Gorillas are a prime attraction in Africa and included in most of Africa wildlife holidays though travelers have always found it hard to book gorilla permits. The availability of permits determines as well the availability of gorilla tours in popular destinations like Uganda and Rwanda.
If you need to book only a gorilla permit, its good to book it through a travel agent who will go an extra mile and advise you on how best you can make your trip a success since all gorilla tracking destinations are not the same.
Local travel agents have firsthand information of gorilla permit availability, best time to see gorillas, the best gorilla family with more babies, the nearby one, convenient accommodation, cheapest means of transport and many others. However, being on ground is being informed so if you planning your gorilla tracking tour soon, better to book all your essentials with a local expert. Travelers think using travel experts is costly but in booking gorilla permits and safaris it’s the cheapest way. This will save you the burden of making mistakes and only make your trip a success. Before making any inquiries, choose a gorilla tracking destination and period of travel so that it becomes easy for the expert to give you firsthand information based on truth.
How to Book Uganda Gorilla Permits
Uganda is the pearl of Africa and well known for hosting Mountain Gorillas. Its noted that half of the world’s mountain Gorillas are found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla trekking is the chief tourist activity in Uganda and Gorilla permit is document which allows tourists to see Gorillas.
Uganda Gorilla permit:
Uganda Gorilla permits are obtained from the headquarters of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and from authorized tour operators. Uganda Gorilla permit currently cost US$700 (Foreign none residents) and Shillings 250,000 (Ugandans). It’s advisable to book your permits in advance to avoid disappoints. It should be noted that Gorilla permits are on high demand throughout the year and permits are limited to available Gorilla groups.
Uganda Gorilla permits are electronic in form – all the client’s information (Bio data) is inserted and stored until the date of tracking and after, the permits are taken back to UWA to be re-used (Recycled).
How can the clients obtain Gorilla permits in Uganda?
Clients themselves can book their Gorilla permits physically from Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala. Alternatively, the clients can seek assistance from the trusted tour company (operators) to book Gorilla passes on their behalf. The clients can book their permits through via email and then pick the permits from UWA when the trip is near.
Note: Uganda Gorilla permit cannot be refundable when the client misses the tracking date.
Things to present to UWA to obtain Uganda Gorilla permit/ pass include the clients’ name, passport number, country of residence and the tracking date.
About Rwanda Gorilla permits
Rwanda Gorilla permit is more than twice the price of Uganda Gorilla permit at US$1500 and US$700 respectively. Like Uganda Gorilla permits, Rwanda Gorilla permits are also booked in advance to avoid missing Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Compared to 8-9 hours’ drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, its 2hours drive from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park making it the most convenient park. For travelers on tight schedule, you can book Rwanda Gorilla permits or Uganda Gorilla permit only when you plan to fly to Kigali Airport and drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga in Uganda through Gatuna boarder (3-4hrs drive).
Rwanda Gorilla permits are obtained from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) headquarters in Kigali. The clients are supposed to present a valid passport number, Tracking date, Full names and country of residence to be indicated on their Gorilla permits. Rwanda earns the largest amount of foreign exchange from Gorilla trekking permits.
For Rwanda discounted Gorilla permit, the clients are supposed to visit all parks (Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Akagera National Park) to be able to get a discounted Gorilla permit at US$1050 which is 30% discount off normal price of US$1500.
General Travel Tips
Planning ahead of time is the best policy for gorilla tracking tours due to the stiff demand of permits year round. Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost US$1500 year round, US$600 for Uganda but US$450 in April, May and November, and Congo Gorilla permits cost $400 for all international visitors.
However, prices go lower when you have a working permit for any of the gorilla country or any national identification.
No park entrance fee charges are paid by any travelers but tipping is optional.
Remember there are over 1000 remaining mountain gorillas in the world and Uganda has half of the total leaving the other for Rwanda and Congo. Only habituated gorilla groups are ready for trackers every day but only eight people are allowed to track a particular gorilla family per day for issues of conservation. But you can request a particular gorilla family or group in the very day of your gorilla trek in Rwanda which isn’t a case with other gorilla parks. In all parks gorilla tracking is done every day Monday to Sunday and it starts with a briefing from the park rangers a session that equips trackers with safety rules and regulations while with the wild apes. After the search starts in company of the park rangers who monitor gorillas and know exactly where they could be.
There are many accommodation facilities for gorilla tracking that cater for all budgets including budget, mid-range and luxury. However, you should spend a night before the trek close to the park in other gorilla tracking destinations like Uganda and Congo but if tracking in Rwanda, it’s very convenient to spend a night before the trek in Kigali city Rwanda’s capital and still make it for the trek the next day. However, waking up a little bit early is mandatory in order to catch up with time. Rwanda has always been the best gorilla tracking destination for travelers with limited time because volcanoes national park is sited close to Kigali Rwanda’s capital and Kigali international airport so someone can fly out easily after the trek. If golden monkey trekking is part of your trek, it’s good to track gorillas in Mgahinga national park Uganda or volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
Who to benefit from the discounted Rwanda Gorilla permits?
For one to benefit from Rwanda discounted gorilla permits of USD1050 Rwanda gorillas in the volcanoes National Park, he or she must book extra days or nights in other national Parks in Rwanda (Nyungwe National Park or Akagera National Park).