Uganda, Rwanda And DRCongo Gorilla Permits: Mountain gorillas are endangered animals and one of the most sought for animals on an Africa Safari, mountain gorillas are found in two populations in Central Africa Region that is in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
The best destinations to encounter mountain gorillas in their nature surroundings are Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking safaris not only provide you with an up-close encounter with these magnificent creatures but also help you fund mountain gorilla conservation, every visitor must have a permit to see the mountain gorillas.
Gorilla permits can be obtained from a tour operator, these permits are issued by government entities which are responsible for gorilla tourism that is Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda.
In Uganda, a gorilla permit costs $ 800 and in Rwanda, a gorilla permits costs $ 1500. A gorilla permit is document that allows visitors to a habituated mountain gorilla family in Uganda and Rwanda. The fees for a gorilla permit are important as they limit the number of tourists who can visit the gorilla parks while contributing to gorilla conservation efforts as well.
It doesn’t matter how long you take to see the gorillas, the price of a gorilla permits remains the same for one hour duration.
What is Included in the Gorilla Permit Cost?
The cost for a gorilla permit covers the entire trek with armed guides from the time you enter the forest to the time you see the gorillas and return to the trekking, other expenses such as accommodation while on the gorilla safari, transportation, porter, water, meals among others are not included in the gorilla cost.
When visiting Uganda and Rwanda for a gorilla safari, it is very crucial to discuss with your tour operator whether you will need a porter, trekking pole, rain jacket and other items to bring.
Uganda Gorilla Permits
The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda is a frequently asked question for travelers interested in gorilla trekking in Uganda, the answer is. The cost for gorilla trekking in Uganda is determined by a number of factors which must be considered in order to determine Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost, the cost includes the entire package rather than a single event or item of gorilla trekking in Uganda.
A gorilla permit costs $ 800 per trek per 1 hour with a habituated gorilla family.
A gorilla habitat permit costs $ 1,500 (4 hour with the gorillas).
A 3-day gorilla trek to see the gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga starts at $ 12oo per person and included transportation, lodging and meals.
In Uganda, there is an option of visiting either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
To get to these parks, you almost certainly need a 4X4 vehicle to get to the parks and more importantly to the trekking points from your accommodation where your gorilla trek begins.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four gorilla trekking sectors that is Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga, each of these sectors has its own set of challenges in terms of roads and vehicle requirements.
Rwanda Gorilla Permits
For visitors interested in doing gorilla trekking in Rwanda – a small country of a thousand hills, gorilla trekking is done only in Volcanoes National Park. As opposed to Uganda, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park offers a less strenuous gorilla trekking experience and it is dubbed as “Africa’s easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking safari experience”.
The small size of Rwanda that is 10,169 square miles, it makes it easy to get around in a couple of days. Most importantly, you can visit volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, bird watching and hiking activities.
In Rwanda, a gorilla permit costs $ 1,500 per person.
Rwanda offers luxury trekking options as well as high end lodging for those seeking to enjoy a luxury gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bisate lodge and Kwitonda Lodge are the best luxury gorilla lodges.
Note: You must purchase your gorilla permits up to 6 months in advance, if you are traveling during the peaks or in a large group. The earlier you book, the more options you will have for trekking and lodging.
Late booking may be possible only during the low season and when there are only one or two people trekking. However, gorilla permits are not guaranteed.
The high season lasts from June to October and it includes the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Each gorilla family can be visited for one hour per day with an off-peak discount in April, May and November in Uganda and both require advance booking.
Both Uganda and Rwanda have a minimum age requirement of 15 years to track gorillas.
Gorilla permits can be purchased two years in advance through the Rwanda Development Board or a registered Rwanda Safari Tour company. The benefit of booking with a tour operator is that they have intimate local knowledge for the available accommodation options and the proximity of gorilla families.
Congo Gorilla Permits
Planning Gorilla trekking in Congo can be difficult if you are unfamiliar with the counter as well as its national park, the country has more recently experience a series of wars that have resulted in civil unrest.
Congo offers the cheapest option for gorilla trekking as a gorilla permit costs $ 400 per person per trek, gorilla trekking in Congo is done in Virunga National Park.
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