Rwanda Gorilla Permits Booking Information
This article has compiled a complete guide providing insight into Rwanda Gorilla Permits Booking Information. The detailed information includes the cost of gorilla permits, how to book, the best gorilla trekking company to deal with, how many gorilla permits are available in Rwanda, and when you should secure a license for your gorilla safari.
Gorilla permits are essential travel documents you need to engage in the trek to see mountain gorillas. A gorilla permit is the first thing you must secure when planning a gorilla trekking tour to Rwanda. All tourists visiting gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda, require a valid gorilla permit. A gorilla permit allows you to see a family of habituated mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
How to Acquire a Gorilla Permit in Rwanda
A valid gorilla permit for Rwanda can be booked through a trusted and registered tour operator. Native Africa Tours is a fully registered and recognized Rwanda gorilla trekking company you can deal with. Contact our team to book your gorilla permit in advance and plan a successful gorilla adventure. Could you talk to our reservation team via email or available WhatsApp contact details? Native Africa tours will help you with all the Rwanda Gorilla Permits Booking Information.
The cost of a Rwanda Gorilla Permit
The cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit varies as follows;
Foreign nonresidents, East African citizens, East African residents, and Rwandan residents can book a permit in Rwanda at USD 1500 per person. Visitors can also benefit from discounted permits, which each costs USD 1050. This offer is available for visitors who add Akagera/Nyungwe Forest National Park to their itinerary and spend 3 days or more. The USD 1050 discounted offer is available for tourists with plans to track gorillas around November and May.
Tourists on the Rwanda gorilla tour can also book a permit at USD 1275, which applies to visitors on a conference or MICE tour in Kigali. You can also take up the exclusive personalized offer of USD 15,000. Here, you track the entire gorilla group alone, and guide services are fully provided. A USD 30,000 offer is also available for tourists on a group trip of 3 people and on a safari for three consecutive days (also known as the Behind the scenes).
Booking a gorilla permit through a reliable tour operator means the team handles the entire process on the ground as soon as you send a tour inquiry to the tour company, the tour operator checks with the Rwanda Development Board to ascertain the availability of permits for the set dates.
Who is eligible to book a Rwanda gorilla permit?
According to the set standards for gorilla trekking, a visitor must be over 15 years old to book a valid gorilla permit. A visitor in this age bracket can purchase a valid gorilla permit in Rwanda and travel to Volcanoes National Park to see gorillas.
How many gorilla permits does Rwanda have?
About 104 gorilla permits represent the 13 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Each gorilla group is visited by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests per day. Due to the high demand for gorilla permits, visitors are encouraged to secure their permits in advance or before the planned date for trekking gorillas.
Requirements for booking a gorilla permit
The essentials for booking a gorilla permit include a valid passport, which will be used to obtain your details. You should also be within the acceptable age bracket of 15 years and above.
What else do you need to know about gorilla permits?
Gorilla trekking permits allow you to spend an hour with a family of gorillas. Rwanda gorilla permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The gorilla permit cost also doesn’t cover the cost of food, accommodation, and transportation.
When to book a Rwanda gorilla permit
Once you know when you intend to track gorillas, the next step should be to secure a permit. A permit must be booked before the planned date to explore gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. We recommend booking a license at least 2-6 months before the actual date of tracking gorillas.
Where do you go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Regarding gorilla tours in Rwanda, the only destination to visit is Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) lies in the Northwestern part of the country in the former Ruhengeri area. It is a compact protected area with a land area of 160 sq. km. It is situated in the Virunga region and holds 13 habituated gorilla groups.
During gorilla trekking, expect to begin your adventure from Kinigi. At Kinigi, you can get briefed about the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. The habituated families of gorillas to visit in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park include Sabyinyo, Karisimbi group, Umubano, Ugenda, Amahoro group, Susa A, Muhoza, Kigoma, Bwenge gorilla group, Igisha, Kwitonda, and Hirwa.
Volcanoes National Park also provides refuge to multiple species. The park hosts the endangered golden monkeys, bush pigs, forest elephants, spotted hyenas, giant forest hogs, duikers, bushbucks, and colobus monkeys.
Birds
Over 200 bird species live in Volcanoes National Park, most of which are Albertine Rift species. The common species to identify on a birding excursion include the Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Dusky Crimsonwings, red-faced woodland warblers, handsome francolins, Rwenzori batis, and Rwenzori turacos.
In addition, the park shelters other birds such as the Narina trogon, grey-headed bushshrike, Grauer’s rush warblers, Lagden’s bush shrike, and strange weaver birds.
Regarding things to do, Volcanoes National Park offers more than traditional gorilla trekking. Other exciting experiences awaiting you include golden monkey tracking, Dian Fossey trek, community visits, birding, cave exploration, and many others.
What else should you take for gorilla trekking besides permits?
In addition to gorilla permits, you may also need the following items to make your gorilla adventure memorable. The additional items to pack for the gorilla tour include a flashlight, a free camera, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, a sweater, a rain jacket, a first-aid kit, an insect repellent, and others.
Health tips
Although gorilla permits don’t spell out health tips, it is still essential that you book a permit when you are free from any infectious diseases. Gorillas are endangered and prone to contagious human diseases. Even if you travel to the park, you won’t be allowed to participate in the gorilla trekking adventure.
Where to stay
After deciding the dates, you should be able to plan where to stay. The best places to stay in and around Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla Nest’s Lodge, Amakoro Sopa Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bisate Lodge, Fravan Eco Resort, Best View Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge, and Virunga Hotel.
Getting to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is a favorite place for gorilla trekking due to its proximity to vibrant Kigali City. It takes visitors about 2-3 hours to drive from the capital of Kigali to Volcanoes. The park’s close location to the city center allows for organizing short and long gorilla trips.
