How To Book A Gorilla Permit: Gorilla trekking is an incredible encounter that you shouldn’t miss once in a lifetime, to participate in this grand wildlife encounter you need to have a gorilla permit.
Note: it is important to book a gorilla permit a head of time, this article details the process of booking a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda, what is required, what is included and how to go all about.
Before staring your process of booking a gorilla permit, you need to decide what park and country you want to visit for gorilla trekking adventure.
Note: best destinations for gorilla trekking in the world are Uganda and Rwanda with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park.
What is a gorilla permit?
Gorilla trekking permit is a legal documentation provided to tourists above the age of 15 years allowing them to gorilla permits and permission to take part in the thrilling gorilla trekking. Gorilla permits are issued by government entities in charge of tourism is a particular country, in Uganda they are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda.
Gorilla Permits allows travelers to visit a habituated gorilla family for one hour either in Uganda or Rwanda, a gorilla permit allows visitors to stay for a period of 1 hours with the habituated gorilla family in the natural surroundings. A gorilla habituation permit allows visitors to stay for 4 hours with a semi- habituated gorilla family
How to book a Gorilla Permit in Uganda And Rwanda
In Person
Gorilla Permit in Rwanda can be booked directly through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), this is a government body responsible for tourism in Rwanda. Visitors can get a gorilla permit by contacting the head office via email or phone calls to check for permit availability for your desired dates. In case there are no permits available for your preferred dates, you will be requested to select another day with permission availability and pay for your gorilla permit.
You email a scanned proof of payment to Rwanda Development Board after you have completed your payments, when the payment is received. They begin processing your gorilla trekking permit and email you a scanned copy as confirmation.
Through a Tour Operator or Travel Agent
Contacting a reputable travel agent or tour operator is another alternative to book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Travel, according to the new changes by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The only way to book a gorilla permit is through a tour operator.
When you contact your tour operator, you will be requested to provide your dates, months, year and the gorilla destination of your desire through a phone call or email.
Your tour operator will check for the availability of the permits and if there are available, you will be requested to submit a deposit and you will them be given a scanned copy of the receipts as proof.
Most tour operators offer gorilla permits as part of the gorilla safari packages together with accommodation, meals, transportation and other safari activities.
When is the best time to book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda
In Uganda and Rwanda, you should book your gorilla permits 3 to 6 months before the trekking date. Gorilla permits are competitive and sell out rapidly more especially during the peak season which coincides with the dry season, the dry season runs from June to September and December to February.
All tourists are urged to book their gorilla permits in advance to avoid last minute problems.
Cost of gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda in 2023 – 2024
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs USD 700 for non-residents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX for East African Citizens (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and Congo).
Gorilla permits in Volcanoes National Park costs USD 1,500 per person.
The Gorilla Habituation Permits
Gorilla Habituation Permits are more like the gorilla trekking permits but they are for visitors wishing to spend more hours with the gorillas and take part in the gorilla habituation process.
Gorilla Habituation is the process of making gorillas in the wild to feel used to human presence for tourism and conservation purpose which is essential for tourism. On gorilla habituation, you will be accompanied by a team of researchers and doctors to meet gorillas in the wild that are not used to humans at all.
What is the Cancellation Policy on a Gorilla Permit?
For all the guests that have paid 30% of their gorilla trekking permit will not get a refund upon cancellation, if a guest has paid a full amount, the following rules will apply.
- 75% refund if you cancel your permit 91 days or more before your trekking day
- 50% refund if you cancel 46 to 90 days before the trekking day
- 25% refund if you cancel 9 to 45 days before the trekking date
- No refund if cancel 0 to 8 days before your trekking date
- For visitors who feel unwell or have a full on the final trekking date, this is because any sort of transmission of flue to gorillas can be deadly.
Also, there is an option of trekking gorillas in the future at no extra cost if you have a flue on the final trekking date.
How Many Gorilla Permits are Issued in Uganda per day?
On a daily, there are 160 Gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda per day in all the 5 sectors of 2 national parks that are home to mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Par and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Only a maximum of 8 people is allowed to see a habituated gorilla family in the two parks.
How Many Gorilla Permits are Issued in Rwanda per day?
On a daily, there are 80 Gorilla Trekking Permits in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, just like in Uganda. A maximum of 8 people is allowed to visit each habituated gorilla family in the jungle of Volcanoes National Park.
The Gorilla Trekking Experience
Gorilla trekking is an incredible wildlife experience done only in 4 destinations in the world that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo.
Gorilla trekking experience normally begins at the park’s headquarters very early with briefing about the rules and regulations. Following the briefing, you will be separated into groups of eight individuals with each group assigned a habituated gorilla family to hike and a park guide who is familiar with several gorilla trekking tracks.
Gorilla trekking takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas spent the previous night and their feeding range in quest for food. During the walk in the jungle, you will be able to see other forest creatures such as birds, flora and fauna and other primate.