Gorilla Permit Cost in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo (Current Prices)
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo? Explore more about the current prices for gorilla trekking permits for Africa’s premier gorilla safari destinations; Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. We have provided the current cost of gorilla permits for each destination for the year 2024-2026.
Gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda 2024-2026
Following the recent updates on conservation tariffs by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), visitors can now pay USD 800 to obtain a gorilla permit. The current prices are categorized into different visitor categories.
Uganda gorilla permit costs USD 800 per person for foreign nonresidents, USD 700 is the cost charged for foreign residents, and the new category of trekkers –the Rest of Africa pays USD 500 per person.
The last category caters to Ugandans plus other citizens within the East Africa Community member states and each visitor pays UGX 300,000 per person.
How to book a Uganda gorilla permit as per 2024-2026
With the rates for gorilla permits available right at your fingertips, next should be ensuring that it is booked. The recommended option as per law and UWA current guidelines is that gorilla permits should only be booked through a registered tour operator/company/agency. Luckily, we are a fully registered tour and travel company in Uganda with over 15 years of organizing incredible gorilla safaris across Uganda, and Rwanda.
Book a gorilla permit in Uganda with us with ease through our active emails; info@adventureugandasafaris.com. Booking a Uganda gorilla trekking should be done early at least 2-6 months before the actual date of visiting gorillas in their respective habitat.
Where do I go to trek gorillas in Uganda?
Obtaining a Uganda gorilla permit for gorilla trekking presents you with a chance to begin your gorilla trek from any of the two parks. In Uganda, a Gorilla permit is used in two National Parks which include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which located in South-Western Uganda just at the extreme Rift Valley and is the leading tourism destination in Uganda.
Bwindi National Park lies on an area of about 331 km² on the edge of the western Great Rift Valley neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and its major tourist attraction is gorilla trekking where gorilla permits can be used.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest number of gorilla permits in all four National Parks where gorilla trekking takes place, it has over 184 gorilla permits which are sold every day, and 23 gorilla families. Note, that every gorilla group can only be visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) gorilla trekkers.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park situated in the southwestern corner of Uganda which is well known for the mountain gorilla and golden monkey. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park features as the second best place to locate Uganda mountain gorillas. The Park covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura, Mt. Gahinga, and Mt. Sabinyo and is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Republic of Rwanda and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 33.7 sq. km and consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes a gorilla permit can also be used in Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has the lowest gorilla permit which is sold every day; there are only 8 permits and 1 gorilla family making it the least National Park with among the four Parks where gorilla trekking takes place in the whole world.
Besides the normal gorilla permits, there are also permits for gorilla habituation, each of which costs USD 1500 per person per trek. This category of gorilla permits targets visitors with plans to spend more time in the wild following gorillas while making them get used to human presence. This is done only in the Rushaga sector in the Southern end of Bwindi National Park.
A Uganda, Rwanda & Congo Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost is a National document licensed and issued by government bodies. In Uganda, the cost of gorilla permits is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in Rwanda a gorilla permit by the Rwanda Development Board(RDB).
All these gorilla permits allow visitors to track habituated mountain gorillas in their natural environment in Bwindi National Park Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcano National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo.
A Uganda-Rwanda Gorilla trekking Permit allows the traveler to trek mountain gorillas once a day and this gives you a close view of about one hour with mountain gorillas in their natural state.
Gorilla Permit Price in Rwanda 2024
In Rwanda, Volcano National Park is situated in the northeast of Rwanda and is the oldest Park in Africa lies along with the Virunga volcanoes which are shared between Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC, and its home to five of the 8 volcanoes. It’s just a two-hour drive from Kigali the capital of Rwanda. The Park is Central for all people who come to Rwanda.
Volcano National Park has 13 gorilla families and is the second park with the highest number of gorilla families apart from Bwindi National Park-Uganda. There are 104 gorilla permits which are sold every day and 8 people visit each gorilla family per day.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1500 per person per trek which allows you to get up close to these mountain gorillas in their natural state of about one hour in the jungle of natural habitat in Volcano National Park
Obtaining Rwanda gorilla permit is easier through Maranatha Tours and Travel – info@adventureugandasafaris.com.
Price of a Gorilla permit in the D. R. Congo
A gorilla permit in Congo costs USD 450 per person per trek which allows you to get up close to these gentle Apes in their natural wild of about one hour in the jungle of their natural home in Virunga National Park. The cost for Congo gorilla permits also applies to visitors who plan to visit the Eastern Lowland gorillas which are open for gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park lies on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo with over 7800 square kilometers where it borders Uganda as well as Rwanda.
The Virunga Wildlife Conservancy is the joint where the West African rainforests meet with the East African savanna grasslands and runs more than 300 km (190 mi) along the Albertine rift that splits the African continent from north to south.
This park is home to over 200 gorilla individuals mostly situated in the southern part of the Virunga National Park which is also a UNESCO Heritage site with 8 gorilla families habituated for gorilla trekking. There are only 64 gorilla permits which are sold every day and 8 people visit each gorilla family per day.
Who is eligible to book a Uganda, Rwanda or Congo gorilla permit?
Gorilla permit allows visitors/ travelers of above 15 years of age to trek mountain gorillas as well allows you to get up close view of these gentle giants of the jungle in their natural habitat of about one hour in the jungle of natural habitat.
When is the best time to book for gorilla trekking permits?
A Uganda gorilla trekking permits can be booked with us (Maranatha tours and travel) in advance that is about 6 months. It is agreed that for Peak or high seasons(June, July, August, September, December, January, and February), you need to book your gorilla permit at least 6 months in advance.
During the low seasons( March, April, May, October, and November), the turn up of trekkers tends to reduce but it is essential to book your gorilla permit in advance to avoid last-minute stress.