confirmed, the permit will be purchased on your behalf, and copies will be sent to you on your behalf.

Uganda has the highest number of gorilla permits that are printed per day, and there are approximately 152, and these are for both Bwindi and Mgahinga, with 8 of these being for Mgahinga National Park. You will have a better chance of getting gorilla permits in Uganda as compared to Rwanda. Although many gorilla permits are printed per day in Uganda, you need to book in advance for better planning.

What is a gorilla permit and why is it important?

A gorilla permit is a pass that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda on behalf of the government that grants tourists access to trek and observe Mountain gorillas in their habitat while at the same time supporting the conservation efforts to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and their natural habitat. Imagine trekking Mountain gorillas in huge forests, and this dream can only come to pass after booking and purchasing a gorilla trek permit, which will act as your ticket when you get to the national park.

Gorilla permits were introduced by the governing bodies to regulate gorilla tourism and the number of people that have access to the gorillas. This reduces the number of people who access the gorillas, limiting disease transmission from humans to gorillas and preventing poaching, especially for people who want to gain access to the national parks without a gorilla permit.

Gorilla permits are more than just a pass into the national parks but have several purposes that include the following:

• Conservation: The gorilla permits spearhead the gorilla conservation efforts and some of the crucial parts it covers when it comes to conservation include anti-poaching patrols where gorillas are protected from illegal poaching and access to the natural habitat of the national park, contributes to community development with all the communities that are around the national parks where gorilla trekking takes place through schools, health and livelihood projects to sustain their standards of living, the gorilla permit helps with research and monitoring to better understand the gorillas and protect the habitat conservation of the Mountain gorillas.
• The safety of gorillas: Gorilla trekking is done in remote, distant and rugged areas and this is why the government and other security agents came up to provide 24/7 security to both the trekkers and the Mountain gorillas. The armed rangers and expert guides also help in implementing safety measures and the permit cost helps to cover all this and pay the guides and armed rangers.
• Regulating gorilla tourism: Mountain gorillas are endangered species and have to be protected at all costs, and to be able to properly regulate the number of people visiting the national parks, the gorilla permit was introduced. Permits help minimize overcrowding and the impact of human presence on the Mountain gorillas.
• Sustainable tourism: In most cases, when gorilla trekking is done responsibly, it can be good for the future tourism sector in the country. By purchasing the permits, the governments of the respective countries get revenue that is channelled back to the tourism industry, creating sustainable benefits for both wildlife and tourists.

The types of gorilla permits

There are two types of gorilla trekking permits issued, and these are gorilla trekking permits, also known as standard trekking permits and gorilla habituation permits. Uganda has both the gorilla trekking permits and habituation permits whereas Rwanda has only the gorilla trekking permit.

Gorilla trekking permit: This is also known as the standard gorilla trekking permit and grants tourists an hour to observe gorillas in their natural habitat after locating them.

Gorilla habituation permit: A gorilla habituation permit is a permit that grants tourists 4 hours with the primates and this was designed to show tourists how the habituation process takes place and how the semi-habituated gorillas react to human presence.

Step-by-step process for booking a gorilla permit:

To be able to secure a gorilla permit, below are the steps that need to be followed:

• Timing: Gorilla permits are always in high demand, especially during the peak season (June to September and December to January), and if you want to avoid disappointments, you are advised to book the permit at least 6 to 12 months before the trek date. You might have more flexibility during the rainy season (March to May and October to November)
• The booking options: There are two booking options and these are booking directly through the governing bodies of UWA and RDB and the best option of booking through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris.
• The required information: You will be asked for information concerning full names as they appear on the passport, the passport number, nationality, preferred trekking dates and the choice of national parks for the case of Uganda.
• Payment: The payments are to be made upfront to secure the booking process. You can pay for the permits using bank transfers or credit cards and make sure that the bank covers the withdrawal charges.
• Confirmation: Once the payment has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email to inform you about the purchase of the permits, and you will need this information when traveling to Uganda or Rwanda for the safari.

Getting the right gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda

Choosing the right gorilla permit for your safari depends on your preference, travel plans and your budget. When looking for a more affordable gorilla permit and diverse trekking destination options, Uganda is the right and ideal choice for you. However, if you are prioritizing easy access and luxurious gorilla safari, Rwanda is a better fit for you. Some of the factors that you need to take into consideration when choosing the right permit include the following.

The availability of the permit: It does not matter which country you choose to go to for gorilla trekking, but the magic of encountering the Mountain gorillas depends on the availability of the Mountain gorillas. The more permits printed per day, the more chances of getting the gorilla permits even during the dry/peak season.

Your budget: The budget for your safari will determine the gorilla permit to purchase. Note that the habituation permit which is offered in Uganda is expensive compared to the standard gorilla trekking permit. The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is higher than Uganda making it an expensive destination for gorilla trekking.

The cancellation and refund policies for gorilla trek permits

Plans keep on changing due to unavoidable circumstances and this is why tourists are advised to know the cancellation and refund gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda so that you make the right decision before investing in gorilla trekking safaris. Note that deposits are not refundable; all cancellation requests have to be made by writing an official letter to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director. All the other funds paid for the gorilla permit cannot be refunded, and costs like government taxes and bank charges are deducted from the refund.

Cancellation policy in Uganda: The Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of the gorilla permits, and there are no refunds made when you cancel your gorilla trekking permits. Permits, once bought, cannot be refunded unless you have a valid reason as to why you failed to make the trek date, like falling sick or missing out on the flight due to bad weather. Below is the refund policy that is followed when a cancellation is made in Uganda.

• Refunds are not made when you make the cancellation 0 to 8 days before the trek date
• 25% refunds are made when you make the cancellation 9 to 45 days before the trek date
• A 50% refund is made when you make the cancellation 46 to 90 days before the trek date
• A 75% refund is made when you make the cancellation 91 days or more before the trek date.

Cancellation policy in Rwanda: The Rwanda Development Board does not offer refunds on permits like in Uganda when you cancel but some exceptions are made. The refund policy in Rwanda is similar to that of Uganda and note that partial refunds or refunds can be possible only if you are deemed sick by the park officials on the trek date.

Some of the tips you should consider when cancelling permits and seeking a refund, make sure that you first contact your booking agent as soon as possible so that they provide you with the necessary process for you to go through and explore the different options. The next tip is to provide valid documentation about why you are seeking a cancellation, like a medical form, and you have to be patient because it takes a long process and has to be reviewed by the executive before a letter is sent to you to either confirm or deny your request.

If you are ready to embark on your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda and Rwanda. After having comprehensive knowledge about gorilla permits in both Uganda and Rwanda, the only step remaining is to make the dream a reality. When you purchase a permit, you are directly contributing to the conservation of the remaining gorilla population in Uganda and Rwanda and, at the same time, having the world’s best experience.

Note that the best time to book a permit and go for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is now. Do not miss out on the opportunity of having to watch the majestic giant Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Contact us for more information and bookings.