How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Rwanda.
If you considering a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, the most critical thing you will need is the gorilla permit. The permit is what will let enter Volcanoes National Park to visit the mountain gorillas.
Rwanda gives 96 gorilla permits per day, considerably much less than the demand for gorilla trekking. Last-minute appointments are as uncommon as a pot of gold. So reserve your permit at least three months in advance; while six months is a greater guarantee to acquire a permit for the dates you’re intending to visit Rwanda.
How and Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
What is a gorilla permit?
A Rwanda gorilla permit is a visa or ticket a visitor gets from Rwanda Development Board to enable them for a guided mountain gorilla hike in Volcanoes National Park. The permit enables guests to spend up to one hour with a habituated gorilla troop.
Tourists congregate at the park headquarters situated immediately outside the park in Kiningi, for briefing before 0800 hours. Here the warden on duty validates your permission before allowing you to start the hiking adventure. They will ask for your passport to match the names on the permission and check for the date on the permit.
Selling gorilla licenses is the greatest method the government can acquire cash for the mountain gorilla conservation, upkeep, and preservation of the gorilla habitats. The money from permits also covers park services like paying trackers, rangers, and monitoring gorilla areas so that all people who come to view them may have that opportunity.
What is included with a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
The gorilla permit in Rwanda offers escorted access to a habituated gorilla group, armed protection, and a single hour with the gorillas.
Rwanda permits just eight travelers to follow one gorilla troop. They are guarded by armed rangers and a skilled tracker/guide who leads and keeps everyone informed of the hiking developments. The guide is also your resource for any facts relating to the gorillas and the park’s people; ask them any relevant inquiries and they’ll comply.
The Rwanda gorilla permit is a once-off-use. It is for a single individual, a single journey, and can’t be reused or transferred. However, travelers are able to acquire more than one gorilla permit for various trekking days. Once the tracking date on the ticket passes, the permit expires and it’s as good as old toilet paper.
The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit does not include the porter and gratuities after the walk. It also does not cover lodging, transports and meals, and logistical assistance for the gorilla trekking safari. The RDB will charge you differently for any other park activity like birdwatching, hiking or nature hikes.
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Rwanda?
A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1500 per person per trip for international non-residents over 15 years old. $500 for international residents with work licenses and $300 for East African Nationals.
RDB gives corporates/organizations a 10% discount on bulk purchases from 30 permits and a 15% discount to traveling families (couples and children over 15 years old)
Why is the Rwanda gorilla permit so expensive?
The Rwandan government’s explanation for the most costly permit in the regions is to strengthen mountain gorilla conservation efforts. Relentless conservation efforts by the government and groups have been effective in contributing to a steady growth in the endangered mountain gorilla population. But these activities have to be highly sponsored.
Also, as a rapidly developed country, the Rwandan government seeks to boost the development of local populations living surrounding the gorilla park. The government sponsors more than 400 community initiatives, directly helping people living surrounding national parks, including establishing schools, hospitals, and access to clean water.
Finally, paying the gorilla trekking services based on wild creatures that don’t remain in one spot is taking most of the gorilla permit income. From on-the-clock rangers, guides to paper-pushing officials, every single employee is paid from the permit money.
Gorilla trekking needs two teams of rangers; one to remain with the gorillas from nightfall to morning and the other to defend the guard the visitors to and from visiting the gorillas. That manner, the guarantee for every traveler to encounter the gorillas is highly secured.
How many gorilla permits are available in Rwanda?
With 15 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and just eight persons permitted to visit a single gorilla group each day, there are 96 gorilla permits available in Rwanda every single day.
Unlike Uganda that has five trekking offices, Rwanda has one tracking office at Kiningi park headquarters. From here all trekking trips commence, extending out to several trailheads situated at the perimeter of the park, on the foot of the volcanic mountains.
Where to acquire gorilla permits in Rwanda?
You may apply for your Rwanda gorilla permit online at the IREMBO government website and pay by credit card. Bookings are on a first-come-first-serve basis and you may book in advance based on availability.
You may also book your permit directly with a certified tour operator who provides you insurance on any unexpected situations. A tour operator can assist you with the practicalities, including rescheduling when you have to modify the date.
Contact our tour coordinators at email to assist you acquire your gorilla trekking permit for your selected tracking days.
How to acquire gorilla permits
The online booking system will automatically issue a permit upon completion of the process application. The minimum age for a gorilla trekking permit is 15 years.
The permit application procedure is as straightforward as choosing an availability date, complete needed forms, uploading requisite supporting papers, and paying the appropriate costs.
You’ll have to supply the applicant’s data, including names, passport copy/number, email, and phone number, at the time of booking. Even if you book via a travel operator, these data will be needed.
We urge travelers against supplying incorrect, incomplete, or fraudulent information on permission applications. Such scenarios are typical with online applications when users apply for the incorrect product, submit a fraudulent ID/Visa, or an expired ID/ Visa.
At the park office, during trekking briefing, a warden will be verifying visitor papers. It would be incredibly upsetting to be refused access after you paid all that money and made it all the way to the gate.
Can you get last-minute gorilla permits in Rwanda?
You may obtain last-minute gorilla permits in Rwanda exclusively from licensed tour companies that purchase the permits from RDB in bulk, expecting to sell to last-minute passengers. Operators wanting to sell-off permits for canceled excursions are also a fantastic source for last-minute reservations.
It’s exceedingly doubtful to acquire a gorilla permit during the high or peak tourism seasons in Rwanda. If you’re considering a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari for June to September, ensure that you have bookings at least six months in advance.
If you’re considering a last-minute gorilla excursion to Rwanda, email our gorilla safari advisors at email; we typically have a few on standby.
Is there a refund for a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
Volcanoes National Park tourists who fail to follow gorillas as a consequence of the gorilla group’s moves, get another opportunity or earn a full refund on their permit.
However, visitors who would have tracked the full day and failed to establish contact with a gorilla family for one reason or another would receive a 75% refund of the permit price.
No Refund in case of late arrivals or flight delay, absence, or cancellation of trip for any other reason.
Book With Katland
Katland Safaris Ltd can considerably minimize your preparation time, organize your vacation and ensure you of a fantastic safari experience. We organize custom-made Rwanda gorilla safaris that involve processing your gorilla permit, lodging, and transport.
We also welcome last-minute reservations; we’ve stored away several gorilla permits expecting to meet tourists like you. No waiting, no erroneous promises with Katland. Email us to chat to our gorilla tour consultants right now.
