What is the gorilla permit price in Rwanda and Uganda?

What is the gorilla permit price in Rwanda and Uganda? A gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda is just a simple document that allows tourists to trek mountain gorillas in the national parks harboring mountain gorillas. The gorilla permits in Rwanda are issued out by Rwanda Development Board and for Uganda, they are issued out by Uganda Development Board. The trekking permits for both Uganda and Rwanda allow travelers to be with mountain gorillas for 1 hour and all these must be 15 years and above.

Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done only in one national park which is volcanoes located in the northwestern part of the country while Uganda has 2 national parks where mountain gorilla trekking is done and these are Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in southwestern Uganda. Uganda has another unique activity called gorilla habituation and this has been taking place in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park since 2014. The activity as of now is done among 2 gorilla families of Bikingi and Bushaho in the southern sector of the park.

To trek mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person per trek which makes it the most expensive gorilla trekking permit while for the case of Uganda the gorilla trekking permit is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents, and shs250,000 East African citizens. Spending 4 hours in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and shs750,000 East African citizens.

How to book a gorilla safari to Uganda and Rwanda

Travelers intending to spend some time with mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda can contact Africa Adventure Vacations and we organize for you a safari. All we ask at Africa Adventure Vacations are the travel dates when you want to have a safari in Uganda or Rwanda. After getting the travel dates, we go further to check for the availability of the gorilla permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority for the case of Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board for the case of Rwanda. Once the permits are available, we send you ways of how you can pay and once we have received the money, we go further and book for you a permit.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is the same. The activity starts with a briefing where trekkers gather in one place and get to listen to what the rangers have to say. During the briefing, the trekkers are taught about the dos and don’ts of the gorilla trekking activity while in the jungle. After the short briefing, the grouping of trekkers is done and these do not exceed 8 and after this, the rangers lead the trekkers through different trails of the park searching for the mountain gorillas.

During the search, trekkers have opportunities of meeting different bird species, mammals, primates, and different types of vegetation. Once eth trekkers meet the assigned mountain gorilla family, they are given 1 hour to be around these mountain gorillas since that’s what the gorilla permit rule says. In the 1 hour given to trekkers, they get an opportunity to take the apes photos, watch them do daily activities like hunting, making nests, and much more.

Uganda introduced a new activity called mountain gorilla habituation and this is only done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. the activity is done among Bikingi and Bushaho mountain gorilla families and it all starts with a briefing at the sectors offices like the mountain gorilla trekking activity. The experience is the same but what differs habituation from trekking is that the trekkers are given 4 hours of being around mountain gorillas and get an extra opportunity of making the mountain gorillas get used to human presence.

How many gorilla families are in Uganda and Rwanda?

Both Uganda and Rwanda have 32 mountain gorilla families of which 30 are fully habituated and open for trekking while the other 2 are semi habituated and open for habituation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Out of the 30 that are open for trekking, 10 are found in volcanoes national park Rwanda and 20 are found in Uganda. In Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has 19 habituated mountain gorilla families in sectors of Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija while the 1 Nyakagezi is found in Mgahinga national park.

What is the most appropriate time to visit Uganda and Rwanda for mountain gorillas trekking?

Uganda and Rwanda have 2 climatic seasons and these are the 2 dry seasons in December to February and June to September as well as the rainy seasons of March to May and October to November. These countries can be better visited in the dry season that is characterized by little or no rainfall. During the dry season, the vegetation in the park is thin giving clear views of the mountain gorillas and also best photography, the trekking trails are less muddy and slippery because they are dry, and lastly, the roads leading to the parks are passable.

Tourists can as well trek mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda in the rainy seasons simply to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities in the parks. The tourists should know that during these months, the rainfall is too much, the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation is thin giving clear views of the park animals and the roads to the park are impassable. If you are intending to visit Uganda and Rwanda for mountain gorilla trekking most especially in the dry season, you are advised to book your gorilla trekking permit in advance in order to avoid inconveniences since the permits are sold out on a first come first serve basis.

Accommodation on a gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park have got several accommodation options where tourists can have a stay while on their trekking safaris in these parks. Accommodation in Mgahinga national park includes Muhabura Climbers Rest Camp, Lake Chahafi Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gahinga Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Air Land Hotel, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Sabyinyo Guest House, Travellers Rest Hotel, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Gorilla Hills Eco-Lodge, Muhabura Motel, Mondi Lodge Kisoro, and Virunga Campsite and Backpackers among others.

Accommodation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Gorilla Safari Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla havens lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Silverback Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Trekkers Tavern, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Agadi Eco Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, and Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge among others.

Accommodation in Virunga national park includes Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, One $ Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, and Amakoro Songa Lodge among others.

How to access Uganda and Rwanda’s national parks for gorilla trekking?

Yes, after knowing the price of gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda, you need to get information on how to get to different gorilla trekking destinations. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park can be accessed sing riad transport or air transport on a gorilla trekking safari. By air transport, you will have to use chattered flights from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Kihihi airstrip for those going to Ruhija and Buhoma sector and then Kisoro airstrip for those going to Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector, and Mgahinga national park.

By road transport, travelers from Kigali Rwanda can access Bwindi or Mgahinga national park using Katuna border in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro which takes 4-5 hours. those coming from Kampala can use Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale or Kisoro Road and reach to these national parks in 8-9 hours.

Rwanda’s volcanoes national park can be accessed using road transport from Kigali city to Musanze town in the northwestern part of the country taking only 2 hours.

In conclusion, volcanoes national park of Rwanda is located near the city compared to Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park so travelers who hate long distances can visit Rwanda and when it comes to gorilla trekking permits those of Uganda way cheaper. For gorilla habituation, it is a must to visit Uganda because it’s only done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and nowhere else in the world.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee trekking and habituation, birding, golden monkey trekking, game drives, hiking, nature walks, and community tours among others. After understanding the gorilla permit price in Rwanda and Uganda, you can go ahead and book your gorilla safari which can be done at any time of the year.